Patent ID: 6746227
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: B29C,B29D,B29K,B29L,B60C

Abstract:
A tire tread die comprising an outer tread passage for forming an electrically non-conductive rubber outer tread, a lower undertread passage for forming a lower layer of electrically conductive rubber characterized by:(a) a chimney block mounted in said outer tread passage and extending from an inner surface to an outer surface of said passage; (b) a chimney block opening extending from one end of said chimney block to an opposite end; (c) an undertread orifice in said outer tread passage in communication with said lower undertread passage and with said chimney block opening, said lower undertread passage having a recess at said lower undertread orifice for guiding said lower layer of electrically conductive rubber into said chimney block opening; (d) a slot in a downstream side of said chimney block in communication with said chimney block opening and extending between said one end and said opposite end of said chimney block for communicating a narrow strip of said lower layer to said outer tread in said outer tread passage; and (e) a final die downstream of said outer tread passage and said lower undertread passage for receiving said lower layer and said outer tread with said narrow strip of lower layer extending from said undertread to an outer surface of said outer tread.