METHOD FOR PRODUCEING MULTI-COMPONENT SIDEWALLS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF VEHICLE TIRES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing a multi-component sidewall for use in vehicle tires and a method for producing a vehicle tire based thereon. A stress-free multi-component sidewall is also disclosed.

[0002] In the production of modern pneumatic vehicle tires, in addition to the usual components such as the tread and the tire carcass, the sidewalls are of particular importance, as these form the sidewall areas of the pneumatic vehicle tires and significantly influence the mechanical properties of the resulting pneumatic vehicle tires.

[0003] These sidewalls are usually manufactured as separate components during the manufacturing process and are only combined with the other components of the green tire during the tire building process. Examples of such processes include those in which the sidewalls are placed on the tire carcass on a tire building drum and then bonded together with the tire carcass to a tread, so that the upper end of the sidewall ends below the tread or below any belt layers (so-called "sidewall under belt" or "sidewall to belt"). A particularly relevant alternative to this process is a design in which the sidewalls are folded up onto the sidewalls of a tire carcass using a folding device with so-called cambering bellows.These inflatable bellows press the sidewalls against the sidewall of the vehicle's pneumatic tires as a result of their expansion, whereby the ends of the folded-up sidewalls can also be partially folded over the deployed belt-tread package (so-called "sidewall over tread").

[0004] Regardless of the process used, the sidewalls to be applied must be accurately aligned and guided precisely during sometimes complex application steps, whereby material defects, such as those caused by a slipped sidewall or inadequate alignment of the sidewalls on the tire carcass, can easily render the entire resulting pneumatic vehicle tire unusable.

[0005] InIn recent years, the complexity of the sidewalls used in tire production has increased significantly in some cases. Complex multi-component sidewalls are now often used instead of individual rubber walls. These sidewall components typically consist of three or more different vulcanizable rubber compounds, each with distinct physical and chemical properties. Such multi-component sidewalls are typically produced by co-extrusion of the various vulcanizable rubber compounds through an extrusion die, thus bonding the various vulcanizable rubber compounds together.

[0006] A key material characteristic that regularly differs between the various vulcanizable rubber compounds is the stiffness of the vulcanizable rubber compounds. In particular, the section of multi-component sidewalls that is positioned near the tire bead in the final pneumatic tire and partially wrapped around it (sometimes referred to as the "rim strip") often exhibits greater stiffness than the component that faces the tread in the final pneumatic tire.

[0007] Particularly striking differences in the stiffness of vulcanizable rubber compounds arise when a so-called outer apex element (also referred to as "outer apex") is also used. These outer apex elements often use a vulcanizable rubber compound similar to the vulcanizable rubber compound used in the core vane, which accordingly has particularly high stiffness and therefore a particularly high modulus of elasticity.

[0008] In the prior art processes for producing a corresponding multi-component sidewall, stresses in the material regularly occur due to the material bond between the three components, which is formed directly during co-extrusion. These stresses are caused by the different mechanical properties of the bonded materials, in particular their differing stiffness, as well as the different shrinkage behavior, which results in different volume changes for the various components upon cooling after extrusion. As a result, multi-component sidewalls, especially those that include a so-called "rim strip" and / or an outer apex element, often exhibit significant stresses in the material after co-extrusion.

[0009] These stresses regularly lead to a so-called "banana effect" in co-extruded multi-component sidewalls, so that such multi-component sidewalls frequently exhibit a pronounced curvature, frequently in the direction of the components experiencing the greatest volume contraction. Furthermore, due to the internal stresses, such co-extruded multi-component sidewalls exhibit a pronounced tendency to twist, making them difficult to place flat on even surfaces. This property of co-extruded multi-component sidewalls makes their use in typical tire building processes challenging, even when performed or supervised by experienced workers. In particular, correct placement on the shoulder ring of a typical tire-turning device can be hampered by the poor conformality and the resulting restoring forces.However, the properties of the multi-component sidewalls known from the state of the art become even more detrimental when the tire building process is to be automated. The automatic guidance and attachment of such co-extruded multi-component sidewalls is often particularly challenging and, in many cases, impossible or difficult to automate using conventional equipment, as these cannot cope with the resulting deformations, or only poorly.

[0010] In addition to this fundamental disadvantage, the co-extrusion of such multi-component side walls, which comprise three or more vulcanizable rubber compounds, is regularly perceived as disadvantageous, particularly due to the comparatively high complexity of the extrusion templates required for the extrusion.

[0011] The patent specification KR 2010 0000085 U discloses a multi-component sidewall semi-finished product for producing a tire.

[0012] Against this background, the primary object of the present invention was to eliminate or at least reduce the disadvantages known from the prior art.

[0013] In this respect, it was a particular object of the present invention to provide a method by which multi-component sidewalls for use in vehicle tires can be produced which have as little stress as possible in the multi-component sidewall, in particular between the various vulcanizable rubber mixtures, and consequently exhibit a reduced banana effect.

[0014] Against this background, it was an object of the present invention that multi-component sidewalls should be able to be produced with the method to be specified, which sidewalls can be processed particularly easily and reliably in typical tire building processes, wherein in particular a clean adaptation to a flat base and an arrangement on the forming shoulder of a high-turn device that is as stress-free as possible should be possible.

[0015] The process to be specified should ideally be able to produce multi-component sidewalls that are so little prone to bending and twisting that they can also be used reliably in automated tire building processes.

[0016] It was an object of the present invention that the specified method should ideally be feasible using materials and equipment already used in the tire industry. In this respect, it was a complementary object of the present invention that the specified method should be applicable to a wide range of possible materials and the common structures of multi-component sidewalls, in particular multi-component sidewalls with an outer apex element. It was desirable that the specified method should be particularly time- and cost-efficient compared to the method known from the prior art.

[0017] It was a supplementary object of the present invention that the complexity of the extrusion templates required for the manufacturing process should be reduced.

[0018] Based on the tasks described above, a method for producing vehicle tires should also be specified which allows the reproducible and reliable production of vehicle tires with complex multi-component sidewalls and thus the production of high-performance pneumatic vehicle tires even if the sidewalls are at least partially applied in an automated process.

[0019] The inventor of the present invention has now recognized that the objects described above can surprisingly be achieved if, in the production of multi-component side walls with three or more vulcanizable rubber mixtures, the method known from the prior art of simultaneous co-extrusion of all of these vulcanizable rubber mixtures is deviated from and, instead, only a part of the vulcanizable rubber mixtures is formed by co-extrusion to form a side wall base blank which has a receiving recess into which the insert element containing the third vulcanizable rubber mixture is subsequently inserted, as described in the claims.

[0020] By subsequently arranging an insert element in the simpler constructed sidewall base blank, even if the insert element is made of a particularly stiff material, it is surprisingly possible to obtain multi-component sidewalls which have very low internal stresses and advantageously show a reduced banana effect, whereby by choosing a suitable material and / or form-fitting connection of the insert element to the sidewall base blank, durable and high-performance multi-component sidewalls are nevertheless obtained which can be reliably used in conventional tire building processes, even if these are highly automated.

[0021] The above-mentioned objects are thus achieved by the subject matter of the invention as defined in the claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following statements.

[0022] Such embodiments, which are designated as preferred below, are combined in particularly preferred embodiments with features of other embodiments designated as preferred. Combinations of two or more of the embodiments designated as particularly preferred below are thus particularly preferred. Likewise preferred are embodiments in which a feature of one embodiment designated as preferred to any extent is combined with one or more further features of other embodiments designated as preferred to any extent.

[0023] The invention relates to a method for producing a multi-component sidewall for use in vehicle tires, comprising the method steps: a) producing or providing a multi-component sidewall base blank, wherein the sidewall base blank comprises a first partial region comprising a first vulcanizable rubber mixture and a second partial region comprising a second vulcanizable rubber mixture, wherein the sidewall base blank has at least one receiving recess, b) producing or providing an insert element comprising a third vulcanizable rubber mixture, and c) arranging the insert element in the receiving recess of the sidewall base blank to produce the multi-component sidewall.

