Methods for manufacturing a tire mold and displacing the air from the mold into a compression cavity during the tire making process

Abstract

A tire mold or a tire mold segment can include an air compression cavity, which connects to multiple surface connection slots having dimensions between 10 and 300 microns, which can be suitable for selective removal of air in the mold. The air compression cavity, can be close to the outside ambient, allowing the air escaping the interior of the mold to be compressed, which can assist in preventing the rubber material from leaving the mold pattern surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for making a tire mold segment, the method comprising
 forming a body for the tire mold segment, wherein the body comprises a tread pattern of a tire on a surface of the body;   forming a cavity inside the body, wherein the cavity is physically separate from the surface;   forming slots connecting the cavity with the surface, wherein a dimension of the slots is configured to allow air to pass through, and prevent rubber material from entering.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1   wherein the dimension of the slots is between 10 and 300 microns.   
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1   wherein the cavity is formed along a circumferential direction or a width direction of the tire mold segment.   
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1   wherein the cavity forms a network below the surface of tire mold segment.   
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1   forming an outlet to the cavity to an outside ambient, wherein the outlet is configured to be closable during a tire making process.   
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1   forming a mating element at an end of the cavity, wherein the mating element is configured to mate with another cavity of a nearby mold segment during a tire making process.   
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1   forming multiple spacers in the tread pattern, wherein the cavity is spaced from the surface by a depth of the spacers.   
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1   forming a sipe in the tread pattern, wherein the sipe comprises an opening for air communication across the sipe.   
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein forming slots comprises
 installing one or more sensors coupled to the hollow element; 
 using a liquid-jet laser to form a slot; 
 detecting an end point of the liquid-jet laser to the hollow element. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 1  further comprising
 applying a compressed gas, pressurized liquid or pressurized gas-liquid mixture to the cavity, wherein debris in the slots are removed to an outside ambient. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein forming slots comprises
 installing one or more sensors coupled to the cavity; 
 using a liquid-jet laser to form a slot; 
 detecting an end point of the liquid-jet laser to the cavity. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method for making a tire mold segment, the method comprising
 providing a tire tread model mold, wherein the tire tread model mold comprises a positive tread pattern of a tire on a surface of the tire tread model mold;   attaching a hollow element to the tire tread model mold, wherein the element is physically separate from the surface;   casting a negative mold using the tire tread model mold, wherein the negative mold covers the hollow element;   forming slots connecting the surface with the hollow element on the cast negative mold,   wherein a dimension of the slots is configured to allow air to pass through, and prevent rubber material from entering.   
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12   wherein the hollow element is spaced apart from the surface at a distance between 0.3 and 6 mm.   
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 12   forming multiple spacers in the tire tread model mold,   wherein the hollow element is spaced from the surface by a depth of the spacers.   
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 12   inserting sipes in the tire tread model mold, wherein an embedded portion of the sipes in the tire tread model mold is configured to form a sipe pattern in the tire,   wherein the sipes are functioned as spacers for the hollow element.   
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 12   inserting sipes in the tire tread model mold, wherein an embedded portion of the sipes in the tire tread model mold is configured to form a sipe pattern in the tire,   wherein the sipes comprises a surface pattern matching a portion of a cross section of the hollow element,   wherein the hollow element is placed on the surface pattern.   
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 12  further comprising
 applying a compressed gas, pressurized liquid or pressurized gas-liquid mixture to the hollow element, wherein debris in the slots are removed to an outside ambient. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method for making a tire mold segment, the method comprising
 forming a tire mold insert, wherein the tire mold insert comprises a negative tread pattern of a tire on a surface of the tire mold insert, wherein the tire mold insert is configured to be coupled to a tire mold support, wherein a combination of the tire mold insert and the tire mold support comprises at least a cavity;   forming slots connecting the surface to the cavity, wherein a dimension of the slots is configured to allow air to pass through, and prevent rubber material from entering;   assembling the tire mold insert with the tire mold support.   
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 18   wherein the tire mold insert comprises a recess, wherein the recess is coupled to the tire mold support to form the cavity.   
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 18   wherein the tire mold support comprises a recess, wherein the recess is coupled to the tire mold insert to form the cavity.