Removable Annular Insert for Tire Mould Demolding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing molds for tires with complex protrusions on the sidewalls face difficulties in demolding operations, are costly to implement and modify, and risk damaging the protrusions during the process.

Innovation Solution

A mold design featuring an annular insert with concentric elements and a groove system that minimizes tensile and shearing forces on the protrusion, allowing for easier and safer demolding, and enabling modular updates to accommodate shape changes without replacing the entire mold.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a complex protrusion is molded using a traditional integrated mold, then the tire sidewall可以获得 the desired complex shape, but the demolding operation becomes difficult and risks damaging the protrusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplex protrusion shapeVSAvoiddemolding operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mold is segmented into multiple independent parts: a crown mold for the tread, shell molds for the sidewalls, and a removable annular insert for the protrusion. This segmentation allows the insert to be extracted independently during demolding, eliminating the difficulty of removing complex protrusions from an integrated mold while maintaining the desired complex shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The annular insert forming the protrusion is extracted from the integrated mold structure and made removable. The insert can be taken out after vulcanization, allowing easy demolding of the complex protrusion without risking damage to the tire or protrusion, thus resolving the demolding difficulty while preserving the complex shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the entire mold is replaced to change protrusion size or profile, then the tire can accommodate new design requirements, but the cost increases substantially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotrusion size and profile changeVSAvoidmold modification cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mold is divided into permanent components (crown and shells) and a removable annular insert. To change protrusion size or profile, only the insert needs to be replaced or modified, not the entire mold. This segmentation dramatically reduces modification costs while maintaining adaptability to new design requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mold configuration is made dynamic through the removable insert, which can be easily exchanged or adjusted based on design requirements. This allows the mold to adapt to different protrusion sizes and profiles without requiring complete mold replacement, reducing costs while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a removable annular insert is used to facilitate demolding, then the demolding operation becomes easier and safer, but the mold structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedemolding operationVSAvoidmold structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mold is segmented into crown, shells, and a removable annular insert. This segmentation facilitates demolding by allowing the insert to be removed independently, but it does increase the number of components. The complexity is managed by keeping each component simple and standardized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The annular insert serves multiple functions: it forms the complex protrusion during molding, facilitates easy demolding by being removable, and allows cost-effective modifications by being replaceable. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3030407B1Mould for tyre having a removable annular insert
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP3030407B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3030407B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3030407B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Mould (1) for the vulcanization and moulding of a tyre, this tyre comprising a tread delimited by two sidewalls at least one of which is provided with a complex protuberance, the mould comprising a ring (3) intended to mould the tread of the tyre, and two shells (5) for moulding the sidewalls, the mould comprising an annular insert (4) that separates the mould into at least two portions, namely a ring portion (3) and a shell portion (5) in the radially lower region of the sidewalls, said insert (4) having two adjacent concentric elements (6, 7) that are intended to mould said complex protuberance, namely a radially outer element (6) associated with the ring (3), and a radially inner element (7) that is associated with the shell (5).