[0024] In the method according to the invention, a multi-component sidewall base blank is first provided. This comprises two or more sub-regions. With a view to the most practical embodiments and the lowest possible stresses in the multi-component sidewall, it is preferred if the sidewall base blank consists precisely of these two sub-regions. Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred in which the sidewall base blank consists of the first sub-region and the second sub-region.

[0025] In accordance with the expert's understanding, the subregions may also comprise other components in addition to the vulcanizable rubber mixture. For example, it is conceivable that individual subregions for specialized applications may include reinforcements or similar components. However, the expert understands that in the vast majority of cases, it is preferable for the corresponding subregions to consist largely or essentially entirely of the respective vulcanizable rubber mixtures.A process according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the mass fraction of the first vulcanizable rubber mixture in the first sub-region is 80% or more, preferably 90% or more, particularly preferably 95% or more, very particularly preferably 98% or more, in particular substantially 100%, based on the mass of the first sub-region, and / or wherein the mass fraction of the second vulcanizable rubber mixture in the second sub-region is 80% or more, preferably 90% or more, particularly preferably 95% or more, very particularly preferably 98% or more, in particular substantially 100%, based on the mass of the second sub-region.

[0026] The multi-component sidewall base blanks used in the process according to the invention are preferably manufactured within the scope of the process according to the invention, which can advantageously be carried out by co-extrusion and thus using an established manufacturing process for which the person skilled in the art usually already has the necessary equipment at his disposal. However, because only two vulcanizable rubber compounds have to be co-extruded, the sidewall base blank can be manufactured significantly more easily than the multi-component sidewall, whereby the equipment required, particularly with regard to the required extrusion template and the number of extruders, can be significantly reduced.For most cases, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the multi-component sidewall base blank is produced by co-extrusion of the first vulcanizable rubber mixture and the second vulcanizable rubber mixture. Consequently, a method according to the invention is also preferred, wherein the first partial region and the second partial region are connected in the sidewall base blank, preferably by an at least partially integral connection, wherein the integral connection is particularly preferably created or promoted by co-extrusion of the first vulcanizable rubber mixture and the second vulcanizable rubber mixture.

[0027] The inventor of the present invention has succeeded in identifying suitable volume fractions for the design of the subregions in the sidewall base blank, allowing for the creation of high-performance multi-component sidewalls. At the same time, the fact that the two subregions have relatively large proportions in corresponding sidewall base blanks also means that a sidewall base blank is obtained whose mechanical properties are relatively heterogeneous and which, accordingly, would be particularly susceptible to the occurrence of undesirable stresses if manufactured using the conventional method, thus demonstrating the advantages of the method according to the invention.Thus, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the volume fraction of the first partial region and / or the second partial region, preferably both partial regions, is 10% or more, preferably 20% or more, particularly preferably 30% or more, very particularly preferably 40% or more, based on the volume of the side wall base blank.

[0028] For a similar reason, it is preferable to use the method according to the invention for the production of sidewall blanks in which the vulcanizable rubber compounds exhibit a certain difference in modulus of elasticity and thus in stiffness. Multi-component sidewalls comprising corresponding vulcanizable rubber compounds are generally exhibited in the prior art with a particularly strong tendency toward undesirable curvature, especially when the proportion of the stiffer "rim strip" component is relatively large. The use of the method according to the invention is also particularly advantageous for such sidewall blanks, since the problems described above are particularly pronounced in the prior art.Against this background, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the first vulcanizable rubber mixture and the second vulcanizable rubber mixture have different moduli of elasticity, wherein the moduli of elasticity preferably differ by 2 MPa or more, particularly preferably by 4 MPa or more, very particularly preferably by 6 MPa or more. In the context of the present invention, the term modulus of elasticity refers to the average dynamic storage modulus E', which is determined for rubber materials from a dynamic-mechanical measurement at 55 °C according to DIN 53513:1990-03, wherein the average dynamic storage modulus E' is the mean of two measurements at 0.15% elongation and 8% elongation.

