Systems for manufacturing support structures

Abstract

A system for manufacturing a support structure. A system for curing and manufacturing a partially cured tire assembly. The system includes: an annular hub member that slides into a corresponding annular radial inner surface; a plurality of elongated spacer members for maintaining a corresponding uniform cavity size by securing the spacer members to the hub member, wherein a flap member thereby surrounds a radially outermost surface of each spacer member; a first annular curing platen for axially fixing the hub member and the spacer members relative to each other; a second annular curing platen for axially fixing the hub member and the spacer members relative to each other; and a plurality of elongated inserts.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to wheel / tire assemblies and, more particularly, to a system for manufacturing non-pneumatic wheel / tire assemblies. Background Art

[0002] Radial pneumatic tires rely on a ply reinforcement structure to carry and transfer the load between the rim and the belt. These ply cords need to be tensioned to carry the load. The tensioning of these ply cords is achieved using pressurized air in the inner cavity of the tire. If the air pressure is lost, the load carrying capacity of a pneumatic tire is significantly reduced. Preventing slow or sudden air pressure loss has always been a challenge for tire manufacturers. One proposed solution is to use a non-pneumatic tire. If the durability, speed rating / limit, and load capacity of a top loader non-pneumatic tire can be improved to the level of a pneumatic tire, the top loader non-pneumatic tire can perform similarly to a pneumatic tire.

[0003] Many top loader non-pneumatic tires rely on polymer spokes to carry the load of the vehicle. The spokes transfer the load from the rim to the shear band. Due to the properties of the polymer materials used in the spokes of these tires, the performance of these tires is limited. The present invention is intended to overcome this limitation and improve the load carrying capacity and durability of these spokes, and therefore improve the performance of top loader non-pneumatic tires.

[0004] definition

[0005] As used herein and in the claims:

[0006] "Annular" means formed like a ring.

[0007] "Axial" and "axially" refer to lines or directions parallel to the tire's axis of rotation.

[0008] “Circumferential” or “circumferentially” means lines or directions extending along the circumference of the annular tire surface parallel to the equatorial plane (EP) and perpendicular to the axial direction; it may also refer to directions of sets of adjacent circular curves whose radii define the axial curvature of the tread, as viewed in cross-section.

[0009] “Equatorial Plane (EP)” means the plane perpendicular to the tire's axis of rotation and passing through the center of its tread; or the plane containing the circumferential centerline of the tread.

[0010] "Inner" means toward the inside of the tire, and "outer" means toward the outside of the tire.

[0011] "Transverse" means the axial direction.

[0012] “Standard Load” means the load specified by the appropriate standards organization for the conditions in which the tire is to be used.

[0013] "Radial" and "radially" mean directions radially toward or away from the axis of rotation of the tire.

[0014] "Spring rate" means the stiffness of the tire expressed as the slope of the load-deflection curve at a given pressure.

[0015] “Tread” means the molded rubber component that when bonded to the tire casing comprises that portion of the tire that comes into contact with the road when the tire is normally inflated and under a normal load.

[0016] "Tread element" or "traction element" means a rib or block element.

[0017] “Tread width” means the arc length of the tread surface in a plane including the tire's axis of rotation.

[0018] "Vertical deflection" means the amount the tire deflects under load.

[0019] "Wheel" or "hub" means the structure used to support the tire and mounted to the axle. Summary of the invention

[0020] A partially cured tire assembly is cured and manufactured according to the system of the present invention. The system includes: an annular hub member that slides into a corresponding annular radial inner surface of the partially cured tire assembly; a plurality of elongated spacer members for maintaining a corresponding uniform cavity size in the partially cured tire assembly by fastening the spacer members to the hub member, wherein the wing members of the partially cured tire assembly thereby surround the radially outermost surface of each of the spacer members; a first annular curing platen for axially fixing the hub member and the spacer members relative to each other; a second annular curing platen for axially fixing the hub member and the spacer members relative to each other; and a plurality of elongated inserts for producing a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by the radially outer surface of each insert and the wing members of the tire assembly, the wing members being positioned by the radially outermost surfaces of the spacer members.

[0021] According to another aspect of the system, a plurality of mold members are placed circumferentially about the radially outer surface of the tread member.

[0022] According to yet another aspect of the system, the radially inner surfaces of the mold members together form a tread shaping outer surface in a radially outer surface of the tread member.

[0023] According to yet another aspect of the system, the spacer member, first and second curing platens, triangular inserts and mold member are heated to cure the tab member, shear band and tread member to form a molded, integral part of a complete, cured tire assembly.

[0024] According to yet another aspect of the system, the elongated insert has a triangular cross-section.

[0025] According to yet another aspect of the system, the mold member is radially removable from about the completed, cured tire assembly.

[0026] According to yet another aspect of the system, the curing platen is axially removable from the hub member, the elongated spacer member, and the elongated insert.

[0027] According to yet another aspect of the system, the curing platen is heated by a hot liquid.

[0028] According to yet another aspect of the system, the elongated spacing member decks are heated by steam.

[0029] According to yet another aspect of the system, the elongated insert is electrically heated.

[0030] The method according to the present invention completes the curing of a partially cured tire assembly. The method includes the following steps: sliding an annular hub member into a corresponding annular radially inner surface of the partially cured tire assembly; retaining a plurality of spacer members in corresponding uniform cavities in the partially cured tire assembly; securing the spacer members to the hub member, wherein the uncured wing members of the partially cured tire assembly surround the radially outermost surface of each of the spacer members; axially fixing the first and second curing platens, the hub member and the spacer members relative to each other; and producing a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by the radially outer surface of each spacer member and each of the uncured wing members of the partially cured tire assembly, the uncured wing members being positioned by the radially outermost surface of the spacer members.

[0031] According to another aspect of the method, the step further includes continuously circumferentially placing the uncured inner annular shear band and the uncured outer annular tread member of the partially cured tire assembly about the uniform outer cylindrical surface.

[0032] According to yet another aspect of the method, the step further includes affixing the uncured inner annular shear band and the uncured outer annular tread member of the partially cured tire assembly to each other.

[0033] According to yet another aspect of the method, the step further includes placing a plurality of mold members circumferentially about the radially outer surface of the tread member.

[0034] According to yet another aspect of the method, the step further includes forming a tread molding outer surface in an outer surface of the tread member from a radially inner surface of the mold member.

[0035] According to yet another aspect of the method, the steps further include heating the spacer member, curing platen, elongated insert, and mold member to form the tab member, shear band, and tread member into a fully cured tire component.

[0036] According to yet another aspect of the method, the step further includes radially removing the mold member from around the fully cured tire assembly.

[0037] According to yet another aspect of the method, the step further includes axially removing the curing platen from the hub member.

[0038] According to yet another aspect of the method, the step further includes axially withdrawing the spacing members and inserts from the fully cured tire assembly to reveal a stabilizing cavity within the spoke structure of the rim-mountable, fully cured tire assembly.

[0039] According to yet another aspect of the method, the heating step includes a medium from the group consisting of hot liquid, steam, and electricity.

[0040] The present invention also relates to the following technical solutions:

[0041] 1. A system for curing and manufacturing partially cured tire components, the system comprising:

[0042] an annular hub member that slides into a corresponding annular radially inner surface of the partially cured tire assembly;

[0043] a plurality of elongated spacer members for maintaining corresponding uniform cavity sizes in the partially cured tire assembly by securing the spacer members to the hub member, wherein a tab member of the partially cured tire assembly thereby surrounds a radially outermost surface of each of the spacer members;

[0044] a first annular curing platen for axially fixing the hub member and the spacer member relative to each other;

[0045] a second annular curing platen for axially fixing the hub member and the spacer member relative to each other; and

[0046] A plurality of elongated inserts for producing a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by a radially outer surface of each insert and a tab member of the tire assembly positioned by the radially outermost surface of the spacing member.

[0047] 2. The system according to technical solution 1 also includes a plurality of mold members circumferentially placed around the radial outer surface of the tread member.

[0048] 3. A system according to technical solution 2, wherein the radial inner surface of the mold member together forms a tread molding outer surface in the radial outer surface of the tread member.

