US1875816A

US1875816A - Vulcanizer with interchangeable shell

Info

Publication number: US1875816A
Application number: US402846A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arnold R Krause
Original assignee: Gillette Rubber Co
Current assignee: Gillette Rubber Co
Priority date: 1929-10-28
Filing date: 1929-10-28
Publication date: 1932-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 1949-09-06

Description

Sept. 6, 1932. A. KRAUSE VULCANIZER WITH INTERCHANGEABLE SHELL Filed Oct. 28, 1929 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l P f A 5;

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J7 zmmse I Sept. 6, 1932. A. R. KRAUSE 1,875,316

VULCANIZER WITH INTERCHANGEABLE SHELL Filed Oct. 28, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [fix/Entry: 47/7/0117. //7 use Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ARNOLD R. KRAUSE, OF EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T GILLETTE RUBBER coM- PANY, or nan CLAIRE, wIScoNsIN, A CORPORATION or WISCONSIN V'ULCANIZER WITH INTEBQHANGEABLE SHELL Application filed October as, i929. Serial 110,402,846.

' Thisinvention relates to a vulcanizer with adapted for use in the vulcanizing of tubes 57 and tires.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved device for sealing a shell within the mold or casing sections of vulcanizers and the like. 7 19 Another object of this invention is to provide an improved locking device for locking 7 the shell in the vulcanizer. I

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device for sealing and locking the shell in the vulcanizer Without the aid of.

locking boltsor the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fluid operative device for sealing and locking a shell in the mold sections or casings 2c. of vulcanizers and the like.

' A still further object of this invention is to provide a vulcanizer of such a construction that any one of a plurality of different.

detached from the cooperable mold sections or casings of the vulcanizer.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the drawings and specification.

' and hereinafter more fully described.

011 the drawings;

, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a vulcanizer embdying the features of this invention certain parts thereof being shown in i' elevation. I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View partly in section taken substantially on the line IIII of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical view partly in section taken adjacent to the hinge section of the vulcanizer and illustrating the arrangement of the parts of this novel vulcanizer. Figure 4: is an enlarged fragmentary end view taken on the line IV-IVOf Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the ar rows and illustrating the aperture for the accommodation of the valve of the tube. 60

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating another form of thedetachable shell locking and sealing device and gasket of this invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line'VIVI of Figure 3, look-v ing inthe direction indicated by the arrows,. and illustrating a steam inlet opening or port of this novel vulcanizer. I

As shown on the drawings 1 The reference character 9 designates legs for supporting a fixed mold section orpart 11. These legs 9 may be four in number and may also be equidistantly spaced from each other. Hingedly connected to the fixed mold 75 section or part 11 is a mold section 12 disposed above the fixed section. 1 I d I Positioned in the-mold is a shell which may be replaced by other shells of different sizes or shapes depending upon the character of the tube or tire to be vulcanized. This shell comprises two parts 13-14:, one being. disposedin each mold section. Also each part. has a circular groove 1516 which is adapt-l ed to cooperate with the groove inthe other part when the mold is closed so as to form a ring-like vulcanizing chamber for the tube ortire.

Each of the parts 13 and His provided with four integral lugs 17 that fit into rec'essesiofr openings '18 of each of the mold sections and12 (Figure 2).

The mold sections 11 and 12 are provided with a ring-like groove 19 that communicates with the recesses or openings 18. The lugs 17 of the

parts

13 and 14 are inserted intothe openings or recesses 18 and reston a, lower portion of the ring-like grooves 19. The

parts

13 and 14 are locked in position by rotating the parts in such a manner that'the lugs 17 of 9 the liner parts move inside the ring-like grooves 19 so that the lugs 17 are out of communication with theopenings 18 of the mold.

The lower portion of the part 13 and the upper portion of the part 14'are provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 20, as illustrated in Figure 2. Each of the ribs 20 of the part 14 is provided with an opening 21 to allow the circulating steam or other fluid to flow from one rib compartment to another. Each of the mold sections is provided with an annular chamber 2223 for receiving and extends downwardly while the V-shaped groove in each of the

annular gaskets

26 and 27 located in the part 14 extends upwardly. The lower face of the part Y13 and the upper face'of the part 14 are provided with a plurality of drilled holes 28 that extend from the 'faces'of the parts into the ring-

like grooves

24 and 25 communicating with the V-shaped grooves of the

gaskets

26 and 27.

The chamber 22 formed between the inner portion of the part 13 and the mold l1 and also the similar chamber 23 formed'between the inner portion of the part 14 and the mold 12 I are connected through integral L-shaped connections 2930 to the outside center portions of the molds 11 and 12. Since the L-shaped connections 2930 are substantially identical in construction it is thought that the detailed illustration of one of them in Figure 6 will suffice for both. The outside portion of each of the L-shaped connections 2930, as illustrated in Figure 6, is provided with a threaded opening for receiving a pipe which is adapted to be connected to the usual steam or heating fluid supply line.

