Stiffeners for Sipe-Molding Members to Resist Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Metallic sipe-molding members experience unintended deformation during forming operations like laser sintering due to heating and cooling imbalances, leading to dimensionally imperfect products and potentially compromised tire performance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a plurality of stiffening members along the sipe-forming portion of the sipe-molding member to resist deformation, which extends outwardly from the thickness of the sipe-forming element, enhancing the bending modulus and mass balance to maintain dimensional integrity and reduce deformation during manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If laser sintering is used to form sipe-molding members, then manufacturing flexibility and material selection are improved, but deformation occurs due to heating and cooling imbalances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial selection flexibilityVSAvoiddimensional accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds stiffening members that extend outwardly from the thickness of the sipe-forming element, introducing a dimensional enhancement to counteract deformation. This structural modification in the thickness dimension provides the necessary rigidity to maintain dimensional accuracy during laser sintering while preserving material selection flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by incorporating stiffening members into the sipe-forming element. This composite approach combines the base material with additional structural elements to achieve both manufacturing flexibility and reduced deformation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If thicker sipe-molding members are used to reduce deformation, then structural stability is improved, but the formed sipe dimensions become imperfect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidsipe dimensional accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sipe-molding member into functional components: a thin sipe-forming element for precise sipe geometry and separate stiffening members for structural stability. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without compromising the other, maintaining both stability and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by adding stiffening members only in specific locations where structural support is needed, while keeping the sipe-forming portion thin for dimensional accuracy. This localized enhancement provides structural stability without affecting the precision of the formed sipe dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If process parameters like power or speed are altered to reduce deformation, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity and ease of manufacture decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeformation reductionVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by incorporating stiffening members into the sipe-molding member design before the laser sintering process. This pre-built structural support prevents deformation during manufacturing, eliminating the need for iterative process parameter adjustments and maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stiffening members provide self-service by inherently preventing deformation through their structural design. This eliminates the need for external process parameter modifications or post-processing corrections, maintaining manufacturing efficiency while achieving high precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10882362B2Stiffeners for sipe-molding members

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention include methods for reducing deformation of a sipe-molding member (10) arising during manufacturing operations, and sipe-molding members (10) comprising a sipe-forming portion (12) and a plurality of stiffening members (20) spaced along the sipe-forming portion. The sipe-forming portion (12) has a length extending in a lengthwise direction of the sipe-molding member (10), a height configured to extend into a depth of a molding cavity, and a thickness extending perpendicular to both the length and height. The sipe-molding member (10) is configured to form a sipe having a thickness commensurate with the thickness of the sipe-forming portion, a length formed by at least a portion of the length of the sipe-forming portion, and a depth formed by at least a portion of the height of the sipe-forming portion. Each of the plurality of stiffening members (20) extend outwardly from the thickness of the sipe-forming element. Further embodiments include methods of forming a molded tire tread.