[0049] 4. A system according to technical solution 3, wherein the spacing member, the first and second curing platens, the triangular insert and the mold member are heated so as to cure the wing member, the shear band and the tread member to form a molded integral part of a complete, cured tire assembly.

[0050] 5. A system according to technical solution 1, wherein the elongated insert has a triangular cross-section.

[0051] 6. A system according to technical solution 4, wherein the mold member is radially removable from around the complete, cured tire assembly.

[0052] 7. A system according to technical solution 1, wherein the curing platen is axially removable from the hub member, the elongated spacing member and the elongated insert.

[0053] 8. A system according to Technical Solution 1, wherein the curing platen is heated by hot liquid.

[0054] 9. A system according to technical solution 1, wherein the elongated spacer member platen is heated by steam.

[0055] 10. A system according to technical solution 1, wherein the elongated insert is heated by electricity.

[0056] 11. A method for completing the curing of a partially cured tire component, the method comprising the steps of:

[0057] sliding an annular hub member into a corresponding annular radially inner surface of the partially cured tire assembly;

[0058] maintaining a plurality of spacing members within corresponding uniform cavities in the partially cured tire assembly;

[0059] securing the spacing members to the hub member, wherein uncured wing members of the partially cured tire assembly surround a radially outermost surface of each of the spacing members;

[0060] axially securing the first and second curing platens, the hub member, and the spacing member relative to one another; and

[0061] A substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface is produced, the outer cylindrical surface being formed by the radially outer surface of each spacing member and each of the uncured wing members of the partially cured tire assembly positioned by the radially outermost surface of the spacing members.

[0062] 12. The method according to technical solution 11 further includes the following steps: continuously placing an uncured inner annular shear band and an uncured outer annular tread member of the partially cured tire assembly circumferentially around the uniform outer cylindrical surface.

[0063] 13. The method according to technical solution 12 further includes the step of attaching the uncured inner annular shear band and the uncured outer annular tread member of the partially cured tire assembly to each other.

[0064] 14. The method according to technical solution 12 further includes the following step: placing a plurality of mold members circumferentially around the radially outer surface of the tread member.

[0065] 15. The method according to technical solution 14 further includes the following step: forming a tread molding outer surface in the outer surface of the tread member by the radial inner surface of the mold member.

[0066] 16. The method according to technical solution 15 further includes the following steps: heating the spacing member, curing platen, elongated insert and mold member so as to form the wing member, shear band and tread member into a fully cured tire component.

[0067] 17. The method according to technical solution 16 also includes the following steps: radially removing the mold member from around the fully cured tire assembly.

[0068] 18. The method according to technical solution 17 further includes the following steps: axially removing the curing platen from the hub component 210.

[0069] 19. The method according to technical solution 18 further includes the following steps: axially withdrawing the spacing member and the insert from the fully cured tire assembly to reveal a stable cavity within the spoke structure of the rim-mountable, fully cured tire assembly.

[0070] 20. The method according to Technical Solution 16, wherein the heating step includes a medium, and the medium is from a group including hot liquid, steam and electricity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] The present invention will be more clearly understood through the following description of some examples of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0072] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of an example wheel / tire assembly according to the present invention;

[0073] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 another schematic perspective view of a portion of an assembly of;

[0074] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of another portion of the assembly;

[0075] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly of;

[0076] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly;

[0077] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly of;

[0078] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly;

[0079] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly of;

[0080] Fig. 9 yes Figure 1 an exploded schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly;

[0081] Fig.10 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly of;

[0082] Fig.11 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly;

[0083] Fig.12 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly of;

[0084] Fig.13 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly;

[0085] Fig.14 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly of;

[0086] Fig.15yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly;

[0087] Fig.16 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly of;

[0088] Fig.17 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly;

[0089] Fig.18 yes Figure 1 an exploded schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly of;

[0090] Fig.19 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly;

[0091] Fig. 20 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly of;

[0092] Fig.21 yes Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of yet another portion of an assembly of; and

