DEVICE FOR A TIRE HEATING PRESS AND TIRE HEATING PRESS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for use in a tire heating press comprising a press column, a press base and a press top provided with an upper opening for vulcanizing green tires or retreaded tires, The device comprises a press closure for closing the upper opening of the press upper part and a heat shield that surrounds the press closure at least in the closed position and shields it from the outside and can be positioned on the press upper part. The press closure and the heat shield are pivotable on the press column about an axis that is preferably the same for both parts from the open to the closed position and vice versa. The invention further relates to a tire curing press with such a device.

[0002] Tire curing presses are typically equipped with horizontally positioned upper and lower press sections and are known in various designs. US 4,744,739 and US 9,346,228 B2 show and describe such tire curing presses. Also known is a tire curing press in which the upper opening on the upper press section can be closed with a heavy metal press closure, on the inside of which molded parts, for example those that form one of the tire sidewalls, are arranged. It is also known to combine this press closure with heat protection in the form of a heat-shielding hood, which is hinged to the press column together with the press closure and can be pivoted together with it. This arrangement poses the risk of persons, such as operating personnel, inadvertently coming into contact with the hot metal press closure.For safety reasons, the closing and opening of the heating press requires the presence of an operator.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of designing a device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the protection of operating personnel and other persons from the hot press closure is optimized and, above all, that contact with the press closure is prevented during the closing process.

[0004] The object is achieved according to the invention in that the heat protection is open upwards in such a way that it can be pivoted independently of a closing and opening movement of the press closure.

[0005] The invention allows the heat shield to be lowered before the press closure is closed or the closing movement is initiated, so that when the press closure is closed, the heat shield is already positioned on the upper part of the press. The risk of persons, operating personnel, and the like, accidentally coming into contact with the press closure is therefore significantly reduced. Furthermore, the invention allows the closing and opening of the press closure to be carried out without the presence of an operator and can be carried out automatically.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the heat protection has a cylinder jacket-like protective shield interrupted at one point of its circumference and two side parts extending outwards from the interrupted point, by means of which the heat protection is pivotally connected to the press column.

[0007] Preferably, the heat protection consists of one or more layers of heat protection mat(s), thus made of a light material that shields heat well.

[0008] The tire heating press according to the invention comprises a press column, a press base and a press top provided with an upper opening, these parts being positioned horizontally, and is provided with a device according to one or more of claims 1 to 3.

[0009] Further features, advantages and details of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the schematic drawing, which shows an embodiment. Fig. 1 a view of a tire heating press with a press closure in the raised position together with a heat protection device, Fig. 2 the tire heating press Fig. 1 with lowered heat protection and press closure in raised position and Fig. 3the tire heating press Fig. 1 with lowered heat protection and lowered press closure that closes the tire heating press.

[0010] The Figures 1 to 3 show views of a conventional tire curing press, in particular a curing press for vulcanizing the tread and sidewall areas of retreaded commercial vehicle tires, in particular tires for trucks. The tire curing press has an upper press part 1 with an upper, circular opening 1a, a lower press part 2, a press closure 3 that can close the opening 1a, and a heat shield 4, which consists in particular of one or more layers of heat shield mats. The upper press part 1 and the lower press part 2 are positioned horizontally and arranged on a press column 5 or coupled to it. The press column 5, on which a hydraulic unit 10 is arranged, is not the subject of the invention and is therefore not described in detail.

[0011] The upper press part 1 contains molding parts for forming one side wall of the tire to be vulcanized and has a segment ring 6 with segments 6a which can be moved in a manner known per se and whose inner sides have molding parts for forming the profile in the tread of the tire.

[0012] The press closure 3, together with the heat shield 4, is pivotally mounted on the press column 5. By means of actuating devices, in particular by means of hydraulic cylinders 7, one of which is shown, the press closure 3 and the heat shield 4 can be pivoted independently of one another. The press closure 3 has a cover 8 that is circular in plan view, with a ring-shaped, circumferential cover edge 8a and a central cylindrical structure 8b. The mold parts for forming the second sidewall of the tire to be vulcanized are located on the underside of the cover 8. The cover 8 is further designed such that it tightly closes the upper opening 1a on the upper press section 1. The cover 8 is pivotally connected to the press column 5 via an arm 9 that is firmly connected to the cover 8.

[0013] The heat shield 4 has a substantially cylindrical protective shield 4a interrupted at one point and two side parts 4b extending outward from the interrupted point, by means of which the heat shield 4 is pivotally connected to the press column 5. The design and dimensions of the heat shield 4 are such that, when lowered onto the upper side of the press upper section 1, the heat shield 4 is positioned vertically outside the upper opening 1a. The side parts 4b are designed such that, when the opening 1a is closed with the cover 8, they act as a heat shield to the side of the arm 9 of the cover 8. When the press closure 3 and the heat shield 4 are pivoted upwards together, the press closure 3 is also located within the heat shield 4.

[0014] Fig. 1shows the press closure 3 together with the heat shield 4 in the raised position. The cover 8, together with its arm 9, is located within the heat shield 4. Therefore, if the heating press is to be closed after inserting a green tire or a retreaded tire, the heat shield 4 is first pivoted until it is positioned on the upper side of the press upper part 1 ( Fig. 2 ). In the next step, the press closure 3 is pivoted into its closed position. To open the heating press after vulcanization, the press closure 3 is preferably first pivoted upwards, followed by the heat shield 4.

[0015] At least the opening and closing of the press closure 3 is controlled automatically. List of reference symbols

[0016] 1 Press upper part 1a Opening 2 Press lower part 3 Press closure 4 Heat protection 4a Protective shield 4b Side part 5 Press column 6 Segment ring 6a Segment 7 Hydraulic cylinder 8 Cover 8a Cover edge 8b Structure 9 Arm 10 Hydraulic unit

Claims

1. Device for use in a tyre heating press having a press column (5), a press lower part (2) and a press upper part (1) provided with an upper opening (1a) for vulcanizing tyre blanks or retreads, wherein the device comprises a press closure (3) for closing the upper opening (1a) of the press upper part (1), and a heat protection (4) which at least in the closed position externally surrounds and externally shields the press closure (3) and is positionable on the press upper part (1), wherein the press closure and the heat protection are pivotable on the press column (5) about an axis, which is preferably identical for both parts, from the opened to the closed position and vice versa, characterized in that the heat protection (4) is open towards the top in such a manner that it is pivotable independently of a closing and opening movement of the press closure (3).

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the heat protection (4) has a cylindrical jacket-like protective shield (4a), the latter being interrupted at a point of the circumference of the former and having two lateral parts (4b) which extend outwards from the interruption point and by means of which the heat protection (4) is pivotably articulated on the press column (5).

3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heat protection (4) consists of one or more layers of heat protection mats.

4. Tyre heating press having a press column (5), a press lower part (2) and a press upper part (1) provided with an upper opening (1a), wherein these parts are positioned horizontally, and having a device according to one or a plurality of Claims 1 to 3.