Method of making arched V-belts

In a method of making a plurality of arched, polymeric V-belts comprising the steps of, defining an uncured belt sleeve having an inside and an outside surface, providing a forming member having a plurality of substantially identical axially aligned annular forming surfaces of concave cross-sectional configuration, placing said uncured belt sleeve with one of its surfaces adjacent said forming surfaces, compressing said belt sleeve against said forming member and its forming surfaces to thereby form annular arched portions in said sleeve, each of said arched portions corresponding roughly in configuration to a forming surface, curing said belt sleeve during said compressing step, and cutting the cured belt sleeve to define a plurality of arched belts corresponding in number to said plurality of annular forming surfaces with each of said arched belts also corresponding roughly in configuration to a forming surface, the improvement in said method in which, said step of providing a forming member comprises providing said forming member as a polymeric member which has said forming surfaces defined as radially inwardly facing polymeric surfaces, said placing step comprises placing said belt sleeve with said one surface being its normal outside surface adjacent said polymeric forming surfaces, said compressing step comprising the step of compressing said belt sleeve by engaging said inside surface thereof and transmitting the same pressure radially outwardly against each unit of area of said inside surface and thereby define each belt portion of said sleeve that will provide one arched belt with a convex surface and an opposite concave surface which are defined with great precision and with all arched belts cut from the cured belt sleeve being substantially identical in configuration, said compressing step comprising the step of compressing said belt sleeve with a single self-contained inflatable polymeric bladder comprised of a pair of annular end walls having inner and outer edges, a cylindrical inner wall extending between said inner edges, and a cylindrical outer wall extending between said outer edges, said walls being highly flexible and said cylindrical outer wall engages said inside surface throughout its entire surface area and transmits said same pressure against each unit area thereof upon inflating said bladder, said curing step comprising the step of providing a steam curing apparatus, said apparatus comprising a housing, a top access opening, and confining walls within said housing, said confining walls comprising, a bottom plate structure fixed to said housing, a first tubular structure fixed to said bottom structure, a second tubular structure fixed to said bottom structure concentrically outwardly of said first structure and defining an annular volume therebetween, and a top plate structure adapted to be detachably fastened to said first and second tubular structures;

• and said method comprising the further steps of disposing said polymeric forming member through said access opening with an outside surface thereof against said second tubular structure and with said polymeric forming surfaces facing radially inwardly toward said volume;
• said placing step comprising the step of moving said belt sleeve vertically downwardly through said top access opening within said volume;
• said compressing step comprising the step of inserting said bladder through said top access opening within said annular volume between said belt sleeve and first tubular structure and confining said end walls between said top and bottom plate structures and said cylindrical inner wall employing said first tubular structure while allowing said cylindrical outer wall to move freely against said entire inside surface area of said belt sleeve upon inflating of said bladder;
• said curing step comprising the step of sealing a lid over said access opening and introducing steam within said housing to provide curing of said belt sleeve;
• said cooling step comprising the steps of removing said polymeric forming member and said cured belt sleeve as a unit from between said first and second tubular structures and cooling said polymeric forming member and said cured belt sleeve together as a unit;
• and separating said cured belt sleeve from said polymeric forming member after the same have been cooled, said separating step being achieved with comparative ease due to the small tendency of said belt sleeve to adhere to said polymeric forming member and its forming surface.