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: POST CURING INFLATION OF A TIRE
2. Applicant(s)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS
CEAT LIMITED Indian RPG HOUSE, 463, Dr. Annie Besant
Road, Worli, Mumbai-Maharashtra 400 007, India
3. Preamble to the description
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates, in general, to post curing inflation of tires and, particularly but not exclusively, to post curing inflation assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Post curing inflation is a process of cooling a tire under pressure after the tire is cured by vulcanization process. In absence of post curing inflation, the vulcanized tire has a tendency to shrink after vulcanization. The shrinkage of the tire is caused due to nylon present in tire carcass. Generally, the nylon in the tire carcass shrinks in cases where the tire is cooled without applying pressure applied on the tire, however, the pressurized cooling in a post curing inflation assembly keep nylon cords in stretched condition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0003] 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.
[0004] Fig. 1 (a) illustrates sectional view of a post curing inflation (PCI) assembly, in accordance with an implementation of the present subject matter.
[0005] Fig. 1 (b) illustrates an exploded view of a section of the PCI assembly, in accordance with another implementation of the present subject matter.
[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a holding member, in accordance with yet another implementation of the present subject matter.
[0007] Fig. 3 illustrates method for a post curing inflation treatment in the PCI assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] The present subject matter relates to aspects relating to post curing inflation of tires and structure of post curing inflation (PCI) assembly.
[0009] A PCI assembly is used for post curing inflation of tires after vulcanization process. The tire is placed inside a cavity of the PCI assembly, such that the tire is mounted on two holding members. In the process of mounting inner circumference of the tire contacts with outer circumference of the two holding members. Contacting portions of the tire with the holding members are known as beads. Thus, first portion of the tire contacting with a first holding member is known as first bead portion. Further, second portion of the tire contacting with a second holding member is known as second bead portion. Upon placement of the tire, pressurized gas is injected inside the tire for purpose of cooling the tire.
[0010] In conventionally known PCI assemblies, a first holding member on which the tire is mounted is moved by way of a motor, while a second holding member on which the tire is mounted is kept stationary. Upon application of pressurized gas in the tire, the second holding member and the second bead portion mounted on the second holding member are subjected to stress. Further, due to absence of movement of the second holding member, the second bead portion does not get room for adequate expansion, unlike the first bead portion of the tire mounted on the first holding member. As a result, the first bead portion and the second bead portion are shaped differently. Moreover, less than adequate expansion of the second bead portion may result in less bead-to-bead distance for the tires than needed, as the size of the second bead portion remains less than the desired size. Thus, the process of non-uniform post curing inflation may lead to tire that has uneven strength on first and second bead portions, and performance of the tire, making the manufacturing of the tire at PCI stage non-reliable and inefficient.
[0011] Alternatively, some conventional PCI assemblies implement a moveable second holding member, such that, the second holding member is moved by way of an

actuator energized by external power source. Use of the actuator energized by external power source with an existing PCI assembly requires tremendous amount of modification to the existing PCI assembly. Further, precise data and skilled workforce is needed to ensure adequate movement of the second holding member by way of the actuator. Additionally, power consumption of the PCI assembly increases, amounting to higher cost of manufacturing of the tire. Hence, conventional PCI assemblies with the movable second holding member energized by external power source amount to complex configuration, high modification, higher effort, and high cost of manufacturing.
[0012] To this end, a PCI assembly for post curing inflation treatment of a tire is disclosed. Example configuration and structure of the PCI assembly described herein provides for uniform post curing inflation treatment of the tire. The modified configuration and structure of the PCI assembly and its components overcome the above-described problems associated with strength, and performance of tire of a vehicle.
[0013] In accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter, the PCI assembly may include multiple PCI housings. Each PCI housing from amongst the multiple PCI housings may further include a first holding member for holding a vulcanized tire. In an implementation, the first holding member may be movable by a first actuator. In an example, the first actuator may be energized by an external power source. Each PCI housing from amongst the multiple PCI housings may also include a second holding member for holding the vulcanized tire. In an implementation, the second holding member may be movable by a second actuator, based on movement of the first holding member by the first actuator. In an example, the second actuator may be a recoil member.
[0014] The present subject matter discloses modified structure of PCI assembly with two movable holding members. The movement of first holding member by the external power source and the movement of the second holding member by the recoil

