Patent ID: 9623617
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: B29D

Claim:
1. A method for servicing a modified expandable rim for use in a tire retreading machine, comprising: removing at least one existing adapter from a flange segment of a plurality of shoes, the plurality of shoes including a rim portion and a base portion, the rim portion including a rim segment and flange segments on either side of the rim segment, the adapter extending over a circular segment of the expandable rim formed by the rim portion of the plurality of shoes and the adapter having a circular curvature corresponding to a circular curvature of the rim portion of the plurality of shoes; wherein a resulting rim width measured along the rotation axis between an inward facing surface of the existing adapter and an opposite inward facing surface of the flange segment is different than an original rim width, the original rim width measured between inward facing surfaces of the flange segments; removing a belt surrounding the expandable rim; disassembling the expandable rim to separate the plurality of shoes; reassembling the plurality of shoes to form the expandable rim; repositioning the belt on the expandable rim and replacing the at least one existing adapter with at least one new adapter.