Foam Insert Extraction Tooling for Tire Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assembling and disassembling foam tire inserts in passenger vehicles are inefficient, particularly for elastic sections, as they often deform the foam, introduce torsional stresses, and risk damaging the connection between the flange and sole during disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A method and tooling that uses a machine with rollers to compress and shape the foam bead, employing a fork tool to maintain space between the bead and tire, allowing for axial insertion and U-shaping without torsional forces, enabling easy assembly and disassembly while preserving the foam's integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional tearing pliers are used to extract the foam insert, then the insert can be removed from the tire, but the foam insert is likely to be damaged and the connection between flange and sole is likely to be injured
Solution Approach 1:
A U-shaped tool is introduced as an intermediary device between the rollers and the foam insert. This tool distributes the extraction forces uniformly across the foam insert, preventing concentrated stresses that would damage the flange-sole connection. The U-shaped tool acts as a mediator that transforms the mechanical action of the rollers into a safe, distributed extraction force.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the extraction method from direct mechanical tearing to a controlled process where the foam insert is first deformed radially inward, then extracted using distributed forces. This parameter change in the extraction mechanism prevents damage to the connection between flange and sole while maintaining ease of operation.
2Productivity
If push bars are used to eject the foam bead by axial thrust, then large and rigid tires can be disassembled, but the foam insert is deformed in axial direction and high torsional stresses are introduced into the sole
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying axial thrust from the outside to eject the foam bead, the invention inverts the approach by using rollers to compress the foam insert radially inward first, then using a U-shaped tool to extract it. This inverted sequence avoids the harmful axial deformation and torsional stresses that would result from direct axial ejection.
Solution Approach 2:
The U-shaped tool serves as an intermediary that enables extraction without direct axial thrust on the foam insert. It distributes the extraction forces and prevents the introduction of harmful torsional stresses into the sole-flange connection, while still allowing efficient disassembly operation.
3Volume of moving object
If the foam insert is extracted by adapted tearing pliers after vacuum creation, then the dimensions are reduced for extraction, but the method is not designed to facilitate dismantling operation and requires great care
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes vacuum creation to reduce the volume of the foam insert, making it easier to extract from the tire. This pneumatic approach complements the mechanical roller compression and U-shaped tool extraction, creating a facilitated dismantling operation that requires less care and effort.
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
Facilitates both assembly and disassembly of foam inserts in passenger vehicle tires without deforming the foam, maintaining the quality of the connection between the flange and sole, and is simple and cost-effective to implement.
Implementation Method 1
Rollers 2 and 3 are placed in contact with the inner circumference of the bead and roller 1 is placed on the outer circumference of the bead. Roller 1 is then lowered so as to drive the bead between rollers 2 and 3 and cause it to assume a U-shape
Implementation Method 2
the foam insert, in particular when dealing with inserts and tires intended for use in passenger vehicles
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The method involves introducing a fork (F) in a space (E) to maintain the space, when force applied on a tire tread is released. Rollers (1-3) of respective axes are introduced in the space delimited by an inner diameter of a foam flange (B). The roller (1) is displaced toward the rollers (2, 3) along an axis situated in a mediator plane and perpendicular to a plane formed by the axes of the rollers (2, 3) for driving the flange between the rollers (2, 3) after extraction of the fork (F). A tire (P) is disengaged and the flange is released by operating the rollers.