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US3924982A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Centrifugal tire casting machine
Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone Inc
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Filing: 1975-02-18
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1995-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A centrifugal tire casting machine is disclosed, which includes in combination a rotatable drive shaft and a rotatable idler shaft in axial alignment with each other. Means are provided for axially moving at least one of the drive and idler shafts toward and away from the other so as to extend through an axial opening in a core member and into engagement with the other of the drive and idler shafts to rotatably support the core member. A first and a second mold half are located on opposite sides of the core member and each is adapted to move inwardly and outwardly between open and closed positions. The first and second mold halves, in closed position, being in rotative driving engagement with the core and, also defining a tire cavity in combination with the core member. Drive means extend between the drive shaft and the core member for rotatively driving the core member and means are provided for moving the first and second mold halves between open and closed positions.
Inventors
- 👤 James H C Yang
- 👤 Heinz W Beneze
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:31
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C41/00; B29C41/02; B29C41/04; B29C41/042; B29C41/047; B29C33/00; B29C33/20; B29C33/22; B29C33/24; B29C39/00; B29C39/02; B29C39/04; B29C39/08; B29D; B29D30/00; B29D30/06; B29D30/0679; B29L; B29L2030/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
417 words
A tire casting machine including in combination a base, inboard and outboard housings mounted on said base, first bearing means mounted on said inboard housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted by said first bearing means on said inboard housing, wall means defining a recess in the inward axial end of said drive shaft, a movable support member mounted by said outboard housing, second bearing means carried by said support member, an idler shaft rotatably mounted by said second bearing means on said support member, wall means defining a guide end on the inward axial end of said idler shaft, hydraulic piston and cylinder means for moving said support member and idler shaft from an outer position inwardly to an inward position where said guide end of said idler shaft is received in said recess in said drive shaft, horizontally extending guide rods, an inboard mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide rods and relative to said drive shaft, said inboard mold assembly comprising a nonrotatable member connected to a rotatable first mold half through bearing means, hydraulic piston and cylinder means for moving said inboard mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, an outboard mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide rods and relative to said idler shaft, said outboard mold assembly comprising a nonrotatable member connected to a rotatable second mold half through bearing means, hydraulic piston and cylinder means for moving said outboard mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, a circumferentially extending tread ring secured to outer peripheral portions of said first and second mold halves, a core located between said first and second mold halves and in combination with said tread ring defining a tire cavity, a drive sleeve rotatably secured to the inner end of said drive shaft and having drive members secured thereto, said drive sleeve connected to said inboard mold assembly for axial movement therewith between said inner and outer positions, a hub member secured to said core and having clutch means in rotatable driving engagement with said first and second mold halves, said hub member having a hub extension with recesses to receive said drive members on said drive sleeve in the inner position of said drive sleeve and inboard mold assembly, said hub member and said hub extension having an axial opening therethrough through which said idler shaft extends in its inward position to support said core, and drive means for rotatively driving said drive shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
417 words
A tire casting machine including in combination a base, inboard and outboard housings mounted on said base, first bearing means mounted on said inboard housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted by said first bearing means on said inboard housing, wall means defining a recess in the inward axial end of said drive shaft, a movable support member mounted by said outboard housing, second bearing means carried by said support member, an idler shaft rotatably mounted by said second bearing means on said support member, wall means defining a guide end on the inward axial end of said idler shaft, hydraulic piston and cylinder means for moving said support member and idler shaft from an outer position inwardly to an inward position where said guide end of said idler shaft is received in said recess in said drive shaft, horizontally extending guide rods, an inboard mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide rods and relative to said drive shaft, said inboard mold assembly comprising a nonrotatable member connected to a rotatable first mold half through bearing means, hydraulic piston and cylinder means for moving said inboard mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, an outboard mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide rods and relative to said idler shaft, said outboard mold assembly comprising a nonrotatable member connected to a rotatable second mold half through bearing means, hydraulic piston and cylinder means for moving said outboard mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, a circumferentially extending tread ring secured to outer peripheral portions of said first and second mold halves, a core located between said first and second mold halves and in combination with said tread ring defining a tire cavity, a drive sleeve rotatably secured to the inner end of said drive shaft and having drive members secured thereto, said drive sleeve connected to said inboard mold assembly for axial movement therewith between said inner and outer positions, a hub member secured to said core and having clutch means in rotatable driving engagement with said first and second mold halves, said hub member having a hub extension with recesses to receive said drive members on said drive sleeve in the inner position of said drive sleeve and inboard mold assembly, said hub member and said hub extension having an axial opening therethrough through which said idler shaft extends in its inward position to support said core, and drive means for rotatively driving said drive shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
389 words
