Device for repairing a carcass comprising a suction system having a flexible containment skirt

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (100) for repairing a carcass (1) of a tyre that has damage (27), the repair device (100) comprising a processing system (3) and a suction system (8) comprising a rigid cover (9) and a flexible skirt (11), the flexible skirt (11) cooperating with the rigid cover (9) so as to form a chamber (15) surrounding a rotary tool (6), the chamber (15) making it possible to improve the suction of the particles generated during the treatment of the carcass (1) by the treatment system (3), the rigid cover (9) comprising an outlet (10) connected to a suction device. The repair device (100) also comprises an air-blowing system (16) that allows air to be introduced into the chamber (15) at a flow rate equivalent to the suction flow rate (da) of the suction device in order to avoid deformation of the flexible skirt (11). The invention also relates to a method for using the repair device (100).

Description

Carcass repair device comprising a suction system having a flexible containment skirt

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of devices and methods for repairing a tire casing to be retreaded.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention finds application in the field of repairing tire casings to be retreaded, during which particles are emitted and must be blown and / or vacuumed.

[0003] As is well known, tires have a tread around their periphery, designed to wear down while driving. This tread comprises one or more components made of rubber materials of varying thicknesses. A tread pattern most often includes a molded design with grooves separating raised elements, designed to improve the tire's grip on the road.

[0004] During tire use, the tread wears down and its thickness decreases. When the tread thickness is no longer sufficient to properly perform the tire's various functions, it must be replaced.

[0005] The retreading process makes it possible to avoid the complete replacement of a worn tire by replacing only the tread of said worn tire in order to extend its lifespan.

[0006] Retreading a tire, especially one intended for a heavy vehicle, most often involves removing the tread from the worn tire using known processes, such as machining or grinding. The tire to be retreaded without its tread is usually called the "carcass."

[0007] The next step in a retreading process is to inspect the carcass to be retreaded for any damage, such as holes, rubber tears, cuts, or signs of corrosion of the reinforcing cords, and, where possible, to repair such damage, before fitting a new tread to the carcass.

[0008] It is known to begin the repair of damage present on the carcass of a tire to be retreaded by digging out the superficial layer of rubber surrounding said damage to check the extent of the damage and ensure that said tire can be properly repaired.

[0009] For example, when the carcass has a cut in its surface rubber layer, it is known to excavate the rubber layer along the entire length of the cut, down to the underlying reinforcing cables, to check that the reinforcing cables have not also been damaged. If the reinforcing cables are intact, the cavity is then filled with a rubber-based repair compound.

[0010] Other damage treatment operations can be carried out, such as, for example, brushing, grinding or blowing.

[0011] Most of the time, damage detection, damage repair, and condition checks on reinforcement cables are performed manually. In particular, damage repair is usually carried out by abrasion, using, for example, a wire brush operated by a technician. These manual repair operations are often time-consuming and tedious for the operator.

[0012] During processing operations, numerous rubber particles are generated and disseminated not only in the processing area, but also throughout the surrounding workshop and, in particular, near the operator.

[0013] Suction solutions, such as fume hoods or suction arms, can be used to reduce the dissemination of gum particles, but, most of the time, these solutions are not fully satisfactory and do not allow for the suction of all the emitted gum particles, especially when said gum particles are propelled, by the processing operation, in directions opposite to the suction solutions and at high speeds.

[0014] Patent EP2532511B1 discloses a solution for extracting particles emitted during a grinding operation, comprising a hood cooperating with articulated brushes. and allowing the creation of a chamber connected to a suction device. The chamber created by such a device is not perfectly airtight, and the large volume of the chamber requires high suction power to ensure the removal of the emitted particles.

[0015] The objects assigned to the invention therefore aim to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a repair device comprising a simple suction device, requiring little energy and not releasing any particles into the environment around said repair device.

[0016] The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a device for repairing a tire casing characterized in that it comprises: a) a mandrel for receiving and rotating said casing, b) a processing system comprising a rotary tool and a robot for positioning said rotary tool against an external surface of said casing in an area to be treated within which there is damage to be repaired, c) a suction system, comprising successively along a central axis XX' defined by the intersection of two planes O and P perpendicular to each other: - a rigid hood forming a first wall extending along the direction of the central axis XX', said rigid hood comprising a first internal surface, an edge and an outlet connected to a suction device allowing the evacuation of air laden with particles with a suction flow rate, - a flexible skirt, attached to the rigid hood and forming a second wall extending along the direction of the central axis XX' projecting from the rigid hood, said flexible skirt comprising a second internal surface and an end surface, said flexible skirt cooperating with the rigid hood so as to form an extended wall surrounding said rotating tool, d) a linear displacement system for moving, in a direction parallel to the central axis XX', said suction system in order to position the end surface of the flexible skirt in contact with the outer surface of the housing so as to obtain a chamber formed by the extended wall and said outer surface of the housing, said chamber having a volume V, e) an air blowing system for introducing air into said chamber, said blowing system comprising: - a first blowing device propelling air towards the area to be treated, with an initial blowing flow rate, - a second blowing device propelling air, tangentially to the second internal surface of said flexible skirt, with a second blowing flow rate, said air blowing system having an adjustment device allowing the first and second blowing flow rates to be adjusted, to obtain a sum of said first and second blowing flow rates which is substantially equal to the suction flow rate.

[0017] Essentially, the repair device of the invention ensures proper evacuation of particles generated during the treatment of the damage, thus preventing fouling of sensitive elements of the repair device, such as electrical, electronic and mechanical systems.

[0018] Furthermore, directing the first blower towards the area to be treated helps keep that contact area clean by preventing the accumulation of particles formed by the brushing system. In addition, using a blower system within the chamber keeps the particles generated by the treatment system suspended, thus facilitating their removal.

[0019] In addition, the linear movement system allows, on the one hand, the end surface of the flexible skirt to be positioned in contact with the frame regardless of the diameter of the rotary tool and, on the other hand, the suction system to be removed to free up access to the processing system so that the rotary tool can be changed more easily.

[0020] Another advantage of the invention is related to the flexibility of the flexible skirt which allows the end surface to conform to the outer surface of the carcass even if the diameter of said outer surface does not exactly correspond to the shape of the end surface of the flexible skirt.

[0021] Furthermore, the orientation of the second blowing device, tangential to the second internal surface of the flexible skirt, allows the said second internal surface of the said flexible skirt to be cleaned, thus preventing its fouling by particles from the treatment.

[0022] Advantageously, the volume V of the chamber is at most equal to 4% of the volume of a cylinder having, on the one hand, a height equal to that of the casing to be retreaded and, on the other hand, a diameter equal to that of the casing to be retreaded.

[0023] The small volume V of the chamber allows for a particularly efficient suction system, with optimized airflow inside the chamber without having to use high suction powers.

[0024] Preferably, the flexible skirt is made of silicone, thermoplastic, elastomeric thermoplastic or, even more preferably, transparent polyvinyl chloride, allowing an operator to view the processing operation and thus intervene when an incident occurs.

[0025] Advantageously, the rigid hood and / or the flexible skirt include a lateral through opening made in the first wall and / or the second wall.

[0026] Thanks to the side through opening, the adjustment device is easier to use, the operator can simply adjust the first and second blowing rates so that the sum of the first and second blowing rates is less than the suction rate, the missing blowing air rate being compensated by the air rate entering the chamber through the side through opening.

[0027] Preferably, the area of ​​the lateral through opening represents at least 3% and at most 4% of the area of ​​the extended wall.

[0028] Optimizing the area of ​​the lateral through opening helps, on the one hand, to prevent particles from leaving the chamber without being sucked up, and, on the other hand, to ensure a sufficiently large air intake to contribute to the balance between the first and second blowing flow rates and the suction flow rate.

[0029] Preferably, the first internal surface of the rigid hood is coated with an anti-adhesion coating, preventing the accumulation of particles on said first internal surface of the rigid hood, thus ensuring the total aspiration of all particles generated by the treatment device.

[0030] Preferably, the anti-adhesion coating is a fluoropolymer-based coating.

[0031] Preferably, the first blowing device includes at least two blowing nozzles. The use of blowing nozzles makes it easy to direct the entire airflow from the first blowing device towards the damage, allowing the area to be evacuated and cleaned, while also suspending the particles generated by the treatment system.

[0032] Preferably, the at least two blow nozzles are arranged and oriented symmetrically on either side of plane P.

[0033] Advantageously, the second blowing device comprises at least four and preferably at least eight holes made in the rigid hood, each of the holes having a drilling axis tangential to the second internal surface, each of the holes serving as an inlet orifice to introduce air into the chamber by said second blowing device.

[0034] The presence of several perforations and their tangential orientation to the second internal surface allows for a homogeneous airflow which helps to prevent the adhesion and accumulation of particles on said second internal surface of the flexible skirt, while improving the suspension of particles generated by the treatment system.

[0035] Advantageously, the holes made in the rigid cover are positioned circumferentially according to a pitch, not necessarily constant, each hole being positioned at a distance d from the edge of the rigid cover, said distance being at most equal to twice the largest of the diameters of the holes.

[0036] Positioning the holes near the edge of the rigid hood allows for a second blowing device close to the second internal surface and thus particularly effective in preventing the adhesion and accumulation of particles on said second internal surface.

[0037] Preferably, the holes are arranged and oriented symmetrically on either side of plane P. The symmetrical positioning of the at least two blower nozzles and the holes makes it possible to obtain particularly homogeneous and efficient airflows.

[0038] Advantageously, the projection of the end surface of the flexible skirt into the plane O is an arc of a circle of radius R, allowing the end surface to more easily conform to the shape of the outer surface of the carcass to be treated.

[0039] Advantageously, the projection, in any plane perpendicular to the central axis XX', of the outer contour of the flexible skirt's end surface is a continuous closed contour intersecting, on the one hand, plane P at two points b and d, and on the other hand, plane O at two points a and c, the length of segment [ac] being at least twice the length of segment [bd], so as to obtain an elongated shape closely surrounding the rotating tools such as grinding wheels or brushes, the first and second inner faces being positioned perpendicular to the rotational axis of said grinding wheels. Thanks to this elongated shape surrounding the rotating tools, the chamber volume is reduced and the efficiency of the air blowing and suction systems is improved.

[0040] Preferably, the linear movement system includes an automatic actuator cooperating with a linear guide to move the suction system according to Central Tax XX'. The linear movement system is thus particularly simple, robust and easy to implement.

[0041] The invention also relates to a method for repairing a casing implementing the repair device described above, said method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) positioning the casing to be treated on the chuck and rotating said casing to position damage near the robot, b) using the robot to position the rotary tool in contact with the outer surface of the casing to be treated in the area to be treated including the damage, c) activating the linear movement system to bring the end surface of the flexible skirt into contact with the outer surface of the casing to be treated, d) simultaneously activating the air blowing system and the suction system, using the adjustment device to adjust the first and second blowing flow rates to obtain a sum of said first and second blowing flow rates that is substantially equal to the suction flow rate.e) activation of the processing system to rotate the rotary tool and process the, damage, f) stopping the treatment system, the air blowing system and the suction system when the damage is sufficiently treated, g) activating the linear movement system to remove the end surface from the outer surface, h) activating the robot to remove the rotary tool from the outer surface, i) removing the carcass to be treated, putting in place a new carcass to be treated and starting a new cycle from step a).

[0042] Essentially, the repair process of the invention makes it possible to treat, in a simple way, damage to a tire casing without polluting or fouling the repair device or the surrounding workshop, thus limiting maintenance costs.

[0043] Preferably, the casing to be treated is a tire casing for retreading.

[0044] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in more detail upon reading the following description, as well as with the aid of the accompanying drawings, provided for illustrative purposes only and not as a limitation, including: - Figure 1: Overview and perspective view of the repair device according to the invention. - Figure 2: Partial detailed and perspective view of an embodiment of the repair device according to the invention. - Figure 3: Partial detailed and cross-sectional view, along a plane passing through plane O, of the blowing system and the suction system. - Figure 4a: Partial detailed view of the treatment system, the suction system and the blowing system with the rotary tool in contact with the outer surface of the tire to be retreaded in the area to be treated and the flexible skirt in retreat. - Figure 4b: Partial detailed view of the treatment system, the suction system and the blowing system with the rotary tool in contact with the outer surface of the tire to be retreaded, in the area to be treated, and with the end surface of the flexible skirt in contact with the outer surface. - Figure 5: Partial front view of the suction and blowing systems. - Figure 5a: View of the projection, in a plane perpendicular to the central axis XX', of the outer contour of the end surface of the flexible skirt. - Figure 6: Partial detailed and perspective view of the linear movement system, the processing system, the suction system and the blowing system. - Figure 7: Partial detailed and cross-sectional view, along axis AA visible in figure 5, of a hole in the second blowing device. - Figure 8: View of a projection, in two dimensions and along a radial direction, of the area to be treated.

[0045] In what follows, for the sake of clarity, the horizontal and vertical directions correspond to the natural orientation of figures 1 to 7. Similarly, the terms "top", "bottom", "lower", "upper" and their variants should be understood with reference to the vertical direction of the figures.

[0046] In what follows, the circumferential or longitudinal direction refers to the direction of rotation of the tire, the axial or transverse direction refers to the direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire, and the radial direction refers to a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tire.

[0047] As can be seen in Figure 1, the present invention relates to a repair device 100 for a tire casing 1 characterized in that it comprises a mandrel 2 for receiving and rotating said casing 1.

[0048] The chuck 2 may, for example, comprise a drum having a cylindrical external surface formed by segments that can move radially and concentrically, the radial movement and rotation of the drum being achieved by at least one electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic actuator. In a known manner, the radial movement of the segments allows the outer diameter of said cylindrical drum to coincide with the inner diameter of the frame 1. In some embodiments, the width of the chuck 2 may also be variable in order to adapt the width of said chuck 2 to the width of the frame 1. In other embodiments, the width of the chuck 2 is fixed, and adapting the width of the chuck 2 to the width of the frame 1 is achieved by interchanging said chuck 2 for another chuck 2 having a width corresponding to the width of said frame 1.

[0049] The repair device 100 also includes, as illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2, a processing system 3 comprising a rotary tool 6 and a robot 4 enabling the positioning of said rotary tool 6 against an external surface 7 of said frame 1 in a treatment area Zt within which there is damage 27 to be repaired.

[0050] As is known to those skilled in the art, the damages 27 to be repaired on the frame 1 are, in a non-exhaustive manner, holes, rubber tears, cuts or traces of corrosion of the reinforcing cables.

[0051] Rotary tools can include, for example, brushes, grinding wheels, milling cutters, drill bits, or any other type of tool used to treat damage 27 in the area to be treated Zt. These rotary tools can be driven by electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic motors. Brushes, for example, can have a diameter of 105 mm. Grinding wheels can have diameters of, for example, 40, 50, or 60 mm.

[0052] As can be seen in Figure 8, the projection, in two dimensions and along a radial direction, of the area to be treated Zt generally corresponds to a substantially rectangular shape surrounding the damage 27.

[0053] Robot 4 can be, for example, a Cartesian robot, a mechanical device with pneumatic cylinders, electric cylinders or electromagnetic cylinders, or as can be seen in Figure 1, a poly-articulated robot.

[0054] As shown in Figure 1, Figure 2 or Figure 3, the repair device 100 further comprises, in addition, a suction system 8, comprising successively along a central axis XX' defined by the intersection of two planes O and P perpendicular to each other: - a rigid hood 9 forming a first wall 12 extending along the direction of Central Tax XX', said rigid hood 9 comprising a first internal surface 9a, an edge 20 and an outlet orifice 10 connected to a suction device allowing the evacuation of air laden with particles with a suction flow rate da, - a flexible skirt 11, fixed to the rigid hood 9 and forming a second wall 13 extending along the direction of the central tax XX' projecting from the rigid hood 9, said flexible skirt 11 comprising a second internal surface 1la and an end surface 11b, said flexible skirt 11 cooperating with the rigid hood 9 so as to form an extended wall 14 surrounding said rotating tool 6.

[0055] The suction device, not shown, may include a flexible or rigid hose, connected at one end to the outlet port 10 and at one end to a turbine, a fan, a piston system, a venturi system or any other system for sucking in and evacuating air laden with particles with a suction flow rate da.

[0056] The suction flow rate (da) can be adjusted either by modifying the efficiency of the air intake and exhaust system or by using a manual or automatic airflow regulator. For example, the efficiency of the air intake and exhaust system can be adjusted by slowing the rotational speed of the turbine or fan when the suction device includes a turbine or fan.

[0057] The attachment of the flexible skirt 11 to the rigid hood 9 can be done either by positioning the end surface 11b against the edge 20 of the rigid hood 9, or, as can be seen in Figure 2 or Figure 3, by overlapping a part of the flexible skirt 11 around the rigid hood 9.

[0058] The flexible skirt 11 can be attached to the rigid hood 9, for example, by gluing, bolting, shrink-fitting or any other similar means of attachment.

[0059] As shown in Figure 6, the repair device 100 also includes a linear displacement system 17 for moving, in a direction parallel to Central Tax XX', said suction system 8 in order to position the end surface 11b of the flexible skirt 11 in contact with the outer surface 7 of the casing 1 so as to obtain a chamber 15 formed by the extended wall 14 and said outer surface 7 of the casing 1, said chamber 15 having a volume V.

[0060] The positioning of the flexible skirt 11 in contact with the outer surface 7 can be achieved automatically using a positioning system (not shown), which could be, for example, a presence sensor, a pressure sensor, a laser sensor, or a vision system. Thus, regardless of the diameter of the rotary tool 6 used, the linear motion system 17 ensures that the flexible skirt 11 is brought into contact with the outer surface 7.

[0061] As can be seen in Figure 2 or Figure 3, the repair device 100 further includes an air blowing system 16 for introducing air into said chamber 15, said blowing system comprising: - a first blowing device 18 propelling air towards the area to be treated Zt, with a first blowing flow rate dsl, - a second blowing device 19 propelling air, tangentially to the second internal surface 1 of said flexible skirt 11, with a second blowing flow rate ds2, said air blowing system 16 having an adjustment device 21 allowing the first and second blowing flow rates dsl, ds2 to be adjusted to obtain a sum of said first and second blowing flow rates dsl, ds2 which is substantially equal to the suction flow rate da.

[0062] The first and second blowing devices 18, 19 include a device for blowing air, which may be, for example, a turbine, a fan, a piston or blade compressor.

[0063] The first blowing device 18 and the second blowing device 19 can be two independent devices or a single device distributing the blown air into said first and second blowing devices 18, 19 using flaps or valves cooperating with pipes and a distributor having a "Y" shape.

[0064] The first and second blowing rates dsl, ds2 can be adjusted by modulating the efficiency of the first and second blowing devices 18, 19, by changing, for example, the rotational speed of the turbine or fan when the first and second blowing devices are turbine systems or fans.

[0065] Manual or automatic flow regulators, cooperating with air flow sensors, can also be used to adjust the first and second supply flow rates dsl, ds2.

[0066] Advantageously, the volume V of chamber 15 is at most equal to 4% of the volume of a cylinder having, on the one hand, a height equal to that of the carcass 1 to be retreaded and, on the other hand, a diameter equal to that of the carcass 1 to be retreaded.

[0067] As can be seen in figure 4b, the volume V of chamber 15 may vary slightly depending on the value of the diameter of the outer surface 7 of the frame 1.

[0068] Preferably, the flexible skirt 11 is made of silicone, thermoplastic, elastomeric thermoplastic or, even more preferably, transparent polyvinyl chloride.

[0069] As an example, the thickness of the flexible skirt 11 can be 2mm in order to obtain good flexibility, allowing, on the one hand, said flexible skirt 11 to more easily conform to the outer surface 7 of the carcass 1, and on the other hand, to easily form said flexible skirt 11 during its manufacture.

[0070] According to the invention, the transparent polyvinyl chloride, preferably chosen, can have, for example, a Shore A hardness of 80, a tear strength of 50N / mm and an elongation at break of 340%.

[0071] Advantageously, the rigid hood 9 and / or the flexible skirt 11 include a lateral through opening 26 made in the first wall 12 and / or the second wall 13.

[0072] The lateral through-opening 26 can be, for example, circular, rectangular, or oblong. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the lateral through-opening 26 allows the drive shaft of the rotary tool 6 to extend so that this drive shaft can be connected to a rotary drive system. In this embodiment, the lateral through-opening 26 has a longitudinal slot shape to allow the linear motion system 17 to move the suction system 8 without interfering with the rigid hood 9 or the flexible skirt 11.

[0073] Preferably, the area of ​​the lateral through opening 26 represents at least 3% and at most 4% of the area of ​​the extended wall 14.

[0074] Preferably, the first internal surface 9a of the rigid hood 9 is coated with an anti-adhesion coating, which may preferably be a fluoropolymer-based coating, which may be, for example, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) or Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP), or even more specifically a product of the Xylan brand.

[0075] In other embodiments, the anti-stick coating can be a silicone-based coating.

[0076] As can be seen in Figure 3 or Figure 5, the first blowing device 18 comprises at least two blowing nozzles 22.

[0077] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the blow nozzles 22 are screwed into a part comprising a channel cooperating with said blow nozzles 22 to convey the air into the chamber 15 and towards the area to be treated Zt.

[0078] In other embodiments, the blow nozzles 22 are connected directly to flexible or rigid pipes through which the air blown into the chamber 15 passes.

[0079] The blow nozzles 22 are preferably nozzles forming a cylindrical or rectangular directional air jet, allowing air to be blown towards the area to be treated Zt with a high speed and with a pressure generally greater than 0.03N / mm2.

[0080] Preferably, the at least two blow nozzles 22 are arranged and oriented symmetrically on either side of plane P.

[0081] Advantageously, the second blowing device 19 comprises at least four and preferably at least eight holes 25 made in the rigid hood 9, each of the holes 25 having a drilling axis tangential to the second internal surface lia, each of the holes 25 serving as an inlet orifice for introducing air into the chamber 15 by said second blowing device 19.

[0082] As can be seen in Figure 7, by tangential drilling axis, we must understand a drilling axis not forming, in a plane comprising Drilling Tax and perpendicular to the first internal surface 9a, an angle al greater than 5 degrees and preferably not forming an angle al greater than 2 degrees with a plane tangent to the second internal surface l ia.

[0083] Each of the 25 holes made in the rigid hood 9 is connected to the device for blowing air, via, for example, flexible or rigid pipes or a part comprising one or more channels.

[0084] As can be seen in Figure 5, the holes 25 made in the rigid cover 9 are positioned circumferentially with a pitch, not necessarily constant, each of the holes 25 being positioned at a distance d from the edge 20 of the rigid cover 9, said distance d being at most equal to twice the largest of the diameters of the holes 25.

[0085] According to the invention, the distance d, being at most equal to twice the largest of the diameters of the holes 25, makes it possible to obtain outlet orifices of the holes 25 located near the second internal surface l ia in order to improve the efficiency of the blowing of said holes 25 on the internal surface 1 la and thus prevent the adhesion of particles on said internal surface l ia.

[0086] Preferably, and as shown in Figure 5, the holes 25 are arranged and oriented symmetrically on either side of plane P.

[0087] Advantageously, the projection of the end surface 11b of the flexible skirt 11 into the plane O is an arc of a circle of radius R.

[0088] The radius R is preferably substantially equal to the radius of the outer surface 7 of the casing 1, thus ensuring good sealing of the chamber 15. The flexibility of the flexible skirt 11 also allows the sealing of the chamber 15 to be maintained, even when the radius R is slightly different from the radius of the outer surface 7.

[0089] When the radius of the outer surface 7 of the carcass 1 is too far from the radius R, the flexible skirt 11 can be interchanged with another flexible skirt 11 having a radius R closer to the radius of the outer surface 7.

[0090] Advantageously, and as illustrated in Figure 5a, the projection, in any plane perpendicular to the central axis XX', of the outer contour of the end surface 11b of the flexible skirt 11 is a continuous closed contour intersecting, on the one hand, the plane P at two points b and d, and on the other hand, the plane O at two points a and c, the length of the segment [ac] being at least twice as large as the length of the segment [bd],

[0091] The projection, onto any plane perpendicular to the central axis XX', of the end surface 11b forms two closed and continuous contours. By outer contour, we mean the contour furthest from the central axis XX'.

[0092] The outer contour may have, for example, a substantially oblong shape, a rectangular shape, or an elliptical shape, allowing the chamber 15 to conform to the geometry, generally in the form of circular discs, of the rotating tools 6.

[0093] As shown in Figure 6, the linear displacement system 17 preferably includes an automatic actuator 23 cooperating with a linear guide 24 to move the suction system 8 according to Central Tax XX'.

[0094] The automatic actuator 23 can be, for example, an electric cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder.

[0095] As an example, linear guidance 24 may include: - a rail cooperating with a smooth slide or a ball slide, - a rod or tube cooperating with a smooth bushing or a ball bushing, - a profiled rail cooperating with wheels or casters.

[0096] The invention also relates to a method for repairing a casing 1 implementing the repair device 100 described above, said method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) positioning the casing 1 to be treated on the mandrel 2 and rotating said casing 1 to position a defect 27 near the robot 4, b) using the robot 4 to position the rotary tool 6 in contact with the outer surface 7 of the casing 1 to be treated in the area to be treated Zt including the defect 27, c) activating the linear movement system 17 to bring the end surface 11b of the flexible skirt 11 into contact with the outer surface 7 of the casing 1 to be treated, d) simultaneously activating the air blowing system 16 and the suction system 8, using the adjustment device 21 to adjust the first and second blowing flow rates dsl, ds2 to obtain a sum of said first and second blowing flow rates, sorry.ds2 which is substantially equal to the suction flow rate da, e) activation of the processing system 3 to rotate the rotary tool 6 and treat the damage 27, f) shutdown of the processing system 3, the air blowing system 16 and the suction system 8 when the damage 27 is sufficiently treated, g) activation of the linear movement system 17 to remove the end surface 11b, from the outer surface 7, h) activation of robot 4 to remove the rotary tool 6 from the outer surface 7, i) removal of the carcass 1 to be treated, placement of a new carcass 1 to be treated and start of a new cycle from step a).

[0097] The adjustment of the first and second flow rates dsl, ds2 using the adjustment device 21 can be done visually by observing the shape of the flexible skirt 11, which must not be deformed when the air supply system 16 and the suction system 8 are activated. When the first and second flow rates dsl, ds2 are too high relative to the suction flow rate da, the flexible skirt 11 moves outwards in directions relative to the central axis XX'. Conversely, when the first and second flow rates dsl, ds2 are too low relative to the suction flow rate da, the flexible skirt 11 retracts inwards in directions relative to the central axis XX'.

[0098] In other embodiments, flow rate adjustment can be done using flow meters to determine the different flow rates.

[0099] Preferably, the carcass 1 to be treated is a tire carcass to be retreaded.

[0100] The inventors implemented the repair device 100 using the process of the invention to treat a carcass 1 of a heavy truck tire of size 315 / 80 R22.5.

[0101] In this example of an embodiment of the method of the invention, the diameter of the outer surface 7 of the carcass 1 of the heavy-duty tire is equal to 1050 mm and the height of the carcass 1 is 300 mm.

[0102] The repair device 100 implemented in this example includes the following elements and characteristics: - a flexible skirt 11 having a circular arc of radius R equal to 525 mm and said flexible skirt 11 is made of transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) having a Shore A hardness of 80, a tear resistance of 50N / mm and an elongation at break of 340%, - the projection, in a plane perpendicular to the central axis XX', of the end surface 11b of the flexible skirt 11 corresponds to a closed contour having, on the one hand, a segment [ac] whose length is equal to xx mm and on the other hand a segment [bd] whose length is equal to yy mm, - the first internal surface 9a is coated with a coating from the Xylan brand, - the volume V of chamber 15 is equal to 4.5% of the volume of a cylinder with a diameter of 1050 mm and a height of 300 mm, - the rigid hood 9 includes a lateral through opening 26 representing 3.1% of the area of ​​the extended wall 14, - the first blowing device 18 comprises two commercially available blowing nozzles 22, - the second blowing device 19 includes 8 holes 25 of diameter 3 mm arranged 8 mm from the edge 20 of the rigid hood 9.

[0103] In this example, the inventors manually adjusted the different flow rates using the adjustment device 21 and observing the shape of the flexible skirt 11.

[0104] A flexible, undeformed skirt 11 was obtained with the following settings: - a first blowing flow rate dsl equal to 28Nm3 / h, corresponding to a flow rate of 14Nm3 / h for each of the blowing nozzles 22, (as is known to the person skilled in the art, the unit of measurement Nm3 / h corresponds to normo-cubic meters blown per hour and measured at a temperature of 15°C and under 1 atmosphere, i.e. 101325Pa), - a second blowing flow rate ds2, corresponding to the flow rate of the 8 holes 25, of 136 Nm3 / h, - a suction flow rate of 510Nm3 / h from the suction system 8, - and a residual flow rate through the lateral through opening 26 of 346Nm3 / h.

[0105] With these settings, during the implementation of the invention, no particles generated by the treatment operation escaped from chamber 15 and the particles present in the area to be treated Zt were indeed suspended before being aspirated by the suction system 8.

[0106] Furthermore, no particles were deposited and remained stuck to the extended wall 14 formed by the first and second walls 12, 13.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Repair device (100) for a tire casing (1) characterized in that it comprises: a) a mandrel (2) for receiving and rotating said casing (1), b) a processing system (3) comprising a rotary tool (6) and a robot (4) for positioning said rotary tool (6) against an external surface (7) of said casing (1) in a treatment zone (Zt) within which there is damage (27) to be repaired, c) a suction system (8), comprising successively along a central axis (XX') defined by the intersection of two planes (O) and (P) perpendicular to each other: - a rigid hood (9) forming a first wall (12) extending along the direction of the central axis (XX'), said rigid hood (9) comprising a first internal surface (9a), an edge (20) and an outlet orifice (10) connected to a suction device allowing the evacuation of air laden with particles with a suction flow rate (da), - a flexible skirt (11), attached to the rigid cover (9) and forming a second wall (13) extending along the direction of the central axis (XX') projecting from the rigid cover (9), said flexible skirt (11) comprising a second internal surface (11a) and an end surface (11b), said flexible skirt (11) cooperating with the rigid cover (9) so as to form an extended wall (14) surrounding said rotating tool (6), d) a linear displacement system (17) for moving, in a direction parallel to the central axis (XX'), said suction system (8) in order to position the end surface (11b) of the flexible skirt (11) in contact with the outer surface (7) of the frame (1) so as to obtain a chamber (15) formed by the extended wall (14) and said outer surface (7) of the frame (1), said chamber (15) having a volume V, e) a blowing system air (16) allowing air to be introduced inside said chamber (15),said blowing system comprising: - a first blowing device (18) propelling air towards the area to be treated (Zt), with a first blowing flow rate (dsl), - a second blowing device (19) propelling air tangentially to the second internal surface (l ia) of said flexible skirt (11), with a second blowing flow rate (ds2), said air blowing system (16) having an adjustment device (21) allowing the first and second blowing flow rates (dsl, ds2) to be adjusted, in order to obtain a sum of said first and second blowing flow rates (dsl, ds2) which is substantially equal to the suction flow rate (da).

2. Repair device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the volume V of the chamber (15) is at most equal to 4% of the volume of a cylinder having, on the one hand, a height equal to that of the casing (1) to be retreaded and, on the other hand, a diameter equal to that of the casing (1) to be retreaded.

3. Repair device (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the flexible skirt (11) is made of silicone, thermoplastic, elastomeric thermoplastic or, preferably, transparent polyvinyl chloride.

4. Repair device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rigid hood (9) and / or the flexible skirt (11) comprise a lateral through opening (26) made in the first wall (12) and / or the second wall (13).

5. Repair device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the area of ​​the lateral through opening (26) represents at least 3% and at most 4% of the area of ​​the extended wall (14).

6. Repair device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first internal surface (9a) of the rigid cover (9) is coated with an anti-adhesion coating.

7. Repair device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the anti-adhesion coating is a fluoropolymer-based coating.

8. Repair device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first blowing device (18) comprises at least two blowing nozzles (22).

9. Repair device (100) according to claim 8 in which the at least two blow nozzles (22) are arranged and oriented symmetrically on either side of the plane (P).

10. Repair device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second blowing device (19) comprises at least four and preferably at least eight holes (25) made in the rigid hood (9), each of the holes (25) having a drilling axis tangential to the second internal surface (l ia), each of the holes (25) serving as an inlet orifice for introducing air into the chamber (15) by said second blowing device (19).

11. Repair device (100) according to claim 10, wherein the holes (25) made in the rigid cover (9) are positioned circumferentially with a pitch, not necessarily constant, each of the holes (25) being positioned at a distance d from the edge (20) of the rigid cover (9), said distance d being at most equal to twice the largest of the diameters of the holes (25).

12. Repair device (100) according to claim 11 in which the holes (25) are arranged and oriented symmetrically on either side of the plane (P).

13. Repair device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the projection of the end surface (11b) of the flexible skirt (11) into the plane (O) is an arc of a circle of radius R.

14. Repair device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 in which the projection, in any plane perpendicular to the central axis (XX'), of the outer contour of the end surface (11b) of the flexible skirt (11) is a continuous closed contour intersecting, on the one hand, the plane (P) at two points b and d, and on the other hand, the plane (O) at two points a and c, the length of the segment [ac] being at least twice as large as the length of the segment [bd]. - 22 - 15. Repair device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the linear displacement system (17) comprises an automatic actuator (23) cooperating with a linear guide (24) to move the suction system (8) along the central axis (XX').

16. A method for repairing a casing (1) implementing the repair device (100) of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) positioning the casing (1) to be treated on the mandrel (2) and rotating said casing (1) to position damage (27) near the robot (4), b) using the robot (4) to position the rotary tool (6) in contact with the outer surface (7) of the casing (1) to be treated in the area to be treated (Zt) including damage (27), c) activating the linear movement system (17) to bring the end surface (11b) of the flexible skirt (11) into contact with the outer surface (7) of the casing (1) to be treated, d) simultaneously activating the air blowing system (16) and the suction system (8), using the adjustment device (21) to adjust the first and second flow rates. of blowing (sorry, ds2) to obtain a sum of the said first and second blowing flow rates (sorry,ds2) which is substantially equal to the suction flow rate (da), e) activation of the processing system (3) to rotate the rotary tool (6) and treat the damage (27), f) shutdown of the processing system (3), the air blowing system (16) and the suction system (8) when the damage (27) is sufficiently treated, g) activation of the linear movement system (17) to remove the end surface (11b) from the outer surface (7), h) activation of the robot (4) to remove the rotary tool (6) from the outer surface (7), i) removal of the casing (1) to be treated, placement of a new casing (1) to be treated and start of a new cycle from step a).

17. Method of hollowing out a carcass (1) according to claim 16, wherein the carcass (1) to be treated is a tire carcass to be retreaded.

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