Tire Drum with Trapezoidal Sectors for Reduced Energy

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing tire drum designs for producing tire casing blanks are complex and energy-intensive due to the presence of helicoidal faces and grooves, which complicate manufacturing and require substantial energy for sector movement and diameter adjustment.

Innovation Solution

A drum design featuring sectors with trapezoidal contours and planar lateral faces, allowing for simplified geometric definition and reduced energy consumption through rectilinear sliding movements, with a cam mechanism for controlled radial movement to simplify the process of collapsing the drum and releasing the tread.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If helicoidal faces and grooves are used on sectors, then the drum provides a continuous bearing surface free from holes and reliefs, but the manufacture of sectors becomes very complicated and substantial energy is required to move sectors relative to one another

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuity of bearing surfaceVSAvoidcomplexity of sector manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drum is divided into multiple movable sectors that can independently move relative to each other. Each sector is a separate component with planar faces, allowing simplified manufacturing while collectively providing the continuous bearing surface through their arrangement and movement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using helicoidal (curved) faces as in conventional designs, the invention uses planar faces on sectors. The continuity of the bearing surface is achieved not through the shape of individual faces but through the precise arrangement and controlled movement of multiple planar sectors, inverting the conventional approach to surface continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If helicoidal grooves are used to link primary and secondary sectors, then axial movement of sectors is enabled, but a very substantial amount of energy is required to move sectors relative to one another

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to move sectors in axial directionVSAvoidenergy required for sector movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces helicoidal (curved) grooves with rectilinear (straight) guides. The axial movement of sectors is achieved through linear translation along straight guide paths rather than following curved helicoidal trajectories, significantly reducing the energy required for sector movement while maintaining the adaptability to adjust drum diameter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The complex helicoidal mechanical linkage is replaced with a simpler rectilinear guide system combined with a cam mechanism. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity and energy consumption by using straightforward linear motion constraints instead of complex curved path following

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If planar lateral faces are used on sectors, then the geometric definition and manufacture of sectors is simplified, but achieving a continuous working surface becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of sector manufactureVSAvoidcontinuity of working surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses movable sectors with planar faces that can dynamically adjust their positions. The continuity of the working surface is maintained not through fixed geometric continuity but through the dynamic capability of sectors to move and maintain contact, ensuring surface continuity through motion control rather than static geometric design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 simplifies the production process, reduces energy requirements, and maintains a quasi-continuous working surface for tire production while facilitating the placement and removal of unprocessed rubber, enhancing manufacturing efficiency and flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

a cam mechanism for controlled radial movement to simplify the process of collapsing the drum and releasing the tread

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Implementation Method 2

allowing for simplified geometric definition and reduced energy consumption through rectilinear sliding movements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRectilinear sliding: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS10960625B2Drum for producing a tire, provided with mobile sectors

Publication Date: 2021.03.30 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)

AI summary

A drum for producing a tire casing blank comprises a support and sectors forming a circumferential face of the drum.Each sector has a circumferential outer face having a contour of general trapezoidal form and is mounted so as to be movable relative to the support in a non-radial predetermined direction relative to an axis of rotation of the drum and intercepting this axis.