Tool having a receiving surface comprising a plurality of channels to make a molded object on the receiving surface

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a tool (1) for manufacturing an object (100), for example a toroidal tyre (100), by moulding, said tool (1) having a receiving surface (10_out) for receiving a component (C1, C2, C3) of the object (100), said receiving surface (10_out) being provided with an aperture (15) forming a trench (15), said tool (1) further comprising an anti-infiltration system (30) comprising an injection system and a supply circuit for injecting a pressurized fluid into the trench (15) in a step of curing the tyre (100) so as to limit the infiltration of the material of the component (C1, C2, C3) placed on the receiving surface into the trench (15) and the overflow from the moulding cavity defined by the tool (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the general field of manufacturing molded objects on the receiving surface of a tool.

[0002] More specifically, the receiving surface of the tool is perforated and includes multiple channels or orifices.

[0003] Depending on the specific application, the present invention relates to the field of manufacturing toroidal tires (more particularly pneumatic tires intended for mounting on the wheels of a vehicle).

[0004] A "pneumatic tire" is understood to be a tire designed to form a cavity by cooperating with a mounting support (such as a rim), the cavity being pressurized to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. The pneumatic tire according to the invention has a generally toroidal shape structure that exhibits rotational symmetry about the tire's main axis, which coincides with the tire's axis of rotation. Background Technology

[0005] Typically, a pneumatic tire includes a crown with two axial ends, each free from the sidewall, followed by a bead (intended to contact the rim) extending radially inward. This assembly defines a toroidal internal cavity.

[0006] More specifically, the tire crown includes a tread and a crown reinforcement in the radial direction from the outside to the inside. The tread is designed to contact the ground via its surface, and the crown reinforcement is designed to reinforce the tire crown. The carcass reinforcement connects the two sidewalls together and is anchored in each bead to a circumferential reinforcement element, typically of the bead line type.

[0007] To improve the performance of pneumatic tires, especially cornering performance, the applicant conceived of installing a reinforcing structure within the annular inflation cavity that defines the tire.

[0008] In this regard, see references WO 2019 / 115917 – A1 and WO 2020 / 128225 – A1.

[0009] The tires described in these documents include a crown that extends radially inward on both sides of the tire's central plane by a first sidewall and a second sidewall, followed by a first bead and a second bead (which are intended to contact a mounting support (e.g., a rim)). Each of the first and second beads includes a circumferential reinforcing element intended to enable the tire to be attached to the mounting support.

[0010] The tire includes an inner surface that defines the annular inflation cavity of the tire when it is mounted on a mounting support.

[0011] The tires described in these documents include a reinforcing structure comprising a first filamentous reinforcing element extending continuously from a first bead to the crown in an annular cavity, and a second filamentous reinforcing element extending continuously from a second bead to the crown in an annular cavity.

[0012] Each of the first and second filamentary reinforcing elements is secured to each bead from which the filamentary reinforcing element extends via a bead interface between the filamentary reinforcing element and a portion of the inner surface of the bead. Similarly, each of the first and second filamentary reinforcing elements is secured to the tire crown via a crown interface between the filamentary reinforcing element and a portion of the inner surface of the crown.

[0013] These filamentary reinforcing elements are commonly referred to as "supports." The advantage of using filamentary reinforcing elements is the availability of a low-mass, low-hysteresis reinforcing structure. Using identical filamentary reinforcing elements allows for a uniform distribution of force among the reinforcing elements.

[0014] However, in order to produce this type of tire with supporting components, the applicant developed a specific manufacturing tool.

[0015] In this regard, reference FR 3 120 814-A1 can be found, which proposes a tool with a grooved core for manufacturing pneumatic tires reinforced by supports passing through the inflation cavity.

[0016] The tool described in this document includes a core with grooved channels designed to receive reinforcing elements called “supports”, which are designed to be permanently integrated into the tire’s structure and extend in the tire’s cavity, connecting a crown anchor point in the tire’s crown and a side anchor point in one of the tire’s sidewalls or beads.

[0017] Using this type of core allows the support to be positioned in the desired location within the volume reserved in the core, thus positioning it in the space that will subsequently become the tire cavity after the tire has been constructed and removed from the core.

[0018] However, in the step of curing the tire (during which the components of the tire wall are vulcanized), the tire itself is inserted into the grooves of the core during the pressure increase in the curing mold.

[0019] The internal volume of the curing mold used to hold the tire becomes larger than the required volume, so the tire has more room to expand freely, and the internal pressure in the curing mold cannot reach the pressure required to manufacture the tire.

[0020] This is because molding pressure is achieved during the curing step by expanding the core of the manufacturing tool and the tire.

[0021] Therefore, the volume of the tire needs to be perfectly adapted to the volume of the curing mold to achieve the necessary molding pressure between 50 bar and 60 bar (preferably equal to 55 bar).

[0022] Without such molding pressure, the tire cannot be pressed firmly against the mold, potentially resulting in surface defects. Furthermore, the different tire segments cannot make sufficient contact with each other, thus the adhesion between the tire segments may be inadequate.

[0023] In addition, the fact that the tire is contained within the grooves may cause aesthetic problems inside the tire, and may also cause structural problems such as the misalignment of the tire carcass threads.

[0024] Document FR 3 120 814-A1 proposes a solution for sealing trenches using mechanical devices. However, this solution is difficult to apply in industry.

[0025] There is a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and improve existing solutions to prevent the tire's constituent rubber from seeping into the grooves of the tool's grooved core, which is used to manufacture pneumatic tires with supports. Summary of the Invention

[0026] The purpose of this invention is to prevent the material constituting an object from creeping into channels formed in a tool, the tool including a perforated receiving surface.

[0027] More specifically, a further object of the present invention is to prevent the components or rubber constituting the uncured tire from creeping into the grooves in the molded internal portion (referred to as "MIP" or tire core).

[0028] The subject of this invention is a tool for manufacturing an object comprising a wall having an inner surface defining a cavity, the tool comprising a receiving surface having a shape that matches the inner surface of the wall of the object and comprising a plurality of channels extending below the receiving surface and leading to the receiving surface, the object being intended to be molded on the receiving surface of the tool.

[0029] The tool includes an anti-permeability system configured to control the creep of the material constituting the object into the channel, the anti-permeability system including lines for delivering pressurized fluid in the channel and a system for injecting the pressurized fluid during the solidification step of the object.

[0030] This tool enables the molding of objects onto receiving or molding surfaces, including channels or orifices.

[0031] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the object is a toroidal pneumatic tire forming the object, and the tool is configured to manufacture the toroidal tire.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the circumferential tire includes a crown intended to form a tread, a first annular bead and a second annular bead designed to allow the tire to be attached to a mounting support (e.g., a rim), and a first sidewall and a second sidewall respectively connecting the crown to the first and second beads, wherein the crown, the first and second sidewalls, and the first and second beads form a wall as a whole, the wall having a concave inner surface defining a tire cavity.

[0033] The tool includes a toroidal core having a convex outer surface, referred to as a "receiving surface," around its central axis. This convex outer surface has a shape that matches the inner surface of the tire wall and includes a radially outer crown region and first and second side regions on either side of the crown region along its axial direction. The radially outer crown region is designed to receive components of the tire crown. The first side regions are bent toward the central axis and are designed to receive components of a first sidewall and a first bead. The second side regions are bent toward the central axis and are designed to receive components of a second sidewall and a second bead, such that the core forms a volume referred to as a "reserved volume," which is externally defined by the receiving surface and corresponds to the tire cavity.

[0034] The core includes multiple channels extending within a reserved volume, below the receiving surface, and leading to the receiving surface, such that each channel connects to a crown region of the receiving surface and a side region of a first side region and a second side region, so that the core can receive reinforcing elements, referred to as “supports,” within the channels. These reinforcing elements are designed to be permanently integrated into the tire’s structure, and each reinforcing element extends within the tire’s cavity, connecting a crown anchor point located in the tire’s crown and a side anchor point located in one of the tire’s sidewalls or beads.

[0035] The tool includes an anti-penetration system that engages with the core to form a barrier that prevents components of the tire crown, sidewall, or bead from penetrating into the channels of the core for support engagement.

[0036] The anti-seepage system includes lines for delivering pressurized fluid in channels within the core and a system for injecting the pressurized fluid during the tire curing process.

[0037] The anti-seepage system prevents materials (especially rubber-based compositions) present in tire components from seeping into the grooves via creep. In particular, it prevents the formation of rubber flash, which can adhere the support to the groove walls and thus create the risk of pulling out the support when removing the core from the corner sector area.

[0038] Injecting fluid under pressure into the grooves can prevent or significantly slow down the seepage of tire component materials (especially uncured rubber-based blends) into the grooves.

[0039] During curing on the hard core of the manufacturing tool, molding pressure is achieved through the difference between the molding volume and the components contained in the tire. This balance varies depending on the degree of expansion. In practice, the temperature rise of the molded internal parts and tire components causes an increase in pressure. Leakage from the tire components through the vent holes mitigates this pressure rise, but the grooves used for the supports provide excessively wide openings, and the resulting volume loss causes a drop in pressure. To maintain the pressure at a level that meets the curing requirements, fluid must be injected into the grooves at a certain pressure, reaching between 35 bar and 80 bar, preferably between 50 bar and 70 bar, and more preferably between 50 bar and 55 bar. The fluid pressure is preferably increased gradually, for example linearly, reaching a first intermediate pressure of 20 to 35 bar in a first gradient for a first duration of 50 to 100 seconds (e.g., equal to 60 seconds), and then reaching a molding pressure of 35 to 80 bar (preferably between 50 and 70 bar, preferably between 50 and 55 bar) in a second gradient for a second duration of 120 to 200 seconds (e.g., equal to 150 seconds).

[0040] Once the mold is closed, a certain volume of the tire's components seeps into the grooves and forms a plug, while pressurized fluid is injected to control the seepage of the tire's components into the grooves. The gradual control of the pressurized fluid pressure increase associated with the plug effect prevents leakage of the pressurized fluid between the molded interior and the uncured tire. This control also allows time for the tire's components to seep into the reinforcement and be compacted, thus preventing bulges at the mold exit after curing.

[0041] Advantageously, the channel for the support is formed by a groove (preferably a blind groove) that has been hollowed out from the receiving surface into the thickness of the reserved volume, thus presenting a continuous opening along the contour of the receiving surface from the mentioned crown area to the side area.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the core includes an assembly of multiple integral angular sector areas arranged at an azimuth angle around the central axis of the tool. These integral angular sector areas have alternating so-called "locking key" sector areas and so-called "arch" sections. The "locking key" sector areas are preferably designed to be radially inwardly accessible and removed first during core disassembly. The "arch" sections are supported and locked in place by the locking key and are preferably designed to become movable after being freed by the removal of the locking key. The arches form sector areas complementary to the locking key.

[0043] This arrangement of the integrated fan-shaped area facilitates demolding and also allows the support to pass radially outward from the core and partially through a receiving surface that receives components of the tire wall, thereby enabling the corresponding portion of the support to be easily integrated into the wall and thus ensuring that the support is anchored in the tire crown.

[0044] Preferably, each key section or key section segment and each arch section or arch section segment includes its own line for conveying pressurized fluid. Therefore, individual injection into each of the key section segment and the arch section segment is possible.

[0045] For example, each key portion includes a plurality of key portion grooves, which are distributed at repeated angular intervals (preferably uniform) according to the azimuth angles around the central axis, and the key portion grooves are formed, for example, in a radial plane containing the central axis.

[0046] Preferably, each key section includes a groove extending radially outward from the radially inner surface but not leading to the receiving surface. The fluid conveying line includes two main key section pipes and two secondary key section pipes. The two main key section pipes start from the corresponding conveying groove and extend axially toward the side region, respectively. The two secondary key section pipes extend circumferentially from the end of each main pipe in the corresponding key section. The secondary key section pipes of the corresponding key section connect to the key section groove formed in the corresponding key section.

[0047] For example, each arch section includes multiple arch section grooves, which are distributed around the central axis at an angle (preferably uniform) that forms a non-zero angle with respect to the radial axis.

[0048] For example, the arch groove is formed in a plane that is inclined relative to a radial plane containing the central axis.

[0049] Preferably, each arch section includes a groove extending radially outward from the radially inner surface but not leading to the receiving surface. The fluid transport line includes two main arch section pipes and two secondary arch section pipes. The two main arch section pipes start from the corresponding transport groove and extend axially toward the side region, respectively. The two secondary arch section pipes extend circumferentially from the end of each main pipe in the corresponding arch section. The secondary arch section pipes of the corresponding arch section connect to the arch section groove formed in the corresponding arch section.