The mold 11 of the vulcanizer is provided with a steam outlet opening 33 (Figure 2) located in the same rib section as the steam inlet opening 29. The steam outlet opening 33 communicates with the inside of the chamber 22 and is connected in the usual way to a steam outlet pipe (not shown). Chamber 23 of mold 12 is connected with a steam outlet opening 31 through an. opening 34 extending through the wall of the part 14.

7 Each of the

parts

13 and 14 is provided with a groove 5354 (Figures 3 and 4). These two grooves 5354 cooperate with each other when the sectionsare in engagement to define a transverse cylindrical opening for the accommodation of the valve stem of the tube being vulcanized within the vulcanizer at any given time. This valve stem opening communicates with a rectangular recess 55 formed in the cooperating mold parts 11 and 12 (Figure 4) which afiords access to the valve stem. Attention is directed to the pose. I shall now proceed to describe enough 1 of this system so as to render clear how the opening and closing of the mold may be eifected. 1

' Disposed centrally of the vulcanizer and bolted to the stationary mold section llis a cylinder head plate 35 which serves to define the upper end of cylinder 36 suitably connected thereto. The lower end of the cylinder 36 has suitably secured to it a closure block 37 through which extendsa piston rod 38.

A ackin or 'land 39 mounted on an inter-' mediate portion of the piston rod 38 is threadedly secured in a recess 40 of the block 37. A piston 41 movable within the cylinder 36 is fastened to the upper end of the piston rod 38. The lower end of the rod 38 has fastened to it a spider 42, which comprises a plurality of radially extending arms 43 each of which is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link 44. When the piston 41 is in its lowermost position (Figure 1) the links 44 extend upwardly and diagonally from the spider 42. The upper end of each of the links 44 is pivotally attached to the lower end of a lever 45. The lever 45 is formed with a hook 46 at its upper end, shaped to engage the top of a lug 47 formed integral with the movable mold section 12. A pin 50 disposed within an integral bracket 51 of the fixed mold section 11 pivotally supports the lever 45 in position.

When the piston 41 is moved to its uppermost position within the cylinder 36, the levers or clamping members .45 are each moved to a vertical position and the links 44 are disposed in a horizontal plane at substantially right angles to the leversl45, thereby locking the hooks 46 in clamping engagement with the shoulders or lugs 47 of the movable mold section 12. In other words, when the linkage and levers are in the dotted position shown in Figure 1, the movable mold section 12 is clamped in cooperation with the stationary or fixed section 11. p Normally when the vulcanizer is inoperative, the piston 41 is disposed at the extreme lower end of the cylinder'36, as illustrated in Figure 1, and when itis desired to operate the piston within the cylinder for locking the mold sections together, the piston 41 is moved upwardly by thepressureof a fluid, which may be either steam or air, admitted into the cylinder 36 from any suitable source of steam or air supply. This piston may be moved either up or down as the case'demands by the steam to unclamp or clamp the mold parts in cooperation.

The operation of this vulcanizer is briefly as follows:

After the upper movable mold section 12 is pivotally raised away from the fixed section 11,

parts

13 and 14 conforming to the shape of the tube or tire to be vulcanized are placed into the mold sections 11 and 12 in such a manner that the lugs 17 of the

parts

13 and 14 are inserted into the openings 18 of the mold sections 11 and 12. It is to be understood that the shells or

parts

13 and 14 are interchangeable with other shells of different sizes and shapes whereby my vulcanizer may be used to vulcanize different types and sizes of tubes or tires.

The rotation of the

parts

13 and 14 in either direction will move the integral lugs 17 in the grooves 19 of the mold sections 11 and 12 so that the lugs 17 are out of alignment with the recesses 18. The lugs 17 of the

parts

13 and 14 when disposed in the groove 19 out of alignment with the recesses or openings 18, lock and retain the liners or shells in position in the mold.

The tube or tire, whichever is to be vulcanized, is placed in the annular semi-circular groove 15 in the lower shell 13. The upper and movable mold 12 is then lowered so that the annular

semi-circular grooves

15 and 16 of the shells cooperate with each other to define an annular pocket conforming with the shape of the tire or tube located therein.

After the mold sections 11 and 12 are in cooperation with each other, steam is admitted into the lower part of the cylinder 36 forcing the piston 41 upwardly within the cylinder

causingthe link members

44 and 45 to be moved to the position as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1, thus clamping the mold parts in cooperation.

The chambers 22 and 23, formed between the interior of the molds 11 and 12 and the interior of the

parts

13 and 14, are then connected through the L-shaped openings 2930 in the

parts

13 and 14 to a source of steam or other heating fluid.

