Segmented Tire Mold Radial Clearance for Green Tire Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of large tires for industrial or off-road vehicles faces challenges in handling massive green tires due to the close diametrical and circumferential dimensions of standard two-part tire molds, leading to potential damage during loading and unloading.
Innovation Solution
A tire mold design featuring a split upper and lower portion with an annular actuating ring, alignment cylinders, and an annular lifting ring allows for easier loading and unloading by providing clearance and precise alignment, using alignment pins, guide fins, and a lifting plate to facilitate the insertion and removal of the green tire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard two-part tire mold with close diametrical and circumferential dimensions is used, then the mold structure is compact and simple, but the green tire may be damaged during loading and unloading due to interference
Solution Approach 1:
The tire mold is divided into multiple segments (first plurality of segments forming the upper portion, second plurality of segments forming the lower portion) that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the mold to open radially outward, providing sufficient clearance for loading and unloading large green tires without requiring a completely different mold design, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the mold dimensions are increased to accommodate large green tires, then loading and unloading becomes easier, but the mold size and material requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mold segments are designed to move dynamically between a closed position (for curing) and an open position (for loading/unloading). This dynamic configuration allows the mold to provide maximum clearance when needed without permanently increasing its volume, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and mold volume.
3Manufacturing precision
If alignment mechanisms are added to ensure proper positioning, then alignment precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mold segments incorporate self-aligning features such as tapered surfaces and guide mechanisms that automatically position the segments correctly during the closing operation. This self-service alignment reduces the need for complex external alignment mechanisms while maintaining high alignment precision, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a tire mold comprising an upper mold portion (11) and a lower mold portion (12), wherein the upper mold portion (11) and the lower mold portion (12) are movable relative to one another for insertion of a tire into the mold (10). The upper mold portion (11) includes an upper sidewall ring (18a, 18b) and an actuating ring (24) having an inner frustroconical surface (25). The lower mold portion (12) includes a plurality of segments (32) each having an upper frustroconical surface (31) and a lower frustroconical surface (28). The lower frustroconical surfaces (28) of the plurality of segments (32) are slidable against an inner frustoconical surface (53) of a bottom mold ring (52). The mold further comprises a lifting plate (50), a lower sidewall ring (34, 34b), and a lifting ring (38) positioned between the bottom mold ring (52) and the lower sidewall ring (34a, 34b). The lifting ring (38), the segments (32) and the lower sidewall ring (34a, 34b) are positioned on the lifting plate (50) for axial movement, and wherein the lifting ring (38) has a first end (2) slidable within a slot (3) of the bottom mold ring (52) and an axially outer surface (39) for engagement with the axially inner surface (47) of a segment (32).