[0050] Advantageously, the groove in the arch section is not parallel to the groove in the key section.

[0051] This arrangement allows for improved removal of the core from the tire after the curing step.

[0052] Typically, the grooves are arranged at a variable angle, depending on the size of the core.

[0053] In one variant, the following setup can be made: all the grooves are identical and slope in the same direction.

[0054] The groove is understood to be a component including the keyway groove and the arch groove.

[0055] According to one embodiment, each key portion includes two opposing side surfaces, which together with two arched portions adjacent to the key portion form the parting line of the key portion. The side surfaces are inclined at two angles, forming a V-shape or herringbone shape relative to each other and relative to the sagittal meridional plane of the key portion.

[0056] In one variant, the side surfaces may be parallel to each other and parallel to the sagittal meridional plane, as described in patent FR 3 120 814-A1.

[0057] According to one embodiment, each arch portion includes two opposing side surfaces, which together with two key portions adjacent to the arch portion form the parting line of the arch portion. The side surfaces are inclined at two angles, forming an inverted V-shape or an inverted herringbone shape relative to each other and relative to the sagittal meridional plane of the arch portion.

[0058] Advantageously, each of the key portion and the arch portion is defined by a flank portion, each flank portion having a convex arched outer profile in a radial plane section, the outer profile providing a curved transition between the crown region and the corresponding side region of the receiving surface, and the curvature of the outer profile matching the curvature of the concave portion of the tire cavity, more particularly matching the curvature of the inner surface of the wall at the transition between the crown and the sidewall of the tire, and also matching the curvature in the region where the wall forms the outermost axial point of the sidewall.

[0059] In this way, the side wings of the key portion and the arch portion each form a petal shape, which can occupy the recess of the tire cavity during the tire manufacturing process, temporarily fill the recess and thus shape the recess.

[0060] It should be noted in this regard that, due to the concavity of the cavity and the axial narrow portion formed by the bead relative to the sidewall, the bead is positioned radially aligned with the side wings of the locking key and the arch.

[0061] Preferably, the fluid used is selected from nitrogen, helium, argon, carbon dioxide, or any inert gas. In a variant, the fluid used can be water. However, gases have the advantage of not leaving sediment.

[0062] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing by molding an object, the object comprising a wall having an inner surface defining a cavity, the tool comprising a receiving surface having a shape matching the inner surface of the wall of the object and comprising a plurality of channels extending below the receiving surface and leading to the receiving surface.

[0063] The object is intended to be molded on the receiving surface of the tool.

[0064] The tool includes an anti-permeability system configured to control the creep of the material constituting the object into the channel, the anti-permeability system including lines for delivering pressurized fluid in the channel and a system for injecting the pressurized fluid during the solidification step of the object.

[0065] The method includes: - Preparation steps, during which the tools described above are prepared; - Filling step, during which the constituent materials of the object are placed on the receiving surface of the tool to construct the walls of the object. - Curing steps; and - The step of demolding the object.

[0066] In the curing step, the method includes a step that supports a pressure increase, during which pressurized fluid is injected into the tool to temporarily fill the volume of each channel at least during the curing step.

[0067] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the object is a toroidal pneumatic tire, the toroidal pneumatic tire including a crown intended to form a tread, a first annular bead and a second annular bead designed to allow the tire to be attached to a mounting support (e.g., a rim), and a first sidewall and a second sidewall respectively connecting the crown to the first and second beads, the crown, the first and second sidewalls, and the first and second beads forming a wall as a whole, the wall having a concave inner surface defining a tire cavity.

[0068] The tire includes reinforcing elements referred to as “supports”, each of which extends within the tire cavity and connects a crown anchor point located in the tire crown to a side anchor point located in one of the tire sidewalls or beads.

[0069] The method includes: - Preparation steps, during which the tools described above are prepared; - Pre-filling step, during which an anchoring structure is laid on the side area and crown area of ​​the receiving surface of the core, facing the anchoring point set for attaching the reinforcement to the tire wall. The anchoring structure is designed to receive the end of the reinforcement emerging from the channel of the core and bond it to the components of the tire sidewall or bead or crown. The reinforcement is secured to the set anchoring point by clamping the end of the reinforcement between the anchoring structure and the component. - The step of arranging the reinforcements involves passing reinforcement wires intended to form supports through each channel of the core, preferably using continuous reinforcement wires. These continuous reinforcement wires are laid in a meandering manner through successive channels by integrally traversing from one side region of the core through the crown region to another side region. - The filling step, during which the components of the tire crown, sidewall, and bead are placed on the receiving surface to construct the tire wall, preferably by winding the components onto a rotating mandrel. - Curing steps; and - Demolding step, during which the core is removed from the tire, leaving the reinforcement in the proper position within the tire's cavity.

[0070] In the step of supporting the pressure increase, pressurized fluid is injected into the core to temporarily fill the empty volume left in each channel between the reinforcing element engaged with the channel and one or more openings of the channel leading to the receiving surface, at least during the curing step.

[0071] Therefore, in the step of supporting the increase in pressure, an anti-penetration system is used, which cooperates with the core in the curing step to form a barrier to prevent components of the tire crown, sidewall, or bead from penetrating into the grooves of the core for reinforcement engagement.

[0072] In the curing step, a core and an uncured tire supported by the core are arranged in a curing mold to vulcanize the rubber base components of the tire. For this purpose, the temperature of the mold, and more particularly the temperature of the tire, is preferably between 120°C and 200°C.

[0073] The pressure of the gas has the effect of essentially keeping the components of the tire out of the grooves by preventing the material (in this case, a rubber-based material) from creeping in the grooves and thus limiting the penetration of the material into the grooves, and effectively providing molding pressure.

[0074] If pressurized gas is not injected during the curing step, the components of the uncured tire will excessively penetrate into the grooves and creep into them, thus failing to achieve the necessary molding pressure, which in this case is between 50 bar and 60 bar, preferably equal to 55 bar.

[0075] This solution involves using pressurized gas to limit the creep of tire components in the grooves, advantageously eliminating the need to disrupt the tire's construction to install devices for mechanically closing the grooves. Furthermore, no material needs to be removed after the core is removed.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the core includes an assembly of a plurality of integral angular sector areas arranged at an azimuth angle around the central axis of the tool. The plurality of integral angular sector areas have alternating so-called "key" sector areas and so-called "arch" segments. The "arch" segments are supported and locked in place by the key, the arches forming sector areas complementary to the key, and each key or key segment and each arch segment or arch segment includes its own line for conveying pressurized fluid.

[0077] More specifically, in the preparation step, the key section and the arch section will be assembled to form a core.

[0078] In the step of supporting the pressure increase, pressurized fluid is injected into the delivery lines of each key and each arch section.

[0079] Therefore, it is possible to inject individually into each of the key section and the arch section.

[0080] Advantageously, the fluid is injected at a pressure that gradually increases, preferably linearly, until it reaches a pressure between 35 and 80 bar, preferably between 50 and 70 bar. More preferably, the pressure increases linearly in a first gradient for a first duration of 50 to 100 seconds (e.g., equal to 60 seconds) to reach a first pressure between 20 and 35 bar, and then in a second gradient for a second duration of 120 to 200 seconds (e.g., equal to 150 seconds) to reach a molding pressure between 35 and 80 bar (preferably between 50 and 70 bar, preferably between 50 and 55 bar).

[0081] For example, at a temperature between 150°C and 200°C, preferably 170°C, the duration of the curing step is between 500 seconds and 800 seconds.

[0082] Advantageously, the injection of pressurized gas, which is carried out during the step of supporting pressure increase, can begin directly or after the mold is closed.

[0083] The effect of injecting pressurized fluid at low pressure at the beginning is to allow a small amount of the components that form the tire to seep into the grooves, ensuring a seal between the core and the uncured tire, so that the pressurized fluid can be contained in the grooves without leaking into the tire. Attached Figure Description

[0084] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting embodiments only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [ Figure 1A The image shows a cross-sectional view in the radial plane of an embodiment of a tire with a support member produced according to the present invention; [ Figure 1B It shows Figure 1A A partial 3D view of a tire with supporting components; [ Figure 2A ]、[ Figure 2B The exploded perspective view and the assembled perspective view show an annular sub-assembly forming the core of the tool according to the invention, the annular sub-assembly being subdivided angularly into sector areas, these sector areas alternately forming so-called "arch" sector areas and so-called "locking key" sector areas, the "locking key" sector areas being designed to lock the arches in place; the sector areas are each intended to receive components of the tire sidewall and include channels for support members; [ Figure 3 ]yes Figure 2B Detailed view of the tool's cross-section in the radial plane; [ Figure 4A ]、[ Figure 4B They respectively show Figure 2A and Figure 2B Detailed overall perspective view and detailed cross-sectional perspective view of the locking key part of the core of the tool; [ Figure 5A ]、[ Figure 5B They respectively show Figure 2A and Figure 2B Detailed overall perspective view and detailed cross-sectional perspective view of the arched part of the core of the tool; [ Figure 6 A detailed view of the cross-section in the meridional plane passing through the middle of the trench is shown. Figure 2A and Figure 2B The core of the tool is used to arrange the support within the core before forming the wall of the tire; [ Figure 7 This illustrates the curing step in a method for manufacturing tires; [ Figure 8 [This shows the use of] Figures 2A to 6 A flowchart of a method for manufacturing a tire with supports using the tools in the diagram; [ Figure 9 An embodiment is shown, illustrating the pressure rise profile of the injected fluid during the step supporting the pressure rise; and [ Figure 10 It shows Figure 2A and Figure 2B An embodiment of the construction of the locking key and arched part of the tool.

[0085] [ Figure 11 A perspective view illustrates an embodiment of the toroidal molded core according to the invention, which includes an opening formed by grooves extending along a radial plane containing the central axis of the core, wherein each groove extends continuously in a first side region, through the crown region of the core, to a second side region.

[0086] [ Figure 12 ]yes Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of the core in a radial plane containing the central axis of the core, thus showing a groove and the conduit of the injection system that supplies pressurized fluid to the groove during the curing step.

[0087] [ Figure 13 A perspective view illustrates an embodiment of a toroidal molded core according to the invention, comprising an aperture formed by grooves extending circumferentially around the central axis of the core; the embodiment has a plurality of individual circumferential grooves parallel to each other, and some of the circumferential grooves leading to the crown region of the core, while others lead to a first side region and a second side region, in this case at a shoulder formed at the transition between the crown region and the side region of the core.

[0088] [ Figure 14 ]yes Figure 13 The cross-sectional view of the core in the radial plane containing the central axis of the core shows the different grooves and the conduits of the injection system that supply pressurized fluid to the grooves during the curing step.

[0089] [ Figure 15 A perspective view shows another embodiment of the toroidal molded core according to the invention, which includes an opening formed by grooves extending circumferentially around the central axis of the core; this embodiment has a plurality of individual circumferential grooves oriented in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the core and thus parallel to each other, in which case all circumferential grooves lead to the crown region of the core.

[0090] [ Figure 16 ]yes Figure 15The cross-sectional view of the core in a radial plane containing the central axis of the core shows the different grooves in the crown area and the conduits of the injection system that supply pressurized fluid to the grooves during the curing step.

[0091] [ Figure 17 A detailed schematic diagram of the cross-section in a radial plane including the central axis shows the material penetrating into the orifice (e.g. Figure 15 and Figure 16 The phenomenon in the grooves of the core and the plug formation that occurs during the curing step, which is opposite to the fluid pressure.

[0092] [ Figure 18 A schematic diagram illustrates a tool variant with at least one orifice formed in a groove on a receiving surface that traces a sine curve. Detailed Implementation

[0093] Detailed description of at least one implementation scheme Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 3 It shows the method for manufacturing such as Figure 1A and Figure 1B The tool 1 shown is for the toroidal tire 100. More generally, the tool 1 can be intended for manufacturing any object intended to be molded on a molding surface of the tool that includes a plurality of channels or orifices.

[0094] This tire 100 is preferably configured as a pneumatic tire, which is intended to be mounted on the wheels of a vehicle to ensure the vehicle's connection to the ground.

[0095] The shape of the tire 100 exhibits rotational symmetry about an axis called the “central axis” X1-X1, which essentially corresponds to the axis of rotation of the wheel.

[0096] The central axis X1-X1 defines three directions commonly used by those skilled in the art: axial direction, radial direction, and circumferential direction.

