US 12,358,250 B2
Use of a moisture reservoir for retreading
Yichen Li, San Ramon, CA (US); Robert G. Otting, Illinois City, IL (US); and David L. Bender, Muscatine, IA (US)
Assigned to Bridgestone Bandag, LLC, Nashville, TN (US)
Appl. No. 17/914,017
Filed by BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC, Muscatine, IA (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 10, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/021714
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 23, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/194749, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/000,103, filed on Mar. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0119839 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B29D 30/56 (2006.01); B29D 30/54 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 30/542 (2013.01) [B29D 30/56 (2013.01); B29D 2030/544 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of retreading a tire without the use of a curing chamber for vulcanizing rubber, the method comprising:
determining a predetermined amount of moisture associated with controlling a release of water vapor during curing of a moisture-curing adhesive;
interposing a moisture-curing adhesive between an inner surface of a circumferential tread and an outer surface of a tire casing;
applying the circumferential tread to the tire casing so the inner surface contacts the outer surface and a bondline edge forms circumferentially about the tire casing proximate to a shoulder of the tire casing;
coupling a moisture reservoir to the circumferential tread proximate to the bondline edge such that at least a portion of the circumferential tread is not covered by the moisture reservoir;
interposing a film between the bondline edge and the moisture reservoir such that the film prevents interfacing between the bondline edge and the moisture reservoir;
wetting the moisture reservoir with the predetermined amount of moisture such that, responsive to the wetting, the water vapor is released from the moisture reservoir and permeates the bondline edge;
enclosing the circumferential tread, the tire casing, and the moisture reservoir within an envelope, the envelope being positioned so as to extend within grooves of the circumferential tread; and
removing air from the envelope to apply a pressure to the circumferential tread in a direction toward the tire casing such that an additional amount of moisture is released from the moisture reservoir and directed to the bondline edge to permeate the bondline edge,
wherein the envelope is positioned within the grooves to reduce moisture circulation within the envelope, and
wherein the film is coupled to the portion of the circumferential tread that is not covered by the moisture reservoir such that the envelope comes into contact with the film when air is removed from the envelope.