Improvements in and relating to Moulds for Making Bands and similar Articles, such as Vehicle Tyres, Packing Rings and Segments, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Moulds for Making Bands and similar
Articles, such as Vehicle Tyres, Packing Rings and Segments, and
the like.
I, JULES AUGUST COLLET, Manufacturer, residing at 435 437, Broadway,
Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and the State of New York, of the United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
n and by the following statement:
This invention relates to improvements in molds for making vehicle tires and
other similar elastic bands or articles, and particularly to a mold for making the
tire or band in ring or spiral form to adapt it for expansion from a curve of
small radius to a curve of larger radius in applying it to its rim or seat, so that
the inner or rim surface thereof will be placed in a state of tension to hug
the seat tightly while the outer bearing or tread surface thereof will be placed
in a state of compression to adapt it to better resist wear and provide for the
self-healing or natural closing of any cuts that may be made therein; and the
object of the invention is to provide a mold which is simple of construction
and easy of manipulation and whereby the operation of making tires or elastic
bands of this character may be readily and expeditiously performed.
The invention is shown in the present instance as adapted for making rubber
vehicle tires of the solid or cushion type, but it may also be employed for making
packing rings for pistons and other like elastic segments, bands or rings.
In the accompanying drawings,-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the drag and forming mandrel of the mold, the
cope being removed.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the mold box with the forming
mandrel in place.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mandrel and a completed tire
thereon.
Fig. 4 is a plan or inside view of the cope.
Fig. 5 is an isometric perspective view of the mold box, illustrating the cope
shifted longitudinally on the drag to expose the mating forming grooves or
cavities.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the drag and forming mandrel, showing a
modification in the construction of the latter for forming a channeled tire.
Fig. is a similar view, showing a further modification for forming a flat seat,
band or base section of the construction shown in Fig. 10.
Fig. 8 is also a plan view of the drag and mandrel, showing the parts adapted
for forming a base section and filler of the type illustrated in Fig. 11.
Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views showing different forms of tires
and seats or fillers produced by the forms of mold illustrated.
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a complete tire removed from the mandrel.
Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the same, illustrating the

page_text: manner in which the tread portion is compressed and the rim portion expanded
when the tire is straightened out.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a modified construction of mold, one of the
plates thereof being broken away to show the forming grooves or cavities..
Fig. 15 is a detail view showing two forms of holding pins.
In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a mold box A supported
in any suitable manner and made of any desired external shape or configuration
and of any preferred number of parts, as may be found necessary or most con-
venient. This box, in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, comprises
a drag or bottom section B, a cope or top section C and a forming drum or man-
drel D. The drag and cope are provided with corresponding semicircular central
recesses a open at each end and forming in conjunction a circular opening or
mold cavity for the reception of the mandrel, and upon opposite sides of said
recesses with parallel abutting faces b, the abutting faces of one of said parts
having dowel pins adapted to enter coinciding seats in the other part and
thereby effect an accurate connection between the two. Upon the interior of
each of said parts are inclined grooves e which are in communication with the
recess therein and serve when the parts are connected to form a spiral cavity.
The walls of the grooves may be made of any desired shape according to the
character of the article to be produced, but as shown are curved or rounded to
form the convex tread portion of an ordinary solid or cushion tire. The parting
ribs or walls separating the grooves from each other are provided with auxiliary
grooves g which are adapted to receive the surplus rubber or material forced out
of the main grooves during the process of vulcanization. The drag and cope are
provided with corresponding flanges E through which bolts or like fastenings are
adapted to be passed to clamp the same together.
The forming drum or mandrel D is hollow or cylindrical and is provided at its
ends with trunnions h which are journaled in open bearings F mounted to slide
vertically in guides or boxes G upon the ends of the drag B, so that the mandrel
may be lifted out of its bearings whenever desired and also vertically adjusted
to lower it into the recess of the drag and elevate it therefrom. The gearing
shown in the present instance for performing this function consists of a rack i
secured to or formed upon the bearing and with which meshes a pinion ¹ carried
by a shaft journaled in the wall of the box or guide and provided at its outer
end with a crank handle by which it may be operated. A pawl is provided
to engage the pinion and prevent casual turning thereof when the mandrel is
elevated. The outer surface or periphery of the mandrel is provided with a con-
tinuous spiral rib f1 forming a continuous longitudinal spiral groove el which
when the mandrel is placed in position between the drag and cope coincides with
the groove e therein and completes the formation of the molding cavity. This
groove may be also made of any desired shape in transverse section according to
the character of the article to be produced, but is shown in the present instance
as adapted to form the base portion of a tire of the type illustrated in Figs. 9
and 10, the bottom thereof being made flat and the sides slightly divergent or
outwardly inclined. The grooves e and e¹ may, however, be made semicircular
to form a circular tire or band or of any other approved form for making tires
or bands of any cross-sectional shape or area. The rib f of the mandrel bears
against the ribs f of the drag and cope and is likewise formed with an auxiliary
spiral groove acting in conjunction with the grooves g therein to receive the
surplus rubber running out of the mold cavity during the process of vulcanization.