member, enables distribution of the stress which is developed in the vulcanized tire due to pressurized gas. After the vulcanized tire is mounted onto the first holding member and the second holding member, the pressurized gas is injected into the vulcanized tire to cool the vulcanized tire. The pressurized gas causes the first holding member to move by a pre-defined distance towards the second holding member and stay stationary at the pre-defined distance. At the same time, the pressurized gas caused the second holding member to move away from the first holding member due to movement of the recoil member. Hence obliviating the need for an external power source to move the second holding member, amounting to simple, cost-effective, and power efficient mechanism of post curing inflation treatment. [0015] Further, due to natural movement of the second holding member due to the pressurized gas, second bead portion and first bead portion expand uniformly. As a result, the first bead portion and the second bead portion have similar shapes. Further, cooling of the first and the second bead portion is also alike. Hence, uniform post curing inflation treatment of the vulcanized tire is achieved. Also, desired shape and bead-to-bead distance of the vulcanized tire is achieved after post curing inflation treatment. Thus, the post curing inflation treatment by the PCI assembly disclosed by the present subject matter is reliable and efficient over state of the art post curing inflation treatment.
[0016] 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 PCI assembly can be implemented in any number of different configurations, the embodiments are described in the context of the following assembly(s) and method(s).
[0017] Fig. 1 (a) illustrates sectional view of a post curing inflation (PCI) assembly 100 for post curing inflation treatment of a vulcanized tire, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Further, Fig. 1 (b) illustrates an exploded

view of a section of the PCI assembly 100, in accordance with another embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0018] Referring to Fig. 1 (a), in an implementation, the PCI assembly 100 includes a PCI assembly mainframe 102. The PCI assembly mainframe 102 is made of plurality of horizontal 128 and vertical 104A, 104B supporting structures connected to each other to form structure of the PCI assembly mainframe 102. In an example, the PCI assembly mainframe 102 includes plurality of external supporting structures 104A, 104B and an internal supporting structure 106. One external supporting structure, from amongst the plurality of external supporting structures 104A, 104B, and the internal supporting structure 106 may form a PCI housing. In another example, the PCI assembly 100 may include plurality of PCI housings 108A, 108B formed from combination of various horizontal 128 and vertical 104A, 104B supporting structures of the PCI assembly mainframe 102.
[0019] In an embodiment of the present subject matter, each PCI housing, from amongst the plurality of PCI housings 108A, 108B, has two holding members, namely, a first holding member 110 and a second holding member 112. The two holding members 110, 112 may be understood as gripping means for holding the vulcanized tire. In an example, the first holding members 110 is fitted onto a first bead portion of the vulcanized tire, and the second holding member 112 is fitted onto a second bead portion of the vulcanized tire.
[0020] In an implementation, the first holding member 110 is mounted on the external supporting structure 104B of the PCI assembly mainframe 102. Further, the second holding member 112 is mounted on the internal supporting structure 106 of the PCI assembly mainframe 102. Accordingly, the placement of the first holding member 110 and the second holding member 112 is such that the first holding member 110 and the second holding member 112 are parallel to each other and are placed along X-axis (shown in Fig. 1 (a)).

[0021] In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the first holding member 110 and the second holding member 112 are movable. In an example, the movement of the first holding member 110 and the second holding member 112 is a sliding movement along X-axis (shown in Fig. 1 (a)). Arrows 1, 1’ represent direction of movement of the first holding member 110 and the second holding member 112. In an implementation, the movement of the first holding member 110 is enabled by a first actuator 114. Additionally, the movement of the second holding member 112 is enabled by a second actuator 116.
[0022] In an implementation, the first actuator 114 is attached to the external supporting structure 104B of the PCI assembly mainframe 102. Further, the second actuator 116 is attached to the internal supporting structure 106 of the PCI assembly mainframe 102.
[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the first actuator 114 may be energized by an external power source. In an example, the first actuator 114 may be a motor. In another example, the first actuator 114 may drive a power transmission mechanism to facilitate movement of the first holding member110, by way of an engaging member 120. The power transmission mechanism may include an operating member 118 to transfer power from the motor to the engaging member 120 by way of a translation member 122. In an example, the operating member 118 can be, but not limited to, the belt drive, chain drive, pinch roller system, or the like. In another example, the translation member 122 can be, but not limited to, screw jack assembly, gear assembly, teeth assembly, or the like. In yet another example, the engaging member 120 of the first actuator 114 is placed along the X-axis, such that the direction of the movement of the first holding member is perpendicular to the external supporting structure 104B. [0024] In another implementation, the second actuator 106 may be a recoil member. In an example, the recoil member can be a compression spring, extension, torsion spring, leaf spring, Belleville spring, or the like. The recoil member biases

translational movement of the second holding member 112, towards the first holding member 110.
[0025] The translation member 122 can have a central shaft 124 with a cavity. The cavity in the central shaft 124 can house a conduit. In an example, the conduit may carry pressurized gas into the PCI housing 108A. The conduit is attached to an air inlet 126 in the first holding member 110. In an example, the air inlet 126 can be understood as an ingress opening for the pressurized gas.
[0026] In operation, the vulcanized tire is placed in the PCI housing 108A, such that, the first bead portion is mounted onto the first holding member 110 and the second bead portion is mounted onto the second holding member 112. In an implementation, distance between the first holding member 110 and the second holding member 112 may be fixed to a pre-determined value. Next, the pressurized gas is injected into the vulcanized tire through the air inlet 126. To enhance stress on the vulcanized tire, the first holding member 110 is moved towards the second holding member 112 by another pre-determined distance. As a result of stress from the pressurized gas and the first holding member 110, the second holding member 112 is set in motion. The motion of the second holding member 112 under stress is away from the first holding member 110. However, motion of the second holding member 112 away from the first holding member 110 is limited by the second actuator 116 that biases the towards the second holding member 112 towards the first holding member 110. Since, the PCI housing 108 A and the PCI housing 108B are similar in structure and construction, operation of the PCI assembly explained with respect to PCI housing 108A is applicable to PCI housing 108B too.
[0027] As a result of stress from the first holding member 110 and the pressurized gas, the vulcanized tire is kept in stretched state and nylon cords in tire carcass are prevented from collapsing, amounting to avoidance of shrinkage of the vulcanized tire. Further, the motion of the second holding member 112 ensures desired bead to bead distance is maintained for the vulcanized tire. Furthermore, due to the motion of the

second holding member 112 the bead portion mounted on the second holding member 112 does not get compressed due to the stress, as a result desired shape of the vulcanized tire is obtained. Also, use of the recoil member as the second actuator 116 obliviates need for a complex arrangement with additional power source to enable movement of the second holding member 112. Thus, configuration and structure of the PCI assembly 100 and the holding members 110, 112 as disclosed by the present subject matter are more efficient, reliable, and cost effective.
[0028] Fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the second holding member 112, in accordance with an implementation of the present subject matter. Fig. 2 discloses mechanism of mounting of the second holding member 112 onto the internal beam 106. Further, Fig. 2 also illustrates components attached to the second holding member 112 and the internal beam 106, configured to enable translational sliding movement of the second holding member 112.
[0029] In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the second holding member 112 may be mounted onto the internal beam 106 through a pair of guide rods 202-1 and 202-2 connected to the internal beam 106. In an example, the pair of guide rods 202-1 and 202-2 can be recoil guide rod, such that the pair of guide rods 202 facilitates back and forth translational motion of the second holding member 112 with respect to the internal beam 106, as shown by arrows 2, 2’. The translational motion of the second holding member 112 is along X-axis (shown in Fig. 2). Further, the translational motion of the second holding member 112 is towards and away from the first holding member 110.
[0030] In an implementation, the second actuator 116 may be wound (not shown) around the pair of guide rods 202-1 and 202-2. In an example, the guide rod 202 facilitates sliding movement of the second holding member 112 and the second actuator 116 biases the second holding member 112 in a direction towards the first holding member 110.

[0031] In operation, the second holding member 112 is pushed towards the internal beam 106 due to the pressurized gas ingress and movement of the first holding member 110. The stress is applied onto surface of the second holding member 112 and the surface of the second holding member 112 transfers the stress to the guide rod 202. Under pressure, the guide rod 202 slides inwards towards the internal beam 106. The second actuator 116 wound around the guide rod 202 gets compressed due to movement of the second holding member 112 under the stress. As a result of the compression, the second actuator 116 biases the movement of the second holding member 112 and consequently the movement of the guide rod 202 in direction opposite to the direction of movement, i.e., towards the first holding member 110. When the stress on the second holding member 112 is reduced, the second actuator 116 decompresses and pushes the second holding member 112 and consequently the guide rod 202 moves toward the first holding member 110.
[0032] The movement of the second holding member 112 under the stress is facilitated by movement of the first holding member 110 and the ingress of the pressurized gas, without need of an external source of power to facilitate the movement of the second holding member 112. Specifically, the movement of the first holding member 110 pushes the second holding member 112. Kinetic energy in the second holding member 112 due to movement is stored in the second actuator 116 as potential energy, amounting to the biasing action by the second actuator 116. Upon reduction in the push on the second holding member 112, the potential energy stored in the second actuator 116 is converted into kinetic energy pushing the second holding member 112 towards the first holding member 110. Thus, the movement of the second holding member 112 and advantages due to movement of the second holding member 112, such as obtaining of desired shape and bead to bead distance of the vulcanized tire, are achieved with simple and low-cost structure, without need of additional external power source for the movement of the second holding member 112, and significant modification to the PCI assembly 100.

