Segmented Tire Building Drum with Independent Bead Locks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tire building process requires two drums and faces challenges in precisely locating and anchoring tire beads, leading to ply distortion due to variations in bead positioning, especially during the transfer from the first stage drum to the second stage drum, and requires synchronization in axial and radial expansion of the drum for maintaining tire uniformity.
Innovation Solution
A single tire building drum with a rotatable center section and axially and radially expandable left and right sections, featuring independent bead lock mechanisms and a linkage system with radially expandable lifter housings and sliding cylinders for synchronized axial and radial expansion, ensuring precise bead locking and uniform tire shaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If two separate tire building drums are used for first stage and second stage tire building, then the tire building process can be divided into distinct stages, but the complexity of the equipment increases and bead positioning precision deteriorates due to transfer variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the first stage and second stage tire building drums into a single integrated drum structure. The drum includes a center section with left and right expandable portions, each equipped with independent bead lock mechanisms. This merging eliminates the need to transfer the tire carcass between separate drums, thereby maintaining bead positioning precision while still allowing distinct first and second stage tire building operations to occur on the same drum.
2Manufacturing precision
If a single tire building drum is used for both first stage and second stage tire building, then the bead positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for synchronized axial and radial expansion mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The drum is segmented into a center section and left and right expandable portions. Each portion can expand and contract independently through separate bead lock mechanisms actuated by independent hydraulic cylinders. This segmentation allows complex expansion functions to be distributed across multiple simpler, independent subsystems, managing overall device complexity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum incorporates dynamic expansion capabilities where the left and right portions can axially and radially expand and contract during the tire building process. The bead lock mechanisms are designed to move dynamically to maintain positive bead lock throughout the process. Independent hydraulic cylinders provide controlled dynamic actuation, enabling the drum to adapt its shape as needed while keeping the control system manageable.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drum expands axially and radially during tire building, then the tire shaping capability is improved, but the synchronization between left and right sides becomes critical to maintain tire uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The drum is divided into independent left and right expandable portions, each with its own bead lock mechanism and hydraulic actuation system. This segmentation allows each side to be controlled independently, making it possible to achieve and maintain synchronization between the two sides during expansion and contraction operations, thereby ensuring tire uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The independent hydraulic cylinder systems for actuating the left and right bead lock mechanisms enable precise control and synchronization of the expansion movements. The system can monitor and adjust the expansion of each side to ensure they move in unison, maintaining tire uniformity while providing the versatility needed for different tire shaping requirements.
4Manufacturing precision
If independent bead lock mechanisms are provided on left and right sections, then the bead locking precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bead lock mechanism is segmented into independent left and right portions, each with its own actuation system. This segmentation allows each bead lock mechanism to be optimized for its specific function without being constrained by the other side, improving bead locking precision while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The independent bead lock mechanisms on the left and right sides perform the same function (bead locking) but can be actuated independently. This universal design allows each mechanism to be simpler in structure while the system as a whole achieves superior precision through independent control, reducing the complexity of each individual component.
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
The solution allows for precise bead locking and synchronized expansion of the tire building drum, maintaining tire uniformity and preventing ply distortion, supporting the apex and bead assembly vertically while ensuring consistent tire shaping and molding.
Implementation Method 1
Each lifter housing is connected to a linkage system. A sliding cylinder having a front face engages the linkage system and rotates a first linkage radially outward.
Implementation Method 2
The ends of the center section are each connected to a plurality of radially expandable lifter housings, wherein each lifter housing is connected to a linkage system
Implementation Method 3
The right and left sections have a radially expandable bead lock mechanism, wherein the bead lock mechanisms are axially movable independent of each other
Implementation Method 4
Due to the fact that the tire building drum axially and radially expands, it is important that both sides of the tire building drum move in synchronization
Data Source
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AI summary
A tire building drum is provided comprising a rotatable drum (5) having a center section (20) and a left section (29) located on the left side of the center section (20) and a right section (29) located on the right side of the center section (20). The right and left sections (29) are movable in the axial direction. The center section (20) is radially expandable. The center section (20) further comprises a first half (22a) and a second half (22b), wherein the first half and the second half (22a, 22b) are axially movable with respect to each other so that the center section (20) has an adjustable width. The right and left sections (22a, 22b) each have a radially expandable bead lock mechanism (25), wherein the bead lock mechanisms (25) are axially movable independent of each other.