US 12,070,918 B2
Curing mold assemblies for non-pneumatic tires as well as methods of manufacture
Zachary G. Lorenz, Nashville, TN (US); and Steven J. Jenkins, Nashville, TN (US)
Assigned to Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC, Nashville, TN (US)
Appl. No. 18/559,964
Filed by Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
PCT Filed Jun. 15, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/072957
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 9, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/266636, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/212,198, filed on Jun. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0253317 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B29D 30/02 (2006.01); B29D 30/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 30/02 (2013.01) [B29D 30/0016 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire, said method comprising:
supporting a curing shoe assembly on a mold base that has a mold axis with said curing shoe assembly including:
an assembly rod having a rod axis and supported on said mold base in radially-offset alignment with said mold axis;
a first rocker arm supported on said assembly rod;
a first curing shoe supported on said first rocker arm;
a second rocker arm supported on said assembly rod; and,
a second curing shoe supported on said second rocker arm;
providing a less-than-fully-cured non-pneumatic tire assembly that includes a plurality of support structures disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another with a plurality of spaces disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another with one of said plurality of spaces between adjacent ones of said plurality of support structures;
positioning said less-than-fully-cured non-pneumatic tire assembly along said mold base such that said curing shoe assembly is disposed within one of said plurality of spaces and axially coextensive with said less-than-fully-cured non-pneumatic tire assembly;
displacing a first distal end of said first rocker arm and a second distal end of said second rocker arm toward said rod axis such that said first and second curing shoes are displaced outward into engagement with and apply pressure to said less-than-fully-cured non-pneumatic tire assembly; and,
curing said non-pneumatic tire assembly.
 
16. A mold assembly for curing non-pneumatic tires, said mold assembly comprising:
a mold base having a mold axis;
an assembly rod having a rod axis and supported on said mold base in radially-offset alignment with said mold axis;
a first rocker arm supported on said assembly rod;
a first curing shoe supported on said first rocker arm;
a second rocker arm supported on said assembly rod; and,
a second curing shoe supported on said second rocker arm.