Curved Moulding Element with Acute Cutting Edge for Tyre Tread

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing moulds for tyre tread moulding struggle to efficiently shape and vulcanize curved blocks with cover layers, as they often result in incomplete coverage and poor adaptation of the cover layer to the curved form of the blocks.

Innovation Solution

A moulding element featuring a main lamella with an acute cutting edge and two curved ribs with rounded ends, along with secondary lamellas perpendicular to the main lamella, allows for precise moulding of curved blocks with a cover layer by guiding and cutting the layer to adapt to the block's curvature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional moulds are used for tyre tread moulding, then the moulding process can be performed, but the cover layer does not adapt properly to the curved form of the blocks resulting in incomplete coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover layer adaptation to block curvatureVSAvoidmoulding process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The moulding element is segmented into multiple functional components: a main lamella with cutting edge for precise cover layer cutting, two curved ribs with rounded ends for guiding the cover layer, and curvature C that matches the block geometry. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, ensuring the cover layer adapts properly to the curved block form while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the cover layer is positioned on curved blocks, then complete surface contact is needed, but conventional moulds result in poor adaptation and incomplete coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover layer positioning accuracyVSAvoidcover layer coverage completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The moulding element incorporates curvature C in both the ribs and the main lamella that matches the curvature of the tyre blocks. The two ribs with rounded ends guide the cover layer along the curved surface, while the main lamella with its acute cutting edge cuts the cover layer to fit the curved form precisely. This curvature matching ensures complete surface contact and proper adaptation of the cover layer to the block geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Shape

If ribs are used to guide cover layer into grooves, then groove moulding is achieved, but the cover layer may not adapt to the curved block form

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegroove formationVSAvoidcover layer adaptation to block curvature

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple functions into the moulding element: the two ribs with rounded ends perform groove moulding while simultaneously guiding the cover layer along the curved block surface, and the main lamella with acute cutting edge cuts the cover layer to match the curvature. This merging of functions ensures that groove formation and cover layer adaptation to block curvature are achieved together, resolving the contradiction between groove shaping and cover layer fit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3083221B1Moulding element comprising cutting means for moulding and vulcanizing a tyre tread

Publication Date: 2018.12.26 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)

Figure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a moulding element (1) comprising a main lamella (7) and two ribs(3) positioned on either side of the main lamella (7) at a certain distance from this main lamella (7). The ribs are intended to mould grooves in the tread, this ribs comprising rounded ends(5). The main lamella (7) comprises cutting edge, this cutting edge making an acute angle. The ribs (3) are curved in their length with a curvature C and in that the lamella (7) is curved with the same curvature C.