Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A segmented matrix cure press retreads pneumatic tires by vulcanizing a tread strip onto a tire casing. The press centers the tire and provides a tailored support to the entire casing periphery of the tire. A bottom mold cavity forming member having a ring with a contoured surface matched to the bead and sidewall areas of one side of the tire is mounted on a vertically movable base plate of the press. A top mold cavity forming member has a similarly shaped contoured ring and is movable into and out of engagement with the bottom member. A standard inflatable inner tube and flap are inserted within a tire which is placed on the contoured surface of the bottom cavity forming member which centers the tire within the press. The top member is lowered onto and locked with the bottom member forming a mold cavity therebetween with the contoured surfaces coinciding with and trapping the bead and sidewall areas of the tire therebetween. The press further includes a segmented matrix and a segmented heating ring which move radially inwardly on slide plates which are slidably mounted on the base plate to engage the unvulcanized tread strip and adjacent tread area of the tire to completely enclose the mold cavity. After the tread is cured by the heating which rings which surrounds the segmented matrix, the top mold cavity forming member is raised, the segmented matrix and heating ring are moved radially outwardly, and the innertube is deflated, thus enabling the cured tire to be removed from the bottom cavity forming member.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim