Apparatus used in bonding a precured tread on a tire casing

Claim 2

A MOLD-LIKE APPARATUS IN WHICH A TIRE CASING WITH A PRECURED TREAD IS PLACED FOR HEATING AND CURING AN ADHESIVE FOR BONDING THE PRECURED THTREAD TO THE TIRE CASING, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A. A PAIR OF RIGID SECTIONS MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND, WHEN CLOSED IN ABUTTING RELATION, FORMING A CAVITY FOR RECEIVING A TIRE CASING WITH A PECURED TREAD, EACH OF THE SECTIONS INCLUDING A CLOSURE PLATE SECURED TO AN OUTSTANDING CYCLINDRICAL CASING EXTENDING FROM THE PLATE; B. A SINGLE, RIGID, ANNULAR STOP PROJECTING FROM EACH OF THE SECTIONS INTO THE CAVITY FOR SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SECTIONS AND AJACENT SIDEWALLS OF A TIRE IN SAID CAVITY, THE STOPS BEING IN RADIALLY SPACED RELATION FROM THE OUTSTANDING CYCLINDRICAL CASINGS TO EFFECT AN ANNULAR SEAL WITH THE SIDEWALLS IN SPACED RELATION FROM THE JUCTURE OF THE PRECURED TREAD AND TIRE CASING; C. A PAIR OF SEPARATE, NON-COMMUNICATING, ANNULAR CHAMBERS FOR RECEIVING STEAM, DISPOSED IN THE SECTIONS BETWEEN THE CYLINDRICAL CASINGS STOPS;

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stops help restrict movement of the diaphragms into annular sealing engagement with each other and contact with at least the precured tread of a tire casing in said cavity.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the diaphragms are composed of rubber.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, which includes means for centering a tire casing in said cavity.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4, which includes means for inflating a tire casing, positioned in said cavity, with gas under pressure.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a pair of annular, inflatable, steam-resistant curing bags are carried by the sections adjacent the stops and form the chambers and diaphragms.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the bags are designed for engaging and covering at least the precured tread of a tire casing in said cavity.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the stops are positioned for helping restrict inflation of the bags in the direction of a precured tread in said cavity.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bags are composed of rubber material.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9, which includes means for centering a tire casing in said cavity.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the tire casing centering means includes means for centering a tire casing mounted on a wheel rim in said cavity.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11, which includes means for maintaining the tire casing in a suitable toroidal shape for properly bonding a precured tread on a tire casing.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12, which includes means for equalizing the steam pressure within the curing bags.

Claim 15

A mold-like apparatus in which a tire casing with a precured tread is placed for heating and curing an adhesive for bonding the precured tread to the tire casing, comprising in combination: a. a pair of rigid sections movable relative to each other and, when closed in abutting relation, forming a cavity for receiving a tire with a precured tread, each of the sections including a closure plate secured to an outstanding cylindrical casing extending from the plate; b. a single, rigid, annular stop projecting from thE closure plate of at least one of the sections into the cavity for closing the space between the section and adjacent sidewall of a tire in said cavity, the stop being in radially spaced relation from the outstanding cylindrical casing of the section carrying the stop to effect an annular seal with said sidewall in spaced relation from the juncture of the precured tread and tire casing; c. at least one annular heat chamber disposed between the stop and cylindrical casings for receiving a heated curing medium; d. at least one fluid impervious, flexible elastomeric diaphragm sealing the heat chamber from the tire cavity formed by the sections, the diaphragm designed to, (I) cover the tread, and juncture of the tread and casing of a tire in the cavity, and prevent the heated curing medium from contacting the tread and juncture, and (II) compress the precured tread against the tire casing when the heat chamber is filled with curing medium sufficient to move the diaphragm into contact with the tread and juncture between the tread and tire casing; e. means for filling the chamber with a heated curing medium; and f. means for selectively, detachably mounting a plurality of stops with different thicknesses (T) on the closure plate of said at least one section.

