Systems and methods for forming non-pneumatic tires

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9387637-B2
Application number	US-201213606891-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2012
Priority date	Sep 7, 2012
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

A method for molding a non-pneumatic tire includes placing a hub into a lower mold portion, and associating at least one temperature sensor with the lower mold portion. The method further includes placing an upper mold portion onto the lower mold portion and the hub, heating the mold assembly, heating a molding material, and transferring the heated molding material into the interior of the mold assembly. The method further includes heating the mold assembly and molding material until the at least one temperature sensor indicates that the molding material has reached a first temperature, and maintaining the temperature of the molding material at the first temperature for a first predetermined period of time. The method further includes reducing the temperature of the molding material to a second temperature after the first predetermined period of time, and separating the upper mold portion and molded tire from the lower mold portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for molding a non-pneumatic tire, the method comprising:
placing a hub configured to be associated with the tire into a lower mold portion, such that a first portion of the hub provides a seal with the lower mold portion, wherein the lower mold portion includes a plurality of first projections configured to create cavities in the tire;
placing spacers on ends of at least some of the first projections;
placing an upper mold portion onto the lower mold portion and the hub to create a mold assembly having an interior, such that a second portion of the hub provides a seal with the upper mold portion, wherein the upper mold portion includes a plurality of second projections configured to create cavities in the tire, and wherein the spacers are located between ends of the at least some first projections and respective ends of at least some of the second projections;
heating the mold assembly;
heating a molding material;
transferring the heated molding material into the interior of the mold assembly, such that the interior is substantially filled;
heating the mold assembly and molding material;
separating the upper mold portion from the lower mold portion; and
separating the tire from the lower mold portion, wherein the tire includes a plurality of cavities that extend from one side of the tire to another side of the tire in an uninterrupted manner.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing spacers on ends of the at least some first projections includes bonding the spacers to the ends of the at least some first projections.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spacers include silicone.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the first projections and at least some of the second projections are tapered, such that cross-sections of the cavities differ at different axial points between sides of the tire.

5. The method of claim 1 , further including associating at least one temperature sensor with the lower mold portion, and wherein heating the mold assembly and molding material includes heating the mold assembly and molding material until the at least one temperature sensor indicates that the molding material has reached a first temperature, and maintaining the temperature of the molding material at the first temperature for a first predetermined period of time.

6. The method of claim 5 , further including reducing the temperature of the molding material to a second temperature after the first predetermined period of time, and maintaining the molding material at the second temperature for a second predetermined period of time.

7. A method for molding a non-pneumatic tire, the method comprising:
placing a hub configured to be associated with the tire into a lower mold portion, such that a first portion of the hub provides a seal with the lower mold portion;
locating the lower mold portion and the hub under a lift apparatus configured to lift and lower an upper mold portion;
lowering an upper mold portion onto the lower mold portion and the hub via the lift apparatus to create a mold assembly having an interior, such that a second portion of the hub provides a seal with the upper mold portion;
moving the mold assembly into an oven;
heating the mold assembly;
removing the mold assembly from the oven;
heating a molding material;
transferring the heated molding material into the interior of the mold assembly, such that the interior is substantially filled;
moving the filled mold assembly into the oven;
heating the filled mold assembly in the oven;
removing the filled mold assembly from the oven;
locating the filled mold assembly under the lift apparatus;
lifting the upper mold portion from the lower mold portion; and
separating the tire from the lower mold portion.

8. The method of claim 7 , further including, prior to lowering the upper mold portion onto the lower mold portion and the hub, applying a mold releasing agent to the lower mold portion and the upper mold portion.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein applying the mold releasing agent to the upper mold portion includes orienting the upper mold portion in a substantially vertical orientation using the lift apparatus, and lowering the upper mold portion onto the lower mold portion and the hub includes re-orientating the upper mold portion in a substantially horizontal orientation.

10. The method of claim 7 , further including associating at least one temperature sensor with the lower mold portion, and wherein heating the filled mold assembly includes heating the filled mold assembly until the at least one temperature sensor indicates that the molding material has reached a first temperature, and maintaining the temperature of the molding material at the first temperature for a first predetermined period of time.

11. The method of claim 10 , further including reducing the temperature of the molding material to a second temperature after the first predetermined period of time, and maintaining the molding material at the second temperature for a second predetermined period of time.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the lower mold portion includes a plurality of first projections configured to create cavities in the tire, and the upper mold portion includes a plurality of second projections configured to create cavities in the tire, wherein the method further includes placing spacers on ends of at least some of the first projections, and placing the upper mold portion onto the lower mold portion and the hub results in the spacers being located between ends of the at least some first projections and respective ends of at least some of the second projections.

Assignees

• Martin Kevin L
• Amstutz Aaron K
• Colantoni David J
• Pierz Stephen J
• Kempa Kevin D
• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Martin Kevin L
• Amstutz Aaron K
• Colantoni David J
• Pierz Stephen J
• Kempa Kevin D

Classifications

• B29D30/02 Primary

  Solid tyres {; Moulds therefor} · CPC title