[0029] According to the invention, the sidewall base blank to be used in the method has at least one receiving recess. This receiving recess is a depression in the sidewall base blank, which can be produced, for example, using a material-removing process. However, it is particularly preferred if the receiving recess is produced, for example, during the co-extrusion of the vulcanizable rubber mixtures, i.e. directly during the production of the sidewall base blank. In the method according to the invention, the receiving recess is provided to receive the third component of the multi-component sidewall, so that the multi-component sidewall is produced by arranging an insert element, which represents the third component of the subsequent multi-component sidewall, in the sidewall base blank.

[0030] In principle, the receiving recess can be arranged anywhere on the sidewall base blank and, for example, lie entirely within one of the sub-regions. In practice, however, multi-component sidewalls in which the three vulcanizable rubber compounds are in contact with one another are often relevant, so it is generally preferred for the receiving recess to extend at least partially into each of the sub-regions. This is also preferred with regard to the method according to the invention because corresponding multi-component sidewalls with three different contact surfaces are generally particularly susceptible to the occurrence of stresses in the material, so that the advantages of the method according to the invention are particularly evident.This arrangement of the receiving recess offers a further synergistic advantage, as the contact area between the first and second sections is minimized by the receiving recess extending into the sidewall base blank. The reduced contact area between the two vulcanizable rubber compounds can reduce stresses in the material, which can arise, for example, from different shrinkage of the materials after extrusion.Accordingly, a method according to the invention is particularly preferred, wherein the receiving recess is located partly in the first partial region and partly in the second partial region, and / or wherein the receiving recess is preferably arranged in the central region of the side wall base blank, wherein the central region extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the side wall base blank in the range between 20 and 80%, preferably 30 to 70%, particularly preferably 40 to 60%, of the total width.

[0031] The inventor has succeeded in identifying particularly suitable dimensions for the receiving recess, whereby in particular the relative depth of the receiving recess in relation to the maximum thickness of the sidewall base blank is a factor which can be specifically adjusted to obtain multi-component sidewalls that are as stress-free as possible and which can be adapted to the vulcanizable rubber mixtures used.A method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the receiving recess at the opening transversely to the longitudinal direction of the side wall base blank has a width in the range from 0.3*b to 0.7*b, preferably in the range from 0.4*b to 0.6*b, particularly preferably in the range from 0.45*b to 0.55*b, where b is the width of the side wall base blank transversely to the longitudinal direction, and / or wherein the receiving recess has a maximum depth in the range from 0.3*d to 0.7*d, preferably in the range from 0.4*d to 0.6*d, particularly preferably in the range from 0.45*d to 0.55*d, where d is the maximum thickness of the side wall base blank.

[0032] The third component of the multi-component sidewall is supplied separately, with the element used for this purpose being functionally referred to here as an insert element. This insert element can advantageously also be manufactured or provided, with this component also preferably being manufactured by extrusion of the corresponding vulcanizable rubber mixture. A particularly simple extrusion process and a very simply structured extrusion template can advantageously be used for this purpose. Thus, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the insert element is manufactured, wherein the manufacturing takes place by extrusion of the third vulcanizable rubber mixture.

[0033] In accordance with the above statements, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that embodiments consisting predominantly of the corresponding vulcanizable rubber mixture are also preferred for the insert element. Consequently, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the mass fraction of the third vulcanizable rubber mixture in the insert element is 80% or more, preferably 90% or more, particularly preferably 95% or more, very particularly preferably 98% or more, in particular substantially 100%, based on the mass of the insert element.

[0034] It can be seen as an advantage of the method according to the invention that it is very flexible with regard to the size of the inserted insert elements. However, in the inventor's opinion, a range for the volume fraction of the insert element can be identified with which reliably high-performance multi-component sidewalls can be obtained, particularly if the inserted insert element is intended to function as an outer apex element. A method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the volume fraction of the insert element is in the range of 10% to 50%, preferably in the range of 20% to 40%, particularly preferably in the range of 25% to 35%, based on the volume of the multi-component sidewall.

