Improvements in Vulcanizing Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 14th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vulcanizing Apparatus.
I, HENRY JAMES DOUGHTY, of No. 680 Broad Street, in the City of Providence,
County of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for
molding and vulcanizing hollow articles and more especially pneumatic tubes,
having for its object to provide means whereby such articles may be expeditiously,
economically and effectually formed; and with this object in view, the invention
consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein-
after more particularly described.
In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which
like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention, the platens
of the vulcanizer being separated and the mold withdrawn from between the same.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus with the parts in position
for molding and vulcanizing.
Figure is a plan view of the apparatus, parts being broken away.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus, and
Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of the inflating needle and the control valve
therefor.
Briefly stated, the apparatus consists of a vulcanizer A comprising two platens
with suitable means for heating the same, and for moving them to and from each
other, and co-operating with the vulcanizer is a suitable separable mold B which is
adapted to be inserted between the platens of the vulcanizer to vulcanize its con-
tained articles and to be withdrawn from between the platens in order that it may
be opened to permit the finished articles to be readily removed and replaced by
unfinished articles. The invention as hereinbefore stated is more particularly
adapted for molding and vulcanizing hollow articles such as water bags, air
cushions, pneumatic tubes, etc., which it is necessary to expand within and cause
to conform closely to the interior surface of the mold. It may, however, be
employed for molding other articles, with but a slight modification. In the
present instance, the apparatus is intended for use in the manufacture of pneumatic
tires for bicycles and other vehicles and embodies means for automatically inflating
such tires within the mold with air, steam, water or other fluid under pressure
when the mold is inserted in the vulcanizer and the platens thereof have been
brought into engagement with the mold.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, A, designates the vulcanizer com-
prising a base 1, from which extend vertical standards 2, provided with screw
threaded upper ends. Supported and vertically adjustable upon the threaded
ends of these standards is a platen 3, the upper and lower faces of which are
engaged by nuts 4 which serve to support the platen and hold it in any position

page_text: to which it is adjusted. This platen in the present instance is annular as shown,
and is provided with a correspondingly shaped chamber 5 and a lower flat face.
Suitably guided upon the standards below the platen 3 is a second platen 6,
the upper face of which is flat and like the first is annular and provided with a
chamber 7. This lower platen 6 is adapted to move freely to and from the upper
platen 3; while different means for lifting and lowering the platen may be
employed, it is preferred to make use of hand operated devices for performing this
function. Thus, as shown, the lower platen 6 is supported upon a base plate 8
which is adapted, like the platen, to move freely upon the standards 2 and is pro-
vided centrally in its lower face with a semi-circular recess 9 and upon opposite
sides of the recess with flat bearings. Received into and conforming to the
recess 9 is a rib 10 upon the upper face of a toggle-block 12, which block upon
opposite sides of the rib is formed with oppositely inclined flat bearing surfaces,
one of which is adapted to be brought into contact with the bearing upon one side
of the recess 9, when the platen 6 is in its lowered position, and the other into
contact with the bearing upon the opposite side of the recess, when the platen is in
its elevated position. The lower face of the toggle block, like the upper is pro-
vided with a rib 13, the surfaces upon opposite sides of which are oppositely
inclined, such surfaces, however, being oppositely inclined to the corresponding
surfaces upon the upper face of the block. The rib 13 of the block 12 is received
into a semi-circular recess in the upper face of a second toggle-block 14 which
latter block, otherwise is identical in construction with the said block 12, being
provided at its upper and lower faces with inclined flat bearing surfaces and upon
its under face with a rib 15 which is received into a socket or recess of the base 1.
