Extrusion Blow Mold Structure for Fixing Internal Tank Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing molds for manufacturing plastic fuel tanks with internal components suffer from increased complexity, cost, and mechanical resistance issues due to the use of movable rods, which are not adequately addressed by the proliferation of movable rods, leading to material deformation and cooling temperature issues, as well as manufacturing process inflexibility.
Innovation Solution
A mold design with extended molding surfaces that replace movable rods, allowing for simultaneous fixing of multiple internal components without deformation, controlled volume reduction, and independent mold closure, reducing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If movable rods are used to fix internal components inside the parison, then internal components can be fixed during molding, but the mold design becomes more complex and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the function of fixing internal components with the mold cavity structure itself. The mold cavity includes fixing means integrated into its walls, eliminating the need for separate movable rods. This combining of functions reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall mold design while maintaining the ability to fix internal components effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The mold cavity is designed to perform multiple functions: shaping the hollow body and simultaneously fixing internal components. The fixing means are built into the mold cavity structure, allowing the same component to serve both molding and component fixation purposes, thereby reducing complexity and cost.
2Reliability
If movable rods are used to fix internal components, then components can be secured inside the parison, but the material of the parison is stretched toward the fixing region causing reduced thickness and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing function is merged with the stationary mold cavity structure rather than using separate movable rods. This integration allows the fixing means to be part of the cavity wall itself, preventing material stretching and thickness reduction that would occur with external pushing rods.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of pushing the parison from the outside with movable rods, the fixing means are built into the cavity walls to hold the internal component in place from within the molding space. This inverted approach prevents material deformation by avoiding external pushing forces.
3Reliability
If movable rods are used to fix internal components, then components can be attached during molding, but the cooling temperature homogeneity of the mold is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing means are merged with the mold cavity structure and cooling circuit integration. This allows the fixing components to be part of the thermally managed mold structure, ensuring uniform heat distribution and maintaining cooling temperature homogeneity while still providing effective component fixation.
4Reliability
If movable rods are used to fix internal components, then components can be secured inside the parison, but the size and complexity of the extrusion blow-molding machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing function is merged with the mold assembly that is already an integral part of the extrusion blow-molding machine. By integrating fixing means into the existing mold structure rather than adding separate movable rod mechanisms, the overall machine complexity and size are avoided from increasing.
5Productivity
If the depression of saddle tank is formed at the same time as the rest of the tank during mold closing, then the tank structure is completed in one operation, but the manufacturing process lacks flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The mold is segmented into different functional sections: a first mold section for forming the main tank body and a second mold section for forming the depression. This segmentation allows independent control of each section, enabling flexible manufacturing processes where the depression can be formed at different stages or configurations as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The mold sections are designed with movable elements that can adjust their positions and configurations dynamically. This allows the manufacturing process to be flexible and adaptable, enabling the depression to be formed at different times or in different ways depending on the specific production requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A mold for manufacture by extrusion blow molding includes two parts. At least one of the parts includes at least one first section having a first molding surface including at least one primary contact region to form, by pressing, zones for fixing at least one internal component inside a parison, a second section having a second molding surface, the second section of the part of the mold being movable with respect to the associated at least one first section of the part of the mold, and at least one third section movable with respect to the associated at least one first section of the part of the mold, the at least one third section having a third molding surface including at least one secondary contact region to reduce, by pressing, a predetermined volume inside the parison.