Polygonal Wire Guide for High-Speed Tire Monofilament Centering

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-speed processing of metal monofilaments through wire guides leads to abrasion, causing breakages and clogging, which interrupts the production of sheathed reinforcing elements for tires, especially when the monofilaments have a sensitive metallic coating.

Innovation Solution

A wire guide with a centering portion configured as a convex polygon and a guide portion that converges, allowing for effective centering and guiding of metal monofilaments while accommodating abrasion debris, reducing the risk of breakage and clogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If metal monofilament runs through wire guide at high speed, then productivity is improved, but abrasion increases causing breakage and clogging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverunning speedVSAvoidrisk of breakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wire guide incorporates a curved transition section with a specific radius of curvature (R ≥ 0.5mm) between the inlet and outlet channels. This curved geometry reduces abrupt directional changes, minimizing friction and abrasion forces on the metal monofilament surface during high-speed passage, thereby reducing material wear and breakage risk while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention modifies geometric parameters of the wire guide, specifically the radius of curvature of the transition section and the angles of the inlet/outlet channels. By optimizing these parameters (R ≥ 0.5mm, channel angles between 30-60 degrees), the guide reduces stress concentration and friction forces, allowing high-speed operation without excessive abrasion that would cause breakage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If metal monofilament with metallic coating runs through wire guide, then lubrication and adhesion functions are provided, but abrasion of coating increases causing clogging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubrication functionVSAvoidabrasion debris
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The curved transition section with large radius of curvature minimizes the number of contact points and reduces sliding friction between the coated monofilament and wire guide walls. This gentle curvature preserves the metallic coating integrity, reducing debris generation while maintaining the coating's lubrication function during high-speed passage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

By optimizing the channel angles and transition radius, the invention reduces shear stresses on the metallic coating. The specific parameter range (R ≥ 0.5mm, angles 30-60 degrees) minimizes coating abrasion, preventing debris accumulation that would cause clogging, while preserving the coating's lubrication properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If wire guide has tight clearance for centering, then centering precision is improved, but risk of clogging by abrasion material increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentering precisionVSAvoidclogging risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The curved transition section provides a gradual expansion zone that maintains centering precision while accommodating abrasion debris. The curvature allows controlled clearance variation that guides the monofilament centrally without creating tight dead zones where debris could accumulate and cause clogging

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a third dimensional aspect to the channel design through the curved transition geometry. This spatial configuration creates sufficient clearance volume to accommodate abrasion debris without compromising the centering precision achieved in the two-dimensional cross-sectional geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 wire guide design significantly reduces the risk of metal monofilament breakage and clogging, enabling continuous production at higher speeds by effectively managing abrasion debris, thus improving the efficiency of sheathing processes.

Implementation Method 1

the friction forces exerted by the wire guide on the surface of the metal monofilament lead to abrasion of the surface of the metal monofilament

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3724114B1Wire guide for producing sheathed reinforcement elements for tyres
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP3724114B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3724114B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3724114B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

The invention concerns an assembly comprising a plurality of metal monofilaments of radius r1 and a wire-guide block comprising a plurality of wire guides, each wire guide comprising a centring portion configured to centre a metal monofilament of radius r1 along a centring axis, wherein the centring portion is a right circular cylinder, the generatrices of which are parallel to the centring axis and the directrix curve is a convex polygon having an inscribed circle of radius r2 greater than or equal to 1.05*r1 and less than or equal to 1.2*r1.