Movable Pusher Bells for Tire Sidewall Bonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tire manufacturing methods face inaccuracies and stress on the crowning drum due to force imbalances during the turning up and bonding of sidewalls, which can deform the tire and overburden the mechanics.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using inflatable crowning bellows and movable pusher bells on a rail system, with drives and a servomotor to maintain even contact pressure and compensate for force imbalances, ensuring accurate and balanced bonding of sidewalls to the tire carcass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional pusher bells are used on the crowning drum, then the sidewalls can be turned up and bonded to the tire carcass, but force imbalances occur during the process causing manufacturing inaccuracies and deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of sidewall bondingVSAvoidforce balance during turning up
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the conventional fixed pusher bells with dynamically adjustable pusher bells that can independently move in the axial direction. This dynamic capability allows the system to compensate for force imbalances during the turning up process, ensuring even contact pressure and preventing tire deformation while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention incorporates sensors that detect the position and force distribution during the turning up process. This feedback information is used to control the axial movement of the pusher bells, enabling real-time compensation for force imbalances and ensuring consistent bonding quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If conventional fixed pusher bells are used, then the structure is simpler, but the mechanics of the crowning head and drum are overloaded due to force imbalances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure of pusher bell systemVSAvoidmechanical stress on crowning drum
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces axially movable pusher bells with independent drive mechanisms. Although this increases device complexity, it distributes and balances the forces during the turning up process, preventing overloading of the crowning drum and head mechanics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameters of the pusher bells by enabling axial movement. This parameter change allows the system to adapt force distribution dynamically, reducing peak stresses on the crowning drum while maintaining effective sidewall bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional manufacturing process is used, then the process is simpler, but aging of bellows causes force imbalance and deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of manufacturing processVSAvoiduniformity of sidewall bonding
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses sensors to continuously monitor the force distribution and position of the pusher bells during the turning up process. This feedback mechanism compensates for aging effects in the bellows by dynamically adjusting the axial positions of the pusher bells, maintaining uniform bonding quality throughout the tire's service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables the system to self-correct force imbalances through the axially movable pusher bells. When one side experiences greater resistance or force imbalance, the system automatically adjusts the position of the pusher bells to maintain even contact pressure, eliminating the need for external intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 approach significantly improves manufacturing quality by ensuring even contact pressure and reducing mechanical stress, allowing for precise and uniform bonding of sidewalls, thereby enhancing tire production quality.

Implementation Method 1

turning up the side walls arranged on the tire carcass with inflatable crowning bellows

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic expansion: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

lateral pressing of the pusher bells against the buckling bellows, whereby the buckling bellows are deformed and the turned-up side walls are pressed against the outer sides of the bulged tire carcass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical compression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3062997B1Method for producing a vehicle tyre
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3062997B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3062997B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3062997B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing a vehicle tyre in which a tyre carcass is expanded radially on a shaping drum, wherein the sidewalls (11, 12) arranged on the tyre carcass (8) are turned up by inflatable shaping bladders (5, 6). This involves moving two pusher bells (1, 2), which are arranged to the sides of the tyre carcass (8), in the direction of the centre (15) of the blank, wherein the pusher bells (1, 2) are respectively mounted on a movable first and second carriage (3, 4) and are respectively moved in the axial direction (20) by a first and second drive (13, 14) by way of a coupling, wherein the pusher bells (1, 2) are pressed laterally against the shaping bladders (5, 6). When a disequilibrium of forces on the two sides of the shaping bladders (5, 6) is set, the pressing positions of the two pusher bells (1, 2) are balanced, the two drives (13, 14) being arranged on a freely mounted third carriage (17).