CHEVRON GROOVED CORE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A STRAIGHTENED BANDAGE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tool (1) for manufacturing a tire (40), said tool comprising a core (10) having a central axis (Z10) and subdivided into a succession of sectors (54, 55), each comprising a plurality of grooves (12) designed to receive stays (5) intended to connect each a first anchor point (M1) to a second anchor point (M2) in order to reinforce the tire (40), each sector (54, 55) being arranged so as to be able to be moved along a direction called the "individual extraction direction" (D_extract) which belongs to the individual angular range (A54, A55) occupied by said sector (54, 55) and which is perpendicular to the central axis (Z10), and the grooves (12) of each sector (54, 55) being arranged in a radially extractable configuration according to which the first and second lateral walls (15,16) which delimit each of the grooves (12) do not interfere with the volume swept by the stay (5) when said stay (5) is aligned, in orthogonal projection in a reference tangent plane (P_REF) normal to the individual extraction direction (D_extract), with the baseline (D0) which passes through the first anchor point (M1) and the second anchor point (M2), and when a relative movement carried by the individual extraction direction (D_extract) is created between the stay (5) and the sector (54, 55). Figure 2,

Description

Title of the invention: CHEVRON-GROOVED CORE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A GAUBAN BANDAGE

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of manufacturing toroidal tires, and more particularly to the manufacture of pneumatic toroidal tires intended to equip vehicle wheels.

[0002] To improve the behavior, in particular the drift resistance, of pneumatic tires, the applicant had the idea of ​​implementing wire reinforcements called "stays" which extend within the toroidal inflation cavity delimited by the tire, and which each connect an anchor point located in a side or heel of the tire to an anchor point located at the top of the tire.

[0003] To manufacture such stay bandages, the applicant has already proposed, in application WO-2022 / 200718, a tool comprising a toroidal core which has a shape conjugate to that of the wall delimiting the cavity of the bandage, and in which grooves adapted to the passage of the stays are cut.

[0004] Although such tooling is generally satisfactory, it presents a certain complexity, particularly because, in order to extract the core from the bandage without damaging the stays, it is necessary to divide the core into a multitude of parts, which must be extracted one by one according to very specific demolding trajectories. In particular, the plan is to axially subdivide the core into three annular sub-assemblies, namely a central ring forming the apex of the core and two peripheral rings called "ears" which are attached to the central ring, on either side of said central ring, to receive the sides and shoulders of the bandage. Each of these three sub-assemblies is itself angularly divided, in azimuth around the central axis of the core, into a plurality of distinct sectors, which are moreover more numerous in the ears than in the central ring.

[0005] The multiplicity of the constituent elements of the core and the complexity of their respective extraction movements tends of course to make the demolding process, and therefore more generally the manufacturing process of a cable-stayed bandage, relatively long and rather inefficient on an industrial level.

[0006] The objects assigned to the invention therefore aim to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide an improved tooling which simplifies the manufacturing process of a reinforced bandage with stays and thus improves the efficiency of said manufacturing process.

[0007] The objects assigned to the invention are reached by means of a tool intended for the fa manufacturing of a toroidal tire, said tooling comprising a core which materializes a volume called the "reserved volume" corresponding to a cavity of the tire, said core being delimited externally by a convex toroidal surface called the "receiving surface" which is centered on a central axis and which includes a radially external apex zone intended to receive constituent components of the apex of the tire, and, on either side axially of said apex zone, a first lateral zone folded towards the central axis and intended to receive constituent components of a first sidewall and a first bead of the tire, as well as a second lateral zone folded towards the central axis and intended to receive constituent components of a second sidewall and a second bead of the tire, said core further comprising a plurality of grooves which are distributed in azimuth around the central axis and cut inside the reserved volume, from the receiving surface,so that each of said grooves has a mouth which extends continuously along the profile of the receiving surface, from a first portion of the mouth located in the apex zone to a second portion of the mouth located in one of the first and second lateral zones, and that each of said grooves forms a housing which is delimited, in azimuth around the central axis, by a first lateral wall and by a second lateral wall which are distant from each other in azimuth and which are both intersecting the receiving surface, so that each groove is suitable for receiving, inside the housing, between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, a wire reinforcement element, called a "stay", which enters said groove through the first portion of the mouth and exits said groove through the second portion of the mouth,said stay being designed to be permanently integrated into the structure of the bandage and to extend through the cavity of the bandage by connecting a first anchor point, called the "summit anchor point", located in the apex of the bandage, to a second anchor point, called the "lateral anchor point", located in one of the first and second flanks or one of the first and second heels of the bandage, said tooling being characterized in that the core is subdivided, in azimuth around the central axis, into a succession of sectors which each cover a predetermined azimuthal angular range, called the "individual angular range", around said central axis, at least one of said sectors, and preferably each of said sectors, being arranged so as to be able to be moved relative to the neighboring sectors, in order to disengage from the bandage,along a direction called "individual extraction direction" which belongs to the individual angular range occupied by said sector and which is perpendicular to the central axis, and in that several grooves, preferably all the grooves, belonging to this same sector are arranged according to a configuration called "radially extractable configuration" according to which, in projection into a plane called "reference tangent plane" which is normal to the individual extraction direction of the sector considered, and which is tangent to the radially outermost part of the summit area of ​​the receiving surface of said sector considered, the first lateral wall of each of said several grooves is located on one side of, and at a distance from, the fictitious line called "baseline" which passes through the first anchor point and the second anchor point of the guy wire coming to be lodged in the groove concerned, while the second lateral wall is located on the second side, opposite to the first side, of the baseline, and at a distance from said baseline, so that said first and second lateral walls do not interfere with the volume swept by the guy wire when said guy wire is aligned, in orthogonal projection in the reference tangent plane, with the baseline and a relative movement carried by the individual extraction direction of said sector is created between the guy wire and the sector.

[0008] Advantageously, by orienting the lateral walls of the grooves belonging to the same sector of the core according to the same common direction which corresponds to the individual extraction direction of the sector concerned, the tooling according to the invention makes it possible to extract the sector concerned from the bandage, after the formation of said bandage and where appropriate after the curing of said bandage, according to a centripetal radial extraction movement which is oriented in accordance with the individual extraction direction and which, in the radial plane containing the central axis of the core and said individual extraction direction, is therefore perpendicular to said central axis, while allowing all the stays present in said sector to slide naturally out of said grooves, according to this same individual extraction direction, without the lateral walls of the grooves hindering the passage of the stays.Thus, in particular, when the sector is extracted from the housing of the strap, the lateral walls of the grooves do not cause any forced azimuth deflection of the shrouds, nor therefore generate any transverse force on the shrouds. This advantageously prevents the development of excessive longitudinal tension in the shrouds, which could lead to the shroud being pulled out or breaking under tension. Similarly, this prevents the lateral walls of the grooves from generating significant friction, or even a shearing effect, on the surface of the shrouds, which could weaken the shroud or even tear it out.

[0009] Thanks to the arrangement proposed by the invention, it is therefore advantageously avoided, during the demolding operation, any damage to the stay, and more generally any damage to the bandage, which would occur by abrasion, rupture or tearing of a stay.

[0010] Furthermore, the arrangement according to the invention makes it possible to produce tooling, and more particularly a core, whose structure is simplified, notably because the invention makes it possible to implement sectors which each cover the entire axial extent of the receiving surface, and therefore the entire axial width of the first sidewall band up to the second side, and which can each be moved as a single unit according to the individual extraction direction. Thus, during the demolding stage, the entire portion of the bandage that occupies the individual angular range to which the sector concerned is assigned can be released in a single movement, here by executing a simple centripetal radial translation movement of the sector concerned according to its individual extraction direction.

[0011] The extraction movements of the sectors can therefore be easily motorized and even automated, without risk to the integrity of the stays and the bandage, which makes it possible to considerably improve the precision, reproducibility, and speed of execution of the demolding operation, and therefore more generally the yield of the manufacturing process of said bandage.

[0012] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in more detail from the following description and with the aid of the accompanying drawings, which are provided by way of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting, among which:

[0013] Fig. 1 illustrates, according to a perspective view with material removal along a radial plane, an example of a pneumatic tire reinforced by stays which is capable of being produced by means of a tool according to the invention.

[0014] Fig. 2 illustrates, in perspective view, the core of a tool according to the invention, here a core which comprises ten sectors forming an annular assembly, including five sectors called "keys" which are designed to be accessible by radially internal approach and to be removed first during the disassembly of said annular assembly, each according to its own individual radial extraction direction, and, alternating with the keys, five sectors called "vaults" which are supported and locked in position by the keys and designed to become maneuverable, according to their own individual radial extraction directions, after they have been released by the removal of the keys.

[0015] The [Fig.3] is a front view, projected in a plane normal to the central axis, of the core of the [Fig.2].

[0016] Fig. 4 is a top view of the core of Figures 2 and 3, in a reference tangent plane which is here perpendicular to the radial bisector plane of the upper sector of said core, which upper sector here corresponds to a vault.

[0017] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the core of Fig. 2, on which, to better visualize the orientation of the grooves, the fictitious gauge planes have been added which delimit the passages cleared for the stays between the lateral walls of the grooves; in the arrangement shown, the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall of the same groove extend along planes parallel to each other, and coincide with said fictitious gauge planes.

[0018] Figure 6 is a partial front view, projected onto a plane normal to the axis central, of the upper part of the core of [Fig.5], revealing the corresponding sector, here a vault, as well as the corresponding grooves and fictitious gauge planes.

[0019] Fig. 7 is a partial top view of the core of Figures 5 and 6, in a reference tangent plane which is perpendicular to the radial bisector plane of the vault sector, said view showing in particular said vault sector, the ends of the neighboring key sectors, as well as the associated fictitious grooves and gauge planes; it can thus be seen that all the fictitious gauge planes belonging to this same vault sector, and therefore here all the lateral walls of the grooves cut into this vault sector, extend parallel to the individual extraction direction of said vault sector, which individual extraction direction is here normal to the plane of the figure.

[0020] Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective view of a key sector that has been isolated from the core of figures 2 to 7.

[0021] Fig.9 is a perspective view of the key sector of Fig.8, on which has been added the representation of the fictitious gauge planes which materialize the passages reserved for the stays within the grooves.

[0022] Fig. 10 is a front view of the key sector of Fig. 8, in a plane normal to the central axis of the core.

