# US 11,027,506 B1 · Actuating ring for tire mold assembly

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- Number: US 11,027,506 B1
- Document ID: US11027506B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/899,615
- Filed: 2020-06-12
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-12
- Assignees: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
- Applicants: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
- Inventors: Babatunde Omogbolahan Agboola; William Andrew Haydu; Deep Samanta
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027506B1

## CPC

- B29D 30/0629: {with radially movable sectors}
- B29C 33/0038: {with sealing means or the like (seals on envelopes used in tyre retreading B29D30/542; for injection moulding footwear B29D35/0045)}
- B29C 33/10: with incorporated venting means
- B29D 2030/0618: {Annular elements, e.g. rings, for moulding the tyre shoulder areas}
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)

## Abstract

An actuating ring for a tire mold includes an upper sidewall portion and a lower sidewall portion providing radial and axial movement of the actuating ring relative to the upper sidewall portion and the lower sidewall portion. The actuating ring has axially upper, circumferentially extending slots and axially lower, circumferentially extending slots axially offset from the axially upper, circumferentially extending slots.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An actuating ring assembly for a tire mold comprising:
a radially moveable tread mold portion operable with an upper sidewall portion and a lower sidewall portion to define a tire mold cavity in a closed position of the tire mold; and
an actuating ring slidably engaging the upper sidewall portion and the lower sidewall portion to provide radial and axial movement of the tread mold portion relative to the upper sidewall portion and the lower sidewall portion, the actuating ring having axially upper rectangular circumferential slots and axially lower rectangular circumferential slots axially offset from the axially upper slots, one of the axially upper slots being circumferentially longer than another of the axially upper slots, one of the axially lower slots being circumferentially longer than another of the axially lower slots.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The actuating ring assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper sidewall portion has a radially outer cylindrical surface and the actuating ring has a radially inner cylindrical surface in alignment with the outer cylindrical surface of the upper sidewall portion; and a sealing means is disposed between the outer cylindrical surface of the upper sidewall portion and the inner cylindrical surface of the actuating ring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The actuating ring assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tire mold is connected to the upper sidewall portion by support means permitting radial movement of the tire mold in response to vertical movement of the actuating ring relative to the tire mold; and the support means being covered to provide an air barrier for application of a vacuum.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The actuating ring assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support means comprises pocket slots closed at the upper sidewall portion and retainer tee members on the tire mold for sliding engagement in the pocket slots.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The actuating ring assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the pocket slots include supporting plate members fastened to a lower face of the upper sidewall portion under the pocket slots.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The actuating ring assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the supporting plate members are fastened to the upper sidewall portion by screws.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The actuating ring assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper sidewall portion comprises an integral upper sidewall mold member and an O-ring on the upper sidewall portion for engagement with the actuating ring.