Yokohama Applies for Construction Machines Radial Tyre Patent

Yokohama Rubber Company Ltd is in the process of patenting a method of producing radial tyres for construction vehicles. The new tyre production method reportedly facilitates “a vast reduction in facility costs.”

According to the patent application, a green tyre is formed in a first step moulding machine and then removed. After that, a vulcaniser bladder unit is installed on the tyre. The tyre is inflated by the vulcaniser bladder unit and then again placed in the first step moulding machine with the vulcaniser bladder unit installed. After that, on the first step moulding machine, belts and tread rubber are adhered to the outer periphery of the tyre to form a completed green tyre. Then the completed green tyre, with the vulcaniser bladder unit, is assembled in a vulcanising mould for vulcanisation, the patent application abstract concluded.

Company employees Tsuyoshi Maekawa, Heikichi Nakanome and Ken Takahashi are credited as the inventors of the system.