Tire Building Drum Support Members with Segmented Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process for building vehicle tires faces challenges with the 'belting' force generated during the laying of continuous elongated elastomeric elements, which causes deformation and makes it difficult to remove support members without damaging the tire components, and the use of non-stick surfaces complicates the laying of certain components like square woven fabrics.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of support members with alternating non-stick and sticking circumferential portions on the building drum allows for the correct laying and decoupling of tire components without damage, ensuring proper adhesion and easy separation, thereby overcoming the belting force issue and stickiness problems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If continuous elongated elastomeric elements are laid on support members during tire building, then the tire components are formed, but 'belting' force is generated causing deformation and making it difficult to remove support members without damaging the tire components
Solution Approach 1:
The support member surface is segmented into alternating non-stick and sticking circumferential portions. The non-stick portions allow easy removal from laid elastomeric elements, while the sticking portions provide necessary adhesion during the laying process, preventing deformation and component damage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the support member surface are given different properties: non-stick portions for easy removal and sticking portions for secure adhesion. This local differentiation allows the same support member to fulfill both contradictory requirements of easy removal and secure holding during different phases of the process.
2Ease of operation
If non-stick surfaces are used on support members, then easy removal is achieved, but the laying of certain components like square woven fabrics becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The support member surface is divided into non-stick and sticking portions. The sticking portions enable proper laying and adhesion of components like square woven fabrics, while the non-stick portions facilitate easy removal after the laying process is complete.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member has different surface properties at different locations: sticking portions for effective component laying and non-stick portions for easy removal. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between needing adhesion during manufacturing and ease of removal afterward.
3Ease of manufacture
If sticking surfaces are used on support members, then proper adhesion of tire components is achieved, but removal of support members becomes difficult and may cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support member surface is segmented into sticking portions for adhesion and non-stick portions for removal. This segmentation allows the component laying process to benefit from proper adhesion while the removal process benefits from the non-stick portions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the support member have different adhesion properties: sticking portions provide necessary adhesion during manufacturing, while non-stick portions enable easy removal without causing damage to the tire components.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for building a tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a building drum having at least one first outer circumferential surface, and at least one pair of auxiliary support members removably in engagement with the building drum, each in axial side by side relationship with a respective end of the building drum and having second outer circumferential surfaces extending in the continuation of the first outer circumferential surface so as to support at least one component of the tyre. Each of the second outer circumferential surfaces has at least one non-stick circumferential portion and at least one sticking circumferential portion.