Hydraulic Tire Curing Press Mold Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tire curing presses face challenges in precision mold height adjustment, leading to inaccuracies and increased maintenance costs due to complex mechanisms and potential mold opening issues during the curing process, especially when accommodating tires of varying sizes.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic tire curing press apparatus utilizing long stroke hydraulic squeeze cylinders and an indexing barrel with vertical steps for mold height adjustment, along with a locking mechanism to prevent bottom mold movement, eliminates the need for a separate mold height assembly and simplifies maintenance by allowing easy removal of squeeze cylinders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a nut and screw mechanism is used for mold height adjustment, then the mechanism can accommodate different mold heights, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to clearance and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The indexing barrel is segmented into multiple discrete vertical steps, each representing a specific mold height position. This segmentation allows precise positioning without the clearance and wear problems of continuous adjustment mechanisms like nuts and screws.
Solution Approach 2:
The indexing barrel with its discrete steps provides a simple, wear-resistant positioning mechanism that eliminates the need for precision-machined continuous adjustment components, reducing manufacturing complexity and maintenance requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a nut and screw mechanism is used for mold height adjustment, then the mechanism can vary mold heights, but device complexity increases due to complex manufacturing methods required for precision
Solution Approach 1:
The indexing barrel is segmented into multiple discrete vertical steps, each representing a specific mold height position. This segmentation allows precise positioning without the clearance and wear problems of continuous adjustment mechanisms like nuts and screws.
Solution Approach 2:
The indexing barrel with its discrete steps provides a simple, wear-resistant positioning mechanism that eliminates the need for precision-machined continuous adjustment components, reducing manufacturing complexity and maintenance requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mold height adjustment mechanisms are used, then mold height can be adjusted, but reliability deteriorates due to potential mold opening during curing
Solution Approach 1:
The indexing barrel with discrete steps provides predetermined, stable positioning that prevents unintended mold movement during curing. The locked-in positions eliminate the risk of mold opening due to pressure loss, as the mechanism cannot drift between positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The indexing barrel with its discrete steps provides a simple, wear-resistant positioning mechanism that eliminates the need for precision-machined continuous adjustment components, reducing manufacturing complexity and maintenance requirements.
4Manufacturing precision
If complex mechanisms are used for mold height adjustment, then precision can be improved, but productivity decreases due to excessive time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The indexing barrel is segmented into multiple discrete vertical steps, each representing a specific mold height position. This segmentation allows precise positioning without the clearance and wear problems of continuous adjustment mechanisms like nuts and screws.
Solution Approach 2:
The indexing barrel positions are predetermined and pre-configured for different tire sizes. This eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations and adjustments, allowing operators to quickly select the appropriate position by simply rotating the indexing barrel to the required step.
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 provides precise mold height adjustment with reduced complexity and maintenance costs, preventing undesirable mold opening during tire curing and accommodating various tire sizes efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
In hydraulic presses, the mold is kept under pressure by an individual or a plurality of hydraulic cylinder continuously
Implementation Method 2
an indexing barrel with vertical steps for mold height adjustment
Data Source
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AI summary
A curing press for tires that comprises: an upper cavity part having a vertically separable upper housing (9) and a top mold (11); a base having a lower cavity part that forms an arrangement to provide mold height adjustment during curing. The base comprises a bottom bolster structure (20) and a bottom mold (22). The bottom bolster structure comprising: ring means rotatably arranged with said bottom bolster structure, to facilitate closing or opening of said top mold and said bottom mold; the bolster structure comprises squeeze cylinders (24) having means to provide mold height adjustment. A squeeze retract stop assembly is provided to restrict vertically downward movement of said bottom mold during a tire curing process. The press comprises at least one locking lever (34) and at least one indexing lock pin (35) that is adapted to connect said lever (34) to lock holes (20a) in said bottom bolster structure (20) wherein each lock hole corresponds to a particular mold height.