FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970) & THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10, rule 13) 1. Title of the invention: BLADDER CAP SLEEVE
2. Applicant(s)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS
CEAT LIMITED Indian RPG HOUSE, 463, Dr. Annie Besant
Road, Worli, Mumbai-Maharashtra 400 030, India

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present subject matter relates, in general, to curing of tires and, particularly but not exclusively, to configuration of a bladder cap sleeve.
BACKGROUND [0002] Curing is the process of applying pressure to the uncured tire to give a final shape to the tire during manufacturing. Curing involves application of pressure and heat energy on an uncured tire to activate chemical reaction between rubber and other vulcanizing reactants that gives the tire its final shape and tread pattern. [0003] The curing process is carried out in a curing mould, where pressure and heat treatment are applied to the uncured tire to achieve a desired shape and strength of the tire along with a desired tread configuration. Since, the desired shape, strength, and configuration directly impact performance of the tire, process of curing in the curing press is an active area of research.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0004] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates isometric view of a curing press, in accordance with another embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the bladder cap sleeve, in accordance with an implementation of the present subject matter.
[0007] Fig. 3 illustrates method for curing of the uncured tire in a curing press, according to another implementation of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0008] The present subject matter relates to aspects relating to curing of tires and configuration of a bladder cap sleeve.

[0009] A curing press includes a curing mould. The curing mould is segmented or divide in two pieces. Further, the curing mould is configured to hold an uncured tire and a bladder. Additionally, an inlet conduit is connected to the bladder by way of a bladder cap sleeve and the bladder cap sleeve supplies media, in the form of hot, pressurized gas or mixture of gases into the bladder for its expansion [0010] A conventionally known bladder cap sleeve is cylindrically shaped. Further, the conventional bladder cap sleeve has plurality of media outlet apertures located on a top surface of the cylindrical conventional bladder cap sleeve. The plurality of media outlet apertures supplies pressurized and heated media inside the bladder from bottom towards the top direction. Heated media has a natural tendency to move upwardly. Due to dual impact of the natural tendency of the media and the direction of supply of the media, top portion of uncured tire in the curing mould often gets heated to a high temperature. Additionally, due to a lack of exposure to the heat and deposition of condensed media on the bottom portion of the uncured tire, the bottom portion continues to remain at a relatively lower temperature. As a result of uneven exposure to the media, significant temperature difference, and uneven deposition of the condensed media, the curing of the top and bottom portions of the tire in the curing press is often non-uniform. Further, the non-uniform curing may lead to uneven strength, and performance of the tire, making the manufacturing of the tire at curing stage non-reliable and inefficient.
[0011] To this end, a bladder cap sleeve for tire curing press is disclosed. Example configuration and structure of the bladder cap sleeve described herein provides for uniform curing of the tire by even distribution of temperature across top and bottom portion of the tire in the curing mould. The modified configuration and structure of the bladder cap sleeve and its components overcome the above-described problems associated with strength, and performance of tire of a vehicle. [0012] In accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter, the bladder cap sleeve is cylindrical in shape and the bladder cap sleeve has a top and

bottom surface and side walls. In an implementation, the bottom surface may be connected to media supply pipes. Further, the side walls of the bladder cap sleeve have a media outlet aperture. In an example, the side walls may have a plurality of media outlet apertures.
[0013] The present subject matter discloses modified structure with media outlet aperture provided on side walls of the bladder cap sleeve. Implementation of the media outlet aperture on the side walls of the bladder cap sleeve, enables supply of the media to the bladder in a horizontal direction rather than a vertical direction as in the case of a conventional bladder cap sleeve. As a result, the media exiting from the outlet aperture on the side walls of the bladder cap sleeve is directed towards the bottom portion of the tire. Further, due to high pressure, the media is pushed towards the top direction from the bottom surface. Additionally, condensed media deposition on the bottom portion of the tire also gets pushed in the top direction, as a result, creating a turbulence created inside the bladder. The turbulence amounts to equal distribution of the condensed media and non-condensed media in the bladder, as a result, the temperature in the entire bladder gets uniformly distributed, i.e., the temperature difference between the top portion and the bottom portion of the tire is obliviated. Thus, the present subject matter amounts to uniform curing of the tire by minimum modification in the configuration and design of the curing press and bladder cap sleeve, amounting to reliable and efficient system with low cost of modification. [0014] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the following figures. While aspects of the disclosed configuration of the bladder cap sleeve can be implemented in any number of different configurations, the embodiments are described in the context of the following device(s) and method(s).
[0015] Fig. 1 illustrates isometric view of a curing press 100 for curing an uncured tire 102, in accordance with another embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0016] In an implementation, the curing press 100 includes a curing mould, such that, the curing mould is assembled with segments or two pieces. The bladder assembly consists of curing bladder, bottom bladder clamp ring portion 104 and a top bladder clamp ring portion 106 fitted into the curing press. The bottom bladder clamp ring portion 104 may be made up of materials having high resistance to temperature and pressure. Similarly, the top bladder clamp ring portion 106 may also be made up of materials having high resistance to temperature and pressure. [0017] In an example, the curing mould may be dome shaped. In another example, the curing mould may be platen in shape. In an implementation, the bottom bladder clamp ring portion 104 houses an uncured tire 102 formed by a tire building system. In an example, the tire building system may assemble components of a tire onto a building drum and form various layers of the tire such as plies, beads and inner layer. Next, the tire building system may perform splicing of each layer and deliver build tire in uncured form to the bottom bladder clamp ring portion 104. Additionally, the top bladder clamp ring portion 106 may be symmetrically engageable with the bottom bladder clamp ring portion (not shown) so as to cover the bottom bladder clamp ring portion (not shown) and the uncured tire 102 in the bottom bladder clamp ring portion 104.
[0018] In an implementation, the bottom mould (not shown) and the top mould (not shown) may be seated on vertical beams of the curing press 100 (not shown). Further, the bottom mould is stationary and movement of the curing mould (not shown) separates the top mould (not shown) from the bottom mould (not shown) and ejects the tire from the curing press 100 (not shown).
[0019] In yet another example, the top bladder clamp ring portion 106 and the bottom bladder clamp ring portion 104 may get interlocked with each other by the way of mechanical locking members or hydraulic locking members or pneumatic locking member. The bladder assembly consists of bladder clamp rings. In the bladder