To provide for the embedding of binding wires or thin metallic plates within
the tire or band, guide and stop pins project outwardly from the base of the
spiral forming groove in the mandrel. These pins 7 may be straight and arranged
alternately in two parallel rows in each series to receive the binding wires or
plates between them, as shown, and prevent lateral movement thereof, or in lieu
of straight pins arranged in such manner forked or substantially Y-shaped pins
(see Fig. 15) arranged in a continuous row or line at each point where a wire or

page_text: plate is to be embedded may be. employed, the wires or plates in this case being
placed within the forked ends of the pins. A holding pin m may also be pro-
vided near one end of the mandrel for securing one end of the wire or plate to
prevent the latter from being pulled around the mandrel during the operation of
threading the same through the pins or at any time subsequent thereto and until
vulcanization is effected. The end of the wire or plate may be twisted around or
otherwise applied to said holding pin or placed between said pin and the drag
so that the weight of the mandrel will hold it in place.
As before stated, the shape of cavity formed by the grooves shown in Figs. 1
to 5, inclusive, is designed for making solid cushion tires or elastic bands N of
the type shown in Figs. 9 and 10, adapted to rest directly upon the face of the
rim, as illustrated in Fig. 9, or upon an elastic base or seat N¹ interposed between
the base of the tire or band and face of the rim or seat for the band, as illustrated
in Fig. 10. In making the elastic base, the grooves in the mold box are dis-
pensed with and the groove in the mandrel alone used, as shown in Fig. 7. In
making a channeled tire of the type illustrated in Fig. 11, the arrangement of
grooves shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is employed, and in addition thereto a rib or
bead n (Fig. 6) is provided upon the mandrel to form the channel N2. In con-
junction with this type of tire a base or seat having a filler N³ to enter the
channel may be used, and in making the same the grooves e are reduced in depth
and width with respect to the groove el, as shown in Fig. 8. It is obvious from
the foregoing that by simply varying the area, arrangement and shape of the -
forming grooves the mold may be adapted for making elastic tires, bands or seg-
ments of any desired form and length and designed for a variety of uses.
In the operation of making a band or tire, the cope is removed and the form-
ing drum or mandrel elevated out of the recess of the drag by means of the
adjusting gear. The green rubber or raw material is then placed within the form-
ing groove of the mandrel in any approved manner, but preferably by starting at
one end of the groove and packing it continuously therein to the other end of
said groove, the mandrel being rotated on its bearings to permit of this operation
being quickly and conveniently accomplished, and the rubber or material being
packed deep enough to project within the grooves of the drag and cope when the
parts are assembled. When stiffening or binding plates or wires are to be
embedded in the tire, a thin layer of the raw material is first placed within the
groove of the mandrel and the plate or wire threaded along the groove so as to
held from lateral displacement by the pins 7 or 1, and then a second layer of the
raw material is filled in to pack the groove. The holding pin m is located adja-
cent to the starting end of the mandrel groove, and the starting end of the plate
or wire is held thereby in the manner heretofore stated to prevent said plate or
wire from being drawn longitudinally along the groove and displaced during
the operation of threading it and when the drum is rotated. After the groove
in the mandrel has been packed, the mandrel is lowered into the recess of the
drag and the cope brought down and locked, and the device is then ready for
vulcanization. During the process of vulcanization any surplus rubber contained
within the forming groove or cavity and forced out when the raw material begins
to run and expand will be received and retained within the auxiliary grooves g
and g, and all liability of injury to the mold will thus be avoided. After vul-
canization has been completed the cope is detached, the mandrel elevated, and the
completed tire removed.
The tire or hand N made in this manner is of spiral form. as shown in Fig. 12,
and when straightened out for application to the rim of the wheel, piston or
other object the coils or convolutions thereof are expanded from a curve of small
radius to a curve of larger radius, as indicated in Fig. 13, whereby the inner or
rim surface of the same is stretched or placed under tension while the outer or
tread surface thereof is compacted or placed under compression. By this means
the tire or band is adapted to naturally hug its seat and the wearing qualities

page_text: of its outer or tread surface are promoted and any cuts made in said surface tend
to close instead of to open or gape.
