Manufacture of microcellular foam tires
US5229047A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 4, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 4, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29L2030/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing foam elastomer tires for various uses including bicycle and wheel chair tires with a minimum amount of wasted material. The method involves spin casting the tires wherein a mold with suitably designed tapers on the exterior surface is placed between press plates with corresponding annular tapers which cause the mold to be accurately centered within the press plates when the press is closed. The preblended liquid foamable materials are either poured directly into the mold or onto a surface immediately adjacent to the mold gate. One or more tension members are located within the mold such that either the incoming stream of preblended liquid foamable materials wet the tension member(s), or the tension member(s) lie more or less in the path of the expanding foamable material as it fills and forces its way out of the mold, or (preferably) both. This ensures that the foaming material completely covers the tension member(s) so that the tension members are fully embedded and form an integral part of the resulting tire. This novel arrangement provides a method of producing consistent, high quality tires.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.