assembly, the bladder is fixed around the vertical beam of the curing press (not shown) where the bladder cap sleeve 110 is fitted around the vertical beam. [0020] In an implementation of the present subject matter, a bladder 108 is placed in the curing mould, such that the bladder 108 can expand upon supply of gaseous media into the bladder 108. The media may be understood as a gaseous mixture. In an example, the media may be pressurized and heated gaseous mixture. In another example, the media may be a combination of pressurized and heated steam and nitrogen.
[0021] The bladder 108 includes a bladder surface and a bladder cap sleeve 110. The bladder surface includes an inner surface and the outer surface. The inner surface of the bladder 108 interfaces with the media, while the outer surface of the bladder interfaces with the uncured tire 102. In an example, the bladder cap sleeve 110 may be connected to media supply pipes 112 carrying the media into the bladder 108. Additionally, the bladder cap sleeve 110 has plurality of media outlet apertures 114-1, 114-2, 114-3,....114-N, for ejection of the media received from the media supply pipes into the bladder. In an implementation, the plurality of media outlet apertures 114-1, 114-2, 114-3,.....114-N may be created on the walls of the bladder cap sleeve 110. Thus, the ejection of the media into the bladder 108 is from bottom towards top of the bladder 108.
[0022] Fig. 2 (a) illustrates a perspective view of the bladder cap sleeve 110, in accordance with an implementation of the present subject matter. [0023] In an implementation of the present subject matter, a bladder cap sleeve 110 in the curing press 100 is disclosed. In an example, the bladder cap sleeve 110 may be cylindrical in shape. Further, the cylindrical bladder cap sleeve 110 has a bottom surface and side walls. In an implementation, the bottom surface may be connected to media supply pipes 112. Further, the side walls have a plurality of media outlet apertures 114-1, 114-2, 114-3,.....114-N, herein referred as, media outlet aperture(s) 114.

[0024] In an implementation of the present subject matter, the media outlet aperture 114 may be created at a predefined angle with respect to latitudinal axis of the bladder cap sleeve 110. In an example, the predefined angle may be an angle in range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees from the latitudinal axis X of the bladder cap sleeve 110.
[0025] In an example, the media outlet aperture 114 may be either oval, circular, conical or rectangular.
[0026] In another implementation, the cylindrical bladder cap sleeve 110 further includes a top surface. The top surface of the bladder cap sleeve 110 is sealed. [0027] In operation, the media supply pipes 112 provide passage to the media into the bladder cap sleeve 110 via the bottom surface of the bladder cap sleeve 110. Since, the top surface of the bladder cap sleeve 110 is sealed, the media in the bladder cap sleeve 110 ejects out of the media outlet apertures 114 on the walls of the bladder cap sleeve 110. Direction of the media outlet apertures 114 is towards bottom of the bladder 108 at a predefined angle, as a result, the media enters the bladder 108 from bottom, and due to high pressure, the media gets pushed towards the top of the bladder 108 along the inner surface of the bladder 108. Thus, a turbulence is created inside the bladder 108 due to movement of condensed media and non-condensed media from bottom to the top due to placement of the media outlet aperture 114 on the side walls of the bladder cap sleeve 110.
[0028] Positioning of the media outlet aperture 114 on the walls of the bladder cap sleeve 110 ensures that the direction of supply of the media into the bladder 108 is from bottom to top, thus, the pressurized and heated media comes in contact with bottom portion of the uncured tire 102. Upon coming in contact with the bottom portion of the uncured tire 102, the media induces chemical reaction in the bottom portion of the uncured tire 102, amounting to curing of the bottom portion of the uncured tire 102 under influence of temperature and pressure. Further, as mentioned previously, since the heated media has the tendency to move from the bottom to the