[0093] Fig. 22 is a schematic flow chart of an exemplary method according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0094] A conventional wheel / tire assembly may have an outer ring such as a shear band that is flexibly connected to a central hub by means of a lightweight composite spring. The spring may be a plate fixed to the ring and the hub. The hub may contain a reduction gear unit and / or an electric motor and may have a suspension mechanism for connecting the vehicle chassis to each wheel. The ring may be made of a flexible composite material such as a carbon fiber reinforced nylon material and have a double rubber tire and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial cleats that engage the ground and provide improved traction. The hub may also be formed of a carbon fiber reinforced composite material. Another conventional wheel may have a rubber strip with a molded tread bonded to the composite ring for improved grip. In addition, the spring that interconnects the ring and the hub may be an S-shaped lightweight composite spring.

[0095] Another conventional wheel / tire assembly may be formed of a lightweight composite material such as carbon fiber reinforced polyamide. The assembly may have a cylindrical center hub and a circular outer flexible rim mounted on the center hub by an infinite coil spring band extending between the center hub and the circular rim. The spring band may define six radial turns. The spring band may be attached to the center hub and the circular rim by any suitable means such as bonding, adhesive bonding, welding, and / or mechanical fastening by bolts, rivets, and / or clamps.

[0096] like Figure 20-21 An example tire assembly, such as described in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 10,207,544, as shown in FIG. 1, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, may be formed of a lightweight polymer material such as, for example, a standard tire rubber compound, a thermoplastic polymer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a cross-linked polymer (such as natural rubber), a synthetic rubber-like polymer, an epoxy resin, and / or a phenolic resin. The assembly may have an inner center rim such as an automotive wheel (not shown), and a circular outer flexible ring, which may include a shear band and a tread structure, mounted on the inner center rim by a continuous cord / fabric reinforced spoke structure extending between the inner center rim and the outer ring.

[0097] The spoke structure may define a plurality of cavities that are concentrically arranged about the inner center rim to allow the spoke structure to deflect under load, thereby defining a suitable balance between flexibility for ride comfort and traction within the footprint of the assembly and rigidity for vehicle handling, low rolling resistance, and low heat buildup within the spoke structure. The cavities of the spoke structure may further define openings through which arms of the inner center rim extend and secure the spoke structure to the inner center rim. The arms may engage the portions in a mechanical interlocking arrangement. The inner center rim may further include a plate that, together with the arms, may sandwich portions of the spoke structure and create further friction and / or adhesive fixation between the inner center rim and the spoke structure. The spoke structure may include homogenous or heterogenous polymers and / or filled polymers.

[0098] The spokes of the spoke structure can be bent inward or outward to slow down or enhance the buckling of the spokes. The spokes may include one or more reinforcement layers. One or more layers may be constructed of single-end dipped cords, conventional pneumatic tire ply / cord arrangements, short fibers, and / or polymer films. In addition, these structures may be PET, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, rayon, steel, fiberglass, carbon fiber, aramid, and / or a mixture of these materials. The cords may be from 400 denier to 9000 denier. The polymer film may be from 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm thick. The spokes may be oriented at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees. The reinforcement of the spokes may be continuously reinforced over its entire axial length. One or more continuous reinforcement layers may extend radially outward to multiple locations of the shear band adjacent to the outer flexible ring.

[0099] Each cavity may have a common cross-sectional profile about the axis of rotation of the assembly. In addition, each cavity may have a common axial length that is equal to the uniform axial thickness of the spoke structure. Each cavity may be curved to prevent "pinch" points on one or more reinforcement layers and to relieve compressive stress concentrations on one or more reinforcement layers. For large tire assemblies, the number of cavities may be between 2 and 60. The inner center rim may include steel, cast iron, aluminum, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, and / or iron alloys.

