A vacuum forming apparatus and process for its use in forming a transport
tire from an elastomeric material that includes a mold having a cavity or
annular area wherein a transport tire core of plies, belt and beads is
laid-up on a mandrel located within the mold. The mold receives a cover
fitted in sealing engagement over the mold top and a cylindrical canister
is fitted through the center of which cover and the mold center that is
open at a top end to receive a pour of an elastomeric material mixture
and includes a needle valve in its lower end that exhausts into one end
of the mold annular area. The cylindrical canister includes a port for
connection to a deep vacuum source and the cover includes a port that is
for connection to a low level vacuum source, with the deep vacuum to
remove air from the elastomeric material mixture as it is poured into the
canister, and with, after filling, the port is open to atmosphere and the
needle valve is opened to exhaust the mixture into the mold annular
chamber wherethrough it is pulled by the low level vacuum through the
cover port, filling the mold annular cavity and thoroughly impregnating
the core maintained therein.