Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus are disclosed for correcting one or more uniformity characteristics in a tire and particularly to correction in a low profile tire or a tire having a projection along the sidewall. The uniformity characteristic may be a radial force variation, conicity, or both. Correction is accomplished by stretching portions of the tire architecture to create permanent deformation.

Abstract: Device for manufacturing the tread of a tire, said tread comprising a plurality of relief tread elements of height h whose radially outer surface is designed to be in contact with the ground when the tire is rolling on the road surface, comprising a rotary support suitable for supporting a base strip (MB) forming a receiving surface (S), an extrusion die (1) comprising a plurality of extrusion nozzles whose outlet channels are oriented radially approximately perpendicular to the receiving surface (S), at least two compound supply means, each feeding into one or more separate extrusion nozzles, and means for positioning and moving the extrusion die relative to the receiving surface (S).

Abstract: A bladder is made to be expandable and contractible at a vulcanization position within a lower mold assembly and to be expandable and contractible also at a tire delivery position which is spaced a predetermined distance from the vulcanization position along a center axis of the lower mold assembly. With a centering shaft passing through an upper mold, the bladder and the lower mold assembly, a green tire loaded into the tire delivery position is held by the bladder by expanding the bladder and is loaded by the bladder into the lower mold assembly. After a vulcanization processing, the bladder removes the vulcanized tire from the vulcanization position to the delivery position, and after the centering shaft is drawn out from the lower mold assembly and the bladder, the bladder is contracted at the delivery position to make it possible to release the vulcanized tire from the bladder.

Abstract: Methods and devices for vulcanizing or cross-linking under pressure and increased temperature shaped bodies that consist especially of rubber mixtures. The shaped body is first dipped into a bed of fine-grained pourable or free-flowing bulk material with the sections to be vulcanized and the bulk material is brought into evenly tight contact with the surfaces of the shaped body while the bulk material is pressurized and brought to the elevated temperature at least in the region adjoining the section of the shaped body to be vulcanized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device used for vulcanising or cross-linking under pressure and increased temperature shaped bodies that consist especially of rubber mixtures. According to the invention the shaped body is first dipped into a bed of fine-grained pourable or free-flowing bulk material with the sections to be vulcanised and the bulk material is brought into evenly tight contact with the surfaces of the shaped body while the bulk material is pressurised and brought to the elevated temperature at least in the region adjoining the section of the shaped body to be vulcanised.

Abstract: The invention is a pressurized water recovery system for a fuel cell power plant including at least one fuel cell having an electrolyte between anode and cathode electrodes for producing an electric current from a reducing fluid and an oxidant stream. A coolant loop directs a coolant fluid from a reservoir through a coolant passage to the fuel cell and back to the reservoir, and the coolant loop also receives coolant fluid through water lines secured between condensing heat exchangers and the coolant reservoir. A process exhaust passage directs a process exhaust stream from adjacent the cathode and anode electrodes out of the fuel cell and into a condensing heat exchanger. Whenever the power plant is under coolant stress, a process exhaust valve selectively directs a portion of the process exhaust stream out of the process exhaust passage to a supercharger that pressurizes the received portion of the process exhaust stream and directs the pressurized portion to a pressurized condensing heat exchanger.

Abstract: A device for producing raised lettering on the sidewall of an elastomeric line includes a mechanism for mounting the tire in position to expose its outer sidewall. A mold member is provided having front and rear surfaces, an outer boundary, and an axial opening defining a radially inner boundary. The mold member is sized and shaped to cover the exposed outer sidewall of the tire with the front surface thereof when the tire is disposed on the mounting mechanism. A plurality of annular channels are defined in the mold member front surface radially spaced between the inner and outer boundaries of the mold member. A plurality of support members are each adapted for holding an alphanumeric elastomeric member in the form of the mirror image of a preselected alphanumeric symbol. The support members include an arrangement for selectively interlocking the support members with each other to form a series of symbols into a preselected legend for producing the raised lettering.

Abstract: A tire repair method includes assembling a harness having straps, a first (or outside) air bag and a first (or outside) heating pad, placing a tire having an area in need of repair so that the repair site is over the heating pad and the tires axis of rotation is parallel to the harness straps, then inserting a second (or inside) heating pad and a second (or inside) air bag on the inside of the tire, and finally putting in place a pair of complementary mandrel halves of the same size. These mandrel halves when in place overlie the repair area of the tire and the other items of equipment. Each mandrel half includes a top surface (which is placed in proximity with a tire bead), a convex outside surface which generally has the same contour as that of the inside of the tire sidewall, a flat inside surface, a bottom surface which is preferably convex, and two ends.

Abstract: Repair plates particularly adapted for mending various surfaces of a vehicle tire in which a plate body is formed from an epoxy casting resin material which is stable at curing temperatures of at least 220 deg. F., and has a face surface having the same configuration as the area of the surface of the tire to be mended, and a perforated aluminum plate imbedded in the rear surface of the plate body.

Abstract: As arc section of the casing 11 of a tire 10 to be retreaded is engaged on the outside by a mold element 15 defining a hollow mold chamber 17 and on the inside by a mushroom shaped counter mold element 16 configured to the inner contour of the casing. The relatively movable elements 15 and 16 are pressed towards each other to seal the chamber 17, and tread rubber is injected into the chamber and vulcanized to the casing. The mold elements are then retracted and the casing is rotated to a fresh arc section to thus retread the entire casing circumference in a stepped or successive manner.

Abstract: The specification describes a portable tire repair apparatus which is sleevable within a tire and is provided with heating elements which are positioned to effect repairs to both tire treads and tire sidewalls. The heating elements are resilient so that they do not deform the tire during the repair operation.

Abstract: An endless tread assembly is fabricated on a ring having grooves and ridges which mold the radially inward surface of the tread assembly. The ring is a thin walled cylinder having a single slit or gap. The tread assembly on the ring is suspended by rotatable wheels rollable on the inward surface of the ring, so as to position an arcuate portion of the ring and tread assembly between a fixed press arm and a single movable heated press mold shoe operable to mold about a 40 degree arc of the tread assembly between the shoe and the ring backed by the press arm. Lugs on the inward surface of the ring cooperate with a latch fixed on the press arm to index selected increments of the tread assembly and ring between the press arm and mold segment. After all arcuate increments of the tread assembly have been molded and cured, the ring is opened at the gap and then simply flexed to reduce its diameter sufficiently to remove the cured tread assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating the spliced ends of a strip of white sidewall positioned on an unvulcanized tire. The unvulcanized tire is positioned such that the spliced ends of the strip rest against a resilient cushion located adjacent the inner peripheral surface of the tire. A heated pad is movable toward the cushion to compress the spliced ends of the strip together while simultaneously heating the ends to cause a crosslinking and at least a partial vulcanization of the rubber of the spliced ends to provide a highly improved splice which will not readily come apart under stress.