Segmented Sipe Blade Structure for Wider Tire Groove Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sipe blades formed by press-molding steel materials have limited flexibility in changing the groove width of sipes in tires, leading to low degree of freedom in shaping and potential breakage during tire molding and demolding.
Innovation Solution
A sipe blade configuration comprising a first blade molded by pressing a metal plate and a second blade with greater thickness, where the second blade has a contact or fitting portion that extends along the outer periphery of the first blade, allowing for adjustable groove width and improved durability by combining different manufacturing methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a thin sipe blade is used to form narrow grooves, then the degree of freedom in setting sipe shape is improved, but the blade is prone to breakage due to repeated loads during tire molding and demolding
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe blade system is segmented into a first thin blade for precision work and a second thick blade for structural support. The second blade's greater thickness provides the necessary strength and fatigue resistance to withstand repeated molding and demolding loads, while the first blade maintains the ability to form narrow grooves with high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The second thick blade acts as a protective structure that cushions and distributes the repeated loads during tire molding and demolding operations. This pre-positioned structural support prevents the first thin blade from experiencing excessive stress that would lead to breakage, thereby extending the fatigue life of the blade system
Data Source
AI summary
A sipe blade which is implanted in a base mold and which molds a sipe in a tire is provided with a first blade molded by pressing a plate member and a second blade having a thickness greater than a thickness of the first blade. The second blade is provided with a contact portion which extends along an outer periphery of the first blade implanted in the base mold and with which one molding surface of the first blade comes in contact along a peripheral edge portion of the first blade, or provided with a fitting portion which accommodates the peripheral edge portion of the first blade and with which both molding surfaces of the first blade come in contact.