(19)
(11) EP 1 612 022 A8

(12) CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
Note: Bibliography reflects the latest situation

(15) Correction information:
Corrected version no 1 (W1 A1)

(48) Corrigendum issued on:
29.03.2006 Bulletin 2006/13

(43) Date of publication:
04.01.2006 Bulletin 2006/01

(21) Application number: 05013913.8

(22) Date of filing: 28.06.2005
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B29C 35/04(2006.01)
B29C 33/04(2006.01)
B29D 30/06(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR LV MK YU

(30) Priority: 30.06.2004 US 880733

(71) Applicants:
  • Societe de Technologie Michelin
    63000 Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
  • MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    1763 Granges-Paccot (CH)

(72) Inventors:
  • Yang, Shaw Xiaofeng
    Mauldin, South Carolina 29662 (US)
  • Kerechanin, Chris
    Greer, South Carolina 29650 (US)

(74) Representative: Schlief, Thomas P. 
Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse 84
85055 Ingolstadt
85055 Ingolstadt (DE)

   


(54) Tire mold with helically extending heating conduit


(57) An apparatus for transferring heat into a product, such as a tire, formed at least in part by molding is provided. The apparatus includes a mold (10) that has a central axis with a forming surface disposed radially outward from the central axis. A heating conduit (20) is included and is at least partially located radially outward from the forming surface of the mold (10). The heating conduit (20) is configured for use with a gas, such as saturated steam, in order to effect heat transfer to the forming surface of the mold (10). The heating conduit (20) extends helically with respect to the central axis in order to allow condensation formed in the heating conduit to be drained therefrom via the force of gravity. A drainage connector may be in communication with the exit of the heating conduit and have a lower longitudinal axis than the heating conduit to allow condensation to drain more easily therefrom.