In Fig. 14 I have shown a modified construction of mold consisting of co-
operating plates B and C¹ corresponding to the drag and cope of the form of
mold illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive. In this modified construction the
mandrel and its receiving recesses are dispensed with and each plate is formed
upon one of its broad sides with a spiral groove e2, the grooves in the meeting
faces of the plates coacting to form the spiral mold cavity. The grooves also in-
stead of being disposed vertically are disposed horizontally to give the proper
direction to the spiral, as will be readily understood. Each pair of plates com-
prising a mold may be secured together by means of fastenings of any approved
type, and a number of such molds piled upon one another so that they may be
packed in close compass for storage, transportation or vulcanization. If desired
all of the plates or all of the intermediate plates of a series of molds so piled
may be grooved on both sides, so that three connecting plates of a series arranged
in this manner will form between them two complete tires. In Fig. 14 the cope
plate C¹ is represented as being grooved on opposite sides, the groove upon the
upper surface thereof appearing partially in broken lines. The holding and
guiding and retaining pins and auxiliary surplus rubber receiving grooves are
also employed in this construction.
It will be understood that the invention is not limited in use to the making
of rubber tires, but may be employed for making segmental, circular or spiral
bands of any desired character and of any elastic material which may be sub-
stituted for or subserve the purposes of rubber. It will also be understood that
changes in form, proportion and details of construction of the parts other than
those indicated herein may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth, comprising co-
operating parts having a spiral forming cavity.
2. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth, comprising co-
operating parts having a spiral forming cavity, and devices for holding a wire
or plate to be embedded in the band.
3. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth, comprising co-
operating parts having a spiral forming cavity, and a groove or grooves for
receiving surplus material.
4. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth, the same having
a cavity for forming the band in spiral shape.
5. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth, having a
spiral cavity formed by a groove or grooves in one or all of its co-operating parts.
6. A mold for making elastic bands having a spiral cavity formed by a groove
or grooves in one or more of its parts, and devices located in said cavity for
holding a wire or plate to be vulcanized in or to the band.
7. A mold for making elastic bands, having a forming cavity, and grooves for
taking up the surplus material forced out of said cavity during vulcanization.
S. A mold for inaking elastic bands, having a spiral cavity formed by a groove
or grooves in one or more of its parts, and grooves in the walls of said cavity
for the reception of surplus material.
"
9. A mold for making elastic bands, having a spiral cavity, and pins in said
cavity for holding a plate or wire to be embedded in the band.
10. A mold for making elastic bands, having a spiral cavity, devices in said
cavity for holding a plate or wire to be vulcanized in or to the band, and a device
at or near one end of the cavity for holding one end of the plate or wire.
11. A mold having a groove or grooves forming a spiral cavity, with an

page_text: auxiliary groove or grooves to receive the surplus material forced out of said
cavity during vulcanization.
12. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth, comprising a
drag and cope having corresponding recesses, and a forming mandrel adapted
to fit in said recesses and having a spiral forming groove.
13. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth, comprising a
mold box and a forming mandrel adapted to be fitted therein, one of said parts
being provided with a spiral forming cavity.
14. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth, comprising a
separable box, a mandrel adapted to be fitted therein, and bearings in which the
mandrel is rotatably mounted.
15. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth comprising a
box composed of a recessed drag and cope, and a forming mandrel adapted to be
fitted therein, a spiral forming cavity being formed in one or both of said parts.
16. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth, comprising a
recessed drag and cope, a forming mandrel fitted therein, bearings in which the
mandrel is rotatably mounted, and means for adjusting said bearings to raise
and lower the mandrel.
17. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth, comprising
recessed drag and cope portions provided with interior grooves forming a spiral
cavity and auxiliary grooves in the parting ribs or walls of said cavity, and a
mandrel having a spiral forming groove coacting with the spiral forming groove
of the drag and cope and also with an auxiliary groove coacting with the said
auxiliary grooves of the latter.
18. A mold for making elastic bands of the character set forth, comprising a
recessed drag and cope, a forming mandrel fitted therein and having a spiral
forming cavity, a groove in the wall of said cavity to receive surplus material,
pins in said cavity to retain a binding plate or wire therein, a holding device at
or near one end of the plate or band, bearings in which the mandrel is rotatably.
mounted, and means.for adjusting the hearings to raise and lower the mandrel.
Dated this 12th day of October 1899.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.