Automatic Leak Detection in Tire Curing Membranes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retreaded tire curing systems face challenges in detecting and isolating leaks within tire-membrane assemblies during the curing process, which can compromise the curing of multiple tires due to contaminated fluid pressure, leading to non-confirming cures and increased costs and processing time.
Innovation Solution
A system with a tire curing chamber, membrane fluid passages equipped with valves and transducers, and a controller that monitors pressure changes and identifies leaks by comparing signals from transducers within each passage to determine proper connections and detect pressure deviations, allowing for real-time isolation of leaking assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual leak detection methods are used during tire curing preparation, then operators can identify leaking tire-membrane assemblies before curing, but the process requires manual intervention and time-consuming pressure monitoring for each assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service leak detection by automatically monitoring pressure changes in each tire-membrane assembly through transducers and controllers, eliminating the need for manual pressure gauge checks and operator intervention for each assembly during preparation
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical pressure monitoring is replaced with electronic transducers and automated control systems that continuously monitor and communicate pressure data, enabling automatic leak detection without manual intervention
2Reliability
If leaks are detected by monitoring manifold pressure changes during curing, then the system can identify contamination, but it cannot determine which specific tire-membrane assembly is leaking
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the curing system into individually monitorable segments by placing transducers in each tire-membrane assembly's fluid passage, allowing leak location identification for each specific assembly rather than only detecting overall manifold contamination
Solution Approach 2:
Individual transducers in each assembly provide feedback signals to the controller about pressure changes specific to that assembly, enabling the system to identify which specific tire-membrane assembly is leaking based on individual pressure deviations
3Reliability
If a leak is detected in one tire-membrane assembly, then contaminated fluid pressure can be identified, but all tires in the curing chamber must be unloaded and reprocessed, increasing costs and processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables isolation of individual leaking tire-membrane assemblies through automated valve control, allowing only the affected assembly to be excluded from the curing cycle while other assemblies continue processing, thereby maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The leaking tire-membrane assembly is extracted from the curing process by automatically closing its associated valve, removing only the contaminated assembly from the fluid system while allowing the curing chamber to continue operating with remaining assemblies
4Reliability
If manual valve closure is used to isolate leaking assemblies after detection, then leak propagation can be prevented, but the response time is delayed and requires operator intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic leak isolation by having the controller automatically close the valve for the leaking assembly when a pressure deviation is detected, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and achieving immediate isolation
Solution Approach 2:
The transducer continuously monitors pressure and provides immediate feedback to the controller, which automatically triggers valve closure upon detecting a leak condition, achieving rapid automated response without human intervention delay
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
This solution enables precise detection and isolation of leaks, preventing non-confirming cures and reducing reprocessing costs by ensuring accurate pressure control and efficient operation within the retreaded tire curing system.
Implementation Method 1
a transducer within the one of the membrane fluid passages for measuring the fluid pressure contained within the passage
Implementation Method 2
a valve within the one of the membrane fluid passages for controlling the fluid flow through the passage
Implementation Method 3
each tire-membrane assembly may at certain instances be placed under vacuum
Implementation Method 4
the temperatures and pressures increase within the curing chamber to cure the new tread to the tire carcass
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention includes methods and apparatus for curing retread tires, which includes detecting and controlling a leak in a tire-membrane assembly during such curing operations. The steps of the method include placing a plurality of tire-membrane assemblies within a tire curing chamber; connecting a membrane fluid passage to each curing membrane of each tire-membrane assembly where each passage extends in fluid communication between one of the curing membranes and a pressure source and/or a vacuum source, each membrane fluid passage including a transducer for measuring pressure within the passage and a flow restrictor, in particular embodiments; initiating a curing process; receiving a one or more signal responses from each transducer generated as a function of the fluid pressure within the membrane fluid passages; and determining through a controller whether the signal responses received in the prior step indicate an undesired change in pressure in each curing membrane.