[0100] Figure 1-22 A system 200 for curing and manufacturing a partially cured pneumatic and / or non-pneumatic tire assembly 140 according to the present invention is shown. The system 200 may include: an annular hub member 210 that slides into a corresponding annular radially inner surface 142 of the tire assembly 140; a plurality of spacer members 220 for maintaining a corresponding uniform cavity size in the tire assembly 140 by securing the spacer members 220 to the hub member 210, wherein the fin members 147 of the tire assembly 140 surround the radially outermost surface 222 of each of the spacer members 220; first and second curing platens 230, 240 for axially fixing the hub member 210 and the spacer members 220 relative to each other; and a plurality of triangular inserts 250 for producing a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by the radially outer surface 252 of each triangular insert 250 and each fin member 147 of the tire assembly 140, the fin member 147 being positioned by the radially outermost surface 222 of the spacer member 220. The curing platens 230 , 240 may also have a spring hook member 270 for maintaining alignment with the spacing member 220 and the rest of the assembly 200 .

[0101] The inner annular shear band 160 and the outer annular tread member 162 of the tire assembly 140 may be continuously placed circumferentially around the uniform outer cylindrical surface 147, 252 and at least temporarily attached to the outer cylindrical surface 147, 252 and to each other 160, 162. This may be accomplished by building up the layers 160, 162 around the assembly 200 similar to a conventional tire building method (not shown), or by forming a shear band 160 and tread member 162 ( Fig.15 ) to form a complete annular belt structure. Multiple mold components 260 ( Fig.16 Mold member 260 (six of which are shown in FIG. 1 ) may be circumferentially placed around radially outer surface 163 of tread member 162. Mold member 260 may have a radially inner surface 262 for forming a tread molding outer surface in outer surface 163 of tread member 162 together.

[0102] The spacer member 220, the curing platens 230, 240, the triangular insert 250, and the mold member 260 may be heated to cure the wing member 147, the shear band 160, and the tread member 162 (e.g., the uncured portion of the tire assembly 140) to form a suitable tread 172 ( Fig.21 ) is a molded integral part of a complete, cured tire assembly 170. Once curing is complete, mold member 260 may be removed radially from around the completed tire assembly 170, curing platens 230, 240 may be removed axially from hub member 210, and spacing members 220 and inserts 250 may be withdrawn axially from tire assembly 170 to reveal stabilizing cavities 176 within spoke structures 174 of tire assembly 170 ready for installation.

[0103] like Fig. 22As shown in FIG. 22, method 2200 can cure and manufacture a partially cured tire assembly 140 into a complete, "ready to install" fully cured tire assembly 170 according to the present invention. The method 2200 may include: a first step 2201 of sliding the annular hub member 210 into the corresponding annular radial inner surface 142 of the partially cured tire assembly 140; a second step 2202 of retaining a plurality of spacer members 220 within corresponding uniform cavity sizes in the partially cured tire assembly 140; a third step 2203 of securing the spacer members 220 to the hub member 210, wherein the fin members 147 of the partially cured tire assembly 140 surround the radially outermost surface 222 of each of the spacer members 220; a fourth step 220 of axially fixing the first and second curing platens 230, 240, the hub member 210, and the spacer members 220 relative to each other; and a fifth step 2205 of generating a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface using a plurality of triangular inserts 250, the outer cylindrical surface being formed by the radially outer surface of each triangular insert 250. 252 and each wing member 147 of the partially cured tire assembly 140, the wing member 147 being positioned by the radially outermost surface 222 of the spacing member 220; a sixth step 2206, continuously circumferentially placing the uncured inner annular shear band 160 and the uncured outer annular tread member 162 of the partially cured tire assembly 140 around the uniform outer cylindrical surface 147, 252; a seventh step 2207, at least temporarily attaching the uncured inner annular shear band 160 and the uncured outer annular tread member 162 of the partially cured tire assembly 140 to each other 160, 162; an eighth step 2208, circumferentially placing a plurality of mold members 260 around the radial outer surface 163 of the tread member 162; and a ninth step 2209, forming a tread molding outer surface in the outer surface 163 of the tread member 162 by the radial inner surface 262 of the mold member.

