Curing Bladder Leak Detection Using Helium Tracer Gas
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire curing bladder leak detection systems fail to detect small pinhole leaks and bladder folds, leading to undetected defects and increased scrap tire production during the tire curing process.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an inert tracer gas, such as helium, into the pressurized nitrogen used to inflate the curing bladder, and using a vacuum source to evacuate the space between the bladder and tire, with an electronic sensor to detect the presence of the tracer gas and trigger a stop in the curing process if a leak is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a vacuum is pulled on the bladder and curing media piping to detect leaks, then the detection system is simple to operate, but small pinhole leaks and bladder folds are not detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inert tracer gas (helium or nitrogen) as an intermediary substance to detect leaks. The tracer gas is added to the pressurized gas in the curing bladder, and if a leak occurs, the tracer gas escapes and can be detected by an electronic sensor, enabling detection of small pinhole leaks and bladder folds that conventional vacuum methods miss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical vacuum-based leak detection system with an electronic sensor-based detection system. Instead of relying on vacuum pressure measurements, the system uses an electronic sensor to detect the presence of tracer gas molecules, providing much higher sensitivity for detecting small leaks
2Ease of manufacture
If visual inspection is performed after the curing process, then the inspection process is simple, but leaks in the bladder are undetected leading to defective tires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary leak detection by adding tracer gas to the curing bladder before the curing process begins. The system continuously monitors for tracer gas presence during curing, allowing detection of leaks before they cause tire defects. This preliminary detection prevents defective tires from being produced in the first place, rather than detecting problems after curing is complete
3Measurement precision
If an inert tracer gas is added to pressurized gas and an electronic sensor is used to detect leaks, then leak detection precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic sensor serves multiple functions: it detects the presence of tracer gas, determines the magnitude of leaks, and can trigger alarms or shutdowns. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate detection devices, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while maintaining high detection precision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively identifies leaks that conventional systems miss, reducing the production of defective tires by ensuring only non-leaking bladders are used for tire curing, thereby minimizing scrap tire generation.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum source constructed and arranged to evacuate, through the passage structure, a space between the curing bladder and the tire
Implementation Method 2
An electronic sensor is constructed and arranged to sense a presence of the inert tracer gas evacuated from the space
Data Source
AI summary
A method of detecting a leak in a curing bladder during a tire curing process provides a curing bladder (40) and tire (42) in a tire mold structure (18). An inert tracer gas (48) is added to a pressurized gas such as nitrogen, with the nitrogen inflating the curing bladder so that the curing bladder engages a portion of the tire. The method detects whether the inert gas is present between the curing bladder and the tire while the curing bladder and tire remain in the tire mold structure. A curing bladder leak detection system (10) for a tire curing press (12) is also provided.