Claim 16

A mold-like apparatus in which a tire casing with a precured tread is placed for heating and curing an adhesive for bonding the precured tread to the tire casing, comprising in combination: a. a pair of rigid sections movable relative to each other and, when closed in abutting relation, forming a cavity for receiving a tire with a precured tread, each of the sections including a closure plate secured to an outstanding cylindrical casing extending from the plate; b. a single, rigid, annular stop projecting from thE closure plate of at least one of the sections into the cavity for closing the space between the section and adjacent sidewall of a tire in said cavity, the stop being in radially spaced relation from the outstanding cylindrical casing of the section carrying the stop to effect an annular seal with said sidewall in spaced relation from the juncture of the precured tread and tire casing; c. at least one annular heat chamber disposed between the stop and cylindrical casings for receiving a heated curing medium; d. at least one fluid impervious, flexible elastomeric diaphragm sealing the heat chamber from the tire cavity formed by the sections, the diaphragm designed to, (I) cover the tread, and juncture of the tread and casing of a tire in the cavity, and prevent the heated curing medium from contacting the tread and juncture, and (II) compress the precured tread against the tire casing when the heat chamber is filled with curing medium sufficient to move the diaphragm into contact with the tread and juncture between the tread and tire casing; e. means for filling the chamber with a heated curing medium; and f. means for selectively, detachably mounting a plurality of stops with different thicknesses (T) on the closure plate of said at least one section.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the chamber is formed by an annular rubber bag.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein an annular stop and rubber bag are carried by each of the sections.

Claim 19

A mold-like apparatus in which a retreaded tire casing with vulcanizable material is placed for heating and vulcanizing said material, comprising in combination: a. a pair of single rigid sections movable relative to each other and, when closed in abutting relation, forming a cavity for receiving a tire, each of the sections including a closure plate secured to an outstanding cylindrical casing at the outer periphery of the plate, each of the outstanding cylindrical casings having a smooth inner periphery adjacent the tread of a tire in the cavity as distinguished from conventional matrix rings for molding a pattern of ribs and grooves in the tread of a tire; b. a rigid, annular stop projecting from the closure plate of at least one of the sections into the cavity for closing the space between the section from which the stop projects, and an adjacent sidewall of a tire positioned in the cavity, the stop being in radially spaced relation from the outstanding cylindrical casing of the section carrying the stop to effect an annular seal with the adjacent sidewall in radially spaced relation from the juncture of the tread and tire casing; and c. means for selectively, detachably mounting a plurality of stops with different thicknesses (T) on the closure plate of said at least one section carrying the stop.

Claim 20

A mold-like apparatus in which a retreaded tire casing with vulcanizable material is placed for heating and vulcanizing said material, comprising in combination: a. a pair of single rigid sections movable relative to each other and, when closed in abutting relation, forming a cavity for receiving a tire, each of the sections including a closure plate secured to an outstanding cylindrical casing at the outer periphery of the plate, each of the outstanding cylindrical casings having a smooth inner periphery adjacent the tread of a tire in the cavity as distinguished from conventional matrix rings for molding a pattern of ribs and grooves in the tread of a tire; b. a rigid, annular stop projecting from the closure plate of at least one of the sections into the cavity for closing the space between the section from which the stop projects, and an adjacent sidewall of a tire positioned in the cavity, the stop being in radially spaced relation from the outstanding cylindrical casing of the section carrying the stop to effect an annular seal with the adjacent sidewall in radially spaced relation from the juncture of the tread and tire casing; and c. means for selectively, detachably mounting a plurality of stops with different thicknesses (T) on the closure plate of said at least one section carrying the stop.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 17, which includes a second annular stop projecting from the closure plate of the other section of said pair of sections, for closing the space between said other section and the adjacent sidewall of a tire casing positioned in said cavity, and means for selectively, detachably mounting a plurality of stops with different thicknesses (T) on the closure plate of said other section.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the stops are in aligned, parallel relation, when the sections are closed.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 17, which includes: e. at least one annular chamber formed in the cavity adjacent the tread on a tire positioned in the cavity when the sections are closed, said chamber designed for receiving a heated fluid; and f. at least one flexible elastomeric diaphragm for covering the tread and juncture of the tread and casing of a tire in the cavity and sealing said chamber to prevent heated fluid from contacting the thread and juncture.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said annular chamber and diaphragm are formed by an annular bag composed of rubber material.

Claim 25

The apparatus of Claim 21, including means for filling the chamber with steam.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 21, which includes a second annular stop projecting from the closure plate of the other section of said pair of sections, and means for selectively, detachably mounting a plurality of stops with different thicknesses (T) on the closure plates of said sections such that the stops are in aligned, parallel relation when the sections are closed.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein an annular bag, composed of rubber material is associated with each of said sections, and means are included for inflating each bag with steam.