Abstract:
The invention relates to apparatus for moulding a tire for a wheel rim by means of a mould having mould parts, said mould parts being movable between a closed working position in which they enclose a mould cavity with the shape of the tire and an open position in which said mould parts are spaced apart, wherein in the open position of the mould parts a hollow tire core is positioned in the mould cavity while being receivable with respect to said parts, wherein the mould parts are moved into the working position, in which a residual cavity not occupied by the tire core is left free in the mould cavity, said mould defining the residual cavity being adapted to receive synthetic resin foam for moulding a tire body. Preferably the tire core is arranged on the wheel rim before being positioned with respect to the mould parts.
Abstract:
A laminated product such as a tire is cast from chemically extending liquids which form a laminated solid in a mold. The mold cavity is closed in preparation for use except for casting fluid inlet ports and exhaust vents. The mold cavity defines the shape of the product to be cast. Two or more chemically extendable liquids are injected into the mold without mixing through the inlet ports. Each liquid is injected through a different port. After injection, the liquids are arranged in alternate circumferential segments within the annular space. At least one of the inner and outer surfaces which define the mold cavity is then rotated about the common axis to impart a spiral configuration to each of the injected liquids. The liqiuds are then allowed to chemically extend to solids and form a laminated product such as a tire. The products, when they comprise alternate layers of high and low elastic modulus materials, have better resistance to flex cracking than non-layered materials of similar composition having similar average stiffness.
Abstract:
A tire having a wide bearing surface and including reinforcing shoulders at the lateral extremities of a transverse hub, the hub, shoulders and casing being of unitary, monobloc construction.
Abstract:
A centrifugal tire casting machine is disclosed, which includes in combination a rotatable drive shaft and a rotatable idler shaft in axial alignment with each other. Means are provided for axially moving at least one of the drive and idler shafts toward and away from the other so as to extend through an axial opening in a core member and into engagement with the other of the drive and idler shafts to rotatably support the core member. A first and a second mold half are located on opposite sides of the core member and each is adapted to move inwardly and outwardly between open and closed positions. The first and second mold halves, in closed position, being in rotative driving engagement with the core and, also defining a tire cavity in combination with the core member. Drive means extend between the drive shaft and the core member for rotatively driving the core member and means are provided for moving the first and second mold halves between open and closed positions.
Abstract:
A MOLDED ARTICLE COMPRISING AN ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL AND ESSENTIALLY ORIENTED FIBERS EMBEDDED IN SAID ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL. THE MOLDED ARTICLE INCLUDES AT LEAST TWO SECTIONS CONTAINING SUCH FIBERS, WHEREIN SAID FIBERS OF SAID SECTIONS POSSESS RESPECTIVE ORIENTATION DIRECTIONS DIFFERING FROM ONE ANOTHER. THERE IS ALSO DISCLOSED A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING SUCH MOLDED ARTICLES WHEREIN THERE IS PROVIDED A HOLLOW MOLD HAVNG A MOLD COMPARTMENT, AND MEANS DEFINE AT LEAST ONE AUXILIARY COMPARTMENT PROVIDED FOR
SAID HOLLOW MOLD. THE HOLLOW MOLD INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE MOLD SECTION CONSTRUCTED TO BE MOVABLE TO DISPLACE MOLDING MATERIAL CONTAINING THE FIBERS AND USED FOR FORMING THE ARTICLE INTO A PART OF THE HOLLOW COMPARTMENT OF SAID MOLD WHICH IS INITIALLY FREE OF MOLDING MATERIAL.
Abstract:
A method of manufacture for producing a molded article from a polyurethane material, utilizing a spin casting apparatus, preferably a non-pneumatic tire, where a mold that is formed in sections or halves and has an inner cavity formed to have the shape of the article to be manufactured and is separable to release that article after manufacture. The mold is secured to a support plate of the apparatus that is journaled to turn axially imparting a centrifugal force into the mold. The support plate is connected to or is arranged to be connected to a motor assembly for turning, and includes a clamping arrangement for maintaining the mold halves together on the support plate. An annular trough is formed in the mold immediately adjacent to a mold interior cavity inner circumference to receive a polyurethane material liquid passed thereto, and to, in turn, pass that liquid through a trough annular opening or ports into the mold cavity. The polyurethane material is selected to begin to react, forming a foam, as support plate turning is initiated, providing immediate centrifugal forces into the material to uniformly distribute it throughout the mold cavity, compacting it against the cavity walls to form an article having a uniformly increasing porosity from a dense outer circumference to its inner circumference. The preferred polyurethane material used in the process is a composition of polyisocyanates, with water as a polyol, and preferably includes a blowing agent to produce carbon dioxide gas during curing and provides for, after mixing, a time delay in seconds to allow the mixture to fill the mold annular trough and at least partially travel into the mold cavity, before the mixture begins to react.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for producing foam elastomer tires for various uses including bicycle and wheel chair tires with a minimum amount of wasted material. The method involves spin casting the tires wherein a mold with suitably designed tapers on the exterior surface is placed between press plates with corresponding annular tapers which cause the mold to be accurately centered within the press plates when the press is closed. The preblended liquid foamable materials are either poured directly into the mold or onto a surface immediately adjacent to the mold gate. One or more tension members are located within the mold such that either the incoming stream of preblended liquid foamable materials wet the tension member(s), or the tension member(s) lie more or less in the path of the expanding foamable material as it fills and forces its way out of the mold, or (preferably) both. This ensures that the foaming material completely covers the tension member(s) so that the tension members are fully embedded and form an integral part of the resulting tire. This novel arrangement provides a method of producing consistent, high quality tires.