Importance

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Abstract

Three-part vertical stack-up mold apparatus for molding a composite styled wheel wherein the middle mold part is metal disc and rim subassembly operable as metal street wheel when a pneumatic tire is mounted on said rim. The lower mold part has a mold cavity surface to define an ornamental configuration for the outboard face of a plastic body of the composite wheel. An upper mold part urges the wheel into sealing engagement with the lower mold part. The lower mold part includes cores adapted for individual registry with disc air vent openings so as to protrude therethrough into the mold cavity in the closed condition of the mold. The upper mold part includes an expansible lid seal juxtaposed in mold cavity sealing relation to the disc inboard face and the cores in the mold-closed condition. The lid seal is radially outwardly expansible in response to clamping pressure of the upper mold part against the middle mold part as resisted by lower mold part during mold closure to thereby radially outwardly enlarge the sealing engagement of the lid seal against the disc inboard surface in the mold-closed condition, and vice versa during mold opening. The lid seal includes an elastomer annular flexible seal and a rigid ring which resists radially inwardly deformation of the seal under the clamping pressure. The seal and ring have a wedge-like engagement to cause radially outwardly expansible flexure of the seal upon disc engagement during mold closure. The lower mold part is a lightweight base steel frame-work weldment, and a relatively thin deck part removably secured upon the base and having a generally uniform cross-sectional thickness.

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First Claim