[0033] Fig. 3 illustrates exemplary method for post curing inflation treatment of the vulcanized tire in the PCI assembly 100, according to an implementation of the present subject matter.
[0034] 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. [0035] Referring to Fig. 3, at block 302, a vulcanized tire is placed in the PCI assembly 100. In an example, the vulcanized tire is placed between the first holding member 110 and the second holding member 112 of the PCI assembly 100. [0036] At block 304, the first actuator 114 displaces the first holding member 110. In an example, the first actuator 114 is energized by an external power source. In another example, the first actuator 114 may be a motor or any other actuator capable of been energized by an external power source known in the art. [0037] Next, at block 306, the second actuator 116 displaces the second holding member 112. In an implementation, the displacement of the second holding member 112 is based on the displacement of the first holding member 110 under impact of the first actuator 114. In an example, the second actuator 116 may be a recoil member. In another example, the second actuator 116 may be one of a compression spring, extension, torsion spring, leaf spring, Belleville spring, or any other recoil member known in the art.
[0038] Thus, the present subject matter provides a modified mechanism of post curing inflation treatment. The modified mechanism is supported by modification to the second holding member 112 and movement of the second holding member 112 by way of the second actuator 116. The modified mechanism of post curing inflation treatment operates on low-cost, low-maintenance, efficient, and reliable PCI assembly 100 to obtained tires with desired shape, size, and bead to bead distance. Additionally,

the modified PCI assembly 100 as described by the present subject matter provides flexibility to manufacturer of tires to use the PCI assembly for obtaining desired bead to bead distance for different tires, without need of modifying the PCI assembly 100 with each tire.
[0039] Although implementations for configuration and structure of the PCI assembly and holding members therein 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 PCI assembly and holding members therein.

I/ We Claim:
1. A post-curing inflation (PCI) assembly (100) to cool a vulcanized tire, the PCI
assembly (100) comprising:
a plurality of post curing inflation (PCI) housings (108A, 108B), wherein at least one PCI housing from amongst the plurality of PCI housings (108A, 108B) includes:
a first actuator (114), wherein the first actuator (114) is energized by an external power source;
a first holding member (110) for holding the vulcanized tire, wherein the first holding member (110) is movable by the first actuator (114); and
a second actuator (116), wherein the second actuator (116) is a recoil member;
a second holding member (112) for holding the vulcanized tire, wherein the second holding member (112) is movable by the second actuator (116), based on the movement of the first holding member (110) by the first actuator (114).
2. The PCI assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first actuator (114) is a motor.
3. The PCI assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second actuator (116) is one of a compression spring, extension spring, torsion spring, leaf spring, Belleville spring.
4. The PCI assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one PCI housing (108A, 108B) includes an external supporting structure (104A, 104B) and an internal supporting structure (106), wherein:
the first actuator (114) is connected to the at least one PCI housing (108A, 108B) through the external supporting structure (104A, 104B); and

the second actuator (116) is connected to the at least one PCI housing (108A, 108B) thorough the internal supporting structure (106), wherein the second actuator (116) and the second holding member (112) are slidable with respect to the internal supporting structure (106).
5. The PCI assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second holding member (112) is configured to move perpendicular to the internal supporting structure (106).
6. The PCI assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein a pair of guide rods (202-1) and (202-2) slidably couples the second holding member (112) to the internal supporting structure (106).
7. The PCI assembly (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second actuator (116) biases the second holding member (112) towards the first holding member (110).
8. The PCI assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first holding member (110) has an air inlet (126), and wherein the second holding member (112) moves towards the internal supporting structure (106) under pressure of gases, upon the gases been released into the vulcanized tire through the air inlet (126).
9. A method for cooling a vulcanized tire in a post-curing inflation (PCI) assembly (100), the method comprising:
placing the vulcanized tire between a first holding member (110) and a second holding member (112) of the PCI assembly (100);
displacing, by a first actuator (114), the first holding member (110), wherein the first actuator (114) is energized by external power source; and
displacing, by a second actuator (116), the second holding member (110), based on the displacement of the first holding member (110) under impact of the first actuator (114), wherein the second actuator (116) is a recoil member.