top, the upper portion of the uncured tire 102 also comes in contact with the media and the chemical reaction is induced in the upper portion too under influence of temperature and pressure. Hence, the complete uncured tire 102 gets uniformly cured due to media turbulence created in the bladder 108 due to positioning of the media outlet aperture 114 on the walls of the bladder cap sleeve 110. [0029] Fig. 3 illustrates exemplary method for curing of the uncured tire 102 in the curing press 100, according to an implementation of the present subject matter. [0030] The order in which the methods are described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in any order to implement the methods, or an alternative method. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the methods, systems and devices described herein. [0031] Referring to Fig. 3, at block 302, an uncured tire 102 is placed in the curing mould. In an example, the uncured tire 102 may be placed in the bottom bladder clamp ring portion 102 of the curing press 100.
[0032] At block 304, the bladder 108 is inserted into the curing mould. In an example, the bladder 108 may be placed in cavity formed inside the uncured tire 102. [0033] Next, at block 306, the media is received from supply pipes 112. In an example, the supply pipes 112 may be connected to bottom surface of the bladder cap sleeve 110 of the bladder 108.
[0034] Finally, at block 308, the media is supplied to the bladder 108. In an example, the media may be supplied through the media outlet aperture 114 of the bladder cap sleeve 110. In another example, the media outlet aperture 114 may be located on the walls of the bladder cap sleeve 110.
[0035] In an implementation, the supply of media may amount to expansion of the bladder 108.

[0036] In another implementation, the media outlet aperture 114 may be created at a predefined angle with respect to latitudinal axis X of the bladder cap sleeve 110. Further, the predefined angle may be an angle from range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees. [0037] In an example, the media outlet aperture 114 may be created by drilling on the walls of the bladder cap sleeve 110. In another example, shape of the media outlet aperture 114 may either be oval, circular, conical or rectangular. [0038] In another implementation of the present subject matter, the media is pressurized and heated.
[0039] Thus, the present subject matter provides a modified mechanism of supply of the media to the bladder 108 through the media outlet aperture 114 by creating the media outlet apertures 114 on the walls of the bladder cap sleeve 110. The modified location of the media outlet aperture 114 ensures turbulence of the media in the bladder 108, such that, the uncured tire 102 uniformly gets cured by uniform temperature distribution. Further, deposition of condensed media is also uniformly distributed, thus, there exist no need for continuous removal of the condensed media from a particular portion for maintaining temperature uniformly.
[0040] Although implementations for configuration and structure of the bladder cap sleeve is described, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features of the systems described herein. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as implementations for configuration and structure of the bladder cap sleeve.

I/ We Claim:
1. A bladder cap sleeve (110) for tire curing press (100), the bladder cap sleeve (110)
comprises:
a cylindrical body with a top surface, a bottom surface and side walls, wherein, the bottom surface is connected to media supply pipes (112); and the side walls have at least one media outlet aperture (114).
2. The bladder cap sleeve (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top surface is sealed.
3. The bladder cap sleeve (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shape of the at least one media outlet aperture (114) is one of oval, circular, conical and rectangular.
4. The bladder cap sleeve (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one media outlet aperture (114) is at a predefined angle with respect to latitudinal axis of the bladder cap sleeve (110).
5. The bladder cap sleeve (110) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the predefined angle is in a range of angle from 15 degrees to 45 degrees.
6. A method for uniform temperature distribution during curing of an uncured tire (102), the method comprising:
placing the uncured tire (102) in a curing mould;
inserting a bladder (108) inside the curing mould;
receiving media from supply pipes (112) connected to a bottom surface of a bladder cap sleeve (110); and
ejecting the media into the bladder (108) by at least one media outlet aperture (114) on side wall of the bladder cap sleeve (110).
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprises creating the at least one media outlet aperture (114) in one of oval, circular, conical and rectangular shape.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the creating is at a predefined angle with respect to latitudinal axis (X) of the bladder cap sleeve (110).
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predefined angle is in a range of angle from 15 degrees to 45 degrees.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the creating comprises drilling the at least one media outlet aperture (114) on the side wall of the bladder cap sleeve (110).