Tire Building Drum Support Members Gap Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tire building drums have a gap between the crown-up and bead-lock sections when the crown segments are in the crown-down position, which can cause damage to tire components during the tire building process, affecting the quality of the produced tires.
Innovation Solution
The tire building drum incorporates support members that extend into the gap between the crown segments, providing support to tire components and reducing the gap when the crown segments are in the crown-down position, thereby minimizing damage and improving tire quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the radius of the rounded shoulder is increased to provide a smooth surface for roll-over of tire components, then the smoothness of the surface is improved, but the gap between the crown-up section and bead-lock section increases
Solution Approach 1:
A bead-lock seal acts as an intermediary element that spans the gap between the bead-lock section and the crown section. The seal includes a first end mounted to the crown segments and a second end mounted to the drum half, effectively bridging the gap created by the rounded shoulder and preventing it from causing quality issues during tire component application.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the crown segments are spaced apart in the contracted position to allow expansion, then the expandability is improved, but the gap between crown segments increases causing damage to tire components
Solution Approach 1:
Support members act as intermediary elements that extend into the gaps between adjacent crown segments in the contracted position. These support members prevent the gaps from causing damage to tire components during the tire building process, while still allowing the crown segments to expand when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tire building drum comprising a crown section with crown segments which are movable from a crown-down position into a crown-up position, wherein the crown segments together form a crown surface facing outwards in the radial direction a leading edge and a shoulder that forms the transition from the crown surface to the leading edge, wherein the shoulder leaves a gap (G), wherein the tire building drum further comprises a plurality of support members (151) that extend in said gap, wherein each crown segment comprises a first side and a second side, wherein each crown segment further comprises one or more guide channels (135,136), wherein each guide channel is arranged for receiving a respective one of the plurality of support members in the respective crown segment between the first side and the second side. The invention further relates to a tire building method using said tire building drum.