The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Daniel Patrick Hentosz

Albert James Yovichin

Timothy Michael Rooney

Robert Leon Benedict

Norbert Majerus

William Allen Rex

Thomas Andrew Laurich

John S Rambacher

Larry Eugene Steidl

Bernard Byron Jacobs

David Lowell Wolfe

Larry E Chlebina

Mohammad Eghbal Sobhanie

Ronda Renee Thayer

Walter George Macesich

A segmented annular mold for forming a tread belt having a reinforcing belt structure, the belt structure having a radial thickness (t) is disclosed. The mold has a plurality of radially movable and outwardly expandable inner segments for forming the inner surface of the tread belt and a plurality of radially movable and contracting outer segments for forming the outer tread belt surface. The radially inner and radially outer segments form a mold parting line at a location radially outward of a midpoint of the belt reinforcing structure of the tread belt at a location greater than 50% (t) as measured from the radially innermost surface of the belt reinforcing structure. The radially inner segments have upper and lower lateral edge forming portions extending outwardly to the parting line. Similarly, the radially outer mold segments have upper and lower lateral edge forming portions extending inwardly to the parting line. The parting line is located at least radially outwardly of a radially inner second belt layer of the belt reinforcing structure.

Mold for forming an annular tread belt

Molds for injection molding tire components have controlled temperature passages leading to a manifold surrounding each mold cavity. The manifold is positioned to minimize weld lines in the injected tire component. In addition, a narrow gate opening between the manifold and mold cavity provides an elevated temperature of the injected material for decreasing the curing time of the tire component in the mold. Blade members may support and position tire components such as bead apex assemblies in the mold. These tire components may be unloaded by an unloader ring in communication with a source of vacuum for pulling the tire component out of the mold.

Injection molding of a tire component

Growing community of inventors

Akron, OH, United States of America

Daniel Patrick Hentosz