[0097] The term "axial direction" is understood to mean the direction that is in line with the central axis X1-X1 of the tire 100, that is, the direction that is in line with the rotation axis of the tire 100.

[0098] The term "radial direction" is understood to mean the direction extending along the radius of tire 100, that is, any direction that intersects with and is perpendicular to the central axis X1-X1.

[0099] The term "circumferential direction" is understood to mean a direction that is perpendicular to both the axial direction and radius of the tire 100, and corresponds to the tangent of the circle centered on the rotation axis of the tire 100 in a plane perpendicular to the central axis X1-X1.

[0100] The tire 100 includes, in a manner known per se, a crown 101 intended to form a tread and a first annular bead 102 and a second annular bead 103 designed to enable the tire 100 to be attached to a mounting support (e.g., a rim).

[0101] The tire 100 also includes a first sidewall 104 and a second sidewall 105, which respectively connect the tire crown 101 to the first bead 102 and the second bead 103.

[0102] According to a simple convention, in the meridional plane P_Mer, the boundary between the mentioned crown 101 and the sidewalls 104, 105 can be considered to correspond to the outermost axial point of the outer surface of the tire 100, where the angle between the tangent to the outer surface of the tire 100 at the outermost axial point and the straight line parallel to the central axis X1-X1 is equal to 30°.

[0103] The term "meridian plane" P_Mer, or radial plane, is understood to mean a plane parallel to and containing the central axis X1-X1. Such a meridional plane is perpendicular to the circumferential direction.

[0104] The term "equatorial plane" P_Eq is understood to mean a plane perpendicular to the central axis X1-X1 and passing through the outermost radial point of the tire, which is preferably located in the axial middle between the outermost axial points of the tire 100.

[0105] Therefore, the equatorial plane P_Eq divides the tire 100 axially into two preferably substantially equal torus-shaped halves, which are referred to as "hemispheres" similar to those of the Earth.

[0106] The crown 101, the first sidewall 104 and the second sidewall 105, and the first bead 102 and the second bead 103 form a wall 106 with a concave inner surface 106_in, which defines the internal cavity 107 of the tire 100.

[0107] In fact, the internal cavity 107 of the tire 100 is torus-shaped and advantageously forms the inflation cavity of the tire 100, which is designed to receive pressurized fluid (e.g., air) to support the crown 101 of the pneumatic tire 100 relative to the rim.

[0108] Preferably, as in Figure 1A and Figure 1BAs can be seen, each of the bead 102, 103 is positioned axially recessed from the most axially protruding position of the corresponding sidewall 104, 105. This means that the bead 102, 103 is closer to the equatorial plane P_Eq than the sidewall 104, 105 connecting the bead. Therefore, the profiles of the sidewalls 104, 105 formed between the crown 101 and the corresponding bead 102, 103 in the cross section of the meridional plane P_Mer are generally outwardly arched, and the ends of the bead 102, 103 forming the profile are further recessed axially, so that the cavity 107 is substantially Ω (uppercase Ω) shaped in the cross section of the meridional plane.

[0109] Tire 100 includes a reinforcing element 108 referred to as a “support”, which is designed to be permanently integrated into the structure of tire 100 and extends within the internal cavity 107 of the tire, connecting a crown anchor point 109 and a side anchor point 110. The crown anchor point 109 is located at the crown 101 of tire 100, and the side anchor point 110 is located in one of the sidewalls 104, 105 or the beads 102, 103 of tire 100.

[0110] like Figure 1A , Figure 1B As shown, the crown anchor point 109 and side anchor point 110 of each support member 108 are located at the same azimuth angle around the central axis X1-X1 of the tire 100, such that the support member 108 extends along a radial plane containing the central axis X1-X1 of the tire 100.

[0111] Without departing from the scope of the invention, the support 108 can have different configurations, particularly various orientations.

[0112] Each support 108 is preferably contained in a single hemisphere, wherein no support 108 passes through the equatorial plane P_Eq within the internal cavity 107 of the tire 100.

[0113] Each support 108 is designed to function under tension and thus connect the crown anchor point 109 and the corresponding side anchor point 110 along a straight segment, i.e., geometrically formed beneath an arc formed by the inner surface 106_in of the wall 106 between the crown anchor point 109 and the side anchor point 110 in the stationary tire 100, a taut or nearly taut chord, specifically such that the support prevents the anchor points 109, 110 from separating from each other, thereby increasing the lateral stiffness of the tire 100.

[0114] As shown, the support members 108 are distributed according to the azimuth angle around the central axis X1-X1, and in this case, they are evenly distributed with a constant repeating angular spacing (e.g., between 0.5° and 5°).

[0115] In one variant, the supports 108 may be arranged in different distributions, as described in Reference Tool 1.

[0116] According to the present invention, the tool 1 includes a toroidal core 10 having an outer surface 10_out, referred to as a receiving surface, around its central axis X2-X2, the shape of which matches the inner surface 106_in of the wall 106 of the tire 100.

[0117] The outer surface 10 includes a radially outer crown region 11 and a first side region 12 and a second side region 13 on both axial sides of the crown region 11. The crown region 11 is intended to receive components of the crown 101 of the tire 100. The first side region 12 is bent toward the central axis X2-X2 of the core 10 and is intended to receive components of the first sidewall 104 and the first bead 102. The second side region 13 is intended to receive components of the second sidewall 105 and the second bead 103.

[0118] Therefore, the core 10 includes a volume referred to as the “reserved volume”, which is externally defined by the receiving surface 10_out and corresponds to the internal cavity 107 of the tire 100.

[0119] Therefore, during the manufacturing process of tire 100, core 10 can occupy and thus temporarily reserve a volume having a shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of internal cavity 107, which will become the internal cavity 107 of tire when core 10 has been removed from tire 100 during demolding operation that will end the manufacturing cycle of tire 100.

[0120] It should be noted that, in reality, the central axis X2-X2 of the core 10 (around which the core 10 forms a ring) will coincide with the central axis X1-X1 of the tire 100 manufactured on the core 10. Therefore, for ease of description, either one can be referred to as the "central axis".

[0121] As shown, the core 10 includes a plurality of channels 15 extending within a reserved volume below and leading to the receiving surface 10_out, such that each of the channels 15 connects to one of the tread region 11 of the receiving surface 10_out and one of the first side regions 12 and the second side regions 13, so that the core 10 can receive the reinforcing element 108 of the tire 100 within the channel 15.

[0122] Therefore, channel 15 corresponds to the empty space formed in the core 10 and located within the reserved volume, so as to receive the support 108, such that each support 108 can pass through the receiving surface 10_out, so that it first passes into the reserved volume, in this case through the side regions 12, 13, and secondly exits from the reserved volume, in this case through the crown region 11, and vice versa.

[0123] Advantageously, regardless of the configuration of the support 108, the core 10 according to the invention is able to insert the support 108 into the volume reserved by the core 10 and thus into the space of the internal cavity 107 that will become the tire 100 before the tire 100 is constructed. The distribution and arrangement of the support 108 substantially or even completely correspond to the distribution and arrangement of the support 108 in the finished tire 100 ready to be mounted to the rim, because when the core 10 is removed, the support 108 is held in the proper position in the internal cavity 107 and securely connected to the tire 100.

[0124] Therefore, the use of the core 10 according to the invention ensures that the tire 100 will have a well-controlled configuration that can be copied from one tire 100 to another.

[0125] Furthermore, since the support member 108 is thus concealed in the channel 15 of the core 10 while the components of the wall 106 of the tire 100 are being laid, there is no risk that the support member 108 will be accidentally moved, pulled out, or damaged during the manufacture of the wall 106 of the tire 100.

[0126] Particularly preferably, the channel 15 can be arranged in a demoldable opening shape, thereby enabling the production of a permanent, reusable core 10 that can be removed from the tire 100 after it has been made without damaging the support 108, and can then be reused to manufacture the next tire.

[0127] In this respect, the channel 15 for the support 108 is preferably formed by a groove that is hollowed out from the receiving surface 10_out into the thickness of the reserved volume, thereby having a continuous opening from the mentioned crown region 11 to the side regions 12, 13 along the contour of the receiving surface 10_out.

[0128] Advantageously, since each groove 15 forms a slot-shaped opening in the receiving surface 10_out, which extends along the entire length of the receiving surface 10_out from the side anchor point 110 of the aforementioned support 108 to the crown anchor point 109 of the support 108, the support 108 can be engaged in the channel 15 before the components of the wall 106 of the tire 100 are laid. The support 108 can be simply slid from the outside of the core 10 into the corresponding groove 15, such that the support 108 sinks into the reserved volume through the receiving surface 10_out in the direction of the central axis X2-X2 of the core 10.

[0129] Advantageously, after the components of the wall 106 of the tire 100 have been laid on the receiving surface 10_out such that the wall 106 covers the groove 15, the core 10 can be removed from the inside of the tire 100, and the support 108, which is now fixed to the wall 106 and thus integrated into the tire 100, can be gradually pulled out through the opening in the groove 15 of the core 10 being released, thereby leaving the support 108 in its final position in the internal cavity 107 of the tire 100.

[0130] For ease of description and to avoid confusion in the drawings, the same reference numeral "15" will be used to denote the channel for the support 108 and the groove forming the preferred specific shape of the channel for the support 108.

[0131] Preferably, the groove 15 is a blind groove, which means that the groove 15 has a solid bottom 19, such as Figure 3 As can be seen, the solid bottom 19 is located below the receiving surface 10_out and in the reserved volume, extending from the first opening of the groove 15 to the second opening of the groove 15. The first opening leads to the side regions 12 and 13 of the receiving surface 10_out, and the second opening leads to the crown region 11 of the receiving surface 10_out.

[0132] Therefore, when the support 108 is in the proper position in the corresponding groove 15, the support 108 is radially positioned relative to the central axis X2-X2 of the core 10 between the bottom and the opening of the groove 15 located on the receiving surface 10_out.

[0133] The support member 108 can be radially separated above the bottom of the groove 15, i.e., located at a non-zero radial distance from the bottom relative to the central axis X2-X2, thus outside the bottom 19 or against the bottom 19, which will then be advantageously used for guiding and supporting the support member 108 during the manufacturing process of the tire 100.

[0134] Preferably, the depth of the groove 15 relative to the receiving surface 10_out (and more particularly the distance between the bottom 19 of the groove 15 and the receiving surface 10_out) is sufficient such that each of the grooves 15 allows the support 108 to follow a path within the groove 15 that connects the side anchor point 110 directly to the crown anchor point 109 along a straight segment.

[0135] Therefore, the support 108 can be functionally configured within the groove 15 without interfering with or being deformed or deviated from the groove 15. In this functional configuration, the support 108 forms a chord that connects the ends of the arc drawn by the wall 106 of the tire 100 between the side anchor point 110 and the crown anchor point 109 via the shortest path, so that once the tire 100 is released from the core 10, the support 108 can function effectively under tension, acting like a tie rod between the side anchor point 110 and the crown anchor point 109.

[0136] According to a preferred feature (which can be applied regardless of the nature and shape of the channel 15 of the support 108, but is particularly advantageous when the channel 15 of the support is formed by a groove 15), such as particularly in Figure 2A and Figure 2B As can be seen, the core 10 includes a plurality of integral angular sector sections arranged at an azimuth angle around the central axis X2-X2. The plurality of integral angular sector sections have alternating so-called "locking key" sector sections 20 and so-called "arch" sections 21. The "locking key" sector sections 20 are designed to be radially inwardly accessible and first removed during the disassembly of the core 10. The "arch" sections 21 are supported and locked in place by the locking key sections 20 and are designed to become movable after being freed by the removal of the locking key sections 20.

[0137] The number of locking key portions 20 is equal to the number of arch portions 21, and will be selected to be sufficient to allow easy separation and disassembly of the constituent sector areas 20, 21 of the core 20 by radial removal, while being moderate enough to avoid unnecessarily multiplying the sector areas, thereby simplifying the assembly of the core 20. In this regard, the number of locking key portions 20 and the number of arch portions 21 are preferably between 4 and 6, more preferably equal to 5, such as... Figure 2A and Figure 2B The situation in the middle.

[0138] For standardization and ease of assembly, all locking key portions 20 are preferably identical to each other and therefore interchangeable. Similarly, all arch portions 21 are preferably identical to each other and therefore interchangeable.

[0139] Preferably, in this case, the side surfaces 20a, 20b that define each locking key portion 20 and form the parting line of the locking key portion 20 with two adjacent arched portions 21 are inclined at two angles, forming a V-shape or herringbone shape relative to each other and relative to the sagittal meridional plane of the aforementioned locking key portion 20.