The bearings at the upper face of the lower block 14 are adapted to engage with the
oppositely inclined bearings at the lower face of the upper block 12
and the bearings at the lower face of the block 14 are adapted to alter-
nately engage with flat bearings of the base 1 upon opposite sides of the socket
thereof. Extending from one of the toggle blocks and preferably from the lower
one as shown, is an operating handle or lever 15" by means of which the said toggle
block is rocked. When the toggle blocks 12, 14, are in the position indicated in
Fig. 2, it will be seen that the bearings at the upper face of the block 12, and that
at the lower face of the block 14, at corresponding ends of said blocks upon the
left hand side of the fulcra thereof are in contact with bearings of the base plate 8,
and base 1 respectively and the bearings at the lower face of the block 12 and the
upper face of the block 14 are in contact with each other at corresponding ends
upon the right hand side of the fulcra of the blocks, the ribs 10, 13 and 15 being
all in the same vertical plane or substantially so, and the platen 6 being in its
elevated position. When, however, the operating lever is depressed the toggle
blocks are rocked upon their fulcra, the different bearing surfaces thereof are
brought into the position shown in Fig. 1, and the rib 13 is moved out of alignment
with the ribs 10, 15, in consequence of which the platen 6 is brought to its lowered
position.
In order to supply the chambers 5, 7, of the upper and lower platens with a
suitable heating fluid, supply pipes 18, 19, are provided which communicate with
the said chambers 5, 7, respectively, and as there is but a very slight movement of
the parts the pipe may be directly connected as the spring of the pipe will be
sufficient without any sliding joints.
Co-operating with the vulcanizer is a suitable mold B formed in two or more
separate sections which permit ready access to the interior of the mold. As shown,
the mold comprises two annular sections 22, 23, which are hinged together at one
side and provided in their opposing faces with semi-circular annular channels,
which, when the mold sections are brought together register and form an annular
circular mold chamber 24. The upper and lower outer faces of the mold are
formed flat and when the mold is closed, it is adapted to be inserted between the
platens of the vulcanizer. To the end that the mold may be conveniently and
quickly moved between and without the platens with a very little effort upon the

page_text: part of the operator, it is provided upon each side with separated rollers 25, which,
when the platen 6 is in its lowered position, are adapted to rest upon a track 26
the rails of which are parallel and constitute guides, and said rails are arranged
upon opposite sides of the vulcanizer. These rails are supported at their inner
ends upon brackets 27 of the standards 2 and their outer ends project beyond the
press sufficiently far to permit the mold to be moved upon the track to a position
wholly without the press, and said ends are supported upon uprights 28 and are
provided with stops 29, which arrest the outward movement of the mold.
In its front edge the upper mold section 22 is provided with a recess within which
is pivoted a handle 30 by means of which the mold may be readily moved over the
track and as it sometimes happens in the process of vulcanizing that the mold
sections become stuck together, the handle is provided at its inner end with a toe 31
which when the handle is swung upward upon its pivot engages with a bearing
of the lower mold section and forces the two sections apart.
Various devices may be employed for inflating the article within the mold, but
those which will now be described are preferred on account of their simplicity
and effectiveness.
Leading from the chamber 5 of the platen 3 is a passage 33 which extends
through a casing 34 secured to the platen, the said casing projecting slightly below
the under face of the platen and being provided with a conical end through which
the passage 33 extends.
Within the passage 33 is formed a valve seat to which is
adapted a valve 35 provided with a vertical stem 36 which extends through the
passage 33 and projects slightly below the end of the casing 34 and is formed at
its end with channels 36". Above this valve 35 is a spring 37 which serves to force
the valve to its seat.
One of the mold sections, preferably the lower one, as shown, is provided with a
detachable block or extension 38, the upper end of which, when in position, is
flush with the top surface of the upper mold section 22 when in its closed position.
This extension is provided with a passage 39 which extends through the upper end
thereof and terminates in a flaring mouth. Secured to the block or extension is
an inflating needle 40, which is received in a recess in the mold section 22, and
the point of which projects into the channel of said section and is provided with an
eye which communicates with a passage extending longitudinally through the
needle and this passage in turn communicates with the passage 39 of the exten-
sion 38.
