Rubber Mixture Cooling via Spray Evaporation and Aspiration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The production of rubber mixtures for vehicle tires requires precise control of temperature and water content to achieve desired performance properties, such as reduced rolling resistance and improved wear resistance, which existing methods struggle to consistently achieve across different production sequences.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a series of rubber mixture production installations that allow for monopassage and multipassage sequences, including mixing and cooling processes with external mixers and spray systems, and a transport means that directs the rubber mixture through selected installations to achieve target temperature and water content values, enabling customizable rubber mixtures without the need for separate equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate equipment systems are used for different rubber mixture production sequences, then each sequence can be optimized, but device complexity increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to handle different production sequencesVSAvoidnumber of separate equipment systems
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single rubber mixture production installation that can perform multiple functions - handling both monopassage and multipassage production sequences, as well as various mixing and cooling processes, through reconfigurable equipment and programmable control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the production installation into modular functional units (mixing units, cooling units, transport means) that can be independently configured and re arranged to accommodate different production sequences, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If fixed production sequences are used, then equipment design is simplified, but manufacturing precision of temperature and water content decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of temperature and water contentVSAvoidflexibility of production sequence
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by implementing a programmable control system that can dynamically adjust production parameters (temperature, water content, processing time) and reconfigure equipment operations based on the specific rubber mixture recipe and desired properties, enabling precise control without fixed sequence constraints

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If separate equipment is used for each rubber mixture type, then production precision is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsistency of rubber mixture propertiesVSAvoidoutput per unit time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a single production installation capable of producing multiple rubber mixture types with consistent properties through programmable control and reconfigurable processing parameters, eliminating the need for separate dedicated equipment for each mixture type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 system ensures the production of rubber mixtures with consistent target properties, reducing waste and energy consumption by allowing selective transfer and processing, thereby enhancing the adaptability and efficiency of tire production.

Implementation Method 1

spraying the continuous sheet and evacuating air containing evaporated water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

evacuating air containing evaporated water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3389966B1System and method for producing rubber mixtures for vehicle tires
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP3389966B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3389966B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3389966B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

System (10) and method for producing rubber mixtures comprising: a series of rubber mixture production installation (20, 100, 300, 400) that define monopassage and multipassage sequences, and transport means (114, 116, 200, 240, 250), wherein the series of rubber mixture production installation comprises at least one mixing and cooling installation (100), the latter comprising: at least one external mixer having a pair of cylinders (110) for transforming the rubber mixture into a continuous sheet (112), at least one spray system having one or more spray rails (124, 126) positioned at each of an upper (102) and a lower (104) spray station, each spray rail being in communication with a source for supplying water and air to one or more nozzles (124a, 126a), and at least one aspiration system having one or more aspiration hoods (134, 136) positioned downstream of each spray rail, each aspiration hood being in communication with a source for supplying air.