US1643196A - Vulcanizer - Google Patents

Description

R. w. BROWN VULQANIZER Filed oct. v. e19,25' 2 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 20, 1927.

INVENTOR. Rar ifs/.BRG WN IAT'TORNEY.

sept. zo, 1927. R w BROWN vULcANIzER Filed oct. v. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

v owwnowy ATTORNEY.

lyin elevation, showing Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

` '1,643,196 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

RCY W. BROWN, O AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE FIRESTONETIRE .AND RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Application led October 7, 1925. Serial No. 60,951.,

This invention relates to vulcanizers of the autoclave press type for tires-and the like.

In the vulcanization ofv tires, it has been proposed'to mount the same on expansible cores and enclosethem in molds which are placed in a heater and pressed together, usually in a stack, while, an expansible curing medium, such as steam or steam and alr in admixture, is conducted under pressure into the expansible cores. It has also been proposed to dispense4 with the cores and to conduct the medium directly yinto the tires.

The present invention relates to means for effectively draining the supply system for either the cores or the tires, depending upon which of the above procedures are practised, whereby uniformity of cure is 0bt-ained. Y I

The conducting of an expansible curlng medium into the molds is usually eected through a sectional manifold adapted to be assembled or dismantled as the molds are stacked or unstacked in the heater and, in particular, the'present invention relates to an attachment for such manifolds whereby the condensate is automatically removed from the manifoldsyst-em after each vulcanizing operation is completed so that substant-ially dry steam will be supplled to the cores or tires at each vulcanizlng operation.

The objects of the invention are obtained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specicY form thereof shown and described.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectlonal view parta portion of' a standard autoclave Ipress for vulcanizing tires and equipped with a device embodying the invention; l

Fi ure 2 is a plan of a ortion of the ram showing the device of the invention mounted thereon; and Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof. Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the vertical cylindrical heater vessel which is of standard construction and has operable throughout the height thereof, a lrarn 11 on.'

which the tire molds 12, 12 are stacked with tires indicated at 13 mounted on expansible bags `shown at 14 enclosed therein. The stack of molds 12 is pressed during vulcanization against the usual removable locking cover plate 15. y Y

For supplying steam or steam and air to the bags 14, each has connected thereto a flexible connection 16 extending to a manifold section 17, sections 17 being adapted to be assembled. or dismantled as the molds are stacked inor removed from the heater as will be understood by skilled artisans.

According to one mode of practising the present invention, the bottom manifold section is connected onto a drainreceptacle 18 mounted on ram 11 and formed of arc shape (Figures 1 and 2) so as to partly encircle the ram about the stack of molds 12.

The supply of steam or mixtures of air under pressure and steam to the manifold may be secured by means of a flexible hose 19 connected onto a nipple 20 extending through the wall of the vulcanizer and connected with -an air supply line 21 through a valve 22a steam supply line 23 through a y valve 24, and a. blow-olf line 25 having a cock 26 therein.

' Hose 19 is connected onto a vpipe 27 mounted on 4receptac1e18 and connected by one branch 28 toan inlet 29 in the top of said receptacle, branch 28vhaving a check valve 288l therein, and byanoth'er branch 30 providing an outlet 31 from adjacent the bottom of receptacle 18, Vbranch 30 having a check valve 30a therein.

In operation, after the molds are stacked in the heater in the manner shown, steam or steam and air mixtures are supplied thereto by operation of valves 24 or 24 and 22, the steam or. stearnfand air mixture being conducted by hose 19 through branch -28 into During vulcanization, the condensate formed in the manifold system drains downl into receptacle 18. Considerable condensate -usually forms since the steam supplied the body of the heater is usually at .a much lower temperature' and pressure than that suppliedcto the interior of the tires. When the vulcanization has been completed, steam is blown off from the heater, valves 24 and 22 Steam is also supplied to the heater chamber in the customary v way.

are closed, and cock 26 is o ed. This permits the steam to blow H 1n the bags through rece tacle 18. Pressure of the steam will close c eck 28* and accordin ly any water in receptacle 18 will be force outof the rece tacle by the steam past check valve 3()` up t rough hose 19 and out of blow-0E pipe 25. The manifold system will thus be reed of Water and will be ready for reuse non-uniform cures due to the presence oi water in the internal pressure cure supply system being effectively prevented.

Modicatmns of the invention Ymay be resorted to vwithout departing from the spirit thereof or the sco e of the appended claims.

What is clame is:

1. Apparatus for curing hollow rubber articles, comprising means for conductin steam into the interior of the article, a vesse adapted to receive condensate from the said means draining therefrom by gravity while the article is curing, and means for blowing oif steam from the interior of the article said vessel being so disposed in the blow-o line that the steam will force the condensate d inthe notarse eendensate from the recatacle when-the e curing operasupply line connected to said conductor, a:

blow-oil valve in the conductor, and a receptacle arranged in the conductor for collection of condensate draining from the conductor system, said conductor being pro-V vided with branches, one having an outlet in the top of the receptacle, the other an in let at the bottom of the receptacle, a check valve in the rst branch adapted to open to the rassure of steam being forced into the artic e, and a check valve in the second branch 'adapted `to open to the pressure of steam being blown oi from the article whereby the drainage will be forced. from the receptacle.

4. Apparatus for curing tires in a stack of molds in a heater press, comprising a sectional manifold, branches -from the manifold to each tire, a condensate' receptacle connected'onto the bottom of the manifold, a conductor for supplying steam to the-mani fold through said receptacle, abranch from theconductor connected to van opening 1in.

the te of the receptaclda second branch from t e conductor having an inlet thereinto adacent the bottom of the receptacle, a vcheck va ve opening to the incomin steam'in the iirst branch, and a check v ve' o nin to to the blow-0E in the g second brano ROY W.l BROWN.

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