Mold twist lock apparatus
AssigneesMichelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Societe De Technologie Michelin
InventorsJames D. Makins, Marvin G. Owen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mold twist lock apparatus comprising a securing pin having a distal end and a proximal end on a longitudinal axis of the securing pin, the proximal end having a hole therethrough, a coaxial spring positioned about the proximal end of the securing pin, a cross pin disposed through the hold in the proximal end of the securing pin, the cross pin having an enlarged end and a second spring positioned between an extension of the securing pin and the enlarged end of the cross pin.
Claims16
-4. (canceled)
The mold twist lock apparatus of claim 6, wherein the enlarged end of the cross pin is engaged with a recess in a mold assembly.
A mold assembly comprising:
- a first mold component having a plurality of protrusions with holes therethrough;
- a second mold component having a plurality of protrusions with holes therethrough;
- an interlocking column formed by combining the plurality of protrusions of the first mold component and the second mold component;
- a securing pin having a distal end and a proximal end on a longitudinal axis of the securing pin, the proximal end having a hole therethrough;
- a coaxial spring positioned about the proximal end of the securing pin;
- a cross pin disposed through the hole in the proximal end of the securing pin, the cross pin having an enlarged end;
- a second spring positioned between an extension of the securing pin and the enlarged end of the cross pin;
- and
- a recess for receiving the enlarged end of the cross pin.
(canceled)
A method of assembling a mold comprising the steps of:
- providing a first mold component having a plurality of protrusions with holes therethrough, a second mold component having a plurality of protrusions with holes therethrough;
- positioning the first mold component relative to the second mold component such that the pluralities of protrusions form an interlocking column;
- inserting a securing pin in the holes of the interlocking column, the securing pin having a distal end and a proximal end on a longitudinal axis of the securing pin, the proximal end having a hole therethrough, a coaxial spring positioned about the proximal end of the securing pin, a cross pin disposed through the hole in the proximal end of the securing pin, the cross pin having a enlarged end, a second spring positioned between an extension of the securing pin and the enlarged end of the cross pin;
- compressing the coaxial spring until the cross pin is in alignment with a recess in one of the mold components for receiving the enlarged end of the cross pin;
- and
- inserting the enlarged end of the cross pill into the recess.
(canceled)
The method of claim 21, where in the withdrawing step further comprises:
- compressing the coaxial spring on the securing pin to move the enlarged end of the cross pin from the narrow region of the recess into the wide region of the recess;
- compressing the second spring on the cross pin;
- rotating the enlarged end of the cross pin out of the recess;
- and
- withdrawing the securing pin from the interlocking column.
A method of disassembling a mold comprising the step of
- withdrawing a securing pin from the mold assembly, wherein said mold comprises
- a first mold component having a plurality of protrusions with holes therethrough;
- a second mold component having a plurality of protrusions with holes therethrough;
- an interlocking column formed by combining the plurality of protrusions of the first mold component and the second mold component;
- a securing pin having a distal end and a proximal end on a longitudinal axis of the securing pin, the proximal end having a hole therethrough;
- a coaxial spring positioned about the proximal end of the securing pin;
- a cross pin disposed through the hole in the proximal end of the securing pin, the cross pin having an enlarged end;
- a second spring positioned between an extension of the securing pin and the enlarged end of the cross pin;
- and
- a recess for receiving the enlarged end of the cross pin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.