Patent GB-786348-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to press for shaping and curing pneumatic tyres
IPC: B29D30/06
Filed: 1954-11-23
Abstract: 786,348. Moulding flat bands into tyre form. McNEIL MACHINE & ENGINEERING CO. Nov. 23, 1954 [March 16, 1954], No. 28324/56. Divided out of 786,347. Class 87(2). A press for shaping and curing pneumatic tyres comprising upper and lower relatively movable mould sections with a flexible and inflatable diaphragm arranged between them comprises upper and lower diaphragm plates 101, 106 attached to the edges of the diaphragm 100, a first fluid pressure operated means to raise and lower the diaphragm plates with respect to the lower mould section 8 and a second fluid pressure operated means to spread the diaphragm plates to strip the diaphragm from the cured tyre. the second fluid pressure means being in line with and carried by the first fluid pressure means. The first fluid pressure means comprises a cylinder 146 and piston (not shown) and piston rod 147. A cylinder 114 forms an extension of the piston rod 147 and carries at its upper end the lower diaphragm plate 106. The second fluid pressure means comprises the cylinder 114 with a piston 120 in the form of a rubber ball, e.g., of butyl rubber to resist the action of water or oil, which seats in the bottom end of a vertical shaft 105, the top end of which is clamped by a split collar 104 to the upper diaphragm plate 101. The operation of the press is controlled by a separate timer and by limit switches, in known manner. With the press in the open position, Fig. 2, the workman places an uncured tyre band B over the diaphragm 100 where it rests on the lower diaphragm plate 106. A motor 48 is then started to operate a gear train to close the press, which is constructed, as described in Specification 786,347, to cause the upper mould section 12 to rock, in the first part of its movement, from its tilted, open, position to a position parallel to the lower mould section 8, as shown in dotted lines. As operation of the gear train continues the mould section 12 moves vertically downwards until a bead ring 18 carried by it mates with a coned surface 103 on the plate 101, when further downward movement compresses and shapes the diaphragm and the tyre band. During this operation low pressure steam may be admitted to the diaphragm to assist in shaping the tyre. With the mould closed, high pressure steam is admitted to cure the tyre. and at the end of the curing period and an interval sufficient for the pressure to fall to a safe limit the timer reverses the motor 48 and the mould starts to open. The operation of a limit switch then admits fluid pressure into the cylinder 146 and the piston rod 147 rises, forcing up the cylinder 114 and the lower diaphragm plate 106. The rim of the plate 106 is formed to engage the lower head of the tyre and thus the cured tyre is stripped from the lower mould section and at the same time the whole diaphragm assembly is raised, Fig. 3. A limit switch then operates to admit fluid pressure below the piston 120 and the rod 105 is therefore forced upwards out of the cylinder 114, raising the upper diaphragm plate 101, extending the diaphragm 100 and stripping it from the tyre, Fig. 4. The tyre is removed by the workman who then actuates a valve to reverse the pressure in the cylinder 146 and restore the extended diaphragm to the position shown in Fig. 2. Specifications 652,367 and 691,173 also are referred to.