Method for curing tires and the like

Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for curing tires or similar vulcanized products in a press or autoclave equipped with separable molds with inserted bladders, tubes, bags, or bladderless center mechanisms. During the principal shaping and vulcanizing period of the tire curing cycle, the bladder is first filled with steam to conform the bladder and tire to the mold and begin the cure. The steam is then flushed and replaced with water at a high pressure and at a high temperature, or in some cases with high pressure steam and then such hot water, to continue pressure molding and curing of the tire. In the next phase of the curing cycle, inert gas at a high pressure is introduced to force the water from the bladder, without vaporization or significant loss of heat, back to storage facilities for subsequent reuse. In the final phase of the shaping and curing cycle, the inert gas is evacuated from the bladder, and collected for reuse, by means of a vacuum tank or vacuum pump, if no cooling of the product is desired, or by the introduction of high pressure cold water for the final cooling and shaping period of the cycle, whereupon the water is flushed and extracted from the bladder and the tire is removed from the mold. By employing this process and the associated apparatus and system, the hot curing water is not mixed with the cold water, with resultant loss of temperature, thereby yielding substantial energy savings without omitting or foreshortening the cold water cooling and shaping step necessary to insure tire quality and prevent deformation.

Inventors

• 👤 Victor C. Gado

Bibliographic Details