The steam thus admitted into the vulcanizer circulates about the ribbed compartments through the openings 21 of the ribbed sections 20 in such a manner that the pressure of the circulating steam will move the

parts

13 and 14 toward each other so that the face of the part 14 firmly and tightly abuts against the face of the part 13.

The forcing ofthe faces of the

parts

13 and 14 in abutment with each other rigidly secures the integral lugs 17 ina locked'position in the ring-like groove '19 of the mold sections 11 and 12.

The firm abutting of the face of the part 14 against the face of the part-13 leaves small clearance openings or spaces between the inner face of theparts and the adjacent portions of the mold -seotionsll and 12 for allowing the steam inthechambers 22and 23 to flow through the openings 28 into .the V-shaped grooves of'the

gaskets

26 and 27 disposed in theannularring grooves 24and 25 of

theparts

13 and 14.

The pressure-of the steam circulating in the V-shaped grooves of the gaskets26 and 27 forces the outer lipped portion of the gaskets in firm contact with portions-of the walls of the mold sections :11 and 12, thereby firmly sealing the

parts

13 and 14 in the mold sections to prevent the steam from escaping from the inside of the vulcanizer.

The condensate collecting in the compartments of the chamber 22 flows through the openings 21 in the ribs 20 and is forced out with the circulating steam through the openings 34 in the vertical wall of the part 14,

and through the outlet opening 31 of the mold section 12 (as illustrated by the dotted line in Figure 3) into a flexible outlet pipe of a steam return line (not'shown). The condensate collecting in the bottom inside portion of the mold section 11 is forced. out with the circulating steam through the outlet opening 33 (Figure 2) into a steam return line.(not show The steam admitted into the'chamber's 23 and 22' not only performs the function of maintaining the parts in a locked and sealed position, but also is used for heating the parts for the vulcanizing of the tube or tire located in the vulcanizing sections of the mold.

It is to be observed that the steam pressure in the chambers 22 and 23 forces the faces of the cooperative semi-circular parts firmly together so that no configuration or projecting seams appear on thevu lcanized tires or tubes.

It can readily be seen thatthis novel meth- 0d of interlocking and sealing the lugs of the parts in the ring groove mold sections in creases the eflicient operation of the vulcanizer, inasmuch as it provides a means of speedily and easily inserting and removing the shell parts fom the vulcanizer thereby eliminating the laborious task of tightening or removing bolts or screws which are ordinarily used to hold shells in the conventional vulcanizer in place.

The .mold sections of the vulcanizer are of such a construction that any one of a plurality' of different size orzshape shells conforming to the tire or tube to be vulcanized may be readily and easily sealed and locked to or detached from the cooper'able moldsections or casings of the vulcanizer.

Figure 5 illustrates a modification of tiis invention in which a wedgeshaped gasket ring 60 isdisposed in groove 59" of the mold 11, instead of being disposed in ring-like grooves in either of the

parts

18 and 14. The lugs 17 of the part 13 are secured in the groove 19 in the same manner as illustrated in the preferred form of this invention. The mold 11 is provided with an annular groove 59 into which an annular wedgeshaped gasket 60 is located having its horizontal side in contact with the lower face of the part 13.

The mold 11 is also provided with a rectangular groove 61 that lies adjacent and parallel with thetapered end of the gasket 60. This groove 61 permits steam to flow through the groove and against the slanting face of the gasket 60 to seal the shell part to the mold section 11.

In the modified form of this invention, the shell part 13 is sealed to themold section 12 by means of the steam that circulates through the chamber 22 and also flows through the rectangular groove 61 in the mold section 11. The pressure of the steam circulating in the rectangular groove 61 in the mold section 11 forces the wedge-shaped gasket 60 firmly in contact with the lower face of the part 13, thereby forming a sealed oint to prevent the steam in the chamber 22 from escaping from the interior of the vulcanizer.

When it is desirable to change the shell parts in the vulcanizer for other shell parts so that different size or shape tubes or tires may be vulcanized, the change can be speedily and easily accomplished by raising the movable mold section 12 and shutting off the flow of steam into the chambers 22 and 23.

After the steam ceases to flow into the chambers 22 and 23 the steam pressure against the

parts

13 and 14 is decreased so that the mold shells can then be easily rotated until the lugs 17 on each of the

shell parts

13 and 14 are in aligmnent with the openings I 18 that communicate with the grooves 19 in the face of the mold sections 11 and 12. When the lugs of the shell part sections are in alignment with the openings 18 of the mold sections, the shell parts may be lifted from the mold sections.

Now, of course, it is to be understood that while the invention is illustrated and described in detail in its preferred form, the invention is not to be thus limited but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

In a vulcanizer, a mold, a shell in said mold, a flexible ring in said shell said ring being substantially rectangular in cross-section and having a V groove in one surface, substantially the width of the face, one face of the ring-adjacent the V groove being in engage-