Extrusion Device Heating Control for Elastomeric Products

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for heating extrusion devices in the production of elastomeric tire components require experimental tests to determine the mass and thermal inertia of each unit, leading to lengthy and costly processes, and risk vulcanization of materials due to uneven heating profiles.

Innovation Solution

A method involving simultaneous initial heating of all units to a predetermined temperature, followed by iterative heating adjustments based on the working temperatures of units that have not yet reached their target, ensuring all units reach their working temperature without risking vulcanization, and allowing for quick heating without prior experimental testing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If experimental tests are conducted to determine mass and thermal inertia of each unit, then heating precision is improved, but process time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating precisionVSAvoidprocess time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive and time-consuming experimental testing with a disposable lookup table approach. The thermal characteristics are pre-determined once and stored, allowing rapid reference during operation without repeated experimental tests, thus eliminating ongoing time and cost losses while maintaining heating precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs the complex experimental determination of mass and thermal inertia characteristics in advance, before actual production. These pre-determined values are stored in a lookup table, allowing the heating process to proceed rapidly using pre-calculated data rather than conducting experiments during each heating cycle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If iterative heating adjustments are implemented, then heating precision is improved, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating precisionVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the actual temperature of each structural unit is continuously monitored and compared with the target temperature. Based on this feedback, the heating power is dynamically adjusted - increasing power when temperature is below target and decreasing or stopping heating when target is reached or exceeded, preventing vulcanization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the heating control dynamic by continuously adjusting heating power based on real-time temperature measurements. The system transitions from static pre-determined heating curves to dynamic adaptive control, where heating parameters change in response to actual thermal conditions, improving precision without requiring complex fixed control logic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This method reduces the overall heating time, prevents vulcanization, and can be applied to any extrusion device, regardless of size or type, by focusing on the working temperatures of units rather than their specific masses and inertias.

Implementation Method 1

a) setting, for each structural unit, a heating temperature to a value equal or close to that of the working temperature of the structural unit which has the lowest working temperature; b) simultaneously heating all the structural units of said extrusion device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2585272B1Method for controlling the heating-up of an extrusion device for producing an elastomeric semi-finished product
Publication Date: 2017.08.23 PIRELLI TYRE SPA
  • EP2585272B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2585272B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

In the manufacturing of a semi - finished product (100) made of elastomeric material, a method is carried out for controlling the heating of an extrusion device (1) comprising multiple structural units (10-40) having respective different working temperatures (T1-T4)and thermal inertias (11-14). The method comprises: a) setting, for all of the above-mentioned units (10-40, a heating temperature to a value equal or close to the working temperature of the unit which has the lowest working temperature; b) simultaneously heating all of the above-mentioned units (10-40); c) when said unit is approaching or has reached said heating temperature, setting for the other units a new heating temperature to a value equal or close to that of the working temperature of the unit whose working temperature is closest to said heating temperature; d) iteratively repeating the operations mentioned in b) and c), until all of the above- mentioned units (10-40)have reached the respective working temperature (T1-T4).