Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – Direct application of fluid pressure differential to... – Producing toroidal work
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-26
2001-04-10
Mackey, James P. (Department: 1722)
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
Direct application of fluid pressure differential to...
Producing toroidal work
C425S058100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06214280
ABSTRACT:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
None.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to the manufacture of pneumatic tires and relates in particular to a post inflator for said tires to be used in conjunction with a curing press to post inflate the tires in a vertical mode following curing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known in the tire manufacturing industry to “post inflate” tires following curing. As the warm tires are removed from the curing press, they are chucked onto a suitable sized chucking apparatus and inflated during the cooling period. They are then removed and moved on to further processing stations.
Heretofore in the prior art, the tires have generally been positioned horizontally, that is with their sidewalls parallel to the ground, floor or other surface supporting the machine. The tires are then “hung” in this position for a fixed period of time following which they are reversed or turned over and permitted to hang for a similar suitable period of time in that mode following which they are removed and moved on to a further processing station.
The difficulty is that these tires are very hot when removed from the curing press having been cured at a temperature in the range of from about 280° F. to 400° F. Positioning the tires in a horizontal mode during the post-cure operation results in deformation of the tire in many instances because of the tendency of the sidewalls to sag due to gravitational forces.
Accordingly, it is believed desirable to provide an apparatus and method for avoiding this deformation while still accomplishing the basic post-cure inflation process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been found that the post-cure inflation operation can be facilitated and improved by mounting the tires in a vertical position during the operation such that the tread area of the tire is substantially parallel to the ground or supporting surface. In this way, deformation of the tire can be avoided as the tire cools.
It has further been found that rotating the tire during this operation will facilitate the post-cure operation so as to speed up the operation and facilitate continuous production.
In furtherance of this objective, it has been found that a frame with at least one driven shaft and one free-wheeling shaft carried thereon and mounted in opposed coaxial condition can be used to carry rim-engaging chucks so that the tires may be mounted, inflated and rotated during the post-curing process so that tires may be cooled and rotated during the post-curing cycle.
It has also been found that an apparatus for achieving the above-noted objects can be improved if mounted so as to be portable or movable from position to position so that it can be selectively located adjacent to the curing press or presses.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3529048 (1970-09-01), Kovac et al.
Akron Special Machinery, Inc.
Mackey James P.
Taylor Reese
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