[0140] In one variant, the side surfaces may be parallel to each other and parallel to the sagittal meridional plane, as described in patent FR 3 120 814-A1.

[0141] Of course, the arched portion 21 will form a fan-shaped area that complements the locking key portion 20, and will be locked in the appropriate position within the core 20 by the locking key portion 20.

[0142] In this case, the side surfaces 21a, 21b that define each arch portion 21 and form the parting line of the arch portion 21 with two adjacent key portions 20 are inclined at two angles, forming an inverted V-shape or inverted herringbone shape relative to each other and relative to the sagittal meridional plane of the arch portion 20.

[0143] Therefore, similar to the construction field, the locking key 20, positioned and held by the annular common support 22, can prevent the arch portion 21 from collapsing, and more generally prevent the collapse of the arc formed by the alternating locking key 20 and arch portion 21. The larger the cone angle of the side surface of the locking key 20, the stronger and more stable the support provided by the locking key 20.

[0144] Therefore, in order to remove the core 20 from the tire 100 during the demolding operation, the locking key 20 is first removed by radial removal and then axial disengagement, which has the effect of releasing the arch 21, which is then removed by radial removal and then axial disengagement.

[0145] In one variant, the core 10 may be configured such that it does not include multiple integral angular sector areas, but instead includes a central ring with a left lug and a right lug, as described in patent FR 3 120 814-A1.

[0146] Advantageously, this arrangement of the integrated sector area facilitates demolding and also allows the support 108 to pass radially outward from the core 10 and partially across the receiving surface 10_out, which will receive components of the tire wall 106, thereby enabling the corresponding portion of the support 108 to be easily joined to the wall 106 and thus ensuring that the support is anchored in the tire crown 101 of the tire 100.

[0147] Preferably, the crown portion of the core 10 is formed as a straight cylinder with a circular bottom and centered on the central axis X2-X2.

[0148] Furthermore, preferably, the equatorial plane P_EQ is contained within an axial range covered by the central portion of the crown region 11 of the core 10, and more particularly located in the middle of said axial range, thereby subdividing the crown region 11 into two equal or symmetrical portions relative to said equatorial plane P_EQ.

[0149] Each of the key portion 20 and the arch portion 21 is defined by side wings 20c, 20d, 21c, 21d, each side wing having a convex arched outer profile in a radial plane section. The outer profile provides a curved transition between the crown region 11 of the receiving surface 10_out and the corresponding side regions 12, 13, and the curvature of the outer profile matches the curvature of the recess of the cavity 107 in the tire 100, more particularly the curvature of the inner surface 106_in of the wall 106 at the transition between the crown 101 and the sidewalls 104, 105, and also the curvature of the wall 106 in the region where the wall 106 forms the outermost axial point of the sidewalls 104, 105.

[0150] In this way, the side wings 20c, 20d, 21c, and 21d of the key portion 20 and the arch portion 21 each form a petal shape, which can occupy the recess of the cavity 107 of the tire 100 during the manufacturing process of the tire 100, temporarily fill the recess and thus shape the recess.

[0151] It should be noted in this regard that, due to the concavity of the cavity 107 and the axial narrowing formed by the bead 102, 103 relative to the sidewalls 104, 105, the bead 102, 103 are positioned radially aligned with the side wings 20c, 20d, 21c, 21d of the key portion 20 and the arch portion 21.

[0152] The corner segments 20, 21 of forming the core 10 are preferably reusable from one manufacturing cycle to another and are made of durable materials such as aluminum alloys for this purpose.

[0153] For this purpose, the tool 1 is arranged to facilitate the removal of the core 10 from the inside of the tire 100, and more particularly the removal of the corner sections 20, 21.

[0154] In order to avoid excessive friction of the groove 15 wall against the support member 108 or the support member being pulled out during the removal of the corner sector areas 20 and 21, and more particularly during the removal of the key part 20, the corner sector areas covered by each of the sector areas 20 around the central axis X2-X2 are smaller than the corner sector areas covered by the arched part sector area 21.

[0155] As a completely non-limiting example, the key sector 20 and the arch sector 21 of tool 1 can be referenced. Figure 10 To construct.

[0156] Starting with a circle with a center C and a diameter of, for example, 159 mm, draw two tangents T1 and T2 on the circle using thick dashed lines to form the side profile of the key portion; in this case, the side profile is a thick line. The two tangents T1 and T2 form an angle α1 between each other, between 1° and 10°, preferably equal to 3°.

[0157] The two side profiles of the key section include chamfers at their radially inner ends, the chamfers forming an angle between 3° and 10° with the associated tangents T1 and T2. This chamfer allows for the key section to be disassembled first.

[0158] To construct the arch section 21, two tangent lines T3 and T4 are drawn on the circle, each tangent line passing through the chamfer of the key section.

[0159] The radial outer surface of the arch section is formed at an angle α2 between 50° and 75°, preferably equal to 75°.

[0160] According to the preferred features, the following settings can also be made: the sector areas 20, 21 within the produced core 10 contain heating elements, such as electric heating resistors, to ensure that the temperature of the receiving surface 10_out rises rapidly and uniformly during the curing of the tire 100.

[0161] As shown, each key segment 20 includes a plurality of grooves 15a, which are distributed at repeating angular intervals (preferably uniform) required by the support 108 according to an azimuth angle around the central axis X2-X2. In this case, the grooves 15a of the key segment 20 are radial.

[0162] The keyway groove 15a is formed along a radial plane including the central axis X2-X2, as shown in... Figure 3 A and Figure 3 In case B, so that a support 108 extending along the radial plane can be arranged within the tire 100, as in Figure 1A and Figure 1B The condition of the tires.

[0163] In one variant, the locking key grooves 15a may be intersected to form a grid on the receiving surface 10_out, thereby enabling the intersecting supports 108 to be arranged within the tire 10.

[0164] As shown, each arch section 21 includes a plurality of grooves 15b, which are distributed around the central axis X2-X2 at an angle (preferably uniform) that forms a non-zero angle with respect to the radial axis.

[0165] The arch groove 15b is formed along a plane inclined relative to the radial plane containing the central axis X2-X2, as shown in... Figure 3 A and Figure 3 In case B, a support 108 extending along the inclined plane relative to the radial plane can be arranged within the tire 100.

[0166] Therefore, the groove 15b of the arch section 21 is not parallel to the groove 15a of the key section 20. This arrangement allows for improved removal of the core 10 from the tire 100 after the curing step.

[0167] Typically, the grooves 15a and 15b are arranged at a variable tilt angle, depending on the size of the core 10.

[0168] In one variant, the following configuration can be made: grooves 15a and 15b are all identical and inclined in the same direction.

[0169] The groove 15 is understood to be an assembly including the key groove 15a and the arch groove 15b.

[0170] The width of the groove 15 (i.e., the dimension considered in the circumferential direction) is preferably selected based on a trade-off between the following i) and ii): i) considering the width (diameter) of the support 108, a functional gap needs to be provided between the support 108 and the sidewall defining the groove 15, the functional gap being sufficient to allow the support 108 to be inserted into the groove 15 and then removed from the core 10 from the tire 100, thereby removing the support 108 from the groove 15 without jamming or damaging the support 108; ii) maintaining an opening and a sufficiently narrow groove width so as not to weaken the core 10, ensuring high-quality support for the components of the tire 100 laid on the receiving surface 10_out, and limiting, as much as possible, the penetration of the constituent materials of the tire 100 into the groove 15 and thus limiting the deformation or creep of the constituent materials into the groove 15.

[0171] In this respect, the width of the groove 15, particularly the width of the opening of the groove 15 at the receiving surface 10_out, is preferably between 1.01 and 1.5 times the corresponding dimension of the cross-section of the support 108, more preferably between 1.01 and 1.5 times the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the support. In practice, if the support is formed of a single-strand or multi-strand wire with a substantially circular cross-section, the considered dimension of the cross-section of the support will be the diameter of the circular cross-section of the wire.

[0172] Preferably, for the same reason, especially if the cross-section of the support 108 is conceived to have a diameter between 0.25 mm and 2 mm, for example about 1 mm, the width of the groove 15, particularly the width at the opening of the receiving surface 10_out, will be selected to be between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 0.3 mm and 2.2 mm, for example between 1 mm and 1.8 mm.

[0173] Preferably, all grooves 15 in a single hemisphere of the core 10, more preferably all grooves 15 in the core 10 have the same width.

[0174] Furthermore, according to preferred features that can independently constitute the invention and can be applied to any of the above variations, particularly when the channel 15 for the support 108 is formed by the groove 15, the tool 1 may include an anti-seepage system 30 that cooperates with the core 10 to form a barrier preventing components of the tire 100's crown 101, sidewall 104, 105 or bead 102, 103 from seeping into the channel 15 of the core 10 for the support 108 to engage.

[0175] More specifically, the anti-penetration system 30 prevents materials (especially rubber-based compositions) present in the components of the tire 100 from creeping too deeply into the groove 15 to prevent the formation of rubber flash, which would adhere the support 108 to the wall of the groove 15, thus creating a risk of the support 108 being pulled out when removing the corresponding angular fan-shaped areas 20, 21 of the core 10.

[0176] The anti-seepage system 30 includes grooves 31 and 32 formed in each key section 20 and each arch section 21, respectively.

[0177] Each of the grooves 31 and 32 extends radially outward from the radially inner surfaces 20e and 21e in each of the corresponding corner segments 20 and 21 in the equatorial plane P_EQ, without leading to the receiving surface 10_out.

[0178] The anti-seepage system 60 also includes lines 33 and 34 for conveying fluid, each line being associated with the key corner section 20 and the arch corner section 21.

[0179] Each of the lines 33 and 34 for conveying fluid includes two main pipes 35, 36, 37, and 38, which originate from the respective conveying troughs 31 and 32 and extend axially toward the side regions 12 and 13, respectively.

[0180] The main pipes 35, 36, 37, and 38 sequentially include radial first portions 35a, 36a, 37a, and 38a, angled portions 35b, 36b, 37b, and 38b, and second portions 35c, 36c, 37c, and 38c. The radial first portions are connected to the corresponding conveying troughs 31 and 32. The second portions are inclined at an angle between 0° and -10° (e.g., equal to -5°) relative to the axial axis parallel to the central axis X2-X2.

[0181] The anti-seepage system 30 also includes two secondary keyway pipes 39 and two secondary arched pipes 40, in Figure 5B A secondary key section pipe 39, visible in the middle, extends circumferentially from the end of each of the main pipes 35 and 36 in the key section section 20. Figure 6 A secondary arch section pipe 40, visible in section B, extends circumferentially from the end of each of the main pipes 37 and 38 in arch section section 21.

[0182] The secondary key section pipe 39 of the key section 20 is connected to the groove 15a formed in the key section 20, and the secondary arch section pipe 40 is connected to the groove 15b formed in the arch section 21.

[0183] The main keyway pipes 35 and 36 and the secondary keyway pipe 39 together form an independent internal keyway line in each keyway section 20, enabling fluid to be transported within the groove 15a of each keyway section 20.

[0184] The main arch section pipes 37 and 38 and the secondary arch section pipes 40 together form an independent internal arch section line in each arch section section 21, enabling fluid to be transported within the groove 15b of each arch section section 21.

[0185] Therefore, it is possible to inject individually into each of the key section and the arch section.

[0186] The anti-infiltration system 30 includes a system 41 for injecting fluid to fill the gas delivery line and thus fill the trenches 15 (trenches 15a and 15b, respectively), and substantially closes the channel 15 after the support 108 is arranged in the channel 15, maintaining an empty gap space within the channel 15.

[0187] The fluid is pressurized and injected into the groove 15 to prevent or significantly slow down the penetration of tire component materials (especially uncured rubber-based compounds) into the groove 15.

[0188] The fluid used is selected from nitrogen, helium, argon, carbon dioxide, or any inert gas. In one variant, the fluid may be water.

[0189] Of course, the present invention also relates to a method S for manufacturing a tire 100 with a support on a core 10.

[0190] In practice, this method is preferably equivalent to using tool 1 as described above.