Assuming now a tire of vulcanizable material to have been placed in the mold,
the end of the inflating needle having been previously placed within the same and
the block 38 placed in position upon the mold section, the mold is closed and moved
along the track to a fixed position (governed by adjustable stops) between the upper
and lower platens of the vulcanizer. The lower platen of the vulcanizer is then
elevated in the manner hereinbefore described, and in the course of its upward
movement it engages with the under face of the mold, lifts it from the track and
carries it into contact with the upper platen in which position it remains until the
tire has been sufficiently vulcanized. During the upward movement of the mold,
however, the end of the casing 34 enters the flaring mouth of the extension 38
making a steam tight connection therewith and simultaneously the end of the
valve stem 36 makes contact with a bearing in the mouth of the extension and as
the upward movement of the platen continues the valve 35 is lifted from its seat
permitting steam to flow from the chamber 5 through the passages 33, 39, and the
inflating needle 40 into the tire thereby inflating the same and causing it to
conform closely to the walls of the mold chamber in which inflated condition it is
vulcanized.
It will be obvious that although the improved apparatus shown is particularly
adapted for molding and vulcanizing annular tubes or vehicle tires, that simply
by changing the form of platens and mold other articles such as straight tubes,
water bags, etc., may be formed. It will be apparent also that while the passage 33
is shown as communicating with the heating chamber 5 it may communicate with

page_text: any other source of fluid supply. These and various other obvious changes in con-
struction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
1st. The combination with a vulcanizer, of a mold adapted thereto, and means
for automatically inflating an article within the mold at a predetermined time,
substantially as described.
2nd. The combination with a vulcanizer, of a mold adapted thereto, and detach-
able therefrom, a valve controlled passage leading into the interior of the
mold and means for opening the valve at a predetermined time, substantially as
described.
3rd. The combination with a vulcanizer comprising two platens, one movable
towards and from the other, means for moving the said platen and for heating the
same, guides, and a mold movable upon the guides to positions between and
without the platens, substantially as described.
4th. The combination with a vulcanizer, comprising an upper and a lower platen,
each provided with a chamber for containing a heated fluid under pressure, a mold
adapted to be inserted between the platens, a hollow inflating needle extending into
the mold chamber and automatic means for effecting a communication between the
passage of the needle and the chamber of one of the platens at a predetermined
time, substantially as described.
5th. The combination with a vulcanizer comprising an upper and lower platen
each being formed with a chamber for containing heated fluid under pressure, a
casing having a passage communicating with one of the platen-chambers, and a
valve for controlling said passage, a mold adapted to be inserted between the
platens, a hollow inflating needle extending into the mold chamber, and means
for placing the passage of the needle into communication with that of the casing,
and for opening the valve in said latter passage at a predetermined time, substan-
tially as described.
6th. The combination with a vulcanizer comprising an upper and a lower platen,
one of which is movable towards the other, means for moving said platens, a mold
adapted to be received between the platens, a hollow inflating needle extending
into the mold chamber, and means for automatically placing the passage of the
needle into communication with a source of supply of fluid under pressure, sub-
stantially as described.
7th. The combination with a vulcanizer comprising an upper and a lower platen
and a mold adapted to be received between and to be removed from the platens,
said mold comprising two sections hinged together at one side and provided at its
opposite side with means for forcing the sections apart. substantially as described.
8th. The combination with a vulcanizer comprising an upper and a lower platen,
a track extending to and projecting beyond the press, a separable mold provided
with rollers or bearings engaging the track, said mold being adapted to move upon
the track to positions between and without the platens, substantially as described.
9th. A vulcanizer comprising a base, an upper platen and a lower platen, a
support for the lower platen, and means for raising and lowering the lower platen
comprising two toggle-blocks engaging each other and the support and base
respectively, said blocks being provided with inclined bearings upon opposite sides
of their fulcra, substantially as described.
10th. The combination with a vulcanizer, comprising an upper and a lower
platen, means for heating the platens, a separable mold adapted to be inserted
between the platens, a hollow inflating needle detachable from the mold and
adapted to extend into the chamber therof, and means for automatically placing

page_text: the inflating needle into communication with a source of supply of fluid under
pressure when the mold is inserted into the vulcanizer, substantially as described.
Dated this 5th day of March A D 1898
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.