Systems and methods for bladderless tire curing

Abstract

A system for curing tires that does not require a traditional bladder is described. The system has top and bottom assembly rings that are coupled to modified mold rings. The bottom assembly ring has a curing medium delivery system, which has ports and a diverter that disperses the curing medium thereby reducing the momentum of the curing medium striking a liner the tire being cured. The system is adapted for easy installation to existing center post presses.

1 . A bladderless curing system, comprising:
 mold rings that are coupled to a green tire; and   a steam injection system having a diverter, the diverter having an elongated gap through which a curing medium is dispersed into a sealed cavity defined by an interior surface of the green tire, the diverter configured to deflect the curing medium prior to the curing medium entering the sealed cavity such that the curing medium is dispersed in the sealed cavity upon exiting the elongated gap and prior to striking a liner of the green tire thereby causing the curing medium to strike the liner of the green tire with a reduced momentum.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter is configured to receive the curing medium from multiple steam ports. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein passage of the curing medium through the elongated gap induces turbulence in the curing medium. 
     
     
         4 . A bladderless curing system for curing a green tire where the green tire has an interior surface with a liner, comprising:
 mold rings that are coupled to the green tire forming a sealed cavity defined by the interior surface of the green tire; and   a diverter defining a diverter cavity into which a curing medium flows from at least one injection port, the diverter defining an elongated gap through which the curing medium flows from the diverter cavity into the sealed cavity, wherein the diverter is configured to divert the curing medium through the elongated gap such that passage of the curing medium through the elongated gap induces turbulence in a flow of the curing medium causing the curing medium to disperse within the sealed cavity prior to striking the liner thereby reducing momentum of the curing medium striking the liner.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising an injection cap having a hole for receiving an inner post of a center post press, the injection cap having the at least one port, wherein the injection cap defines a portion of the diverter cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the diverter surrounds the injection cap. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the elongated gap is defined by the diverter and a surface of a bottom ring assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the curing medium is received by the diverter cavity from a plurality of injection ports. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the diverter is configured to divert the curing medium such that the curing medium deflects off of a surface defining the elongated gap as the curing medium is exiting the diverter cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a bottom ring assembly and a top ring assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated gap is defined by a surface of the bottom ring assembly. 
     
     
         12 . A bladderless curing system for curing a green tire where the green tire has an interior surface with a liner, comprising:
 a top assembly having a top mold, a top mold ring, and a top ring assembly, the top mold ring coupled to the top mold and the top ring assembly and positioned between the top mold and the top ring assembly;   a bottom ring having a bottom mold, a bottom mold ring, a bottom ring assembly, and a post, the bottom mold ring coupled to the bottom mold ring and the bottom ring assembly and positioned between the bottom mold and the bottom ring assembly, the post extending through the bottom ring assembly, wherein the top assembly is movable relative to the bottom assembly to form a sealed cavity that is defined by an interior surface of a green tire that is coupled to the top mold ring and the bottom mold ring;   an injection cap coupled to the bottom ring assembly and having a plurality of steam injection ports, the injection cap having a hole through which the post extends; and   a diverter defining a diverter cavity into which a curing medium flows from the plurality of steam injection ports, wherein the diverter has an elongated gap through which the curing medium flows from the diverter cavity into the sealed cavity, wherein the diverter has a periphery extending around the steam injection cap, and wherein the elongated gap extends along the periphery.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the elongated gap is defined by the diverter and a surface of the bottom ring assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the diverter has hole through which the post extends. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the diverter is configured to divert the curing medium through the elongated gap such that passage of the curing medium through the elongated gap induces turbulence in a flow of the curing medium causing the curing medium to disperse within the sealed cavity prior to striking the liner thereby reducing momentum of the curing medium striking the liner. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the diverter cavity is defined by a wall of the diverter and the injection cap. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the diverter is configured to divert the curing medium such that the curing medium deflects off of a surface defining the elongated gap as the curing medium is exiting the diverter cavity.