Molding Element With Stacked Notched Plates For Tire Tread Fences
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current molding elements for manufacturing tire treads with flexible fences to reduce groove resonance are inefficient due to low productivity and difficulty in achieving precise thickness, which affects the bending capability under hydrodynamic pressure for liquid drainage.
Innovation Solution
A molding element with a forming plate assembly composed of stacked thin plates, including notched plates and support plates, allows for precise thickness and design flexibility of the flexible fences, improving productivity and drainage capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If milling and casting processes are used to manufacture the molding element, then the mold can be produced, but the productivity is low and manufacturing complexity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The molding element is divided into multiple cavities (first cavity, second cavity, third cavity, fourth cavity) that are separately formed within the single mold body. Each cavity can independently form flexible fences, allowing parallel production of multiple tread components in one molding cycle, thereby significantly improving productivity without requiring complex milling or casting processes.
2Ease of manufacture
If milling and casting processes are used to manufacture the molding element, then the mold can be produced, but the manufacturing complexity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The mold is designed as a modular structure with distinct cavities (first, second, third, fourth cavities) that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows each cavity to be optimized for specific functions (forming flexible fences of different orientations and positions) while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity through standardized cavity designs that can be replicated and combined.
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional molding methods are used, then the flexible fence thickness is difficult to control, but the molding process can be completed
Solution Approach 1:
The cavities are designed with specific local geometries to control the thickness of the flexible fences at different positions. The first and second cavities form flexible fences with thickness corresponding to the cavity dimensions, while the third and fourth cavities form additional flexible fences with controlled thickness. This local quality control ensures precise thickness throughout the molded product without requiring complex manufacturing processes.
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
The solution enhances productivity and ensures precise thickness of flexible fences, effectively reducing groove resonance and improving liquid drainage by allowing for accurate bending under hydrodynamic pressure.
Implementation Method 1
it has been difficult to obtain a tread having a flexible fence with precise thickness so to obtain required bending by hydrodynamic pressure for liquid drainage
Data Source
AI summary
The molding element has a plurality of contacting elements delimited by a plurality of grooves and has a molding surface for forming a contact face and a groove forming rib portion for forming the groove. The groove forming rib portion provides a space opening to one of the rib side faces and/or to the rib top face and an insert that is received in the space for forming a portion of the groove and a closing device in the groove. The insert is composed of thin plates stacked with one another. The forming plate assembly also comprises at notched plates of thickness t1, and each notched plate includes a notch for forming a flexible fence, and the notched plate has no area overlapping to the notch in the other notched plated adjacent thereto in sectional view in a direction along which the groove forming rib portion extends.