Method and apparatus for manufacturing pneumatic tyres
AssigneePirelli Tyre S.p.A.
InventorsMaurizio Marchini, Fiorenzo Mariani, Pierangelo Misani
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A green tire disposed on a toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mold. The mold is closed through axial approaching of a pair of sidewall plates acting against the sidewalls of the tire. Circumferential sectors set to operate against the tire tread band are maintained spaced apart from the tread band itself during admission of a working fluid designed to press the tire against the toroidal support. Subsequently, the sectors are centripetally approached for penetration into the tread band concurrently with a step of full molding and vulcanisation of the tire carried out through admission of steam under pressure into the tire itself.
Claims10
A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tyre for a vehicle wheel, comprising the steps of:
- setting a green tyre comprising a tread band having a radially external surface on a toroidal support provided with an outer surface conforming in shape to an inner surface of the tyre;
- setting a vulcanisation mould having a moulding cavity circumscribed by centripetally approachable circumferential sectors carrying forming ridges facing a geometric axis of the moulding cavity;
- closing the tyre into the moulding cavity;
- pressing the tyre against the outer surface of the toroidal support with pressurized fluid disposed outside the tyre, while keeping the circumferential sectors spaced apart from the radially external surface of the tread band with the moulding cavity closed;
- administering heat to the inner surface of the tyre pressed against the toroidal support, while keeping the circumferential sectors spaced apart from the radially external surface of the tread band with the moulding cavity closed;
- centripetally approaching the circumferential sectors of the mould to cause at least partial penetration of the forming ridges into the radially external surface of the tread band of the tyre;
- pressing the radially external surface of the tread band of the tyre against a radially internal surface of the moulding cavity;
- and
- administering heat to the tyre penetrated by the forming ridges of the circumferential sectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.