Mold apparatus for forming grooves in tire shoulder

• US 8,186,985 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Cuny, André, Pierre, Christophe Jean Alexis, Ouyahia, Yacine
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey, James
• Application Number:
  US12/906,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 425/28.1, 425/37
• US Class Current: 425/37
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/061 Means for forming passages under the tread surface, e.g. undercuts, holes, channels, grooves
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0606 Vulcanising moulds not integral with vulcanising presses for solid tyres B29D30/02

Abstract

A mold device is described for use in a mold having a plurality of tread molding segments. Each tread molding segment has an end face for mating with an adjoining segment. The mold device includes a piston located on the segment end face and is actuated by the opening and closing of the mold. Each of the mold segments further includes a retractable blade assembly having a first and second chamber; wherein the piston is positioned within the first chamber and having a plunger end in communication with a temperature sensitive block of material and a spring. The first chamber is in fluid communication with a second chamber, wherein said second chamber further comprises a retractable blade mounted within a blade collar wherein the blade collar is slidably received within said second chamber; said second chamber further comprises a temperature sensitive block of material and a spring.

Claims

1. A tire mold comprising:

a plurality of tread molding segments, each tread molding segment having an end face for mating with an adjoining tread molding segment, each of said segments further comprising a piston located on said end face and actuated by the opening and closing of the mold;

each of said mold segments further comprising a retractable blade assembly having a first and second chamber;

wherein the piston is positioned within the first chamber and having a plunger end in communication with a temperature sensitive block of material and a spring;

said first chamber being in fluid communication with said second chamber;

wherein said second chamber further comprises a retractable blade mounted within a blade collar wherein the blade collar is slidably received within said second chamber;

said second chamber further comprises a temperature sensitive block of material and a spring.

2. The mold of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensitive block of material is solid at room temperature and a liquid at a temperature greater than 200 deg F.

3. The mold of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensitive block of material is formed of silicone.