US 6,981,857 B2
Apparatus and method for locking a tire vulcanizing press
John R. Cole, 1033 Top of the Hill, Akron, Ohio 44333 (US)
Filed on Feb. 09, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/54,568.
Application 11/054568 is a continuation of application No. 10/222742, filed on Aug. 16, 2002, granted, now 6,908,584.
Prior Publication US 2005/0136145 A1, Jun. 23, 2005
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 35/02 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 425—38 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an upper mold;
a first top plate per upper mold, said top plate having the upper mold;
a single bottom plate having a bottom mold, said bottom mold having an upper surface defining a first plane;
three lock rods per top plate, each of said lock rods having a first end and a second end, each of said lock rods having a surface;
locking mechanisms operatively connected to each of said lock rods, wherein said locking mechanisms are operatively connected to said bottom plate;
cylinder mechanisms operatively connected to said locking mechanisms wherein said cylinder mechanisms are adapted to move said locking mechanisms to said surface of said lock rods, said cylinder mechanisms also adapted to place tension on said lock rods, wherein each of said cylinder mechanisms is a hydraulic cylinder, said cylinder mechanisms being supplied with hydraulic fluid from a common source, each of said cylinder mechanisms having a floating piston positioned therein, said floating piston having a self-adjusting stroke;
a loader assembly operatively connected to said top plate; and
wherein a lower surface of said upper mold defines a second plane, said top plate adapted to adjust via the self-adjusting stroke of said floating pistons such that said second plane is parallel to said first plane such that equal force is applied to each of said lock rods which results in uniform force being applied to said molds.