Leak-detecting apparatus
First Claim
1. In a fluid-operated tire-vulcanizing press having an operating cycle wherein a fluid-inflatable diaphragm which forms an expansible chamber is utilized in conjunction with heated molds to shape and cure a pneumatic tire positioned between the inflatable diaphragm and the molds, leak-detecting apparatus comprising leakage fluid-transfer means communicating with said chamber when a leak occurs in said chamber, and sensing means in said fluid-transfer means and responsive to leakage fluid from said expansible chamber and actuated by said leakage fluid for indicating a malfunction of the press, said fluid-transfer means including means for preventing air from outside the press from entering the fluid-transfer means in the vicinity of said sensing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Leak-detecting apparatus for a tire-vulcanizing press which is extremely sensitive and is capable of monitoring minute leaks in a diaphragm or bag in the region of the bottom of the bag susceptible to cracking and removed from the vicinity of the leak-detecting apparatus which ordinarily is at a top plate of the press. The apparatus includes temperature-sensitive resistive means in a normally balanced bridge circuit which is unbalanced by leakage fluid from the diaphragm for indicating a malfunction of the press and also includes a check valve for preventing air from outside the press from entering the vicinity of the temperature-sensitive resistive means.
15 Citations
4 Claims
- 1. In a fluid-operated tire-vulcanizing press having an operating cycle wherein a fluid-inflatable diaphragm which forms an expansible chamber is utilized in conjunction with heated molds to shape and cure a pneumatic tire positioned between the inflatable diaphragm and the molds, leak-detecting apparatus comprising leakage fluid-transfer means communicating with said chamber when a leak occurs in said chamber, and sensing means in said fluid-transfer means and responsive to leakage fluid from said expansible chamber and actuated by said leakage fluid for indicating a malfunction of the press, said fluid-transfer means including means for preventing air from outside the press from entering the fluid-transfer means in the vicinity of said sensing means.
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3. In a fluid-operated tire-vulcanizing press having an operating cycle wherein a fluid-inflatable diaphragm which forms an expansible chamber is utilized in conjunction with heated molds to shape and cure a pneumatic tire positioned between the inflatable diaphragm and the molds, leak-detecting apparatus comprising leakage fluid-transfer means communicating with said chamber when a leak occurs in said chamber, and sensing means including temperature-sensitive resistive means in said fluid-transfer means and responsive to leakage fluid from said expansible chamber and actuated by said leakage fluid for providing a signal for indicating a malfunction of the press, said fluid-transfer means including means for preventing air from outside the press from entering the fluid-transfer means in the vicinity of said sensing means, said temperature-sensitive means comprising one temperature-sensitive means responsive to the ambient temperature and non-responsive to abrupt changes in ambient temperature and a second temperature-sensitive means responsive to abrupt changes in ambient temperature, said first and second temperature-sensitive means being coupled in a normally balanced bridge circuit which is unbalanced by said leakage fluid.
Specification