[0035] As explained above, the disadvantages of the prior art method are particularly pronounced when the multi-component sidewall comprises a particularly stiff vulcanizable rubber mixture, in particular a vulcanizable rubber mixture such as that used in outer apex elements. However, the method according to the invention makes it possible to produce such multi-component sidewalls with particularly stiff vulcanizable rubber mixtures and, at the same time, to minimize the stresses in the resulting multi-component sidewalls. According to the inventors, it is highly preferred if the stiffest vulcanizable rubber mixture of the subsequent multi-component sidewall is inserted into the sidewall base blank as an insert element and is subsequently bonded to the first and second vulcanizable rubber mixtures.Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the third vulcanizable rubber mixture is 3 MPa or more, preferably 7 MPa or more, particularly preferably 10 MPa or more, greater than the modulus of elasticity of the first vulcanizable rubber mixture and / or the second vulcanizable rubber mixture, preferably the first vulcanizable rubber mixture and the second vulcanizable rubber mixture.

[0036] From the preferred positioning of the receiving recess at the interface between the two partial areas, it follows that the insert element is preferably arranged such that, when arranged in the receiving recess, it borders on both partial areas and the third vulcanizable rubber mixture comes into contact with the first and second vulcanizable rubber mixtures. With regard to the bond strength of the produced multi-component sidewall and in particular its stability during any high-blow operations, it is particularly advantageous if at least a partial material connection is created between the vulcanizable rubber mixtures of the sidewall base blank and the third vulcanizable rubber mixture in the insert element. Unlike in the process known from the prior art for co-extrusion of these components, this can advantageously be achieved by a pressure application, iepressing the insert element into the receiving recess, wherein the use of adhesion-promoting layers would also be conceivable optionally. A method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the arrangement of the insert element in the receiving recess takes place such that the insert element contacts the first partial region and the second partial region, wherein the insert element is preferably connected to the partial regions by an at least partially material-locking connection of the third vulcanizable rubber mixture with the first vulcanizable rubber mixture and the second vulcanizable rubber mixture, wherein the material-locking connection is particularly preferably created or promoted by pressure application.

[0037] The final shape of the multi-component side wall results after arranging the insert element in the receiving recess. In this respect, it is understandable for a person skilled in the art that the insert element should fill the receiving recess as completely as possible. Conversely, however, it is not necessary for the shape of the receiving recess to be completely identical to the shape of the insert element, so that the insert element can also protrude from the receiving recess after being arranged in it. However, in the inventor's opinion, it is advantageous if the shape of the receiving recess is at least partially adapted to the shape of the insert element to be accommodated, resulting in a partially positive connection that lends the multi-component side wall additional stability during processing.Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the arrangement of the insert element in the receiving recess is carried out in such a way that the receiving recess is filled by the insert element to more than 90%, preferably to more than 95%, particularly preferably to more than 98%, very particularly preferably substantially to 100%, and / or wherein the arrangement of the insert element in the receiving recess is carried out in such a way that the insert element is connected to the side wall base blank via an at least partially positive connection.

[0038] Those skilled in the art will understand that, in order to minimize the stresses occurring in the multi-component sidewall, it is advisable to minimize the effects of differential shrinkage between the materials. Accordingly, it is expedient to position the insert element in the receiving recess well after any production of the individual components by extrusion, so that the insert element and / or the sidewall base blank have a temperature of 50°C or less, preferably 40°C or less, particularly preferably 30°C or less.

[0039] For many applications, it would be expedient to produce a multi-layer sidewall using the method according to the invention and to use this as a whole in a tire building process. In principle, however, it is also possible to integrate the method according to the invention into a tire building process. With regard to typical tire building processes, two configurations for the arrangement are particularly conceivable. Particularly for folding up sidewalls using a folding up device, it is advisable to first place the sidewall base blank on the forming shoulder of the folding up device and then subsequently insert the insert element, for example for the outer apex element.An alternative to this, which is particularly suitable for tire building methods that do not require a turn-up device, is to first place the insert element, for example on a tire building drum, where it can be arranged on further layers of the future vehicle tire. In this procedure, the sidewall base blank is then placed on the insert element such that the insert element is fitted into the receiving recess. Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the arrangement of the insert element takes place in the receiving recess of the sidewall base blank arranged on a tire building drum, preferably a turn-up device of a tire building drum, or wherein the arrangement of the insert element in the receiving recess takes place by placing the sidewall base blank on the insert element arranged on a tire building drum.