[0023] Fig. 11 is a view from below of the key sector of Figures 8 and 10, in a plane normal to the individual extraction direction of said key sector, which view thus shows the radially internal face of said key sector, seen from the central axis.

[0024] Fig. 12 is a top view of the key sector of figures 8, 10 and 11, in a reference tangent plane which is normal to the individual extraction direction of the key sector, and which is here perpendicular to the radial plane forming the bisector plane of said key sector.

[0025] Fig. 13 illustrates, according to a schematic view, the principle of making the stays from the same continuous wire which is engaged in successive grooves forming a serpentine, and whose loops forming the extrema of the alternations of said serpentine are intended to form the lateral anchor points of the stays.

[0026] Fig. 14 illustrates, in perspective view, the core of Fig. 1 within which the key sector shown in Figures 8 to 12 has been released by a centripetal radial translation along its individual extraction direction, in accordance with the movement carried out during the demolding operation to extract said sector from the bandage cavity.

[0027] Fig. 15 is a front view of the core of Fig. 14, in a plane normal to the central axis.

[0028] Fig. 16 illustrates, according to a partial cross-sectional view in a radial plane, the initial configuration of two stays within two grooves of the core of Fig. 2 During a step in the construction of the bandage of [Fig.1], the wall of the bandage conforms to the receiving surface of the core, and the stays extend each from a summit anchor point to a lateral anchor point. Here, the two stays form a continuous wire that extends from the first side of the bandage, from which the first stay emerges and enters the first groove, to the second side of the bandage into which the second stay enters from the second groove, after passing through the top of the bandage, into which is integrated the portion of the wire that forms the junction between the first stay exiting the first groove and the second stay entering the second groove.In the arrangement shown here, the grooves are further equipped with compensators, each comprising a stop, here formed by a ball suspended by a spring, which allow a reserve of stay length to be created inside each groove. This reserve can be used to allow the heels of the bandage to move axially away from the receiving surface of the core, and thus to move away from each other, without damage to the stays, to open the bandage to a sufficient extent to allow the axially widest portion of the core sector to pass through when said sector makes its radial release movement along its individual extraction direction to exit the cavity of the bandage.

[0029] Fig. 17 illustrates, according to a partial cross-sectional view in a radial plane, the configuration of the stays and compensators during a demolding step in which the sides and heels of the bandage are moved away from the top of the bandage, which also has the effect of moving the heels away from each other along the central axis of the bandage, so as to allow the extraction of the core sector out of the cavity of the bandage, according to the individual extraction direction perpendicular to the central axis, through the neck-shaped passage delimited by the sides and heels of the bandage.During this stage, each relevant stop is pushed against its spring to allow the stay to unfold in order to increase its apparent length and thus adjust said apparent length to the distance which increases, under the effect of the deflection of the wall which allows the widening of the neck, between the first anchor point located in the summit and the second anchor point located in the flank.

[0030] Fig. 18 illustrates, according to a partial cross-sectional view in a radial plane, the configuration of the stays and compensators at the end of the demolding stage, the relevant sector of the core being totally out of the cavity of the band, the stay thus being totally out of the groove, and the sides and heels of the band having returned to their rest position, by elastic return, while, within the extracted sector, the stop is, under the effect of the return exerted by the spring, in the unloaded position that said stop occupies in the absence of a stay pressing on said stop.

[0031] The [Fig.19] is an enlarged partial view of the core of the [Fig.2].

[0032] Figure 20 illustrates, according to a partial cross-sectional view in a radial plane, the confi guration of the stays and compensators during a demolding stage, in a second sector which is still in place within the cavity of the bandage, and which is distinct and immediately adjacent to a first sector which is being extracted out of the cavity as illustrated in [Fig. 17].

[0033] The present invention relates to a tool 1 intended for the manufacture of a toroidal bandage 40, as shown in [Fig.1].

[0034] In a manner known per se, such a toroidal tire 40 comprises a top 41 intended to form a tread, a first annular bead 42 and a second annular bead 43, each reinforced by at least one annular bead and designed to allow the tire 40 to be attached to a mounting support such as a rim, as well as a first sidewall 44 and a second sidewall 45 which connect the top 41 respectively to the first bead 42 and the second bead 43.

[0035] The apex 41, the first and second flanks 44, 45 and the first and second heels 42, 43 together form a wall 3 having a concave internal surface 3_in which delimits a cavity 4 of the bandage 40, cavity 4 which is intended to receive an inflation fluid, such as air, under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, in order to keep the bandage 40 inflated.

[0036] The tooling 1 includes a core 10, such as that shown in figures 2, 3, 14, 15, 16 and 19, which materializes a volume called "reserved volume" 11 corresponding to the cavity 4 of the bandage 40.

[0037] Said core 10 is delimited externally by a convex toroidal surface called "reception surface" 10_out which is centered on a central axis Z10.

[0038] The central axis Z10 of the core coincides in practice with the central axis of the tire 40, with respect to which the tire 40 has a form of revolution, and which corresponds substantially to the axis of rotation of the wheel receiving said tire 40. This central axis Z10 defines three directions classically used by those skilled in the art: an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction.

[0039] By "axial direction" is meant a direction parallel to the central axis Z10 of the core 10, that is to say parallel to the axis of rotation of the band 40.

[0040] By "radial direction" is meant a direction which extends along a radius of the core 10, that is to say a direction which is secant and perpendicular to the central axis Z10.

[0041] By "circumferential direction" is meant a direction that lies in a plane normal to the central axis Z10 and that is perpendicular to a radius which is itself perpendicular to the central axis Z10, that is to say, equivalently, an orthoradial direction that is normal to a radial plane containing the central axis (Z10). In a plane normal to the central axis Z10, said circumferential direction at a given point is therefore the tangent to the circumference of a circle passing through said point and whose center lies on said central axis Z10.

[0042] By "meridian plane" P_MER, or "radial plane", we mean a plane which contains the central axis Z10, which central axis Z10 thus forms a first direction of extension of said meridian plane while the second direction of extension of said meridian plane extends radially with respect to said central axis Z10. Such a meridian plane is therefore normal to the circumferential direction.

[0043] The term “equatorial plane” P_EQ refers to the plane normal to the central axis Z10 and passing through the radially outermost point of the band 40. Usually, said equatorial plane P_EQ is preferably located axially midway between the axially outermost points of the band. Said equatorial plane P_EQ thus axially divides the band 2 into two toroidal halves, preferably substantially symmetrical, called, by analogy with the Earth, “hemispheres”.

[0044] The receiving surface 10_out of the core 10 has a shape conjugate to the shape of the internal surface 3_in of the wall 3 of the bandage 40 that we wish to manufacture.

[0045] The receiving surface 10_out of the core 10 comprises a radially external summit zone 51, intended to receive constituent components of the summit 41 of the band 40, and, on either side axially of said summit zone 51, a first lateral zone 52 folded towards the central axis Z10 and intended to receive constituent components of a first flank 44 and a first heel 42 of the band 40, as well as a second lateral zone 53 folded towards the central axis Z10 and intended to receive constituent components of a second flank 45 and a second heel 43 of the band 40.

[0046] Typically, the constituent components of the apex 41, the first and second flanks 44, 45, and the first and second heels 42, 43 will comprise rubber-based components, more particularly one or more raw rubber-based components, such as rubber strips or rubber plies, which plies and / or strips may optionally be provided with reinforcing threads embedded in a layer of rubber. These components will be positioned so as to cover the receiving surface 10_out and conform to the shape of said receiving surface 10_out to form the wall 3 of the tire 40, and more particularly the inner surface 3_in of said wall 3.

[0047] Preferably, according to an arrangement known per se, when considering the cross-section of the bandage 40 in a radial plane containing the central axis Z10, the wall 3 of the bandage has a shape that envelops the core 10, forming a constriction as one progresses towards the central axis Z10. That is to say, the minimum axial distance separating the inner surface of the first heel 42 from the inner surface of the second heel 43 is strictly less than the maximum axial width of the inner surface 3in of the wall 3, considered between the first flank 44 and the second flank 45. In other words, the first and second flanks 44, 45 define between them a neck, which the core 10 must pass through to exit the cavity, and whose axial opening is preferably less than the overall axial width of the receiving surface 10_out of said core 10, as can be seen in particular in figures 16 and 18. The internal surface 3_in of the wall 3 of the bandage 40, and the corresponding receiving surface 10_out of the core 10, thus preferably have, in section in a radial plane containing the central axis Z10, a Q-shaped section (capital Omega), as can be seen in figures 1, 8, 16, 17 and 18.

[0048] The core 10 is preferably metallic, for example steel. Said core 10 thus provides a rigid and robust receiving surface 10_out, and can be reused durably for the successive manufacture of a large number of bandages 40.

[0049] The core 10 further comprises a plurality of grooves 12 which are distributed in azimuth around the central axis Z10 and cut inside the reserved volume 11, from the receiving surface 10_out, so that each of said grooves 12 has an opening 14 which extends continuously, along the profile of the receiving surface 10_out, from a first portion of opening 14A located in the summit area 51 to a second portion of opening 14B located in one of the first and second lateral areas 52, 53 of the receiving surface 10_out, as can be seen in particular in Figures 16 and 19.

[0050] Each of said grooves 12 thus forms a housing which is delimited, in azimuth around the central axis Z10, by a first lateral wall 15 and by a second lateral wall 16 which are separated from each other in azimuth and which are both intersecting the receiving surface 10_out, so that each groove 12 is able to receive, inside the housing, between the first lateral wall 15 and the second lateral wall 16, a wire-like reinforcing element 5, called a "stay" 5, which enters said groove 12 through the first portion of the opening 14A and exits said groove 12 through the second portion of the opening 14B, said stay 5 being designed to be permanently integrated into the structure of the tire 40 and to extend through the cavity 4 of the tire 40 by connecting to a first anchor point M1, called a "point "sumptive anchorage" M1, located in the apex 41 of the bandage 40, to a second anchorage point M2, called "lateral anchorage point" M2,located in one of the first and second flanks 44, 45 or one of the first and second heels 42, 43 of the bandage 40.

