Movable Post Cure Inflator Rim for Tire Manufacturing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tire manufacturing methods require inconvenient and dangerous changes to the upper rim of the post cure inflator, and involve high energy consumption when cooling heavy vulcanized tires due to the stationary position of the inflator body.
Innovation Solution
The method and apparatus involve a movable inflator body with a lower rim, allowing the upper rim to be lowered for safe and easy changes, and the vulcanized tire to be cooled with reduced energy consumption by moving it only in the front-to-rear direction, with optional configurations for separate movement of the lower mold and inflator body, and a linkage tool for reliable integration during tire manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the upper rim of the post cure inflator is disposed at a higher position, then the tire manufacturing process can be completed, but the rim changing operation becomes inconvenient and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the upper rim movable rather than stationary. The holding body can move upward and downward to transfer the vulcanized tire between the upper rim and the lower rim. This dynamic capability allows operators to easily change rims by moving the holding body and upper rim to a lower position, eliminating the danger and inconvenience of changing rims at a high stationary position.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the inflator body is disposed at a higher position for tire cooling, then the cooling process can be performed, but the energy consumption increases due to moving heavy vulcanized tires upward
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the inflator body to move between stations rather than being fixed at a high position. The inflator body can be transported to the cooling station where the upper rim lowers to receive the tire, then the holding body moves upward to transfer the tire. This dynamic positioning allows the tire to be moved horizontally to the cooling station and then vertically received, reducing the energy required compared to continuously moving heavy tires upward to a fixed high-position inflator.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding body acts as an intermediary between the upper rim and the lower rim. It receives the vulcanized tire from the upper mold, transfers it to the lower rim at the vulcanizing station, and can later transfer it to the upper rim at the cooling station. This intermediary mechanism facilitates efficient tire transfer between different stations and rim positions, optimizing the cooling process while minimizing energy consumption.
3Productivity
If the lower mold and inflator body are integrally moved, then the operational efficiency is improved, but the flexibility for separate operations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the lower mold and inflator body as a multi-functional integrated unit that can perform multiple operations. When integrally moved, they work together to transfer the vulcanized tire from the upper mold to the lower rim and then to the cooling station. The integrated design allows this unit to serve both as a transfer mechanism and as a cooling station carrier, improving operational efficiency while maintaining the flexibility to be separated when needed for specific operations.
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 configuration enables safe and efficient operation by performing rim changes at a lower position and reducing energy consumption by minimizing the movement of heavy vulcanized tires, improving operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the upper mold descends to cooperate with the lower mold positioned at the tire vulcanizing position to vulcanize the green tire
Implementation Method 2
supplies an inner pressure to cool the vulcanized tire
Data Source
AI summary
A rim 58, 83 of a post cure inflator 60 can be changed in an easy and safety manner, while the amount of energy consumption is reduced.A inflator body 61 having the lower rim 58 can be located at a lower position, and the upper rim 83 can be moved downward to a lower position. Thus, the lower rim 58 and the upper rim 83 can be changed at the lower position in response to the change of the type of the tire to be manufactured, whereby the changing operation is made easy and safety. Further, the upper rim 83 moves upward. With this configuration, a vulcanized tire T having a heavy weight only moves in a front and rear direction while being supported by the inflator 61(lower rim 58), whereby the amount of energy consumption can be reduced easily.