[0040] Even if the method according to the invention can in principle be used for a wide range of geometries, the person skilled in the art in the field of tire production will readily understand that for the majority of cases, a method according to the invention is preferred in which the multi-component sidewall, the sidewall base blank and also the insert element are formed in a strand-like or ring-like manner, whereby the use on the sidewall of a pneumatic vehicle tire is reasonably possible.

[0041] Finally, a particularly stress-free multi-component sidewall produced or producible using the method according to the invention is also disclosed. From the above explanations, it is clear to the person skilled in the art that a multi-component sidewall produced using the method according to the invention is also inherently advantageous, since it has reduced stresses in the multi-component sidewall and therefore exhibits fewer unwanted deformations, making it easier to process, particularly in automated processes.

[0042] Finally, the invention also relates to a method for producing a vehicle tire, comprising the method steps of the method according to the invention for producing a multi-component sidewall, as well as the method steps: d) joining the multi-component sidewall to other tire components to obtain a green vehicle tire, and e) vulcanizing the green vehicle tire to obtain the vehicle tire.

[0043] In this case, vulcanization can advantageously be carried out under the usual conditions which are comprehensively known to the person skilled in the art from the prior art and which, in case of doubt, he can easily adapt to the vulcanization properties of the vulcanizable rubber mixtures used in the components.

[0044] The method according to the invention for producing a vehicle tire is particularly advantageous because the use of the particularly low-stress multi-component sidewalls of the present invention reduces the complexity of the manufacturing process and the susceptibility to material defects that can result from unwanted deformations of the sidewalls. The corresponding method for producing a vehicle tire is also particularly advantageous because the easier processing of the multi-component sidewalls reduces the training requirements of the employed workforce and, in particular, facilitates the implementation of a high degree of automation of the process.

[0045] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures: Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a side wall base blank and an insert element before arranging the components in a method according to the invention in a first preferred embodiment; Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multi-component side wall as produced by the method according to Fig. 1 can be obtained; Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a side wall base blank and an insert element before arranging the components in a method according to the invention in a second preferred embodiment; and Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multi-component side wall, as obtained with the method according to Fig. 3 can be obtained.

[0046] Fig. 1shows a schematic representation of a cross section through a side wall base blank 12 and an insert element 20 immediately before the arrangement of the two components according to method step c) of the method according to the invention in a first preferred embodiment.

[0047] The sidewall base blank 12 consists of a first sub-region 14 and a second sub-region 16, each consisting essentially entirely of a first vulcanizable rubber mixture and a second vulcanizable rubber mixture, respectively. The illustrated sidewall base blank 12 was obtained by co-extrusion of the first and second vulcanizable rubber mixtures, so that the first sub-region 14 and the second sub-region 16 are integrally bonded to one another at the connecting surface.

[0048] The sidewall base blank 12 has a receiving recess 18, which is indicated here by a dashed line and lies partially in the first partial region 14 and partially in the second partial region 16, so that the arrangement of the insert element 20 in the receiving recess 18 leads to contact of the insert element 20 with the first partial region 14 and the second partial region 16. Due to this arrangement, the receiving recess 18 lies in the central region of the sidewall base blank 12 and has a maximum depth corresponding to approximately 33% of the maximum thickness of the sidewall base blank 12.

[0049] In the example shown the Fig. 1The first subregion 14 and the second subregion 16 in the strand-shaped sidewall base blank 12 have approximately the same volume. The first subregion 14 comprises the first vulcanizable rubber mixture, a rubber mixture whose elastic modulus is more than 6 MPa greater than the elastic modulus of the second vulcanizable rubber mixture, so that the first subregion 14 is designed as a "rim strip" in this case.

[0050] The illustrated insert element 20 was used in the example shown in the Fig. 1 also produced by extrusion and consists essentially entirely of the third vulcanizable rubber mixture, the elastic modulus of which is more than 10 MPa higher than the elastic modulus of the first vulcanizable rubber mixture, so that the insert element 20 is an element which can function as an outer apex element.