[0191] Therefore, the present invention also relates to a method S for manufacturing a toroidal tire 100, the toroidal tire 100 including a crown 101 intended to form a tread, a first annular bead 102 and a second annular bead 104 designed to allow the tire to be attached to a mounting support (e.g., a rim), and a first sidewall 104 and a second sidewall 105 respectively connecting the crown 101 to the first bead 102 and the second bead 103, the crown 101, the first sidewall 104 and the second sidewall 105 and the first sidewall 105, the crown 101, the first sidewall 104 and the second sidewall 105 and the first sidewall 103, the toroidal tire 100 including a crown 101 intended to form a tread, a first annular bead 102 and a second annular bead 104 designed to allow the tire to be attached to a mounting support (e.g., a rim), and the first sidewall 104 and the second sidewall 105, the toroidal tire 100 including a crown 101 intended to form a tread, a first annular bead 102 and a second annular bead 104 designed to allow the tire to be attached to a mounting support (e.g., a rim), the first sidewall 104 and the second sidewall 105 and the first sidewall 105, the toroidal tire 100 including a crown 101 intended to form a tread, a first annular bead 102 and a second annular bead 104 designed to allow the tire to be attached to a mounting support (e.g., a rim), the first sidewall 104 and the second sidewall 105, and the first sidewall 105 and the first sidewall 104, the tire 100 including a crown 101, the first Bead 102 and second bead 103 form a wall 106 as a whole, the wall 106 having a concave inner surface 106_in defining a cavity 107 in the tire 100. The tire 100 includes reinforcing elements 108 referred to as “supports” 108, each reinforcing element 108 extending in the cavity 107 of the tire and connecting a crown anchor point 109 located in the crown 101 of the tire and a side anchor point 110 located in one of the sidewalls 104, 105 of the tire or one of the beads 102, 103.

[0192] refer to Figure 8 The described method S includes a preparation step (S0), during which the tool 1 according to the invention is prepared.

[0193] More specifically, in the preparation step (S0), the key section 20 and the arch section 21 will be assembled to form as shown in the figure. Figure 2A and Figure 2B The core 10 shown.

[0194] Then, method S includes the step (S2) of arranging the support 108, during which at least one reinforcing wire intended to form the support 108 passes through each channel 15 of the core 10.

[0195] Preferably, a single continuous single strand or multi-strand reinforcing thread is used to form a plurality of supports 108 in the tire 100, preferably more than 25%, more than 50%, or even all of the supports 108.

[0196] For this purpose, continuous reinforcing lines are arranged in a meandering manner through successive channels 15, in which case the reinforcing lines are inserted into grooves 15 below the receiving surface 10_out, and brought back above the receiving surface 10_out in the crown region 11 and side regions 12, 13 at the desired anchor points 109, 110, thus making the continuous reinforcing lines move back and forth integrally from one side region 12 of the core 10 through the crown region 11 to the other side region 13, thereby forming a wavy portion, which has a substantially symmetrical amplitude, for example, relative to the equatorial plane P_EQ.

[0197] Preferably, after the preparation step (S0) and before the step of arranging the support 108 (S2), the method S includes a pre-filling step (S1), during which, as Figure 6 As shown, anchoring structures 71 and 72 are laid on the side regions 12 and 13 of the receiving surface 10_out of the core 10 and the crown region 11, facing the anchoring points 110 and 109 provided for attaching the support member 108 to the tire wall 106. The anchoring structures 71 and 72 are designed to receive the end of the support member 108 exiting from the channel 15 of the core 10 and to adhere to the components of the tire sidewall 104 and 105 or the tire bead 102 and 103 or the tire crown 101. The support member 108 is fixed to the provided anchoring points 110 and 109 by clamping the end of the support member 108 between the anchoring structures 71 and 72 and the components.

[0198] Preferably, the anchoring structures 71, 72 are made of an unvulcanized rubber-based material, which is optionally reinforced by reinforcing filaments or fibers. The anchoring structures 71, 72 may be, for example, in the form of reinforcing strips or coils wound around the core 10.

[0199] After the anchoring structures 71 and 72 are in place on the receiving surface 10_out, outside the grooved portion, at the required anchoring points 110 and 109, the support member 108 is arranged in the channel 15 such that the portion of the support member 108 extending out of the channel 15 is positioned on top of the anchoring structures 71 and 72. Thus, when the components of the tire wall 106 are subsequently laid, the components are bonded to the anchoring structures already in place on the core 10. Therefore, the anchoring structures 71 and 72 are integrated into the tire wall 106, thereby securing the end of the support member 108 within the wall 106 at the provided anchoring points 110 and 109.

[0200] Preferably, the annular portion forming the extreme of the wavy portion of the meandering, continuous reinforcing line and thus corresponding to the transition zone between two successive supports belonging to a single hemisphere is an annular portion forming the following portion of the support 108, which is secured by side anchoring structures 71 arranged on the side regions 12, 13 to form side anchoring points 110 of the support, while the middle portion of the continuous reinforcing line is secured by a crown anchoring structure 72, which connects two successive supports 108 belonging to two different hemispheres, emerges from the groove 15 of the first support to pass through the crown region 11 of the receiving surface 10_out, crosses the equatorial plane P_EQ, and then re-enters the groove 15 of the second support 108.

[0201] The method then includes a filling step (S3), during which components of the tire crown 101, sidewalls 104, 105 and bead 102, 103 are placed on the receiving surface 10_out to construct the wall 106 of the tire 100.

[0202] The component preferably comprises a rubber-based strip or fabric layer, which is optionally reinforced by longitudinally reinforcing fibers of fabric, polymer, or metal. Other reinforcing components, such as composite glass fiber and resin strips, may be provided.

[0203] All or part of the component can preferably be laid by winding it onto the rotating core 10.

[0204] Then, the method includes a curing step (S4).

[0205] In this step, the core 10 and the uncured tire carried by the core 10 are arranged in the curing mold M (as in...). Figure 7 (As can be seen in the image) to vulcanize the rubber base components of the tire 100. For this purpose, the temperature of the mold, and more particularly the temperature of the tire, is preferably between 120°C and 200°C.

[0206] In the curing step (S4), the method includes a step (S5) supporting the increase in pressure, during which an anti-penetration system 30 is used, which cooperates with the core 10 in the curing step (S4) to form a barrier to prevent components of the tire 100, such as the crown 101, sidewalls 104, 105, or bead 102, 103, from penetrating into the channels 15 of the core 10, in this case, into the channels 15 for engagement of the support member 108.

[0207] In the step of supporting pressure increase (S5), pressurized fluid is injected into the core 10 to temporarily fill the empty volume left in each channel 15 between the support 108 engaged with the channel 15 and one or more openings of the channel 15 leading to the receiving surface 10_out, at least in the curing step (S4).

[0208] like Figure 9 As shown, fluid is injected at a pressure that gradually increases, in this case linearly, before reaching a pressure between 35 bar and 80 bar (preferably between 50 bar and 70 bar), a first pressure P1 between 20 bar and 35 bar is reached at a first gradient for a first duration T1 between 50 seconds and 100 seconds (e.g., equal to 60 seconds), and then at a second gradient for a second duration T2 between 120 seconds and 200 seconds (e.g., equal to 150 seconds), a molding pressure P2 between 35 bar and 80 bar (preferably between 50 bar and 70 bar, preferably between 50 bar and 55 bar) is reached.

[0209] The curing step (S4) lasts for 500 to 800 seconds at a temperature between 150°C and 200°C, preferably 170°C. The increase in molding pressure in the mold allows the core 10 and the tire component to expand sufficiently so that the tire fills the entire cavity of the mold.

[0210] Before the end of the second duration, the uncured tire components are flowable, while after the end of the second duration, the uncured tire components are vulcanized, i.e., become solid.

[0211] The pressure of the gas effectively provides molding pressure by keeping the tire components outside the grooves 15.

[0212] If pressurized gas is not injected in the curing step (S4), the components of the uncured tire will seep into the groove 15, and the molding pressure will not be able to reach the necessary molding pressure between 35 bar and 80 bar (preferably between 50 bar and 70 bar, preferably equal to 55 bar).

[0213] After a duration of 0 to 10 seconds following the start of the curing step (S4), the injection of pressurized gas begins in the step supporting the pressure increase (S5). This has the effect of allowing a small amount of the components forming the tire to penetrate into the groove 15, ensuring a seal between the core 10 and the uncured tire, thereby allowing the pressurized fluid to be contained in the groove 15 without leaking into the tire 100.

[0214] This solution does not require interrupting the construction process to install the device for mechanically closing the grooves. Furthermore, there is no material to remove after the core is removed.

[0215] The method then includes a demolding step (S6), during which the core 10 is removed from the tire 100, leaving the support 108 in place within the cavity 107 of the tire 100.

[0216] If a portion of the core 10 is for single use, it can be destroyed by appropriate methods (melting, dissolving, breaking, impacting, sublimating, etc.) to release the cavity 107 and the support 108.

[0217] If, in a preferred embodiment, the core 10 is reusable and therefore consists of a modular assembly of removable components, then the components are gradually disassembled and removed to release the tire 100.

[0218] Preferably, the core 10 includes a plurality of alternating keyed corner segments 20 and arched corner segments 21, each corner segment containing a channel 15 in the form of a groove 15 for a support 16 leading to a receiving surface 10_out. The demolding step (S6) includes a first sub-step of first removing the keyed segments 20 and then the arched segments 21 from the tire cavity 107 to release the corresponding portions of the cavity 107 and the support 108 located in the corresponding portions of the cavity 107, which in this case is therefore the support 108 occupying the two hemispheres of the tire 100.

[0219] Regardless of the initial trajectory taken for removal, once the angular sector areas 20 and 21 have disengaged from the support member 108, the removal sequence of the angular sector areas 20 and 21 can be freely completed inside the tire 100. For example, after moving the angular sector areas 20 and 21 radially toward the central axis X2-X2 to pass radially through the boundary formed by the tire bead 102 and 103, an axial movement is then performed to completely remove the angular sector areas 20 and 21 from the axially defined envelope of the tire 100.

[0220] Of course, the present invention is by no means limited to the above-described embodiments and variations. Those skilled in the art are particularly able to separate or freely combine the above features, or replace them with equivalent methods.

[0221] Therefore, in particular, without departing from the scope of the invention, the properties, shape, and size of the object 100, as well as the properties, form, and size of the tool 1 designed for manufacturing by molding the object 100, can vary significantly. The method can be particularly applied to the manufacture of any rubber-based object, whether or not it is a tire, and where appropriate, whether or not the tire has reinforcing support 108.

[0222] Therefore, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an object 100 by molding, the method comprising: - Preparation step (S0), during which tool 1 is prepared, tool 1 is intended to mold object 100 and includes a receiving surface 10_out whose shape matches the surface of object 100, receiving surface 10_out also includes a plurality of orifices 15 that extend below and to receiving surface 10_out; - Filling step (S3), during which the components C1, C2, and C3 of object 100 are placed on receiving surface 10_out; - Curing step (S4).

[0223] In the filling step (S3), rubber-based components C1, C2, and C3 are preferably laid, such as rubber-based extruded elements, reinforcing strips, or reinforcing fabric layers, said rubber-based components containing embedded rubber-based materials (in this case, in...). Figure 17 The reinforcing threads R1 and R2 in (referred to as "ML") are shown above and as from Figure 17 The diagram in the image is clearly visible.

[0224] The components C1, C2, and C3 can be placed on the receiving surface 10_out in any suitable manner using any appropriate laying method.

[0225] As an illustration, the components C1, C2, and C3 may be wound one or more turns around the core 10, for example (without limitation): - The reinforcing ply is wound in a single loop, with each reinforcing ply integrally formed and arranged in the crown area. - A rubber molding element is wound one or more times, optionally stacked in thickness, said rubber molding element being formed by a rubber pump and intended to form a specific rubber structure, such as a tire bead. Alternatively, components C1, C2, and C3 can be incrementally laid in the form of juxtaposed strips, each of which occupies a corner sector area of ​​the core, thereby reconstructing the reinforced fabric layer as a whole.

[0226] Typically, an object 100, especially in the case of a tire, will include multiple components stacked on top of each other in the thickness direction of the object 100 (especially in the radial thickness direction of the tire in this case) to form a layered structure.

[0227] As described above, in the curing step (S4), the tool 1 is closed on the object 100 to be cured to keep the object 100 confined in the molding cavity, the molding cavity forming an impression whose shape matches the shape of the object 100 to be obtained, such that the walls of the molding cavity compress the object and thus press the parts C1, C2, C3 together, and the temperature of the object is usually increased by heating the tool 1 to achieve the appropriate molding temperature and molding pressure.

[0228] When the tool is closed, the molding cavity defined by the tool 1 may, for example, correspond to the region defined between the outer receiving surface 10_out of the inner core 10 and the inner surface of the outer curing mold M surrounding the core 10, such as... Figure 7 or Figure 17 As shown.

