US 6,238,193 B1 · Mold for tire and vulcanizing press fitted to receive mold

Abstract

A mold for molding a tire having beads of different diameters, ø0 being the minimum diameter of the tire area at the bead of smaller diameter, ø2 being the minimum diameter of the tire area at the bead of greater diameter. The mold has two shells for molding, respectively, the outer surface of the sidewalls and the outer portion of each bead up to a radially inner limit where the diameter of the tire area is ø0 and ø2, respectively, a continuous counter-molding ring to mold the bead of smaller diameter from the said radially inner limit where the diameter of the tire area is ø0 to an axially inner limit of diameter ø1, where ø1 is smaller than ø2, and a split counter-molding ring to mold the bead of greater diameter from the said radially inner limit where the diameter of the tire area is ø2 to an axially inner limit of diameter ø3. The split ring includes a plurality of retractable segments adjacent in molding position. A flexible membrane molds the inner surface of the tire in the portion of the inner cavity of the tire between the limit of diameter ø1 and the limit of diameter ø3.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A mold for a tire comprising a tread, two sidewalls and two nonsymmetrical beads, the beads having radially inner surfaces oriented toward an inner cavity of the mold, the inner surface of one bead being a tire area defined between diameters Φ0 and Φ1 and the inner surface of the other bead being a tire area which includes a radially inner limit of diameter Φ2, Φ0 being the least diameter of the tire area at the bead of smaller diameter, Φ2 being the least diameter of the tire area at the bead of greater diameter, said mold comprising:

two shells for molding, respectively, an outer surface of each of the sidewalls and an outer portion of each of the beads up to a radially inner limit where the diameter of the tire area is Φ0 and Φ2, respectively;
a continuous counter-molding ring to mold the radially inner surface of the bead of smaller diameter which ring has a molding surface confined to the molding of the inner surface of the bead from said radially inner limit where the diameter of the tire area is Φ0 to an axially inner limit of diameter Φ1, where Φ1 is smaller than Φ2 and where Φ1 is greater than Φ0.

A tire vulcanizing press receiving a tire mold, having a centerline corresponding to the axis of rotation of said tire, said mold comprising:

two shells to mold an outer surface of a sidewall of the tire and an outer portion of a bead as far as a radially inner limit;
at least one split counter-molding ring to mold an inner surface of the bead extending beyond said radially inner limit to an axially inner side, said split counter-molding ring being made up of first segments and second segments, said first and second segments being in engaging relationship in molding position;
a membrane to mold the inside of the tire;
said press further comprising:
a lower frame to receive one of the shells;
a movable frame to receive the other shell;
control means for relative approach and withdrawal of said lower frame and movable frame;
a lower membrane plate;
means for controlling relative motion between the lower membrane plate and the lower frame;
first means for receiving the first segments and second means for receiving the second segments, the assembly of first and second segments forming the said split counter-molding ring;
a mechanism for displacing the first and second segments, said mechanism being actuated by relative motion of the lower plate with respect to the lower frame, and causing the motion in successive sequences of the first segments in a first sequence, and of the second segments in a second sequence, so as to bring said segments of the counter-molding ring into molding position and to retract them.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mold for tire and vulcanizing press fitted to receive mold

Life of this patent

Mold for tire and vulcanizing press fitted to receive mold

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11