Tire vulcanization device

Abstract

This tire vulcanization device has a ring-shaped member, at least one flat surface section is provided on the outer circumferential surface in the radial direction of the ring-shaped member, and a planar heater is disposed on the flat surface section.

Description

Tire vulcanizing equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire vulcanizing apparatus.

[0002] Conventionally, from the viewpoint of carbon neutrality and the like, a method has been proposed in which a tire vulcanizing apparatus is heated directly via a heat medium by attaching a flexible heater to the apparatus rather than by steam (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2011-126044 A

[0004] However, when a flexible heater is used to heat a tire vulcanizing device, as in the technology described in Patent Document 1, if the shape of the object to be heated is curved, thermal expansion can create a gap between the heater and the curved surface of the object to be heated to which the heater is attached, resulting in a localized temperature rise and possibly causing the tire vulcanizing device to malfunction.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tire vulcanizing apparatus that can uniformly transfer heat to the tire product surface and suppress breakdowns in the tire vulcanizing apparatus.

[0006] The gist of the present invention is as follows: (1) A tire vulcanizing apparatus equipped with a ring-shaped member, characterized in that at least one flat portion is provided on the radially outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped member, and a planar heater is disposed on the flat portion.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tire vulcanizing apparatus that can uniformly transfer heat to the tire product surface and suppress breakdowns in the tire vulcanizing apparatus.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the tire vulcanization apparatus 1 includes a vulcanization container 2, an upper platen 3, and a lower platen 4.

[0012] The vulcanization container 2 includes a tire vulcanization molding mold 5 for storing and vulcanizing a raw tire T, an upper circular plate 6 for holding the tire vulcanization molding mold 5, and a ring-shaped member (outer ring) 8 for opening and closing the tire vulcanization molding mold 5.

[0013] The tire vulcanization mold 5 includes a tread molding mold 51 for molding the tread portion of the tire, a sidewall molding mold 52 for molding the sidewall portion of the tire, and a plurality of segments 53 that are arranged on the outer periphery of the tread molding mold 51 and are divided in the circumferential direction. Note that Figures 1 to 3 show the tire vulcanization molding mold 5 in a closed state, i.e., a state in which the divided segments 53 are combined.

[0014] Here, in the tire vulcanizing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, at least one flat surface is provided on the radial outer peripheral surface 8a of the outer ring 8. As a result, in this example, eight flat surfaces are provided on the radial outer peripheral surface 8a of the outer ring 8. Here, the "radial direction" refers to the radial direction when the direction that is the tire width direction is viewed as the height direction of the tire vulcanizing apparatus and as the axial direction of the vulcanizing apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1 .

[0015] A planar heater 9 is then arranged on the planar portion. In the illustrated example, one or more heaters 9 are arranged on each planar portion. The heater 9 may be any heater that is attached planarly to the planar portion, and a planar flexible heater 9 may be attached planarly, or a planar non-flexible heater 9 may be used. In this example, a presser plate 10 is further arranged on the outer periphery of each heater 9 to press the heater 9 against the planar portion. The effects of the tire vulcanizing apparatus 1 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0016] In the tire vulcanization apparatus 1 of this embodiment, as described above, at least one flat portion is provided on the radial outer peripheral surface 8a of the outer ring 8, and a planar heater 9 is disposed on this flat portion. As a result, the heater 9 and the radial outer peripheral surface 8a of the outer ring 8 are attached in a flat plane, allowing for efficient heat transfer. Furthermore, even if thermal expansion occurs, the direction of the force can be easily kept within the plane, preventing gaps from forming between the heater 9 and the radial outer peripheral surface 8a of the outer ring 8. Therefore, local temperature increases caused by gaps can be prevented, and breakdowns of the tire vulcanization apparatus can be suppressed. In this way, the tire vulcanization apparatus 1 of this embodiment allows for uniform transfer of heat to the tire product surface, preventing breakdowns of the tire vulcanization apparatus.

[0017] Here, it is preferable that n or more (n is an integer of 3 or more) flat portions are provided on the radial outer peripheral surface 8a of the outer ring 8, and a planar heater 9 is disposed on each flat portion, and it is particularly preferable that eight or more flat portions are provided on the radial outer peripheral surface 8a of the outer ring 8, and a planar heater 9 is disposed on each flat portion. This is because it is possible to make the heat transfer in the tire vulcanizing apparatus 1 more uniform around the circumference. Also, it is possible to avoid interference with the opening and closing mechanism, etc. as much as possible.

[0018] Fig. 4 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, it is also preferable to divide the heater 9 into several stages (two stages in the illustrated example) in the height direction of the outer ring 8 and arrange them. For example, if it is preferable in terms of tire building to change the way heat is applied in the tire width direction, this can be achieved by varying the output or area of ​​the divided heater 9.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 2, it is preferable to further dispose a presser plate 10 on the outer periphery of each heater 9 to press the heater 9 against the flat surface, since this allows for more uniform heat transfer.

[0020] Figure 5 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 5, a configuration without segments is also possible. In this case, a ring-shaped member (jacket 11) is disposed radially outside the tread molding mold 51. At least one flat portion is provided on the radially outer peripheral surface 11a of the jacket 11, and a planar heater 9 is disposed on the flat portion. This other embodiment also makes it possible to uniformly transfer heat to the tire product surface and suppress breakdowns in the tire vulcanizing apparatus.

[0021] Fig. 6 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In the example of Fig. 6, a tread molding mold 51, a jacket 11, and a heater 9 are divided into several stages (two stages in the illustrated example) and arranged in the height direction of the tire vulcanizing apparatus 1. For example, if it is preferable in terms of tire molding to vary the way heat is applied in the tire width direction, this can be achieved by varying the output or area of ​​the divided heater 9.

[0022] [Contribution to the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)] The SDGs have been proposed to realize a sustainable society. One embodiment of the present invention is thought to be a technology that can contribute to "No. 12: Responsible Consumption and Production" and "No. 13: Take concrete action against climate change."

[0023] 1: Tire vulcanization device, 2: Vulcanization container, 3: Upper platen, 4: Lower platen, 5: Tire vulcanization molding mold, 51: Tread molding mold, 52: Sidewall molding mold, 53: Segment, 6: Upper disc, 8: Ring-shaped member (outer ring), 8a: Radial outer peripheral surface, 9: Heater, 10: Presser plate, 11: Ring-shaped member (jacket), 11a: Radial outer peripheral surface

Claims

1. A tire vulcanizing apparatus equipped with a ring-shaped member, characterized in that at least one flat surface is provided on the radially outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped member, and a planar heater is disposed on the flat surface.

2. The tire vulcanizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein eight or more flat surfaces are provided on the radially outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped member, and the planar heater is disposed on each of the flat surfaces.

3. A tire vulcanizing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heater is divided into several stages and disposed in the height direction of the ring-shaped member.

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