[0229] The shape and size of the molding cavity of tool 1 define the useful shape and size of object 100, that is, the shape and size intended to be controlled in the molding method, and where appropriate, the shape and size intended to be copied from one object to another when multiple consecutive molding operations for producing the same object are performed with the same tool 1.

[0230] Typically, as shown above, the molding temperature can be between 120°C and 200°C.

[0231] The molding pressure can vary depending on the properties and size of the object 100; for example, it can be between 16 bar and 35 bar in some applications, or between 35 bar and 80 bar in others.

[0232] Therefore, according to one possible implementation, the molding pressure can be between 16 bar and 35 bar. This is particularly true in the manufacture of tires without the support member 108.

[0233] According to another preferred possibility, which is particularly applicable to the manufacture of tires with the reinforcing support as described above, the molding pressure can be between 35 bar and 80 bar, preferably between 50 bar and 70 bar, and more preferably between 50 bar and 55 bar.

[0234] Conventionally, the start of the curing step (S4) is considered to correspond to the time when the tool 1 closes on the object 100 to be cured after it is opened to receive components C1, C2, C3, so that the components of the object 100 are compressed within the molding cavity defined by the closed tool 1, and more particularly pressed against and pressed against the corresponding openings of the receiving surface 10_out and the orifice 15.

[0235] More specifically, the start of the curing step (S4) can correspond to the following time: locking the radial outer mold M together with the inner core 10 to press the components of the tire 100 together between the mold M and the receiving surface 10_out of the core 10, in which case radial compression is particularly performed in the radial thickness direction of the tire.

[0236] When the tool is closed, the object 100 to be cured is confined within the molding cavity and occupies the entire final volume of the molding cavity, which has the effect of placing the object 100 in a compressed state. As shown above, the greater the temperature rise relative to the tool 1, the greater the expansion of components C1, C2, C3 (more particularly the corresponding rubber-based material ML), the higher the compressive strength, and therefore the greater the molding pressure.

[0237] Of course, in order to avoid any damage to the tool 1 and the object 100, and at the same time ensure sufficient molding pressure and ensure that there are no visible defects on the object, it is necessary to ensure that the object 100 closely matches the contour of the molding cavity formed by the tool 1 throughout the curing step (S4), and therefore in this case, in particular, matches the receiving surface 10_out, and also needs to be kept under appropriate, sufficiently high but not excessive molding pressure.

[0238] Therefore, the present invention provides an adaptive system that can manage any excess material in the molding cavity to avoid destructive overpressure, while effectively regulating the pressure applied to the object 100 to ensure that appropriate molding pressure is applied.

[0239] For this reason, according to the present invention, the method includes a step (S5) of increasing the supporting pressure in the curing step (S4), during which a certain volume of material of the components C1, C2, C3 of the object 100 can penetrate into the orifice 15 to form as in Figure 17 The visible plug 42 provides a seal between the object 100 and the receiving surface 10_out, and when the material volume thus forms the plug 42, pressurized fluid is injected into the orifice 15 through an anti-seepage system 30 including lines 33, 34 for conveying pressurized fluid, such that the pressure of the fluid contained in the orifice 15 through the plug 42 formed by the material volume can control the creep of the material into the orifice 15 by forming a barrier to the seepage of the material into the orifice 15, and achieve the molding pressure required for manufacturing the object.

[0240] Advantageously, the presence of orifice 15 allows any excess volume of the components C1, C2, C3 of the object 100 (which are enclosed in the molding cavity of tool 1 and compressed against the receiving surface 10_out) to protrude from the molding cavity and overflow into the orifice 15, thereby avoiding the situation where expansion causes excessive stress (which could damage tool 1 and impair the proper execution of the manufacturing method).

[0241] Advantageously, performing this "overfill" function, which enables the tool 1 according to the invention to absorb any excess material without disrupting the pressure, and in particular without causing uncontrolled pressure loss due to excessive material overflow into the orifice, ensures sufficient molding pressure and prevents leakage of pressurized fluid toward the molding cavity. This not only ensures the achievement of appropriate molding pressure but also prevents pressurized fluid from penetrating between the receiving surface 10_out and the corresponding surface of the object 100, which would cause the walls of the object 100 to separate and locally deform. Ultimately, the absence of pressurized fluid leakage into the molding cavity prevents shape, thickness, and / or appearance defects in the object 100.

[0242] To this end, the present invention sets the pressure of the pressurized fluid injected by the anti-seepage system 30 to be controlled, such that: - Throughout the curing step (S4), the fluid pressure is sufficiently high, particularly increased to achieve the required molding pressure and counteract the controlled resistance to the penetration and settling of the material ML of parts C1, C2, and C3 into the orifice 15, thereby creating an obstacle to excessive penetration of the material of parts C1, C2, and C3 into the orifice 15, so that the protrusion of the material from the molding cavity is adjusted to just the required degree to avoid destructive overpressure at tool 1, while keeping parts C1, C2, and C3, and more generally the object 100, under sufficiently high pressure; - And throughout the curing step (S4), the fluid pressure is sufficiently moderate to prevent the plug 42 from pushing against it. The plug 42 holds the pressurized fluid in a volume within the orifice 15 positioned recessed from the molding surface 10_out, thereby preventing the pressurized fluid from leaking from the orifice 15 into the molding cavity between the object 100 and the receiving surface 10_out. This avoids the pressurized fluid driving material from the orifice 15 into the molding cavity, and therefore, particularly between the receiving surface 10_out and the surface of the object 100 to be molded, prevents any intrusion of the pressurized fluid into the molding cavity. Thus, throughout the curing step (S4), the surface of the object 100, whose shape and size are intended to be controlled, advantageously remains in contact with the shape-matched receiving surface 10_out.

[0243] Advantageously, according to the method of the invention, the corresponding tool 1 (associated with the anti-seepage system 30) is thus able to allow material from the molding cavity to seep into the orifice 15 when necessary. This material is, in this case, excess material resulting from the laying of the components C1, C2, C3 of the object, thereby providing an outlet for the expansion of such excess material. At the same time, below the receiving surface 10_out, the seepage of the material into the orifice 15 is restricted by a controlled pressure exerted in the orifice 15 by a pressurized fluid, which is opposite to the material itself. More specifically, the sinking of the material into the orifice 15 is also restricted.

[0244] Different patterns can be envisioned for controlling the pressure of the fluid injected into the orifice 15, for example, depending on the nature and thickness of the components C1, C2, and C3 used, the shape and size of the object 100, etc.

[0245] Preferably, after a duration of 0 to 10 seconds following the start of the curing step (S4), the injection of pressurized fluid begins in the step (S5) that supports the increase in pressure.

[0246] More specifically, after a duration of 0.5 to 10 seconds following the start of the curing step (S4), the injection of pressurized fluid begins in the step (S5) that supports the increase in pressure.

[0247] In other words, the injection of pressurized fluid can begin as early as simultaneously with the mechanical compression of the object 100 caused by the closure of tool 1, or more preferably slightly delayed relative to the closure of tool 1. This closure has the effect of preloading the uncured object 100 with compression and marking the start of the curing step (S4).

[0248] The delay specifically allows the plug 42 time to form and thus close the orifice 15 before it is filled with pressurized fluid from the delivery lines 33, 34.

[0249] Furthermore, it is preferable to gradually increase the pressure to protect the plug 42 and allow the materials of components C1, C2, and C3 to begin vulcanization, thereby increasing the resistance to creep under pressure as the pressure increases.

[0250] Therefore, preferably, the fluid is injected at a pressure that gradually increases over a duration between 30 and 300 seconds, for example between 30 and 120 seconds, or between 50 and 120 seconds, or between 120 and 200 seconds, until it reaches the molding pressure. This molding pressure can preferably be between 16 and 35 bar, or between 35 and 80 bar, particularly between 50 and 70 bar, and more preferably between 50 and 55 bar.

[0251] For example, if the molding pressure is between 16 bar and 35 bar, a pressure rise duration between 30 seconds and 120 seconds or between 50 seconds and 120 seconds can be preferably used.

[0252] If the molding pressure is between 35 bar and 80 bar, particularly between 50 bar and 70 bar, or preferably between 50 bar and 55 bar, then a pressure rise duration between 120 seconds and 300 seconds, for example between 120 seconds and 200 seconds, or between 120 seconds and 150 seconds, can be preferably used.

[0253] Many possible control laws can be envisioned, depending in particular on the material composition of the components C1, C2, and C3 of the object 100, the dimensions of the object 100 (especially its thickness), the required molding temperature, and the molding pressure, etc.

[0254] In all cases, it is preferable to ensure that the pressure is gradually increased until the molding pressure is reached, and this gradual increase is distributed over a certain duration, preferably greater than or equal to 30, 40, or 50 seconds, for example between 50 and 300 seconds, particularly between 120 and 200 seconds.

[0255] In particular, care should be taken not to exceed the predetermined pressure increase maximum speed limit, such as 3 bar / second, 1 bar / second, or even 0.6 bar / second.

[0256] Pressure can rise over time in a linear fashion (possibly with several consecutive sections of varying gradients) or in a curvilinear fashion with a selected profile.

[0257] For example, refer to Figure 9 A pressure control law can be set according to which fluid is injected at a pressure that increases linearly, first at a first gradient for a first duration preferably between 50 and 100 seconds (e.g., equal to 60 seconds), until a pressure between 20 and 35 bar is reached at a first time (T1), and then at a second gradient for a second duration preferably between 120 and 200 seconds (e.g., equal to 150 seconds), to reach a molding pressure (P2) at a second time (T2), which is preferably between 35 and 80 bar, preferably between 50 and 70 bar, and more preferably between 50 and 55 bar.

[0258] Preferably, as described above, the aperture 15 is formed by a groove hollowed out in the thickness of the receiving surface 10_out.

[0259] Specifically, the use of an elongated orifice 15, rather than a simple hole with a circular cross-section, makes it possible to easily cover a larger area of ​​the receiving surface 10_out in a relatively uniform manner when appropriate, and makes it possible to easily receive any excess volume of material caused by the expansion of components C1, C2, C3, even if such excess is a relatively large amount of material.

[0260] Furthermore, the use of grooves can sometimes make it easier to machine the orifices 15 in the receiving surface 10_out, thereby making it easier to manufacture tools, especially when these grooves are not very deep, for example, if the grooves have a machining depth of 2 mm to 6 mm (e.g., 3 mm to 6 mm) from the receiving surface 10_out according to a preferred possibility.

[0261] Furthermore, the use of grooves is specifically noted when the tire 100 is intended to be reinforced by the support member 108.

[0262] Preferably, as described above, the object 100 is a toroidal pneumatic tire, the tire including a crown 101 intended to form a tread, a first annular bead 102 and a second annular bead 103 designed to allow the tire 100 to be attached to a mounting support, and a first sidewall 104 and a second sidewall 105 respectively connecting the crown 101 to the first bead 102 and the second bead 103, the crown 101, the first sidewall 104 and the second sidewall 105 and the first bead 102 and the second bead 103 forming a wall 106 as a whole, the wall 106 having a concave inner surface 106_in defining a cavity 107 in the tire 100.

[0263] Tool 1 preferably includes a toroidal core 10 having a receiving surface 10_out around its central axis (X2-X2), the receiving surface 10_out having a shape that matches the inner surface 106_in of the tire wall 106 and for this purpose including a radially outer crown region 11 and a first side region 12 and a second side region 13 on both axial sides of the crown region 11, the radially outer crown region 11 being intended to receive components of the crown 101 of the tire 100, the first side region 12 being bent toward the central axis (X2-X2) and being intended to receive components of the first sidewall 104 and the first bead 102, the second side region 13 being bent toward the central axis (X2-X2) and being intended to receive components of the second sidewall 105 and the second bead 103, such that the core 10 forms a volume defined externally by the receiving surface 10_out and corresponding to the tire cavity 107.

[0264] According to the preferred possible arrangement, this arrangement can correspond to Figure 6 or Figure 11At least some or even all of the orifices 15 are formed by grooves extending along a radial plane containing the central axis (X2-X2) of the toroidal core.

[0265] More specifically, according to and Figure 11 and Figure 12 The possible arrangement corresponding to the arrangement in the middle is at least one groove 15, preferably each groove 15 has a continuous opening in a radial plane containing the central axis (X2-X2) of the toroidal core along the contour of the mentioned receiving surface 10_out, such that the opening in the groove 15 continuously covers the first side region 12, then the crown region 11, and then the second side region 13.

