Tiltable Curing Press Cover With Sliding Axle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Curing presses for tire blanks face challenges in accessing the trough for loading molds and tires due to limited free height between the trough and cover, requiring significant energy expenditure and space, especially when tilting the slides to maximize access.
Innovation Solution
A curing press design featuring a cover pivotably mounted on a slidably guided axle, allowing additional tilt while sliding, increases the free height without increasing the tilting angle or energy expenditure, and reduces the space requirement by using a secondary axle that tilts in the same direction as the sliding guide members, enhancing access to the trough.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the slides are tilted through a pronounced angle to maximize access to the trough, then the space required to gain access to the trough is improved, but the energy expenditure increases considerably and the space requirement on that side of the press increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting function is divided into two independent stages: first the sliding guide members tilt the cover, then the slidably guided axle provides additional tilting. This segmentation allows each component to contribute partially to the total tilting angle, reducing the burden on any single actuator and lowering energy expenditure while maintaining access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a second degree of freedom for tilting by introducing the slidably guided axle that moves in a different dimension (sliding along the rail) compared to the traditional single pivot point. This dimensional change enables the cover to achieve greater effective tilting without requiring a single actuator to work at extreme angles, thereby reducing energy consumption.
2Ease of operation
If the slides are tilted through a pronounced angle to maximize access to the trough, then the space required to gain access to the trough is improved, but the space requirement on that side of the press increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting function is divided into two independent parts: the sliding guide members provide initial tilting while the slidably guided axle provides additional tilting through its sliding motion. This segmentation allows the system to achieve the same access improvement with smaller individual components, reducing the total space footprint on the press side.
3Ease of operation
If the cover is slid upward to open the press, then the access to the trough is improved, but the free height between the trough and cover is limited by the vertical displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the single vertical sliding motion into a combined motion with two components: vertical displacement from the sliding guide members and additional angular tilting from the slidably guided axle. This dimensional change allows the cover to create more effective clearance and access space without requiring proportionally larger vertical travel, thereby increasing free height efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The curing press (2) for a tire blank comprises: a trough (4), a cover (6) connected to the trough by means of sliding guide members (8), the cover and the trough each being pivotably mounted on these members. The cover (6) is, moreover, pivotably mounted on an axle (24) guided slidably with respect to the trough.