Variable-Section Rubber Strip Winding for Stable Profile Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing tire profiles with triangular sections are unsuitable for creating reinforcing elements with narrow bases, as they fail to achieve uniformity and stability, leading to deformation and decohesion issues.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a strip of non-vulcanized rubber with a constant triangular section, which is stretched by a variable percentage to reduce its section, allowing it to be wound onto a rotating drum without axis modification, enabling the production of robust and stable profile elements with precise geometry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing winding methods are used to produce triangular profile elements, then the production process is simple, but the profile elements with narrow bases suffer from deformation and decohesion issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of profile elementsVSAvoidcomplexity of winding process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The strip is pre-stretched by a variable percentage before winding to reduce its cross-section. This preliminary action modifies the strip dimensions in advance, allowing it to form stable profile elements with narrow bases during winding without requiring complex post-processing or specialized winding mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the strip is wound without stretching to maintain simplicity, then the manufacturing process is fast, but the profile elements lack uniformity and stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of profile elementsVSAvoidmanufacturing cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The strip undergoes variable percentage stretching that modifies its cross-sectional dimensions. By changing the physical parameter of the strip (its section size) through controlled stretching, the method achieves uniform and stable profile elements with narrow bases, eliminating deformation and decohesion issues while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a constant cross-section strip is used for winding, then the extrusion process is simple, but it cannot produce profile elements with varying section requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different profile requirementsVSAvoidease of extrusion process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The strip is pre-stretched by a variable percentage before winding to reduce its cross-section. This preliminary action modifies the strip dimensions in advance, allowing it to form stable profile elements with narrow bases during winding without requiring complex post-processing or specialized winding mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 minimizes manufacturing time and energy consumption while ensuring the stability and precision of the profile elements, particularly those with narrow bases, by maintaining alignment and preventing axial sliding during the winding process.

Implementation Method 1

the strip is stretched by a variable percentage of elongation according to a predetermined law, to bring the strip to a reduced cross-section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElongation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

the said profile element is produced by winding the reduced cross-section strip onto itself on a rotating assembly drum without changing the transverse position of the longitudinal axis of the strip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWinding:

Data Source

PatentEP3691858B1Method for manufacturing a profile by winding a variable-section strip
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP3691858B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3691858B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3691858B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a rubber profiled element (P3), in which the following steps are implemented: - Step A: an unvulcanised rubber strip (4) with a given constant triangular section is delivered, - Step B: the strip is stretched by a variable elongation percentage according to a predetermined law, in order to bring the strip (4) to a smaller section, - Step C: said profiled element (P3) is produced by winding, on a rotating assembly drum (1), the smaller-section strip on itself without changing the transverse position of the longitudinal axis of the strip.