[0266] According to one possible application, the annular pneumatic tire 100 permanently includes reinforcing elements 108 referred to as "supports" 108, each reinforcing element 108 extending within the tire cavity 107 and connecting a crown anchor point 109 located in the tire crown 101 and a side anchor point 110 located in one of the tire sidewalls 104, 105 or bead 102, 103, as particularly in Figure 1A and Figure 1B As can be seen in the text.

[0267] As in Figure 2B , Figure 3 and Figure 6 As can be seen, the annular core 10 includes a plurality of orifices 15 forming channels that extend within a reserved volume, below the receiving surface 10_out, and toward the receiving surface 10_out, such that each of the channels 15 connects to the crown region 11 of the receiving surface and one of the side regions of the first side region 12 and the second side region 13, so that the core 10 can receive the reinforcing element 108 within the channel 15.

[0268] The method according to the present invention preferably includes: - Pre-filling step (S1), during which anchoring structures 71, 72 are laid on the side regions 12, 13 of the receiving surface 10_out of the core 10 and the crown region 11, facing the anchoring points 110, 109 provided for attaching the reinforcing element 108 to the tire wall 106. The anchoring structures 71, 72 are designed to receive the end of the reinforcing element 108 emerging from the groove 15 of the core 10 and bond it to the components of the sidewall 104, 105 or the bead 102, 103 or the crown 101. The reinforcing element 108 is secured to the provided anchoring points 110, 109 by clamping the end of the reinforcing element 108 between the anchoring structures 71, 72 and the components. - Step (S2) of arranging the reinforcing element 108, during which at least one reinforcing wire intended to form the reinforcing element 108 is passed through at least one channel 15 of the core (10), such as Figure 6 As shown; - Filling step (S3), during which the components of the tire crown 101, sidewalls 104, 105 and beads 102, 103 are placed on the receiving surface 10_out to construct the wall 106 of the tire 100.

[0269] According to another preferred possible arrangement, this arrangement corresponds to Figure 13 , Figure 14 , Figure 15 and Figure 16 At least some of the openings 15, or even all of the openings 15, are formed by circumferential grooves that extend around a central axis (X2-X2), preferably along a plane perpendicular to the central axis (X2-X2) of the toroidal core 10.

[0270] This arrangement specifically allows the grooves to be arranged in a cross pattern relative to the reinforcing filaments R1 and R2 contained in the reinforcing ply, such that the grooves are not parallel to the reinforcing filaments R1 and R2. This effectively supports the reinforcing filaments R1 and R2 against the creep of the material ML, and thus avoids the situation where one or more of the reinforcing filaments R1 and R2 accidentally move in the orifice 15, resulting in a defect in the reinforcement of the tire 100.

[0271] Furthermore, this circumferential arrangement of the grooves 15 ensures a uniform distribution of the protruding structures and thus a uniform distribution of pressure regulation around the central axis (X2-X2), particularly in the crown region 11, which may be sensitive to volume changes related to manufacturing and / or measurement tolerances during the installation of components C1, C2, and C3.

[0272] As the pressurized fluid, any "inert" or "neutral" gas can preferably be used, that is, a gas that does not chemically interact with the components C1, C2, C3 of the object 100 that do not come into contact with the gas, especially a gas that does not interact with the rubber-based compound ML and / or reinforcements R1, R2 (especially metal reinforcements) present in the components C1, C2, C3 of the object 100, and more particularly a gas that does not oxidize or corrode the rubber-based compound ML and / or reinforcements R1, R2 (especially metal reinforcements).

[0273] Therefore, preferably, the fluid used is an inert gas selected from nitrogen, helium, argon, and carbon dioxide.

[0274] Preferably, as described above, the tire components C1, C2, and C3 comprise a rubber-based material ML, and the curing step (S4) enables the vulcanization of the rubber-based material ML.

[0275] According to the preferred features that can independently constitute the present invention, these preferred features apply to any method or tool 1 used for molding an object 100 (particularly for molding a rubber-based object 100, such as an inflatable tire), after the object 100 has cured and demolded, at an ambient temperature between 5°C and 40°C, the volume of material corresponding to the volume of material that has seeped into the orifice 15 in the curing step (S4) and referred to as the “excess volume” (in this case, typically the total volume of all the plugs 42 forming the flash) accounts for between 0.5% and 5% of the total volume of the object 100, more preferably between 2% and 4% of the total volume of the object 100.

[0276] It should be noted that this volume ratio remains essentially effective during the curing step (S4) when the tool 1 is in a "hot" state (i.e. at the molding temperature) when it is closed, but it is of course still easily observed on the object 100 after it has been removed from the tool 1 and has thus cooled back to ambient temperature.

[0277] According to a preferred possible implementation, in the filling step (S3), components C1, C2, C3 of the object 100 or a group of components C1, C2, C3 of the object are laid on the receiving surface 10_out, taking into account the tolerance of possible errors in the volume of the thus laid components or group of components C1, C2, C3, and performing a compensation operation, during which additional components such as rubber compound ML are added in a volume referred to as "compensation volume" in addition to the components or group of components C1, C2, C3. Added to receiving surface 10_out, the compensation volume is at least equal to the difference between the lower of the required nominal volume of the component or group of components C1, C2, C3 and the possible lay-up volume of the component or group of components, taking known tolerances into account. Then, in the curing step (S4), if the total volume of the additional component and the component or group of components C1, C2, C3 exceeds the required nominal volume, the corresponding excess material is absorbed by creeping into the orifice 15 at a given required molding pressure.

[0278] In other words, care must be taken to lay a certain total volume of components on the receiving surface 10_out in the filling step (S3) such that the volume will completely fill the molding cavity of the tool during the closing of the tool 1, and then in the curing step (S4), the level of compression under expansion is sufficient to achieve the required molding pressure, regardless of the volume changes of components C1, C2, C3 inherent in the method used to manufacture the components C1, C2, C3 and / or the metering method during their laying.

[0279] More specifically, therefore, in addition to the constituent parts C1, C2, C3 of the object, additional components, typically rubber compounds, may be added systematically in known quantities, such that the most severe foreseeable material shortages caused by manufacturing and / or laying tolerances of the constituent parts of the object 100 can be compensated.

[0280] Therefore, even if the most severe material shortage is observed due to the lower tolerances associated with the mentioned parts C1, C2, and C3, the molding cavity will be filled to at least the required nominal volume.

[0281] If the total volume corresponding to the sum of the volumes of the constituent parts C1, C2, C3 of the object and the compensation volume added by the additional parts exceeds the required nominal volume, the excess volume will be advantageously absorbed by the orifice 15 in the curing step (S4) so ​​that the excess volume will not cause overpressure damage to the tool 1.

[0282] Of course, the addition of additional material intended to compensate for a possible material shortage of one or more of the constituent parts C1, C2, C3 of object 100 can be located in certain specific areas of tool 1, more particularly in certain specific areas of receiving surface 10_out, in which the one or more parts C1, C2, C3 that may exhibit volume shortage are implanted.

[0283] Therefore, for example, if the uncertainty regarding the layup volume stems from the formation of a component intended to cover the crown region 11, and if the corresponding volume tolerance is + / - 10% relative to the nominal volume of said component, then in the crown region 11, in this case, an additional thickened rubber compound will be added over the entire axial width of the crown region involved by the reinforcing ply, the additional rubber compound being intended to compensate for any possible shortage, and thus accounting for 10% of the nominal thickness of the reinforcing ply over the mentioned width.

[0284] More specifically, if two reinforcing ply layers are stacked on the crown region 11, each reinforcing ply layer having a nominal thickness of 2 mm, or the total thickness of the two ply layers being 4 mm, and with a volume tolerance, more specifically a thickness tolerance of + / - 10%, then an additional rubber compound of 0.4 mm (= 10% x 4 mm) thickness will be added over the entire width of the crown region 11 covered by the reinforcing ply layers.

[0285] Of course, various trench arrangements other than those described above can be envisioned, particularly trenches that have openings forming curves (e.g., sine curves) on the receiving surface 10_out.

[0286] Therefore, for example, one can envision circumferential grooves in which the lines forming loops around the central axis X2-X2 of the core 10 also have wavy portions 43, which depict a meandering path on the receiving surface 10_out and, for example, in the crown region 11 of the core 10, preferably a sine wave, such as... Figure 18 As shown. Therefore, the wavy portion 43 can form transverse alternations on both sides of the circumferential average line.

[0287] It is also conceivable that the wavy portion 43, in particular the sinusoidal wavy portion, oscillates around an average line oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the circumferential direction, for example, at an angle of 90 degrees, such that the average line extends along the intersection of the receiving surface 10_out and the radial plane containing the central axis (X2-X2).

[0288] In one variant, the angle can be strictly between 0 and 90 degrees, for example between 10 and 80 degrees, particularly between 10 and 45 degrees, such that the average line of the opening of the groove 15 extends obliquely relative to the circumferential direction, and the line of the opening of the groove forms a wavy portion 43 around the average line.

[0289] In either case, the same sinusoidal groove 15 may extend only within the crown region 11, only within the side regions 12 and 13, or cover the crown region 11 and the side regions 12 and 13, or even extend all the way through the receiving surface 10_out, covering the first side region 12, the crown region 11 and the second side region 13.

[0290] More generally, the groove 15 is preferably positioned facing the area of ​​the tool 1, and more particularly facing the area of ​​the core 10, in which the volume of the components C1, C2, C3 of the known object may fluctuate due to the inherent tolerances of the technology of manufacturing or preparing the components and / or the inherent tolerances (e.g., measurement accuracy) of the laying technology implemented in the filling step (S3).

[0291] As an illustration, in the mentioned areas, such as in the crown area 11, the surface area covered by the openings of one or more grooves 15 in the receiving surface 10_out can account for between 3% and 15% of the total surface area of ​​the mentioned areas, for example, between 5% and 10%.

[0292] Furthermore, preferably, care is taken to ensure that the lines of a single groove 15, and more particularly the lines of the openings of the groove 15 at the receiving surface 10_out, are not precisely parallel to the lines of reinforcing elements (e.g., metal wires) in the components C1, C2, C3 of the embedded object. These reinforcing elements are typically reinforcing filaments R1, R2 embedded in the reinforcing ply of the tire present in the crown region 11, and are positioned aligned with and closest to the openings of the grooves, taking into account the distance they are spaced from the openings of the groove 15 along a direction perpendicular to the receiving surface 10_out (in practice, these can be the reinforcing filaments R1, R2 closest to the crown region 11 of the receiving surface, considered in the radial thickness direction of the tire).

[0293] Therefore, it is preferable to ensure that the reinforcements R1, R2 in the components C1, C2, C3 of the embedded object intersect the opening of the groove 15, and thus intersect the line of the opening of the groove 15, transverse to the line of the opening, and form a non-zero angle with the line of the opening, ideally at least 10 degrees or at least 30 degrees or about 80 to 90 degrees.

[0294] This will advantageously prevent the following situation: during the curing step (S4), under the action of molding pressure and the resulting creep phenomenon (forcing the material initially embedded with the reinforcing elements R1, R2 (typically rubber-based material ML) to penetrate into the groove 15), one or the other of the reinforcing elements R1, R2 in the components embedded in the object 100 (e.g., the reinforcing filaments of one of the ply layers reinforcing the tire crown) is driven from the molding cavity of the tool 1 and discharged into the groove 15. This will prevent the object 100 from being accidentally and irreversibly damaged and broken during the curing step (S4).

[0295] It is important to note that the sinusoidal curve of the groove 15 is particularly advantageous in correctly holding the reinforcements R1 and R2 of parts C1, C2, and C3 in the proper position during the curing process. This is because such a line avoids the situation where, at any point on the receiving surface 10_out, and in the normal projection in the plane tangent to the receiving surface 10_out at the mentioned point, the line of the groove 15 is neither tangent to nor overlaps with the line of one or the other of the reinforcements R1 and R2 present in parts C1, C2, and C3 closest to the receiving surface 10_out. Therefore, it does not create a "trap" that the reinforcements might "fall into" under molding pressure.

[0296] Furthermore, regardless of the intended arrangement of the groove 15, particularly from the different arrangements mentioned in this application, the core 10 can preferably be subdivided into sector areas 20, 21 including a locking key portion 20 and an arch portion 21, the characteristics of which, particularly with respect to the shape, number, size or arrangement of the parting lines, can be as described above.

[0297] Of course, the present invention 1 relates to a tool 1 for carrying out the above method, in particular a toroidal core 10.