[0051] The stay 5 advantageously exhibits a certain degree of flexibility, so as to be able to flex without damage, particularly during the manufacture of the tire 40, but near-inextensibility along its length, considered from the first anchor point M1 to the second anchor point M2, so that, once the tire 40 has its final functional configuration, typically once the pneumatic tire 40 is mounted on a rim and inflated to the required pressure, the stay 5 is in a taut state, extending straight from the first anchor point M1 to the second anchor point M2. The stay 5, thus taut, prevents then advantageously the top 41 of the tire 40 to move away from the sidewall 43, 44 of the tire 40, and vice versa, which makes it possible to stiffen said tire 40 and in particular to reduce, when the vehicle equipped with the tire 40 is rolling in a turn, the phenomenon of drift linked to the elasticity of the sidewalls 43, 44.

[0052] Preferably, the stay 5 will be formed from a single-strand or multi-strand yarn made from one or more strands of textile material, polymer material such as aramid, or even metallic material. According to one embodiment, the stay 5 is made from a composite yarn made from glass fibers and resin.

[0053] By way of example, the threadlike nature of the stay 5 is such that the length of the portion of the stay 5 which extends into the cavity 4, that is to say the length of the stay 5 considered along the path formed by the stay 5 from the first anchor point M1 to the second anchor point M2, is preferably at least ten times, preferably at least twenty times, or even at least fifty times greater than the maximum width of said stay, that is to say the largest dimension of the cross-section of the stay 5.

[0054] The stay 5 has at least one section which is embedded in a first portion 3_1 of the wall 3 corresponding to the top 41, so as to be integrated and fixed to the top 41, and at least another section which is embedded in a second portion 3_2 of the wall 3 which corresponds to one of the first and second flanks 44, 45 or one of the first and second heels 42, 43, so as to be integrated and fixed to said flank 44, 45, respectively so as to be integrated and fixed to said heel 42, 43.

[0055] By convention, it can then be considered that the first anchorage point M1 corresponds to the point on the internal surface 3_in of the wall 3 at the level of which the stay 5 emerges from the first portion 3_1 of the wall 3 corresponding to the top 41 to extend into the cavity 4 of the object, while the second anchorage point M2 corresponds to the point on the internal surface 3_in of the wall 3 at the level of which the stay 5 emerges from the second portion 3_2 of the wall 3, corresponding to the side 44, 45 or the heel 42, 43 considered, to extend into the cavity 4.

[0056] Preferably, the receiving surface 10_out is solid, apart from the openings formed by the mouths 14 of the grooves 12.

[0057] Preferably, the grooves 12 are blind, that is to say that said grooves 12 have a solid bottom 13, located under the receiving surface 10_out, in the reserved volume 11, as can be seen in particular in figures 12, 16 and 18.

[0058] Said solid bottom 13 extends, through the reserved volume 11, from the first portion of the mouth 14A of the groove 12, to the second portion of the mouth 14B of the groove 12.

[0059] In practice, the first portion of the mouth 14A is located opposite the position occupied by the first anchor point Ml, at the summit, when the first portion 3_1 of the wall 3 corresponding to the top 41 is in contact with the receiving surface 10_out, and the second mouth portion 14B is located opposite the position occupied by the second anchor point M2, lateral, when the second portion 3_2 of the wall 3 corresponding to the flank 44, 45 or the heel 42, 43 considered is in contact with the receiving surface 10_out, as can be seen in [Fig. 16]. This is particularly the case during the bandage making operations 40 during which the components of the top 41, the sides 44, 45 and the heels 42, 43 are placed on the receiving surface 10_out. Preferably, the groove 12, and more particularly its mouth 14, will therefore advantageously extend, along the receiving surface 10_out, at least from the first anchoring point M1 to the second anchoring point M2.

[0060] As can be clearly seen in Figures 2, 3, 14 and 15, the core 10 is subdivided, in azimuth around the central axis Z10, into a succession of sectors 54, 55 which each cover a predetermined azimuthal angular range A54, A55, called the "individual angular range" A54, A55, around said central axis Z10.

[0061] As can be clearly seen in Figures 15 and 17, at least one of said sectors 54, 55, and preferably each of said sectors 54, 55, is arranged so as to be able to be moved relative to the neighboring sectors 55, 54, in order to disengage from the band 40, in a direction called "individual extraction direction" D_extract which belongs to the individual angular range A54, A55 occupied by said sector 54, 55 and which is perpendicular to the central axis Z10.

[0062] Geometrically, the individual extraction direction D_extract is therefore secant to the central axis Z10 and forms a right angle with said central axis Z10. Equivalently, the individual extraction direction D_extract of a sector 44, 45 can be considered to correspond to the line forming the intersection of the equatorial plane P_EQ and a meridian plane P_MER which is located within the individual angular range A44, A45 occupied by said sector in azimuth around the central axis Z10.

[0063] According to the invention, and as can be seen in particular in Figures 4, 7, and 12, several grooves 12, preferably all the grooves 12, which belong to the same sector 54, 55, which sector 54, 55 is arranged so as to be able to be moved in the direction of individual extraction D_extract mentioned above, are arranged in a configuration called a "radially extractable configuration" according to which, in projection into a plane called a "reference tangent plane" P_REF which is normal to the direction of individual extraction D_extract of the sector 54, 55 considered and which is tangent to the radially outermost part of the summit zone 51 of the receiving surface 10_out of said sector 54, 55 considered, the first lateral wall 15 of each of said several grooves 12 is located on a first side of, and at a distance from, the fictitious line called the "base line" D0 which passes through the first anchor point Ml and by the second anchor point M2 of the stay 5 which is lodged in the groove 12 concerned, while the second lateral wall 16 is located on the second side, opposite to the first side, of the base line DO, and at a distance from said base line DO, so that said first and second lateral walls 15, 16 do not interfere with the volume swept by the stay 5 when said stay 5 is aligned, in orthogonal projection in the reference tangent plane P_REF, with the base line DO and that a relative movement carried by the individual extraction direction D_extract of said sector 54, 55 is created between the stay 5 and the sector 54, 55.

[0064] Thus, the invention allows the stays 5 to come out freely out of the grooves 12, without the stays 5 being deflected in azimuth by the lateral walls 15,16 of the grooves 12, when the sector 54, 55 is set in motion relative to the tire 40 according to a single and the same rectilinear translation movement carried by the individual extraction direction D_extract.

[0065] Indeed, each groove 12 advantageously leaves a passage containing a fictitious volume obtained by sweeping in rectilinear translation along the individual extraction direction D_extract a fictitious body having the transverse dimensions of the stay 5, which is initially located inside the reserved volume 11, and which passes through the first anchor point M1 and the second anchor point M2 while being aligned, in projection in the reference tangent plane P_REF, on the baseline D0, such that this baseline D0 is defined by the nominal positions of the first and second anchor points M1, M2, that is to say, by the positions occupied by the first and second anchor points M1, M2 during the making of the bandage 40, and therefore the positions occupied by said first and second anchor points M1, M2, during the making of the bandage and then at the end of the making of the bandage 40, when the apex 41, the first and second heels 42,43 and the first and second flanks 44, 45 of the bandage are in contact with the receiving surface 10_out of the core 10 so that the internal surface 3_in conforms to said receiving surface 10_out. ,

[0066] It should be noted that, since the apex anchor point M1 is located at a radial distance from the central axis Z0 that is greater than the radial distance at which the lateral anchor point M2 is located, the baseline D0 is not parallel to the central axis Z0. As will be seen later, the baseline D0 is also preferably contained in a radial plane, in which case said baseline D0 intersects the central axis Z0. In said radial plane, said baseline D0 then extends obliquely, at a non-zero angle of inclination, with respect to the central axis Z0.

[0067] In practice, the implementation of a radially extractable configuration according to the invention results in the following: when one is positioned in the reference tangent plane P_REF and looks at the receiving surface 10_out of the same sector 54, 55, in the individual extraction direction D_extract, as in [Fig. 12], one sees in full all the bottoms 13 of the grooves 12 through the mouths 14 of said grooves.

[0068] The housings defined by the grooves 12 of the same sector 54, 55 in accordance with the radially extractable configuration, here therefore preferably the housings defined by all the grooves 12 of the same sector 54, 55, to accommodate the stays 5, therefore have, in other words, shapes which are all demoldable with respect to the same common direction, here shapes which are all demoldable with respect to the individual extraction direction D_extract of the sector 54, 55 considered.

[0069] Preferably, the individual extraction direction D_extract is contained in the meridian plane which forms the bisecting plane of the sector 54, 55 considered. By "bisecting plane", denoted "P_MER_BISECTOR", we designate the radial plane which contains the central axis Z10 and which divides the individual angular range A54, A55 occupied by the sector 54, 55 considered into two equal azimuthal angular sub-ranges.

[0070] If we consider, in the equatorial plane P_EQ normal to the central axis Z10, the arc of a circle which is formed around the central axis Z10 by the radially outermost portion of the circumference of the receiving surface 10_out belonging to the sector 54, 55 considered, an arc which thus defines, with respect to the central axis Z10, an angle corresponding to the individual angular range A54, A55 occupied by said sector 54, 55, then the individual extraction direction D_extract is carried by the bisector of said angle, that is to say the bisector of said individual angular range A54, A55, said bisector being the half-line which is issued from the central axis Z10 forming the vertex of the angle and which passes through the midpoint of the arc of a circle to divide the angular range A54, A55 into two equal adjacent angles, as can be seen in Figures 3, 10 and 15.The normal reference plane P_REF is then orthoradial, that is to say normal to the bisector and tangent to the arc of the circle formed by the portion of the circumference of the receiving surface 10_out, so that said reference plane P_REF is tangent to the arc of the circle at the midpoint of said arc of the circle, which corresponds to the intersection of said bisector with said arc of the circle.

[0071] Admittedly, it would be conceivable, in principle, to use an individual extraction direction D_extract which, although lying on a radial plane and perpendicular to the central axis Z10, would not be contained in the bisecting plane of the sector 44, 45 under consideration, but in a radial plane that would be closer to one end of the individual angular range A54, A55 than to the other end of said individual angular range A54, A55 covered by the sector 54, 55 under consideration. Thus, in a front view in a plane normal to the central axis Z10, the individual extraction direction D_extract would appear inclined with respect to the bisecting plane.

[0072] However, it is preferable to choose an individual extraction direction D_extract carried by the bisector plane P_MER_BISECTOR, and therefore centered on sector 54, 55 considered.

[0073] Thus, the individual extraction direction D_extract of a sector 54, 55 considered will preferably be carried by the line formed by the intersection of the equatorial plane P_EQ with the bisector meridian plane P_MER_BISECTOR of said sector 54, 55 considered.

[0074] Such an arrangement centered on the bisecting plane will simplify the structure of the core 10, and in particular the arrangement of the joint planes between adjacent sectors 54, 55, as well as the management of extraction movements. Furthermore, it will thus be possible to create families of sectors 54, 55, in this case a family of sectors forming keystones 54 and a family of sectors forming vaults 55 as described below, which will be substantially or even exactly identical to each other within the same family, and therefore interchangeable with each other, between members of the same family, within the same core 10, which will simplify the manufacture and assembly of the core 10.

[0075] Similarly, sectors 54, 55 can thus be produced which will have a symmetrical arrangement with respect to their bisector plane, which will thus form a sagittal plane, which will allow the sector 54, 55 concerned to be placed indifferently in one direction or the other within the core 10, the first lateral zone 52 being able to be interchanged with the second lateral zone 53 without consequence for the bandage 40.

[0076] Preferably, as can be seen in particular in figures 8 and 16, the sector 54, 55 considered comprises on the one hand a first convex lobe 17 which extends from the summit zone 51 to the first lateral zone 52 and which includes a first set of grooves 12 and on the other hand a second convex lobe 18 which extends from the summit zone 51 to the second lateral zone 53 and which includes a second set of grooves 12.

[0077] The first lobe 17 here forms a left lobe on [Fig. 16], and the second lobe 18 a right lobe, located opposite the left lobe 17 with respect to the equatorial plane P_EQ. The first lobe 17 and the second lobe 18 allow for the definition of rounded bulges of the cavity 4 of the bandage, to ensure a smooth, curved transition of the wall 3 between the apex 41 and the sides 44, 45 of the bandage, in an area which is located radially at a greater distance from the central axis Z10 than the constriction forming the neck delimited by the heels 42, 43.

[0078] The first lobe 17 and the second lobe 18 of the same sector 54, 55 are advantageously joined together, preferably formed as one piece with each other, so as to form a subset which is movable as a whole according to the individual extraction direction D_extract of the sector 54, 55 considered.

[0079] The sector 54, 55 considered thus forms a single, solid block extending from one axial end of the inner surface 3_in of the band to the other axial end of the inner surface 3_in and which, in cross-section in a radial plane containing the axis central Z10, a Q-shaped section (capital Omega), as can be seen in particular on [Fig. 16].

[0080] The first set of grooves 12 and the second set of grooves 12 of said sector 54, 55 are arranged in accordance with the same radially extractable configuration defined from said individual extraction direction D_extract.

[0081] Thus, advantageously, it is possible to extract from a block, in a single centripetal radial movement carried by the same individual extraction direction D_extract which is common to all the grooves 12 of the first set and the second set, the entire portion of the core 10 which covers the angular range A54, A55 and which fills the cavity 4 of the band from one axial end of the cavity 4 to the other axial end of the cavity 4.

[0082] It is therefore no longer necessary to axially split the core 10, and in particular the sector 54, 55 considered, into several pieces which would each have to be extracted according to different movements.

[0083] It will also be noted that the grooves 12 of the first set of grooves 12 are preferably contained in the first hemisphere of the core 10, on one and the same side with respect to the equatorial plane P_EQ, and are interrupted axially in retreat from said equatorial plane P_EQ, while the grooves 12 of the second set of grooves 12 are contained in the other hemisphere of the core 10, on the opposite side with respect to the equatorial plane P_EQ, and are interrupted axially in retreat from said equatorial plane, P_EQ.

[0084] Thus, the receiving surface 10_out has a solid central band 56 in the summit area 51, which central band 56 forms, when the sectors 54, 55 are assembled to form the annular structure of the core 10, an annular band around the central axis Z10, an annular band which is devoid of mouths 14 of grooves 12 and which is fractionated at the joint planes between adjacent sectors 54, 55.

[0085] Said central band 56 advantageously accommodates and supports, outside the grooves 12, the portions of the stays 5 that form the summit anchor points ML, as well as the constituent components of the top 41 of the band into which said portions of the stays 5 forming the summit anchor points ML are inserted

[0086] According to a preferred feature which may in itself constitute a definition of the invention, each groove 12 which is arranged according to the radially extractable configuration leaves clear, throughout the portion of the reserved volume 11 extending from the location provided for the stay 5 inside said groove 12 to the mouth 14 of said groove 12, a free space called the "useful passage" 19 which extends from a first fictitious gauge plane PG1 which is parallel to the individual extraction direction D_extract and parallel to the baseline D0, and located at a distance from said baseline D0 on one side of said baseline D0 so as to be tangent to the first lateral wall 15, to a second gauge plane PG2 fictitious which is also parallel to the individual extraction direction D_extract and parallel to the baseline DO, so that said second gauge plane PG2 extends parallel to the first gauge plane PG1, said second gauge plane PG2 being situated at a distance from said baseline DO on the other side of said baseline DO so as to be tangent to the second lateral wall 16.

[0087] For better understanding, the gauge planes PG1, PG2, which are each perpendicular to the same reference tangent plane P_REF associated with the sector 54, 55 considered, are shown in figures 5, 6, 7 and 9.

[0088] Each pair of first and second gauge planes PG1, PG2 delimits a gap, hollow, which corresponds to the useful passage 19 in which the shroud 5 will be housed.

[0089] Within each groove 12 conforming to the radially extractable configuration, the first side wall 15 and the second side wall 16 of said groove 12 remain outside the useful passage 19, on either side of said useful passage 19 delimited by the first and second gauge planes PG1, PG2, that is to say on either side of the air gap delimited by the first and second gauge planes PG1, PG2.

[0090] For this purpose, the first side wall 15 can extend parallel to the first gauge plane PG1, and in particular merge with said first gauge plane PG1, as is the case in figures 5, 6, 7 and 9.

[0091] According to one variant, the first side wall 15 can form a draft angle with respect to said first gauge plane PG1, so that said first side wall 15 extends obliquely and moves away progressively from the first gauge plane PG1, on the side opposite to the side where the second gauge plane PG2 is located, to create a housing which flares out from the bottom 13 towards the mouth 14 of the groove 12.

[0092] Similarly, the second side wall 16 can preferably extend parallel to the second gauge plane PG2, and in particular merge with said second gauge plane PG2, as is the case in figures 5, 6, 7 and 9.

[0093] Alternatively, the second side wall 16 can form a draft angle with respect to said second gauge plane PG2, so that said second side wall 16 extends obliquely and moves away progressively from the second gauge plane PG2, on the side opposite to the side where the first gauge plane PG1 is located, to create a housing which flares out from the bottom 13 towards the mouth 14 of the groove 12. According to one possible arrangement, each of the first and second side walls 15, 16 will have a draft angle.

[0094] In all cases, the first and second side walls 15, 16, preferably made of metal, are advantageously rigid, in order to ensure precise guidance and positioning of the stay 5.

[0095] Preferably, the distance W19 separating the second gauge plane PG2 from the first gauge plane PG1, a distance which is called the "useful passage width" W19, is between between 0.3 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 0.8 mm and 2.2 mm, for example between 1 mm and 1.8 mm, or even between 1.1 mm and 1.3 mm.

[0096] In practice, the useful passage width W19 will be chosen to be equal to or greater than the largest transverse dimension of the stay 5, for example between 101% and 160% of the largest transverse dimension of the stay 5, for example between 110% and 150%, or even between 110% and 130%, for example equal to 120% of the largest transverse dimension of the stay 5.

[0097] More particularly, knowing the diameter of the stay 5, we can apply a dimensioning rule which will consist of choosing a useful passage width W19 equal to the diameter of the stay 5 plus 10% to 30%, for example 20%.

[0098] By way of example, the largest dimension of the cross-section of the stay 5, i.e., the diameter of the stay 5 when said stay 5 is formed by a wire or cable having a circular cross-section, is preferably between 0.3 mm and 3 mm, for example between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm. This dimension can of course be adapted according to the size of the bandage 40.

[0099] Preferably, the first side wall 15 and the second side wall 16 of at least one groove 12 arranged in the radially extractable configuration, and preferably the first side wall 15 and the second side wall 16 of each of the grooves 12 which are arranged in the radially extractable configuration, are flat and extend parallel to each other and parallel to the individual extraction direction D_extract.

[0100] Thus, the first lateral wall 15 and the second lateral wall 16 can be generated along the same generating line, which corresponds to the individual extraction direction D_extract.

[0101] In practice, such an arrangement in which the first and second lateral walls 15, 16 delimiting the same groove are flat and parallel to each other, as well as the azimuthal fineness of the width W19 of the useful passage 19 provided between these lateral walls 15, 16, allows in particular a precise azimuthal positioning of the stays 5.

[0102] Such an arrangement also makes it easy to produce the grooves 12 of the same sector 54, 55 by means of a relatively simple machining process, for example by sawing with a saw whose width corresponds to the width of the useful passage W19, or by electro-erosion by means of a wire which is stretched in a direction parallel to the base line D0 and which is made to penetrate the material of the core 10 following the individual extraction direction D_extract.

[0103] Furthermore, in such an arrangement, the first side wall 15 coincides with the first gauge plane PG1, the second side wall 16 coincides with the second gauge plane PG2, and the width of the usable passage W19 corresponds to the width W12 of the groove, in particular at the width of the shank W12 as considered in the depth range of said groove 12 into which the stay 5 enters and is lodged during the step of making the bandage 40.

[0104] By way of example, the width W12 of the groove 12, in particular at the location where the stay 5 is housed during the making of the bandage 40, is preferably between 101% and 160% of the largest transverse dimension of the stay 5, for example between 110% and 150%, or even between 110% and 130% of the largest transverse dimension of the stay 5, for example equal to 120% of the largest transverse dimension of the stay, and / or, in absolute terms, between 0.3 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 0.8 mm and 2.2 mm, for example between 1 mm and 1.8 mm, or even between 1.1 mm and 1.3 mm. Here again, we can use a sizing rule which will consist of choosing a groove width W12 equal to the diameter of the stay 5 plus 10% to 30%, for example 20%.

[0105] Preferably, for each of the grooves 12 which are arranged in accordance with the radially extractable configuration, the first anchor point M1 and the second anchor point M2 of the same groove 12 are located at the same azimuthal position around the central axis Z10.

[0106] Thus, once stretched into a functional position within the bandage 40, each stay 5 will extend to the same azimuth, and more generally in the same radial plane.

[0107] It should be noted that, on the one hand, placing the first anchor point M1 and the second anchor point M2 at the same azimuthal position for each stay 5, which has the effect that the baseline D0 is contained in a radial plane, in this case the radial plane located at the common azimuth of the first and second anchor points M1, M2, and therefore the radial plane containing said first and second anchor points M1, M2, and on the other hand, combining this arrangement with the orientation of the grooves 12 according to the radially extractable configuration specific to the invention, visually results, due to the curvature of the receiving surface 10_out, in grooves 12 which, in front view in a plane normal to the central axis Z10, have, as can be seen in Figures 3, 6, 10 and 15, an intersection with the receiving surface 10_out, and therefore a mouth outline 14, which has a curved shape,whose curvature increases as the considered groove 12 is further from the radial plane containing the individual extraction direction D_extract, and therefore here, whose curvature increases as the considered groove 12 is further from the bisecting meridian plane P_MER_BISECTOR of the considered sector 54, 55.

[0108] It will be noted that, for the same reason, viewed from outside the band 40, and more particularly from a top view in the reference tangent plane P_REF normal to the individual extraction direction D_extract, the grooves 12 of the first set of grooves formed in the first lobe 17 of a sector 54, 55 form, with the grooves 12 of the second set of grooves belonging to the second lobe 18 of the same sector 54, 55, in particular in the summit area 51, chevron patterns, as can be seen in particular in figures 2, 4, 7, 12, 14 and 19.

[0109] Viewed in the reference tangent plane P_REF, the grooves 12 are all the more inclined, with respect to the circumferential direction, and therefore all the more folded towards the circumferential direction, as the said grooves 12 are further away, in azimuth, from the meridian plane P_MER containing the individual extraction direction D_extract, here therefore all the more inclined as the grooves 12 are further away, in azimuth, from the bisector meridian plane P_MER_BISECTOR of the sector 54, 55 considered.

[0110] In this respect, it will be noted that the first gauge plane PG1 and the second gauge plane PG2 of the same groove 12 are indeed parallel to each other, and both perpendicular to the reference tangent plane P_REF, but that, on the other hand, the first and second gauge planes PG1, PG2 of a first groove are not parallel to the first and second gauge planes PG1, PG2 of a second neighboring groove 12 which belongs to the same sector 54, 55, and more particularly which belongs to the same lobe 17 as the first groove, but which is offset in azimuth with respect to the first groove.Thus, although the first and second gauge planes PG1, PG2 of the second groove 12 are also perpendicular to the same reference tangent plane P_REF as the first and second gauge planes PG1, PG2 attached to the first groove 12, the first gauge plane PG1 and the second gauge plane PG2 attached to the second groove form, with respect to the first gauge plane PG1 and with respect to the second gauge plane PG2 of the first groove 12, in the reference tangent plane P_REF, a non-zero angle, as can be seen in particular in [Fig. 12]. This is advantageously valid for any pair of first and second grooves 12 which are arranged according to the radially extractable configuration and which are considered with respect to each other within the same sector 54, 55.

[0111] Preferably, the angular repetition step, noted K12, which separates in azimuth two successive first anchor points M1, defining, within the same sector 54, 55, two successive grooves 12 arranged in accordance with the radially extractable configuration, is between 0.75 degrees and 3 degrees, preferably between 1 degree and 2 degrees, for example preferentially equal to 1.5 degrees.

[0112] It is thus possible to obtain a large number of stays 5 distributed over the angular range A54, A55 considered, and more generally which are distributed in a relatively homogeneous way while being close to each other within the band 40, which gives excellent behavior of the band 40 in drift.

[0113] It should be noted that the aforementioned values, in particular the angular repetition pitch values ​​K12, will be particularly applicable to tires intended to be mounted on rims with a diameter of 17 inches to 24 inches, in particular to destination for passenger vehicles with a sporting purpose.

[0114] Preferably, and as can be clearly seen in particular in Figures 2, 3, 14 and 15, the core 10 comprises two families of sectors 54, 55, namely, on the one hand, a first family of sectors 54 forming sectors called "keys" 54, which are designed to be accessible by radially internal approach and to be removed first during the disassembly of the core 10, each according to its own individual extraction direction D_extract, and on the other hand, a second family of sectors 55 which form, in alternation with the keys 54, sectors called "vaults" 55 which are supported and locked in position by the keys 54 and designed to become maneuverable, each according to its own individual radial extraction direction D_extract, after said vaults 55 have been released by the removal of the keys 54.

[0115] Preferably, the keys 54, in particular all the keys 54 of the same kernel 10, will be identical to each other, and therefore interchangeable with each other.

[0116] Similarly, the vaults 55, in particular all the vaults 55 of the same core 10, will be identical to each other, and therefore interchangeable with each other.

[0117] This will allow for the standardization of the manufacture and assembly of the core 10.

[0118] Preferably, the individual angular range A54, A55 covered by each sector 54, 55 is between 5 degrees and 90 degrees.

[0119] More specifically, the individual angular range A54 covered by each key 54 will be between 5 degrees and 20 degrees, for example between 10 degrees and 15 degrees, and the individual angular range A55 covered by each arch 55 will be between 50 degrees and 90 degrees, for example equal to 60 degrees.

[0120] By convention, the individual angular range A54, A55 of a sector 54, 55 will be measured in the equatorial plane P_EQ, on the outer circumference, at the maximum radius, of the receiving surface 10_out, between the two joint planes that mark the azimuthal limits of the sector 54, 55 under consideration and thus the beginning of the neighboring sectors 55, 54. This individual angular range A54, A55 will correspond, in the equatorial plane P_EQ, to the angle whose vertex lies on the central axis Z10 and which intercepts the arc of a circle traced by the radially external surface of the sector 54, 55 in said equatorial plane P_EQ.

[0121] Preferably, the core 10 comprises an even number of sectors 54, 55, for example between six sectors 54, 55 and twenty sectors 54, 55, preferably ten sectors 54, 55 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, to form an annular set which covers the entire 360 ​​degrees in azimuth around the central axis Z10.

[0122] Half of said even number of sectors, here preferably five sectors 54, form so-called "key" sectors 54 which are designed to be accessible by radially internal approach and to be removed first during the disassembly of said annular assembly, each according to its own individual extraction direction D_extract radial, and the other half of said number of sectors, here therefore preferably five sectors 55, form, in alternation with the keys 54, sectors 55 called "vaults" which are supported and blocked in position by the keys 54 and designed to become maneuverable, each according to its own individual direction of extraction D_extract radial, after said vaults 55 have been released by the removal of the keys 54.

[0123] Each of said sectors 54, 55 comprises its own set of grooves 12, which are arranged in accordance with the radially extractable configuration defined from the individual extraction direction D_extract of the sector 54, 55 considered.

[0124] As indicated above, each sector 54, 55 preferably extends, over its individual angular range A54, A55, in one block over the entire axial width of the cavity 4, and therefore comprises for this purpose a first lobe 17 and a second lobe 18, connected to each other by a bridge which crosses the equatorial plane P_EQ and which forms the full central band 56 mentioned above.

[0125] The total number of sectors 54, 55 constituting the core 10, here for example twenty sectors, or more preferably ten sectors as illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 14 and 15, results from a compromise between, on the one hand, the simplicity of the core 10, the simplicity and compactness of the operating mechanisms allowing the sectors 54, 55 to be moved, and the speed of the demolding operation, which encourages reducing the number of sectors 54, 55, and on the other hand, the technical feasibility of the parting planes between neighboring sectors 54, 55, and more particularly the feasibility of the faces limiting the keys 54 which are generated along planes parallel to the individual extraction direction D_extract of said keys 54, and more generally the possibility of radially extracting the sectors 54, 55 without interfering with neighboring sectors, which encourages maintaining an azimuthal fractionation of the core 10 into a sufficiently high number of sectors 54, 55.

[0126] It will be noted in this respect that the joint planes belonging to a key 54 will be advantageously generated using as a generator the individual extraction direction D_extract of the key 54 considered, so that the intersection of said joint planes with the curved receiving surface 10_out will have, in projection in a plane normal to the central axis Z10, a curved shape, and, in view from the summit area 51, a chevron appearance.

[0127] The sectors 54, 55 are also preferably equipped with fixing lugs 57, which fixing lugs 57 may for example have T-shaped or dovetail-shaped grooves, and allow an operating mechanism (not shown) to engage with said sectors 54, 55, in order to be able to support and move said sectors 54, 55.

[0128] Said maneuvering mechanism shall be capable of deploying and supporting said sectors 54, 55 into an annular assembly forming the core 10 during the bandage making operation 40, and where applicable during the bandage cooking operation, then to retract the sectors 54, 55 and to extract said sectors 54, 55 out of the bandage 40 during the demolding operation.

[0129] The operating mechanism may include a bundle of axial rods, called "daggers", which will engage the fixing tails 57, at a rate of one rod per sector 54, 55, in order to carry and be able to transport said sectors 54, 55.

[0130] Each of these rods will advantageously be mobile, independently of the other rods, on the one hand in radial translation, and on the other hand in axial translation relative to a gripper, such as a gripper ring, designed to grasp and hold the bandage 40 from the outside.

[0131] The rods will thus be able to move axially first to engage each of the fixing tail 57 of a sector 54, 55, and lock with said sector 54, 55.

[0132] Then sectors 54, 55 can be removed one after the other, here first the keys 54 one after the other, then the vaults 55 one after the other.

[0133] To do this, each rod will in turn first execute a centripetal radial movement, according to the individual extraction direction D_extract of the corresponding sector, to extract said sector 54, 55 out of the cavity of the bandage, then an axial recoil movement to clear said sector 54, 55 out of the axial range occupied by the bandage 40, then, preferably, a centrifugal radial movement to leave the necessary space for the execution of the movements of the following rods, and therefore for the execution of the extraction movements of the following sectors 54, 55.

[0134] The reconstitution of the core 10 for the manufacture of a new bandage 40 will be obtained by carrying out the above movements in reverse order, in order to reassemble the sectors 54, 55 into an annular core 10.

[0135] All the aforementioned movements may be guided by suitable guiding means, in particular translational guide rails, and powered by any suitable motors, preferably electric motors.

[0136] A suitable control unit, such as an electronic control unit, will allow the control, coordination and automation of said movements, and in particular the control, during the demolding stage, of the centripetal radial retraction of the keys 54, one by one or all simultaneously, initially, before triggering and controlling the centripetal radial retraction of the arches 55, subsequently.

[0137] Furthermore, according to a preferred feature which may constitute an invention in itself, at least one of the grooves 12, and more particularly at least one of the grooves 12 arranged in the radially extractable configuration, and preferably each of the grooves 12 in the sector 54, 55 considered, comprises a com The compensator 20, which includes a stop 21, creates within the groove 12 a point called the "intermediate passage point" M3, located outside the baseline DO. Thus, the total length L5 of the path followed by the stay 5 in the groove 12, from the first anchor point M1 to the second anchor point M2 via the intermediate passage point M3 defined by the stop 21, is strictly greater than the distance called the "base distance LO," which, in a straight line, separates the second anchor point M2 from the first anchor point M1. This allows the compensator 20 to create a reserve of stay length that can be used to allow the flank 44, 45 or the heel 42, 43 containing the second anchor point M2 to be moved away from the apex 41 containing the first anchor point M1 when the relevant sector 54, 55 is extracted from the groove. of cavity 4 according to the individual extraction direction D_extract.

[0138] Indeed, as indicated above, the first heel 42 and the second heel 43 preferably form, in section in a radial plane containing the central axis Z10, and with respect to the axially widest part of the cavity 4, a constriction, so that the first flank 44 and the second flank 45 form undercut faces with respect to the individual extraction direction D_extract of the sector 54, 55 considered, here more particularly with respect to the individual extraction direction D_extract which is perpendicular to the central axis Z10 and contained in the bisector meridian plane P_MER_BISECTOR of the sector 54, 55 considered.

[0139] In this case, the demolding operation requires axially separating the first heel 42 and the second heel 43 from each other, to allow the passage of the sector 54, 55 that we wish to extract out of the cavity 4 of the bandage 40.

[0140] In this respect, the separation of the heels 42, 43 can be caused simply by forcing the elastic deformation of the first and second flanks 44, 45 of the bandage under the effect of the thrust of the first and second lobes 17, 18 of the sector 54, 55 which performs the centripetal radial extraction movement, relative to the bandage 40, according to the individual extraction direction D_extract. In this case, the first and second flanks 44, 45 and / or the first and second heels 42, 43 can slide on the lobes 17, 18, remaining in contact with the receiving surface 10_out, at least at the beginning of the extraction movement, as illustrated in [Fig. 17].

[0141] Alternatively, one could consider actively detaching the first heel 42 from the first lateral zone 52 of the receiving surface 10_out while, simultaneously, detaching the second heel 43 from the second lateral zone 53 of the receiving surface 10_out, by exerting opposing tensile forces on said first and second heels 42, 43, in order to open a passage of suitable width in front of the sector 54, 55 concerned. For this purpose, the heels could, for example, be forced apart using a suitable tensile tool, separate from the sector 54, 55 considered and engaging with said heels 42, 43.

[0142] It will also be noted that, due to the continuity of material of each of the first and second heels 42, 43 around the central axis Z10, the fact of locally moving a heel 42, 43 away from the position that said heel 42, 43 initially occupies on the receiving surface 10_out of the core, in the angular range A54, A55 corresponding to the sector 54, 55 which we wish to extract out of the cavity 4 of the bandage 40, also has the effect of moving this same heel 42, 43 away from the receiving surface 10_out in the neighboring sectors 54, 55, as illustrated in [Fig.20].

[0143] Of course, the separation of the heels 42, 43, regardless of how the separation is caused or regardless of the sector 54, 55 affected by said separation, must not cause any damage to the bandage 40 or to the stays 5. In particular, the separation of the heels 42, 43 must not cause any weakening or tensile failure of the stays 5, nor any tearing away of their anchor points M1, M2.

[0144] Advantageously, the compensator 20 is capable of restoring, when necessary, all or part of the reserve of stay length that said compensator 20 has constituted within the groove 12, and thus allows all the stays 5 concerned to adapt without damage to the variations, and more specifically to the increases, of the distance which separates the first and second anchor points M1, M2, variations which are induced by the displacement of the heel 42, 43 concerned.

[0145] This compensation, and more particularly the unfolding of the stay 5, can advantageously take place in the sector 54, 55 which executes the demolding movement according to the individual extraction direction D_extract, while the summit area 51 of said sector 54, 55 detaches and moves away from the internal surface 3_in of the summit 41 of the bandage, as illustrated in the [Fig. 17], but also in sectors 55, 54 which are immediately adjacent to said sector performing the demolding movement, while said adjacent sectors 55, 54 are still in place in the cavity 4 of the bandage, the summit area 51 of each of said adjacent sectors 54, 55 being still in contact with the internal surface 3_in at the level of the summit 41 of the bandage, but that the heels 42, 43 of said adjacent sectors 55, 54 are spread apart and thus detached from the lateral areas 52, 53 of the receiving surface 10_out, as illustrated in [Fig.20],

[0146] The reserve length of the stay 5, Delta_L, is equal to the difference between, on the one hand, the length L5_tot of the path initially followed by the stay 5 in the groove 12, from the first anchor point M1 to the second anchor point M2 via the intermediate passage point M3 defined by the stop 21, and on the other hand, the basic distance L0: Delta_L = L5_tot - L0

[0147] Preferably, after the stay 5 is placed in the groove 12, during which a slight longitudinal tension is applied to the stay 5, a triangular configuration is obtained, in which the stay 5 is tensioned so as to form straight segments from the first anchor point M1 to the intermediate passage point M3 first, and then from the intermediate passage point M3 to the second anchor point M2, as shown in [Fig. 16]. The compensator 20 thus makes it possible to geometrically create a triangle M1M2M3 in which the first anchor point M1 and the second anchor point M2 respectively form a first vertex and a second vertex which define the base [M1M2] of said triangle, and the intermediate passage point M3 defined by the stop forms the third vertex.

[0148] The maximum available reserve of stay length Delta_L is then, in absolute terms, the difference between on the one hand the cumulative length of the two pieces of the stay forming the short sides [M1M3] and [M3M2] of the triangle and on the other hand the initial length of the base [M1M2] of the triangle, it being recalled that said initial length of the base [M1M2] is the base distance LO as defined by the shape and dimensions of the core 10 and which separates the first anchor point M1 located in the first portion of wall 3_1, here the apex 41, from the second anchor point M2 located in the second portion of wall 3_2, here one of the first and second flanks 44, 45 or one of the first and second heels 42, 43, when said first and second portions of wall 3_1, 3_2 follow the receiving surface 10_out of said core 10.

[0149] Preferably, said reserve of stay length Delta_L is between 3% and 30%, preferably between 8% and 20%, more preferably between 10% and 15%, of the basic distance L0.

[0150] Preferably, alternatively or cumulatively with the relative proportions indicated above, the reserve of stay length Delta_L can be included, in absolute value, between 3 mm, minimum value, and 30 mm, maximum value, for example between 10 mm, minimum value and 18 mm, maximum value, preferably between 12 mm and 15 mm.

[0151] This dimensioning of the length reserve Delta_L, and more particularly the low values ​​(minimum values) chosen for said length reserve Delta_L, advantageously allows for sufficient excess length of stay 5 in stock in the groove 12, at the end of the manufacturing stage and before the possible baking and demolding stages, i.e., sufficient initial excess length of stay, so that the stay 5 can then undergo, without damage: - a possible intrinsic shortening of said stay 5 caused by thermal shrinkage during the curing stage, while the first and second anchor points M1, M2 are maintained by the core 10 at a fixed distance from each other, in this case at the basic distance L0 from each other, and, above all, - an increase in the effective distance between the first and second anchor points M1, M2, caused by the forced separation of the first and second portions of wall 3_1, 3_2, when at least one of the said first and second portions of wall 3_1, 3_2 is detached and moved away from the receiving surface 10_out of the core 10 during the demolding step, and in particular when the first heel 42 and the second heel 43 are moved axially apart from each other, detaching them from the first lateral zone 52 and respectively from the second lateral zone 53 of the core 10, to allow the passage of the first and second lobes 17, 18 of the sector 54, 55 concerned in centripetal radial translation along the individual extraction direction D_extract of said sector 54, 55.

[0152] This same dimensioning of the length reserve Delta_L, and more particularly the upper values ​​(maximum values) chosen for said length reserve Delta_L, advantageously allows the initial excess length of the stay 5 to be limited in such a way that, after the demolding operation, and once the tire 40 is placed in the functional configuration, here once the tire 40 is mounted on a mounting support, such as a rim, and once the tire 40 is inflated by introducing a pressurized fluid into the cavity 4, then the wall 3, and more particularly the first portion of wall 3_1 and the second portion of wall 3_2, are in a configuration such that the initial excess length of the stay is absorbed, that is to say, the stay 5 extends in a straight line, and therefore in a substantially taut manner, in the cavity 4, from the first anchor point M1 to the second anchor point M2, and can thus exert its guy wire functionby opposing the relative distance between the first and second anchor points M1, M2, and therefore retaining the second portion of the wall 3_2, here a flank 44, 45 or a heel 42, 43, in relation to the first portion of the wall 3_1, here the summit 41, and vice versa.

[0153] In a particularly preferential way, the stop 21 is adaptive, in that said stop 21 allows a variation of the position of the intermediate passage point M3 within the groove 12 in reaction to a variation of the intensity of the longitudinal tension which reigns in the stay 5, between the first anchor point M1 and the second anchor point M2.

[0154] This adaptive character can in particular be obtained by giving the stop 21 an elastic behavior.

[0155] According to one possible implementation, this elastic behavior will allow the stop 21 to function by a threshold effect, according to which said stop 21, depending on the stresses exerted on the stay 5, will be able to alternately either retain the stay 5 at an intermediate passage point M3, resisting the movement of the stay 5, or on the contrary, by elastically giving way under the effect of a stress greater than a predetermined threshold, release and / or allow the stay 5 to pass through to allow the latter to change its position in response to the stress.

[0156] One could thus, for example, provide a stop 21 in the form of a leaf spring curved, which would have a base, fixed to a first lateral wall 15 delimiting the groove 12, and an arch supported by the base and forming a bulge towards a second lateral wall delimiting the groove 12, opposite the first lateral wall 15, so that said arch, elastically deformable and forming at rest with the second lateral wall 16 a constriction which is narrower than the transverse dimension of the stay 5, could stop the sinking of the stay 5 into the groove 12 at the intermediate passage point M3, or even hold the stay 5 at the intermediate passage point M3 by elastic pinching between the arch and the second lateral wall 16, and, when a sufficiently intense tension is exerted on the stay 5, release said stay 5 and / or allow said stay 5 to pass through the constriction, either to sink deeper into the groove 12, or to extract itself of said groove 12.

[0157] However, according to another preferred embodiment, as can be seen in Figures 16, 17 and 18, the stop 21, which is preferably formed by a ball 23, is mounted movably in the groove 12 and supported by an elastic member 22, preferably a helical spring 27, so that the stop 21 is able to ensure elastic suspension of the stay 5 housed in the groove 12.

[0158] Advantageously, the elastic element 22 is capable of deforming elastically against the force which results, at the intermediate passage point M3, from a tension which is exerted on the stay 5 at the level of the first and second anchor points M1, M2, which thus allows the stop 21, and therefore the intermediate passage point M3, to move within the groove 12, and consequently allows the stay 5 to unfold to the extent necessary to adapt at all times to the spacing distance which separates the first anchor point M1 from the second anchor point M2.

[0159] In particular, the stop 21, here the ball 23 will thus be able to sink against the elastic member 22, here by compressing the spring 27, to reduce the height of the triangle M1M2M3 and thus increase the length of the base [M1M2], as illustrated in [Fig. 17],

[0160] In addition, such an elastic suspension advantageously allows the stay 5 to be kept in tension between the first anchor point M1 and the intermediate passing point M3 on the one hand, and between the intermediate passing point M3 and the second anchor point M2 on the other hand, and thus to keep a stay 5 which is straight in piece, on each of the two sides [M1M3], [M3M2] of the triangle.

[0161] This advantageously allows the stay 5 to be arranged within the groove 12, both during the manufacturing step, including the placement of the stay 5 and then the placement of the constituent components of the wall 3 of the bandage 40, and during at least part of the demolding operation. By preventing a loose or disordered stay 5 within the groove 2, any risk of jamming or tangling of the stay 5 is advantageously avoided, particularly during the demolding step.

[0162] Preferably, as can be seen in figures 15 to 17, the compensator 20 includes a cartridge 30 which is inserted removably into the core 10, and more particularly into the sector 54, 55 concerned, in a direction which is transverse to the lateral walls 15, 16 delimiting the groove 12.

[0163] Said cartridge 30 comprises a plurality of chambers 24 each containing a stop 21, here a ball 23, which is captive of said chamber 24, which is mounted to slide in said chamber 24 and which is moved by an elastic member 22, here a helical spring 27. Each chamber 24 is provided with a slot 25 which is arranged to align with the corresponding groove 12 in order to allow the relevant stay 5 to reach the stop 21 located in said chamber 24.

[0164] Within each chamber 24, the elastic member 22 pushes the stop 21 towards the slot 25, against the stay 5, as illustrated in [Fig. 17], and, in the absence of sufficient force exerted by the stay 5, presses the stop 21 against the bottom of the chamber 24, as can be seen in [Fig. 18].

[0165] The direction D21 of displacement of the stop 21, and more particularly the direction of translation of the cursor formed here by the ball 23, such that this direction of translation is defined by the chamber 24, is preferably parallel to the gauge planes PG1, PG2, here therefore parallel to the lateral walls 15, 16 of the groove 12, and, in consideration in a radial plane passing through the bottom 13 of the groove, perpendicular or substantially perpendicular (at + / - 5 degrees, for example) to the bottom 13 of the groove 12, and therefore here preferably substantially perpendicular to the baseline D0.

[0166] The invention relates of course as such to a method of manufacturing a bandage 40 in which a tool 1 according to the invention is used.

[0167] According to this process, a stay 5 is placed in each groove 12 of the core 10 that is desired, then at least one elastomer-based component is placed on the receiving surface 10_out to form the top 41, the first and second flanks 44, 45 and the first and second heels 42, 43 of the bandage, then the bandage 40 is demolded by moving the constituent sectors 54, 55 of the core, each according to a centripetal radial movement carried by the individual extraction direction D_extract specific to the sector 54, 55 concerned, in order to extract each sector 54, 55 out of the cavity 4 of the bandage 40 while leaving the stays 5 in place in the cavity 4 of the bandage 40.

[0168] More particularly, we start by assembling the core 10 by deploying and properly positioning the sectors 54, 55, here first the vaults 55 then the keys 24 which will, by a centrifugal radial deployment movement, fit together each between two vaults 55, so that we obtain an annular core 10.

[0169] The actual manufacturing step will preferably include a first preparation phase, during which annular anchoring structures based on raw rubber, such as raw rubber strips, are laid, forming bands sticky, on the receiving surface 10_out, including an annular anchoring structure on each of the first and second lateral zones 52, 53, in the immediate vicinity of the second mouth portions 14B of the grooves 12, and at least a third annular anchoring structure on the summit zone 51, here on the solid central band 56 which crosses the equatorial plane P_EQ, in the immediate vicinity of the first mouth portions 14A of the grooves 12.

[0170] During the installation of the stays 5, portions of said stays 5 will be pressed against said annular anchoring structures, to adhere to said anchoring structures, typically by penetrating into the raw rubber strips, so that said anchoring structures will thus ensure that said stays 5 are held in position during the installation operation of said stays 5 and then during the installation of the constituent elements of the rest of the wall 3 of the bandage 40. Said annular anchoring structures will advantageously permanently integrate the bandage 40 thus manufactured.

[0171] The manufacturing stage continues with a phase of installing the stays 5, which can be carried out in a manner quite similar to what was described in application WO-2022 / 200718 mentioned in the preamble.

[0172] Preferably, the same continuous reinforcing wire 70 is used to form several stays 5, preferably all the stays 5, by arranging said continuous reinforcing wire 70 in a serpentine fashion through successive grooves 12, as illustrated in figures 13 and 16.

[0173] For this purpose, the wire 70 is pressed against the first anchorage structure located in the first lateral zone 52, to form a lateral anchorage point M2, then, while exerting a slight longitudinal tension on the wire 70, said wire 70 is inserted into a first groove 12, under the receiving surface 10_out, so that said wire 70 passes through the inside of the first lobe 17 and emerges from said groove 12 in the summit zone 51, where said wire 70 is pressed against the summit anchorage structure present in the summit zone 51 of the receiving surface 10_out, to form a summit anchorage point ML. A first guy wire 5, housed in said first groove 12, has thus been produced.

[0174] After the wire has passed through the equatorial plane P_EQ, the wire 70 is then plunged into a second groove 12 located axially in the extension of the first groove 12, so that said wire 70 passes through the inside of the second lobe 18 and emerges from the second groove 12 in the second lateral area 53, where said wire 70 is pressed against the second anchoring structure to create a lateral anchoring point M2, and thus form a second guy wire 5 housed in the second groove 12.

[0175] The continuous reinforcing wire 70 is thus passed in one continuous motion from one lateral zone 52, 53 of the core 10 to the other lateral zone 53, 52, passing each time by the summit zone 51, as can be seen in [Fig. 13], so as to form alternations.

[0176] In each lateral zone 52, 53, the wire 70 reverses direction, forming a loop 71 which is pressed into the corresponding anchoring structure before the wire 70 enters a groove 12 again.

[0177] Of course, if a stop 21 is provided in a groove 12, the wire 70 comes to rest on said stop 21, so as to form a fold at the intermediate passage point M3, and thus constitute a reserve of length of stay 5 inside the groove 12 concerned, between the first and second lateral walls 15, 16.

[0178] The manufacturing step then includes a filling phase during which the constituent components of the top 41, the sides 44, 45 and heels 42, 43 of the bandage 40 are deposited on the receiving surface 10_out, in order to construct the wall 3 of the bandage 40.

[0179] Said components shall preferably comprise rubber-based strips or plies, optionally reinforced by longitudinal reinforcing threads, made of textile, polymer, or metal. Other reinforcing components may be provided, such as composite strips based on fiberglass and resin.

[0180] All or part of said components may preferably be placed by winding onto the core 10, which may for this purpose be rotated around its central axis Z10.

[0181] The process then includes, after the preparation step, a cooking step.

[0182] During this, the core 10 and the bandage 40 carried by said core 10 are placed in a baking mold, in order to vulcanize the components of the rubber-based bandage 40. For this purpose, the temperature of the mold, and more particularly of the bandage, will preferably be raised to a value between 120°C and 200°C.

[0183] As an alternative to the aforementioned filling and baking stage, consideration could be given to producing all or part of the top 41, the sides 44, 45 and / or the heels 42, 43 of the bandage 40 by injection of a thermoplastic elastomer material, after dressing the core 10, carrying the stays 5, by means of a suitable injection mold.

[0184] The cooking step will then be replaced by a cooling step allowing the thermoplastic elastomer material to be brought to a solid and elastic state.

[0185] A hybrid process could of course be considered, combining a filling phase in which solid rubber-based elements are placed on the core 10, and a thermoplastic elastomer injection phase. The curing step could then occur before, simultaneously with, or after the thermoplastic elastomer injection phase.

[0186] In all cases, the process then includes, once the bandage 40 has been applied, a demolding stage during which the core 10 is removed from the bandage 40 leaving the stays 5 in place in the cavity 4 of said bandage 40, as illustrated in particular in the sequence of figures 16, 17 and 18.

[0187] To do this, we start by releasing at least one key 54, preferably automatically by means of the operating mechanism described above, according to a centripetal radial movement oriented perpendicular to the central axis Z10, in accordance with the individual extraction direction D_extract of the key 54 concerned, and as illustrated in figures 14 and 15.

[0188] In so doing, the stays 5 which are initially contained in the grooves 12 of said key 54, and which are held by the band 40 at the level of their respective anchor points M1, M2, will slide freely along the grooves 12 without encountering any obstacle, between the first and second lateral walls 15, 16, following a trajectory carried by the individual extraction direction D_extract and directed from the bottom 13 of the groove 12 towards the mouth 14 of said groove, from a radially internal location in the key 54, located in the reserved volume 11, to a radially external position in said key 54, located outside the reserved volume 11.

[0189] If, during this extraction movement, the first and second lobes 17, 18 of the key 54 force the axial separation of the flanks 44, 45 and the heels 42, 43, by elastic deflection of the flanks 44, 45, the compensators 20 release all or part of the excess length of stay 5 stored in the grooves 12, to allow each stay 5 to accompany without damage the temporary increase in the distance which separates its two anchorage points M1, M2, as illustrated in [Fig. 17].

[0190] The key 54 continues its radial movement towards the central axis Z10 along the individual extraction direction D_extract until it is totally freed from the cavity 4, and more particularly until the summit area 51 of the receiving surface 10_out is at a radial distance from the central axis Z10 which is strictly less than the radius of the radially internal limit of the heels 42, 43, as illustrated in [Fig. 18].

[0191] We can then do the same with the other keys 54, then with the vaults 55, the above description applying mutatis mutandis, to completely free the bandage 40, cooked, provided with its stays 5.

[0192] Of course, the invention is by no means limited to the variants described above, the person skilled in the art being able in particular to isolate or freely combine the aforementioned characteristics or to substitute equivalents for them.

Claims

Claims

1. Tool (1) intended for the manufacture of a toroidal bandage (40), said tool comprising a core (10) which materializes a volume called “reserved volume” (11) corresponding to a cavity (4) of the bandage (40), said core (10) being delimited externally by a convex toroidal surface called “receiving surface” (10_out) which is centered on a central axis (Z 10) and which comprises a radially external top zone (51), intended to receive components constituting the top (41) of the bandage (40), and, on either side axially of said top zone (51), a first lateral zone (52) folded towards the central axis (Z10) and intended to receive components constituting a first sidewall (44) and a first bead (42) of the bandage (40), as well as a second lateral zone (53) folded towards the central axis (Z10) and intended to receive components constituting a second sidewall (45) and a second heel (43) of the bandage,said core (10) further comprising a plurality of grooves (12) which are distributed in azimuth around the central axis (Z10) and hollowed out inside the reserved volume (11), from the receiving surface (10_out), so that each of said grooves (12) has a mouth (14) which extends continuously, along the profile of the receiving surface (10_out), from a first mouth portion (14A) located in the top zone (51) to a second mouth portion (14B) located in one of the first and second lateral zones (52, 53) and that each of said grooves (12) forms a housing which is delimited, in azimuth around the central axis (Z10), by a first lateral wall (15) and by a second lateral wall (16) which are distant from each other in azimuth and which are both intersecting with the receiving surface (10_out), so that each groove (12) is capable of receiving, inside the housing,between the first side wall (15) and the second side wall (16), a filiform reinforcing element (5), called a "stay" (5), which enters said groove (12) through the first mouth portion (14A) and emerges from said groove (12) through the second mouth portion (14B), said stay (5) being designed to permanently integrate the structure of the bandage (40) and extend through the cavity (4) of the bandage (40) by connecting a first anchoring point (M1), called the "top anchoring point" (M1), located in the top (41) of the bandage (40), to a second anchoring point (M2), called the "lateral anchoring point" (M2), located,

2.

3. in one of the first and second flanks (44, 45) or one of the first and second heels (42, 43) of the bandage (40), said tooling (1) being characterized in that the core (10) is subdivided, in azimuth around the central axis (Z10), into a succession of sectors (54, 55) which each cover a predetermined azimuthal angular range (A54, A55), called "individual angular range" (A54, A55), around said central axis (Z10), at least one of said sectors (54, 55), and preferably each of said sectors (54, 55), being arranged so as to be able to be moved relative to the neighboring sectors (55, 54), in order to be released from the bandage (40), in a direction called "individual extraction direction" (D_extract) which belongs to the individual angular range (A54, A55) occupied by said sector (54, 55) and which is perpendicular to the central axis (Z 10), and in that several grooves (12), preferably all the grooves (12), belonging to this same sector (54,55) are arranged according to a configuration called “radially extractable configuration” according to which, in projection in a plane called “reference tangent plane” (P_REF) which is normal to the individual extraction direction (D_extract) of the sector (54, 55) considered and which is tangent to the radially outermost part of the top zone (51) of the receiving surface (10_out) of said sector (54, 55) considered, the first lateral wall (15) of each of said several grooves (12) is located on a first side of, and at a distance from, the fictitious straight line called “base straight line” (DO) which passes through the first anchoring point (M1) and through the second anchoring point (M2) of the stay (5) which is housed in the groove (12) concerned, while the second lateral wall (16) is located on the second side, opposite the first side, of the base straight line (DO), and at a distance from said base line (DO), so that said first and second side walls (15,16) do not interfere with the volume swept by the stay (5) when said stay (5) is aligned, in orthogonal projection in the reference tangent plane (P_REF), with the base line (DO) and when a relative movement carried by the individual extraction direction (D_extract) of said sector is created between the stay (5) and the sector (54, 55). Tooling according to claim 1 characterized in that the individual extraction direction (D_extract) is contained in the meridian plane which forms the bisector plane (P_MER_BISECTOR) of the sector (54, 55) considered. Tooling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

4.

5. that the sector (54, 55) in question comprises on the one hand a first convex lobe (17) which extends from the top zone (51) to the first lateral zone (52) and which comprises a first set of grooves (12) and on the other hand a second convex lobe (18) which extends from the top zone (51) to the second lateral zone (53) and which comprises a second set of grooves (12), in that the first lobe (17) and the second lobe (18) are integral with each other, preferably formed in one piece with each other, so as to form a subassembly which is movable as a whole in the individual extraction direction (D_extract) of said sector (54, 55) in question, and in that the first set of grooves (12) and the second set of grooves (12) are arranged in accordance with the same defined radially extractable configuration from said individual extraction direction (D_extract). Tooling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each groove (12) which is arranged in accordance with the radially extractable configuration leaves clear, in the entire portion of the reserved volume (11) which extends from the location provided for the stay (5) inside said groove (12) to the mouth (14) of said groove (12), a free space called "useful passage" (19) which extends from a first fictitious gauge plane (PG1) which is parallel to the individual extraction direction (D_extract) and parallel to the base line (DO), and located at a distance from said base line (DO) on one side of said base line (DO) so as to be tangent to the first side wall (15), to a second fictitious gauge plane (PG2) which is also parallel to the individual extraction direction (D_extract) and parallel to the base line (DO), so that said second gauge plane (PG2) extends parallel to the first gauge plane (PG1),said second gauge plane (PG2) being located at a distance from said base line (DO) on the other side of said base line (DO) so as to be tangent to the second side wall (16), and in that the distance (W19) which separates the second gauge plane (PG2) from the first gauge plane (PG1), called “useful passage width” (W19), is between 0.3 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 0.8 mm and 2.2 mm, for example between 1 mm and 1.8 mm, or even between 1.1 mm and 1.3 mm., Tooling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first side wall (15) and the second side wall (16) of at least one groove (12) arranged according to the radially extractable configuration, and preferably of each of the grooves (12) arranged according to the radially extractable configuration, are planar and extend parallel to each other and parallel to the individual extraction direction (D_extract).

6. Tooling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for several, preferably for each, grooves (12) which are arranged in accordance with the radially extractable configuration, the first anchoring point (M1) and the second anchoring point (M2) of the same groove (12) are located at the same azimuthal position around the central axis (Z10).

7. Tooling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pitch (K 12) of angular repetition which separates in azimuth two successive first anchoring points (Ml), defining, within the same sector (54, 55), two successive grooves (12) arranged in accordance with the radially extractable configuration, is between 0.75 degrees and 3 degrees, preferably between 1 degree and 2 degrees, for example preferably equal to 1.5 degrees.

8. Tooling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individual angular range (A54, A55) covered by each sector (54, 55) is between 5 degrees and 90 degrees.

9. Tooling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core (10) comprises an even number of sectors (54, 55), preferably ten sectors (54, 55), to form an annular assembly which covers the entire 360 ​​degrees in azimuth around the central axis (Z10), of which half of said even number of sectors, preferably five sectors (54), form sectors (54) called "keys" which are designed to be accessible by radially internal approach and to be removed first during disassembly of said annular assembly, each in its own individual radial extraction direction (D_extract), and of which the other half, preferably five sectors (55), form, alternating with the keys (54), sectors (55) called "vaults" which are supported and locked in position by the keys (54) and designed to become maneuverable, each in its own individual extraction direction (D_extract) radial,after said vaults (55) have been released by the removal of the keys (54), each of said sectors (54, 55) comprising its own set of grooves (12) arranged in accordance with the radially extractable configuration defined from the individual extraction direction (D_extract) of the sector (54, 55) considered.,

10. Tooling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that at least one of the grooves (12) comprises a compensator (20) which comprises a stop (21) which is intended to cooperate with the stay (5) and which creates, inside the groove (12), a point called the “intermediate passage point” (M3) which is located outside the base line (DO), so that the length (L5_tot) of the path followed by the stay (5) in the groove (12), from the first anchoring point (M1) to the second anchoring point (M2) via the intermediate passage point (M3) defined by the stop (21), is strictly greater than the distance called the “base distance (LO)” which separates, in a straight line, the second anchoring point (M2) from the first anchoring point (M1), which allows the compensator (20) to constitute a reserve of stay length which can be mobilized to allow the sidewall (44, 45) or the heel (42, 43) containing the second anchor point (M2) to be moved away from the vertex (41) containing the first anchor point (Ml) when extracting the sector (54,55) concerned outside the cavity (4) according to the individual extraction direction (D_extract).,

11. Tooling according to claim 10 characterized in that the stop (21), preferably formed by a ball (23), is mounted movably in the groove (12) and supported by an elastic member (22), preferably a helical spring (27), so that the stop (21) is capable of ensuring elastic suspension of the stay (5) housed in the groove (12).

12. A method of manufacturing a tire (40) in which a tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims is used, a stay (5) is placed in each groove (12) of the core (10) that is desired, then at least one elastomer-based component is placed on the receiving surface (10_out) to form the crown (41), the first and second flanks (44, 45) and the first and second heels (42, 43) of the tire, then the tire (40) is demolded by moving the constituent sectors (54, 55) of the core, each according to a centripetal radial movement carried by the individual extraction direction (D_extract) specific to the sector (54, 55) concerned, in order to extract each sector (54, 55) from the cavity (4) of the tire (40) while leaving the stays (5) in place in the cavity (4) of the bandage (40).

Images