Method for curing tires, especially large-size tires

A method of curing tires, especially very large-sized or giant tires which are not in such demand as to warrant mass production by a mechanical press for pressing a mold unit composed of upper and lower mold halves and containing a semi-shaped green tire which has a stand, crank gear wheels and arms secured to said stand, a lower housing member fixed upon said stand, an extensible plunger mechanism supported by said crank gear, wheels and arms, and an upper housing member supported by said plunger mechanism, comprising the steps of:

• placing said mold unit upon said stand,
• driving said crank gear wheels and arms to a first position located just ahead of its lower dead center so that said upper housing member will mate with said lower housing member so as to enclose said mold unit for providing a steam chamber for curing said tires;
• extending said extensible plunger mehanism so that said extensible plunger mechanism applies mechanical pressure to said upper mold half, and is loaded beyond a predetermined level so as to compress the same into contact with said lower mold half while said crank gear wheels and arms remain in said first position;
• driving said crank gear wheels and arms to the lower dead center so as to stress and compress said upper mold half still further into contact with said lower mold half, through means of said plunger mechanism, so as to attain a locking action therewith;
• and
• surrounding said mold unit with a steam atmosphere for heating said mold unit and curing said tire.