System for manufacturing a support structure
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorCeyhan Celik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system in accordance with the present invention cures and manufactures a partially-cured tire assembly. The system includes: a functional wheel member being slid into a corresponding annular, radially inner surface of the partially-cured tire assembly; a plurality of elongate spacer members; a first annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; a second annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; and a plurality of elongate inserts for creating a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by a radially outer surface of each insert and flap members of the tire assembly positioned by the radially outermost surfaces of the spacer members.
Claims10
A method for completing the curing of a partially cured tire assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- sliding a functional wheel member into a corresponding annular, radially inner surface of the partially-cured tire assembly;
- maintaining a plurality of spacer members within corresponding uniform cavities in the partially-cured tire assembly;
- fastening each of the spacer members to the wheel member with uncured flap members of the partially-cured tire assembly enclosing a radially outermost surface of each of the spacer members;
- axially securing first and second curing platens, the wheel member, and spacer members relative to each other;
- and
- creating a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by a radially outer surface of each of a plurality of elongated inserts and each of the uncured flap members of the partially-cured tire assembly positioned by the radially outermost surfaces of the spacer members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.