Segmented Drive Belt Mold for Easy Demolding of Short Belts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing drive belts, especially V-ribbed belts, face challenges such as high personnel effort, high investment costs for pressure vessels, and difficulties in demolding due to length restrictions and rib quality issues, particularly for belts under 400 mm in length.
Innovation Solution
A device with a tubular shaping body divided into sectors allows for easy assembly and disassembly, enabling gentle removal of the drive belt, and an outer tube for secure holding during the manufacturing process, along with a locking mechanism and temperature control system to minimize investment and energy costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional steel mold with double-walled pressure vessel is used for airbag process, then the drive belt can be vulcanized under pressure, but the investment cost is high and demolding is difficult for short belts
Solution Approach 1:
The steel mold is divided into two separate components: an outer tube and an inner shaping body. The outer tube serves as the pressure vessel while the shaping body provides the mold cavity. This segmentation allows the shaping body to be removed independently after vulcanization, solving the demolding difficulty for short belts while maintaining the pressure vessel functionality.
2Device complexity
If the shaping body is made as a single piece, then the mold structure is simple, but demolding requires high personnel effort and causes damage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The shaping body is segmented into multiple sectors that can be separated from each other. This allows the drive belt to be accessed and removed from the mold cavity without requiring complete disassembly of the entire mold structure, reducing personnel effort and damage risk during demolding.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaping body is extracted from the outer tube after vulcanization. This separation allows easy access to the drive belt for removal while keeping the outer tube as a reusable pressure vessel, simplifying the demolding process.
3Reliability
If steam heating is used for vulcanization, then the heating process is traditional and reliable, but the energy cost and infrastructure requirements are high
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional steam heating system is replaced with an induction heating system. Induction heating uses electromagnetic fields to directly heat the steel mold components, eliminating the need for steam generation infrastructure and reducing energy costs while maintaining reliable and uniform heating for vulcanization.
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 solution simplifies the production of drive belts by reducing demolding effort, minimizing investment costs, and ensuring uniform temperature distribution, allowing for efficient production of belts across various lengths with improved rib quality and reduced personnel costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device (9) configured to transfer heat to the outer tube (5), in particular by induction heating
Implementation Method 2
heating device (9) configured to transfer heat to the outer tube (5), in particular by induction heating
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for manufacturing at least one drive belt (7), comprising a tubular forming body (2, 3) with a first inner cavity extending longitudinally over the entire or predominant length of the forming body and surrounded circumferentially by a wall of the forming body, wherein the inner surface of the wall of the forming body facing the first inner cavity has a forming surface (6) for contact and shaping of the drive belt to be produced during the manufacturing process. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing at least one such drive belt using such a device.