A tire casting machine including in combination a housing, first bearing means mounted on said housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted by said first bearing means, wall means defining a recess in the inward axial end of said drive shaft, a movable support member mounted by said housing, second bearing means carried by said support member, an idler shaft rotatably mounted by said second bearing means on said support member, wall means defining a guide end on the inward axial end of said idler shaft, means for moving said support member and idler shaft from an outer position inwardly to an inward position where said guide end of said idler shaft is received in said recess in said drive shaft, guide rods, an inboard mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide rods and relative to said drive shaft, said inboard mold assembly comprising a nonrotatable member connected to a rotatable first mold half through bearing means, means for moving said inboard mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, an outboard mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide rods and relative to said idler shaft, said outboard mold assembly comprising a nonrotatable member connected to a rotatable second mold half through bearing Means, means for moving said outboard mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, a circumferentially extending tread ring connected to outer peripheral portions of said first and second mold halves, a core located between said first and second mold halves and in combination with said tread ring defining a tire cavity, a drive sleeve rotatably secured to the inner end of said drive shaft and having drive members secured thereto, said drive sleeve connected to said inboard mold assembly for axial movement therewith between said inner and outer positions, a hub member secured to said core and having clutch means in rotatable driving engagement with said first and second mold halves, said hub member having a hub extension with recesses to receive said drive members on said drive sleeve in the inner position of said drive sleeve and inboard mold assembly, said hub member and said hub extension having an axial opening therethrough through which said idler shaft extends in its inward position to support said core, and drive means for rotatively driving said drive shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
389 words
A tire casting machine including in combination a housing, first bearing means mounted on said housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted by said first bearing means, wall means defining a recess in the inward axial end of said drive shaft, a movable support member mounted by said housing, second bearing means carried by said support member, an idler shaft rotatably mounted by said second bearing means on said support member, wall means defining a guide end on the inward axial end of said idler shaft, means for moving said support member and idler shaft from an outer position inwardly to an inward position where said guide end of said idler shaft is received in said recess in said drive shaft, guide rods, an inboard mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide rods and relative to said drive shaft, said inboard mold assembly comprising a nonrotatable member connected to a rotatable first mold half through bearing means, means for moving said inboard mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, an outboard mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide rods and relative to said idler shaft, said outboard mold assembly comprising a nonrotatable member connected to a rotatable second mold half through bearing Means, means for moving said outboard mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, a circumferentially extending tread ring connected to outer peripheral portions of said first and second mold halves, a core located between said first and second mold halves and in combination with said tread ring defining a tire cavity, a drive sleeve rotatably secured to the inner end of said drive shaft and having drive members secured thereto, said drive sleeve connected to said inboard mold assembly for axial movement therewith between said inner and outer positions, a hub member secured to said core and having clutch means in rotatable driving engagement with said first and second mold halves, said hub member having a hub extension with recesses to receive said drive members on said drive sleeve in the inner position of said drive sleeve and inboard mold assembly, said hub member and said hub extension having an axial opening therethrough through which said idler shaft extends in its inward position to support said core, and drive means for rotatively driving said drive shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
289 words
A tire casting machine including in combination a housing, first bearing means mounted on said housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted by said first bearing means, a movable support member mounted by said housing, second bearing means carried by said support member, an idler shaft rotatably mounted by said second bearing means on said support member, wall means on the inner ends of said drive and idler shafts interfitting when the two shafts are brought axially into engagement with each other, means for moving said support member and idler shaft from an outer position inwardly to an inward position where said idler shaft engages said drive shaft, guide means, a first mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide means and relative to said drive shaft, said first mold assembly comprising a rotatable first mold half mounted on bearing means, means for moving said first mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, a second mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide means and relative to said idler shaft, said second mold assembly comprising a roatable second mold half mounted on bearing means, means for moving said second mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, a core located between said first and second mold halves and in combination therewith defining a tire cavity, a drive member rotatably secured to said drive shaft and movable axially with respect thereto to engage and rotatively drive said core, said core being in rotatable driving engagement with said first and second mold halves, said core having an axial opening therethrough through which said idler shaft extends in its inward position to support said core, and drive means for rotatively driving said drive shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
289 words
A tire casting machine including in combination a housing, first bearing means mounted on said housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted by said first bearing means, a movable support member mounted by said housing, second bearing means carried by said support member, an idler shaft rotatably mounted by said second bearing means on said support member, wall means on the inner ends of said drive and idler shafts interfitting when the two shafts are brought axially into engagement with each other, means for moving said support member and idler shaft from an outer position inwardly to an inward position where said idler shaft engages said drive shaft, guide means, a first mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide means and relative to said drive shaft, said first mold assembly comprising a rotatable first mold half mounted on bearing means, means for moving said first mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, a second mold assembly movable axially between inner and outer positions on said guide means and relative to said idler shaft, said second mold assembly comprising a roatable second mold half mounted on bearing means, means for moving said second mold assembly between said inner and outer positions, a core located between said first and second mold halves and in combination therewith defining a tire cavity, a drive member rotatably secured to said drive shaft and movable axially with respect thereto to engage and rotatively drive said core, said core being in rotatable driving engagement with said first and second mold halves, said core having an axial opening therethrough through which said idler shaft extends in its inward position to support said core, and drive means for rotatively driving said drive shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
