Tire Drum Flange Pneumatic Air Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drum designs for manufacturing tyre blanks are costly and bulky due to the need for motorized systems and compressed air hoses, which limit angular deflection and require frequent repositioning of flanges, restricting efficient radialization of reinforcing elements.
Innovation Solution
A drum design featuring axially extending shafts with flanges that include radially internal and external rings connected by airtight pivot connections, allowing for compressed air circulation without hoses, using angular contact ball bearings and inflatable seals for rotational blocking, enabling efficient axial force transmission and radialization without repositioning constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If motorized systems are integrated into flanges to enable rotation, then radialization of reinforcing elements is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces motorized systems with a purely mechanical solution using a movable flange design that can be positioned in multiple angular positions along the shaft. This mechanical positioning system eliminates the need for motors, sensors, and control systems while achieving the same radialization function through physical repositioning of the flange during the manufacturing cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange is designed to be movable along the shaft to different angular positions, transforming a static motorized rotation system into a dynamic mechanical positioning system. This allows the flange to adapt its position during the manufacturing cycle to achieve radialization without requiring active motor control.
2Ease of operation
If compressed air hoses are used to supply actuators on rotating flanges, then pneumatic actuation is enabled, but angular deflection is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pneumatic supply system from the rotating flange and relocates it to the stationary shaft. Compressed air is supplied through the stationary shaft to the movable flange during its brief operational position, eliminating the need for hoses and allowing the flange to move freely to any angular position without restriction.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft acts as an intermediary medium that transfers compressed air from the stationary supply system to the movable flange. This intermediary approach allows pneumatic actuation without direct connection via hoses, enabling full angular freedom of the flange while maintaining pneumatic control capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flanges are repositioned angularly at each manufacturing cycle, then radialization is achieved, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is pre-positioned at the correct angular position before the manufacturing cycle begins, or positioned during a brief transition period between cycles. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for time-consuming repositioning operations during active manufacturing, maintaining high productivity while achieving radialization.
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 design provides a compact, cost-effective solution for supplying compressed air to flanges, allowing for significant axial forces to be transmitted and overcoming angular deflection limitations, thus simplifying the manufacturing process and broadening the capability to produce tyre blanks of various dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
a first compressed-air circulation channel, a first section of the first channel belonging to the first ring being connected at one of its ends to the compressed-air supply means and at the other of its ends to the sealed chamber, and a second section of the first channel belonging to the second ring being connected at one of its ends to the sealed chamber and at the other of its ends to the pneumatic effector
Implementation Method 2
angular contact ball bearings, enabling efficient axial force transmission
Implementation Method 3
inflatable seals for rotational blocking
Data Source
AI summary
Drum (10) for manufacturing a tire blank, comprising a shaft, two flanges (14) movable in translation along the shaft, and means for supplying compressed air, each flange comprising at least one pneumatic effector (36). At least one flange comprises a first, radially internal ring (46) and a second, radially external ring (48) movable in rotation around the first ring by means of at least two airtight pivot connections (50), the rings and the pivot connections delimiting at least one sealed chamber (52), said flange comprising at least one first compressed-air circulation channel (54), a first section (56) of the first channel belonging to the first ring being connected at one of its ends to the sealed chamber, and a second section (58) of the first channel belonging to the second ring being connected at one of its ends to the sealed chamber.