[0104] The method 2200 may also include: a tenth step 2210 of heating (e.g., by hot liquid, steam, electricity, etc.) the spacer member 220, the curing platens 230, 240, the triangular insert 250 and the mold member 260 so as to cure / form the wing member 147, the shear band 160 and the tread member 162 (e.g., the uncured portion of the partially cured tire assembly 140) into a molded integral part of the complete, cured tire assembly 170 with the appropriate tread 172; an eleventh step 2211 of radially removing the mold member 260 from around the complete, fully cured tire assembly 170; a twelfth step 2212 of axially removing the curing platens 230, 240 from the hub member 210; and a thirteenth step 2213 of axially withdrawing the spacer member 220 and the insert 250 from the fully cured tire assembly 170 to reveal the stabilizing cavity 176 within the spoke structure 174 of the rim-mountable, fully cured tire assembly 170.

[0105] According to the description of the invention provided herein, variations of the present invention are possible. Although certain representative examples and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that, without departing from the scope of the subject invention, various changes and modifications may be made therein. Therefore, it should be understood that changes may be made in the specific examples described herein, which will be within the full scope of the present invention as defined by the claims appended thereto. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the examples described above, which may change in configuration and / or detail within the full scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system for curing and manufacturing partially cured tire components, the system comprising: an annular hub member that slides into a corresponding annular radially inner surface of the partially cured tire assembly; a plurality of elongated spacer members for maintaining corresponding uniform cavity sizes in the partially cured tire assembly by securing the elongated spacer members to the hub member, wherein a tab member of the partially cured tire assembly thereby surrounds a radially outermost surface of each of the spacer members; a first annular curing platen for axially securing the hub member and the elongated spacer member relative to each other; a second annular curing platen for axially securing the hub member and the elongated spacer member relative to each other; as well as A plurality of elongated inserts for producing a smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by a radially outer surface of each insert and a tab member of the tire assembly positioned by the radially outermost surface of the elongated spacing member.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mold members disposed circumferentially about the radially outer surface of the tire assembly.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein: The radially inner surfaces of the mold members together form a tread molding outer surface in the radially outer surface of the tire assembly.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein: The elongated spacer members, first and second annular curing platens, elongated inserts and mold members are heated to cure the tab members, shear bands and tread members into a molded, integral part of a complete, cured tire assembly.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The elongated insert has a triangular cross-section.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein: The mold member is radially removable from about the completed, cured tire assembly.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The first and second annular curing platens are axially removable from the annular hub member, the elongated spacer member, and the elongated insert.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The first and second annular curing platens are heated by hot liquid.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The elongated spacing members are heated by steam.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The elongated insert is heated electrically.

11. A method for completing the curing of a partially cured tire assembly by the system of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: sliding an annular hub member into a corresponding annular radially inner surface of the partially cured tire assembly; retaining a plurality of elongated spacer members within corresponding uniform cavities in the partially cured tire assembly; securing the elongated spacer members to the annular hub member, wherein uncured wing members of the partially cured tire assembly surround a radially outermost surface of each of the elongated spacer members; axially securing the first and second annular curing platens, the annular hub member, and the elongated spacer member relative to one another; and A smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface is produced by utilizing a plurality of elongated inserts, the outer cylindrical surface being formed by the radially outer surface of each elongated insert and each of the uncured wing members of the partially cured tire assembly, the uncured wing members being positioned by the radially outermost surface of the elongated spacer member.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: An uncured inner annular shear band and an uncured outer annular tread member of the partially cured tire assembly are continuously placed circumferentially about the uniform outer cylindrical surface.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: The uncured inner annular shear band and the uncured outer annular tread member of the partially cured tire assembly are attached to each other.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: A plurality of mold members are placed circumferentially about the radially outer surface of the tread member.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of: A tread molding outer surface is formed in the outer surface of the tread member by the radially inner surface of the mold member.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: The elongated spacer members, first and second annular curing platens, elongated inserts, and mold members are heated to form the tab members, shear bands, and tread members into a fully cured tire component.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of radially removing the mold member from around the fully cured tire assembly.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of: The first and second annular curing platens are axially removed from the annular hub member.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of: The elongated spacing members and inserts are axially withdrawn from the fully cured tire assembly to reveal a stabilizing cavity within the spoke structure of the rim mountable, fully cured tire assembly.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The heating step includes a medium from the group consisting of hot liquid, steam and electricity.

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