A centrifugal tire casting machine including in combination a rotatable drive shaft, a rotatable idler shaft in axial alignment with said drive shaft, a core member having an axial opening therethrough, means for axially moving at least one of said drive and idler shafts toward and away from the other so as to extend through the axial opening in said core member and into engagement with the other of said drive and idler shafts to rotatably support said core member, a first and a second mold half located on opposite sides of said core member and each adapted to move inwardly and outwardly between open and closed positions, said first and second mold halves in closed position being in rotative driving engagement with said core member and, also, defining a tire cavity in combination therewith, drive means extendable between said drive shaft and said core member for rotatively driving said core member, and means for moving said first and second mold halves between open and closed positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
A centrifugal tire casting machine including in combination a rotatable drive shaft, a rotatable idler shaft in axial alignment with said drive shaft, a core member having an axial opening therethrough, means for axially moving at least one of said drive and idler shafts toward and away from the other so as to extend through the axial opening in said core member and into engagement with the other of said drive and idler shafts to rotatably support said core member, a first and a second mold half located on opposite sides of said core member and each adapted to move inwardly and outwardly between open and closed positions, said first and second mold halves in closed position being in rotative driving engagement with said core member and, also, defining a tire cavity in combination therewith, drive means extendable between said drive shaft and said core member for rotatively driving said core member, and means for moving said first and second mold halves between open and closed positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A centrifugal tire casting machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for moving said first and second mold halves between open and closed poSitions comprises hydraulic cylinder and piston means and said hydraulic cylinder and piston means is essentially the only means holding said first and second mold halves closed during operation of the machine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A centrifugal tire casting machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said idler shaft is movable relative to said drive shaft and wall means are provided on the engaging ends of said shafts to interfit with each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A centrifugal tire casting machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rotative driving engagement between said first and second mold halves and said core member is effected by clutch discs between each of the first and second mold halves and said core member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A centrifugal tire casting machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said drive means comprises a sleeve member surrounding and rotatively connected to said drive shaft and movable axially with respect thereto to engage said core member to rotatively drive the same.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A centrifugal tire casting machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein safety latch means connect said first and second mold halves together in their closed positions to prevent accidental opening thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
144 words
A casting machine including in combination a first rotatable shaft, a second rotatable shaft, a core member having an opening, means for moving at least one of said first and second shafts toward and away from the other so as to extend in the opening in said core member and adjacent the other of said first and second shafts to rotatably support said core member, a first and a second mold half located on opposite sides of said core member and each adapted to move inwardly and outwardly between open and closed positions, said first and second mold halves in closed position being adopted to rotate with said core member and, also, defining a cavity in combination therewith, drive means for rotatively driving said core member and mold halves, and means for moving said first and second mold halves between open and closed positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
144 words
A casting machine including in combination a first rotatable shaft, a second rotatable shaft, a core member having an opening, means for moving at least one of said first and second shafts toward and away from the other so as to extend in the opening in said core member and adjacent the other of said first and second shafts to rotatably support said core member, a first and a second mold half located on opposite sides of said core member and each adapted to move inwardly and outwardly between open and closed positions, said first and second mold halves in closed position being adopted to rotate with said core member and, also, defining a cavity in combination therewith, drive means for rotatively driving said core member and mold halves, and means for moving said first and second mold halves between open and closed positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A casting machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for moving the mold halves to closed position is essentially the only means for holding the mold halves closed during a casting operation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A casting machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second shaft is movable relative to said first shaft and wall means are provided on the engaging ends of the said shafts to interfit with each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A casting machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein said rotative driving engagement between said first and second mold halves and said core member is effected by clutch discs between each of the first and second mold halves and said core member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A casting machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein said drive means comprises a sleeve member surrounding and rotatively connected to said first shaft and movable axially with respect thereto to engage said core member to rotatively drive the same.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A casting machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein safety latch means extend between said first and second mold halves in their closed positions to prevent accidental opening thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |