Fluororubber Tire Vulcanizing Bladder Grooves for Air Release

Solution Overview

Problem

The use of fluororubber tire vulcanizing bladders results in a large volume of air remaining between the bladder and the raw tire during shaping, leading to insufficient contact and potential bareness on the vulcanized tire's inner surface.

Innovation Solution

A tire vulcanizing bladder made of fluororubber with grooves and recesses on its outer surface, and bladder ridges and protrusions on the inner surface, designed to enhance contact and prevent air retention, thereby reducing bareness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If fluororubber is used for the tire vulcanizing bladder, then painting with release agent is not required, but a large volume of air remains between the bladder and raw tire during shaping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelimination of painting processVSAvoidcontact between bladder and raw tire

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the porous materials principle by forming grooves and recesses on the outer surface of the fluororubber bladder. These grooves (extending in the width direction) and recesses (connecting the grooves) create a porous-like structure that allows air to escape during shaping, enabling the bladder to maintain close contact with the raw tire inner surface while using fluororubber material that eliminates the need for painting with release agents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Reliability

If fluororubber is used for the tire vulcanizing bladder, then chemical reaction with raw tire is avoided, but insufficient contact leads to bareness on vulcanized tire inner surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical stabilityVSAvoidsurface contact quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the porous materials principle by forming grooves and recesses on the outer surface of the fluororubber bladder. These grooves (extending in the width direction) and recesses (connecting the grooves) create a porous-like structure that allows air to escape during shaping, enabling the bladder to maintain close contact with the raw tire inner surface while using fluororubber material that eliminates the need for painting with release agents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Loss of substance

If fluororubber is used for the tire vulcanizing bladder, then release agent consumption is reduced, but air retention causes bareness and surface defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease agent consumptionVSAvoidair retention between bladder and tire

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the porous materials principle by forming grooves and recesses on the outer surface of the fluororubber bladder. These grooves (extending in the width direction) and recesses (connecting the grooves) create a porous-like structure that allows air to escape during shaping, enabling the bladder to maintain close contact with the raw tire inner surface while using fluororubber material that eliminates the need for painting with release agents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Data Source

PatentUS11993041B2Tire vulcanizing bladder and pneumatic tire

Publication Date: 2024.05.28 BRIDGESTONE CORP

AI summary

Provided is a tire vulcanizing bladder comprising fluororubber, wherein a plurality of grooves extending in a width direction are formed on a circumference of an outer surface of the tire vulcanizing bladder, and a plurality of recesses connecting the grooves to each other are formed between the grooves. Also provided is a pneumatic tire comprising one or more fluorine-containing particles having a maximum diameter of 1.0 μm or more per area of 100 μm2 of a tire inner surface, wherein a plurality of bladder ridges extending in a tire width direction are formed on a circumference of the tire inner surface, and a plurality of protrusions connecting the bladder ridges to each other are formed between the bladder ridges.