[0051] In the method according to the invention, the insert element 20 is arranged in the receiving recess 18, which in Fig. 1 indicated by the arrow. The resulting multi-component side wall 10 is Fig. 2 Based on the Fig. 1 In the disclosed structure, the multi-component sidewall 10 now comprises three different components. Here, the receiving recess 18 was completely filled by the insert element 20, which, due to the complementary shape of the insert element 20 and the receiving recess 18, was positively connected to the sidewall base blank 12. Furthermore, by applying slight pressure to the insert element 20, a materially bonded connection is achieved between the third vulcanizable rubber mixture and the other two vulcanizable rubber mixtures.

[0052] The Fig. 1 and 2show a method according to the invention, as it can be carried out, for example, in the context of a method for producing a vehicle tire with a turn-up device, in which the components are arranged, for example, on a cambering bellows.

[0053] With all other parameters being equal, the Figs. 3 and 4 In contrast to this, an embodiment of the method according to the invention in which the arrangement of the insert element 20 in the receiving recess 18 takes place in that the side wall base blank 12 is lowered from above onto the insert element 20, whereby the insert element 20 is thereby enclosed in the receiving recess 18. List of reference symbols

[0054] 10Multi-component side wall 12Side wall blank 14First section 16Second section 18Receiving recess 20Insert element

Claims

1. Method for producing a multi-component sidewall (10) for use in vehicle tyres, comprising the method steps of: a) producing or providing a multi-component sidewall preform (12), wherein the sidewall preform (12) comprises a first partial region (14), comprising a first vulcanizable rubber compound, and a second partial region (16), comprising a second vulcanizable rubber compound, wherein the sidewall preform (12) has at least one receiving recess (18), characterized by b) producing or providing an insert element (20), comprising a third vulcanizable rubber compound, and c) arranging the insert element (20) in the receiving recess (18) of the sidewall preform (12) to produce the multi-component sidewall (10).

2. Method according to Claim 1, wherein the sidewall preform (12) is produced, wherein the production is effected by coextrusion of the first vulcanizable rubber compound and the second vulcanizable rubber compound.

3. Method according to either of Claims 1 and 2, wherein the first vulcanizable rubber compound and the second vulcanizable rubber compound have different moduli of elasticity, wherein the moduli of elasticity differ preferably by 2 MPa or more, particularly preferably by 4 MPa or more, very particularly preferably by 6 MPa or more.

4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the receiving recess (18) has a maximum depth ranging from 0.3*d to 0.7*d, preferably ranging from 0.4*d to 0.6*d, particularly preferably ranging from 0.45*d to 0.55*d, wherein d is the maximum thickness of the sidewall preform (12).

5. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the proportion of the insert element (20) by volume in relation to the volume of the multi-component sidewall (12) ranges from 10% to 50%, preferably ranges from 20% to 40%, particularly preferably ranges from 25% to 35%.

6. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the third vulcanizable rubber compound is 3 MPa or more, preferably 7 MPa or more, particularly preferably 10 MPa or more, greater than the modulus of elasticity of the first vulcanizable rubber compound and / or of the second vulcanizable rubber compound, preferably of the first vulcanizable rubber compound and of the second vulcanizable rubber compound.

7. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the insert element (20) is arranged in the receiving recess (18) such that the insert element (20) contacts the first partial region (14) and the second partial region (16), wherein the insert element (20) is connected to the partial regions preferably by an at least partially integral bond of the third vulcanizable rubber compound to the first vulcanizable rubber compound and the second vulcanizable rubber compound, wherein the integral bond is created or promoted particularly preferably by application of pressure.

8. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the insert element (20) is arranged in the receiving recess (18) such that the insert element (20) is connected to the sidewall preform (12) via an at least partially form-fitting connection.

9. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the insert element (20) is arranged in the receiving recess (18) of the sidewall preform (12) arranged on a tyre building drum, preferably on a turn-up device of a tyre building drum, or wherein the insert element (20) is arranged in the receiving recess (18) by laying the sidewall preform (12) onto the insert element (20) arranged on a tyre building drum.

10. Method for producing a vehicle tyre, comprising the method steps of the method for producing a multi-component sidewall (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, and also the method steps of: d) connecting the multi-component sidewall (10) to further tyre components to obtain a green vehicle tyre, and e) vulcanizing the green vehicle tyre to obtain the vehicle tyre.