Modular Annular Insert for Tire Tread Molding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire mold technologies face challenges in producing complex tread patterns on sidewalls, requiring significant changes to the entire mold for design modifications, which is costly and limits the integration of a sufficient molding surface area.
Innovation Solution
A modular annular insert system is introduced, comprising multiple parts that can be easily produced and adjusted, allowing for flexible production and modification of tread elements by positioning them at the junction or along the shell, with each part having different dimensions and contact surfaces for assembly and disassembly, and utilizing laser sintering for complex patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single-piece annular insert with large diameter is used, then the molding surface area is sufficient, but the manufacturing precision requirement becomes extremely high to ensure satisfactory fit within the groove
Solution Approach 1:
The annular insert is divided into multiple segments that can be manufactured separately with lower precision requirements, then assembled together to form the complete annular insert with sufficient total molding surface area. This segmentation approach resolves the contradiction by allowing each segment to be manufactured with achievable precision while the assembled structure provides the required total surface area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire mold is replaced to modify tread design, then the tread pattern can be changed, but the production cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The tread pattern molding capability is extracted from the main mold structure and placed into removable annular insert segments. This allows the insert segments to be independently replaced or modified without affecting the rest of the mold, enabling tread design changes while avoiding the high cost of complete mold replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The mold system transitions from a static, fixed design to a dynamic, configurable system where annular insert segments can be selectively replaced. This dynamic capability allows adaptation of tread patterns in response to market demands or design requirements without requiring complete mold replacement, thereby reducing costs while maintaining versatility.
3Device complexity
If a small insert is used, then the insert can be easily secured within the mold, but the surface area it can contain is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple smaller insert segments are combined to form a complete annular insert structure. Each individual segment has manageable size for securing purposes, while their collective arrangement in an annular configuration provides sufficient total molding surface area. This merging approach resolves the contradiction between ease of securing and sufficient surface area.
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 solution enables the production of tires with high precision and flexibility, allowing for modifications to specific parts of the insert without replacing the entire mold, thus reducing production costs and enhancing the aesthetic and operational characteristics of the tire.
Implementation Method 1
at least one insert portion is produced by laser sintering, said insert portion comprising all or part of the insert's sculpted elements
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A mold for vulcanizing and molding a tire, this tire including a tread delimited by two sidewalls, the mold including a ring for molding the patterns of the tread of the tire and two shells for molding the sidewalls, the mold including an annular groove extending in a recessed manner in one of the shells and an insert housed in the groove, this insert having tire-molding surface features, characterized in that the molding surface features of the insert include tire tread pattern elements extending in line with the patterns of the tread.