Radially Expandable Drum for Looping Annular Anchoring Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for looping annular anchoring structures in tire production face issues with early air chamber deterioration when using metallic cords, deformation of anchoring structures during rotation, and external member constraints, particularly in terms of bulk and layout.
Innovation Solution
A radially expandable/contractible drum with integrated turning members, featuring a radially expandable intermediate annular portion and lateral annular portions that move synchronously radially and axially, allowing for looping of annular anchoring structures of different sizes without deforming the anchoring structures and without the need for external support members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air chambers are used to turn up the loop around the annular anchoring structure, then the looping function is achieved, but the air chambers deteriorate early when metallic cords are used, requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the air chamber component from the system entirely. Instead of using an air chamber to turn up the loop, the invention uses a radially expandable drum that directly expands to push the loop around the annular anchoring structure. This extraction of the problematic air chamber component eliminates the deterioration issue while maintaining the looping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the pneumatic system (air chamber) with a mechanically expandable drum system. The drum can be radially expanded using mechanical means to achieve the same loop-turning function without the deterioration problems associated with air chambers when used with metallic cords.
2Ease of operation
If the drum rotates during the looping process, then the loop can be turned up around the anchoring structure, but the anchoring structure becomes deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically expandable drum that can change its radial dimension during the looping process. The drum expands radially to push the loop around the anchoring structure while remaining stationary in position, avoiding the rotation-induced deformation problem. This dynamic radial adjustment enables the looping operation without compromising anchoring structure integrity.
3Ease of operation
If external support members are used to constrain the air chamber, then the looping function is achieved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the support function into the drum structure itself. The radially expandable drum integrates the support and constraint functions within its own structure, eliminating the need for separate external support members. The drum's radial expansion capability provides both the looping action and the necessary structural support in a unified component.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the loop, provides the expanding force to turn up the loop, and constrains the anchoring structure during the process. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate external support members, reducing device complexity and space requirements.
4Device complexity
If a fixed-diameter drum is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate anchoring structures of different diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a drum with dynamically adjustable radial dimension. The drum can be radially expanded or contracted to match the diameter of different anchoring structures. This dynamic adjustability allows a single drum structure to accommodate multiple sizes of anchoring structures without requiring multiple fixed-diameter drums.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the key parameter of the drum (radial dimension) to adapt to different anchoring structure diameters. By making the radial dimension variable rather than fixed, the system achieves versatility in handling different sizes while maintaining structural simplicity through a single adjustable component.
Data Source
AI summary
A process and a drum for looping annular anchoring structures in a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels includes: depositing a loop on a drum including a radially expandable/contractible intermediate annular portion and, in a position axially adjacent to the opposite axial ends of the intermediate annular portion, a pair of radially expandable/contractible lateral annular portions; associating an annular anchoring structure with a radially outer annular surface portion of the loop defined at the intermediate annular portion; and turning up each of opposite end edges of the loop on the annular anchoring structure through the lateral annular portions as a result of a thrusting stress imparted by a respective lateral annular portion of the pair of lateral annular portions because of a synchronous radial movement and a synchronous axial displacement of a respective plurality of circumferentially adjacent first angular sectors.