[0298] Therefore, the present invention particularly relates to a toroidal core 10 intended for use in a tool 1 for manufacturing an object 100 of a tire by molding, according to the method of the invention. The toroidal core 10 has a receiving surface 10_out about its central axis (X2-X2), the receiving surface 10_out including a radially outer tire crown region 11, a first side region 12 and a second side region 13 on axial sides of the tire crown region 11, an orifice 15, and delivery lines 33, 34. The first side region 12 bends toward the central axis (X2-X2), the second side region 13 bends toward the central axis (X2-X2), the orifice 15 is formed by a groove hollowed out in the thickness of the receiving surface 10_out, and the delivery lines 33, 34 include pipes 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 for supplying pressurized fluid to the groove 15. The toroidal core 10 has a groove arrangement selected from the following: - The first arrangement, referred to as "groove arrangement for supports," is in this case... Figures 2A to 7 As shown, each groove 15 leads to a receiving surface 10_out to connect the crown region 11 of the receiving surface and one of the first side regions 12 and the second side region 13 through a series of openings, so that the core (10) can receive a reinforcing element 108, referred to as a “support”, within the groove. The reinforcing element 108 is designed to be permanently integrated into the structure of the tire 100 and extends in the internal cavity 107 of the tire, connecting a crown anchor point 109 and a side anchor point 110. The crown anchor point 109 is located at the crown 101 of the tire 100, and the side anchor point 110 is located in one of the sidewalls 104, 105 or the beads 102, 103 of the tire 100. - The second type of trench arrangement is called a "radial arrangement," for example, corresponding to Figure 11 and Figure 12 The illustrated embodiment variant has grooves that extend along a radial plane relative to the central axis (X2-X2) of the core, with each groove continuously extending from the first side region 12 (including the latter) through the crown region 11 to the second side region 13 (including the latter) and leading to the receiving surface 10_out. - The third type of arrangement, known as the "circumferential crown arrangement," can be specifically designed for... Figure 15 and Figure 16 as well as Figure 13 and Figure 14In the illustrated variant, at least one groove 15, preferably a plurality of parallel grooves 15, extends circumferentially around a central axis (X2-X2) in the crown region 11, preferably along a plane perpendicular to the central axis (X2, X2). - The fourth arrangement, known as the "fully circumferential arrangement," specifically corresponds to Figure 13 and Figure 14 The illustrated embodiment variants include at least one groove 15, preferably a plurality of parallel grooves 15, extending circumferentially around a central axis (X2-X2) in the crown region 11, preferably extending along a plane perpendicular to the central axis (X2, X2), and at least one groove 15, optionally a plurality of grooves 15, extending circumferentially in at least one of the first side region 12 and the second side region 13, more preferably extending circumferentially in each of the first side region 12 and the second side region 13; - The fifth arrangement, known as the "sine arrangement," can be particularly useful in... Figure 18 In the illustrated variant, at least one groove 15, preferably a groove 15 extending circumferentially around a central axis (X2-X2), has an opening that has a wavy portion 43 on the receiving surface 10_out to form a meandering line, preferably a sine curve.

[0299] Finally, the present invention relates to an object 100, particularly a rubber-based object 100, produced by the manufacturing method according to the invention, especially a tire 100 intended to form a pneumatic tire, the object 100 having ribs 15, particularly in shape matching the shape of the grooves 15, on the surface in contact with a receiving surface 10_out having orifices 15 (more particularly grooves 15), for example ribs protruding to a height of 2 mm to 6 mm relative to the surface of the object 100, or the trajectory of these ribs, which are produced by controlled creep of the material in the grooves 15 during the curing step (S4).

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an object (100) by molding, the method comprising: - Preparation step (S0), during which a tool (1) is prepared, the tool (1) being designed to mold an object (100) and for this purpose including a receiving surface (10_out) whose shape matches the surface of the object (100), the receiving surface (10_out) also including a plurality of orifices (15) extending below the receiving surface (10_out) and leading to the receiving surface (10_out). - Filling step (S3), during which the components of the object (100) are placed on the receiving surface (10_out); - Curing step (S4); The method is characterized by a step (S5) that includes a support pressure increase in the curing step (S4), during which a certain volume of material of the components of the object (100) is allowed to penetrate into the orifice (15) to form a plug, the plug providing a seal between the object (100) and the receiving surface (10_out), and when the material volume thus forms a plug, pressurized fluid is injected into the orifice (15) by an anti-permeation system (30) including lines (33, 34) for conveying pressurized fluid, such that the pressure of the fluid contained in the orifice (15) through the plug formed by the material volume is controlled by creating a barrier to the material's penetration into the orifice (15) to control the creep of the material into the orifice (15), and to achieve the molding pressure required for manufacturing the object.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After a duration of 0 to 10 seconds following the start of the curing step (S4), the injection of pressurized fluid begins in the step (S5) that supports the increase in pressure.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The molding pressure is between 16 bar and 35 bar, or between 35 bar and 80 bar, preferably between 50 bar and 70 bar, and more preferably between 50 bar and 55 bar.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The fluid is injected at a pressure that is gradually increased over a duration of 30 to 300 seconds, for example, between 30 and 120 seconds, or between 50 and 120 seconds, or between 120 and 200 seconds, until the molding pressure is reached, preferably between 16 and 35 bar or between 35 and 80 bar.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The orifice (15) is formed by a groove hollowed out in the thickness of the receiving surface (10_out).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The object (100) is a toroidal pneumatic tire, the tire including a crown (101) intended to form a tread, a first annular bead (102) and a second annular bead (103) designed to allow the tire (100) to attach to a mounting support, and a first sidewall (104) and a second sidewall (105) respectively connecting the crown (101) to the first bead (102) and the second bead (103), the crown (101), the first sidewall and the second sidewall (104, 105) and the first bead and the second bead (102, 103) forming a wall (106) as a whole, the wall (106) having a concave inner surface (106_in) defining a cavity (107) in the tire (100); the tool (1) includes a toroidal core (10) having a receiving surface (10_out) around its central axis (X2-X2). The receiving surface (10_out) has a shape that matches the inner surface (106_in) of the tire wall (106) and includes a radially outer crown region (11) and a first side region (12) and a second side region (13) on both axial sides of the crown region (11). The radially outer crown region (11) is intended to receive components of the crown (101) of the tire (100). The first side region (12) bends toward the central axis (X2-X2) and is intended to receive components of the first sidewall (104) and the first bead (102). The second side region (13) bends toward the central axis (X2-X2) and is intended to receive components of the second sidewall (105) and the second bead (103), such that the core (10) forms a volume defined externally by the receiving surface (10_out) and corresponding to the cavity (107) of the tire.

7. The method according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that, At least some or even all of the orifices (15) are formed by grooves extending along a radial plane containing the central axis (X2-X2) of the toroidal core.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, At least one groove, preferably each groove having a continuous opening along the contour of the mentioned receiving surface (10_out) in a radial plane containing the central axis (X2-X2) of the toroidal core, such that the opening in the groove continuously covers the first side region (12), then the crown region (11), and then the second side region (13).

9. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The annular pneumatic tire (100) permanently includes reinforcing elements (108), each extending within a tire cavity (107) and connecting a crown anchor point (109) in the tire crown (101) and a side anchor point (110) in one of the tire sidewalls (104, 105) or one of the beads (102, 103); the annular core (10) includes a plurality of orifices (15) forming channels extending within a reserved volume below and to the receiving surface (10_out), such that each of the channels (15) connects to a crown region (11) of the receiving surface and one of a first side region and a second side region (12, 13) so that the core (10) can receive the reinforcing element (108) within the channel (15); the method includes: - Pre-filling step (S1), during which anchoring structures (71, 72) are laid on the side regions (12, 13) and crown region (11) of the receiving surface (10_out) of the core (10), facing the anchoring points (110, 109) provided for attaching the reinforcing element (108) to the tire wall (106). The anchoring structures (71, 72) are designed to receive the end of the reinforcing element (108) emerging from the groove (15) of the core (10) and bond it to the components of the sidewall (104, 105) or bead (102, 103) or crown (101), respectively. The reinforcing element (108) is fixed to the provided anchoring points (110, 109) by clamping the end of the reinforcing element (108) between the anchoring structures (71, 72) and the components. - Step (S2) of arranging the reinforcing element (108), during which at least one reinforcing wire intended to form the reinforcing element (108) is passed through at least one channel (15) of the core (10). - Filling step (S3), during which the components of the tire crown (101), sidewall (104, 105) and bead (102, 103) are placed on the receiving surface (10_out) to construct the wall (106) of the tire (100).

10. The method according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that, At least some or even all of the orifices (15) are formed by circumferential grooves that extend around a central axis (X2-X2), preferably along a plane perpendicular to the central axis (X2-X2) of the toroidal core.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The fluid used is an inert gas selected from nitrogen, helium, argon, and carbon dioxide.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The tire's components include a rubber-based material, and the curing step (S4) enables the vulcanization of the rubber-based material.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, After the object (100) is cured and demolded, at an ambient temperature between 5°C and 40°C, the volume of material corresponding to the volume of material that has penetrated into the orifice (15) in the curing step (S4) and referred to as the "excess volume" accounts for between 0.5% and 5% of the total volume of the object (100), more preferably between 2% and 4% of the total volume of the object (100).

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, In the filling step (S3), the components (C1, C2, C3) or a group of components (C1, C2, C3) of the object are laid on the receiving surface (10_out). Tolerances quantified to account for possible errors in the volume of the laid components or group of components are taken into account, and a compensation operation is performed. During this operation, in addition to the components or group of components (C1, C2, C3), additional components such as rubber compounds are added to the receiving surface (10_out) in a volume referred to as "compensation volume." The compensation volume is at least equal to the difference between the required nominal volume of the component or group of components (C1, C2, C3) of the object and the lower of the possible lay-up volume of the component or group of components (C1, C2, C3), taking known tolerances into account. Then, in the curing step (S4), if the total volume of the additional component and the component or group of components (C1, C2, C3) exceeds the required nominal volume, the corresponding excess material is absorbed by creeping into the orifice (15) at a given required molding pressure.

15. A toroidal core (10) intended for use in a tool (1) for manufacturing an object (100) of a tire by molding, according to any one of the preceding claims, the toroidal core (10) having a receiving surface (10_out) around its central axis (X2-X2), the receiving surface (10_out) including a radially outer tire crown region (11), a first side region (12) and a second side region (13) on both axial sides of the tire crown region (11), and an orifice ( 15) and conveying lines (33, 34), the first side region (12) bends toward the central axis (X2-X2), the second side region (13) bends toward the central axis (X2-X2), the orifice (15) is formed by a groove hollowed out in the thickness of the receiving surface (10_out), the conveying lines (33, 34) include pipes (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40) for supplying pressurized fluid to the groove (15), the annular core has a groove arrangement selected from the following: - The first arrangement, referred to as "groove arrangement for support", wherein each groove leads to a receiving surface (10_out) to connect the crown region (11) of the receiving surface and one of the first and second side regions (12, 13) through a series of openings, so that the core (10) can receive a reinforcing element (108) referred to as "support" within the groove, the reinforcing element (108) being designed to be permanently integrated into the structure of the tire (100) and extending in the internal cavity (107) of the tire, connecting a crown anchor point (109) and a side anchor point (110), the crown anchor point (109) being located at the crown (101) of the tire (100), and the side anchor point (110) being located in one of the sidewalls (104, 105) or beads (102, 103) of the tire (100); - The second type of groove arrangement, referred to as "radial arrangement", wherein the grooves extend along a radial plane relative to the central axis (X2-X2) of the core, and each groove extends continuously from the first side region (12) including the latter through the crown region (11) to the second side region (13) including the latter to the receiving surface (10_out). - The third arrangement, referred to as "circumferential crown arrangement", wherein at least one groove, preferably multiple parallel grooves, extend circumferentially around the central axis (X2-X2) in the crown region (11), preferably along a plane perpendicular to the central axis (X2, X2); - The fourth arrangement, referred to as "fully circumferential arrangement", wherein at least one groove, preferably multiple parallel grooves, extends circumferentially around the central axis (X2-X2) in the crown region (11), preferably along a plane perpendicular to the central axis (X2, X2), and at least one groove, optionally multiple grooves, extends circumferentially in at least one of the first side region and the second side region (12, 13), more preferably in each of the first side region and the second side region (12, 13); - The fifth arrangement, referred to as the "sine arrangement", wherein at least one groove, preferably a groove extending circumferentially around a central axis (X2-X2), has an opening, the opening having a wavy portion (43) on the receiving surface (10_out) to form a meandering line, preferably a sine curve.

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