Additive Manufacturing Tire Mold Matrix Element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire mold technologies face challenges in manufacturing evolving tread sculptures that maintain grip and water drainage performance over time, as current methods are costly and prone to deformation or micro-cracks, limiting the ability to mold cavities effectively across the tire tread.
Innovation Solution
A trim element for tire molds is created using powder-based additive manufacturing, featuring an injection nozzle and closure member integrated with the molding surface, allowing for the injection of fluid or solid materials to form cavities under the tread surface, preventing rubber penetration and ensuring robust molding of evolving tread patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fingers are attached to side shells to mold cavities, then cavity molding capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection nozzle is integrated directly into the sector body, merging the cavity injection function with the tread molding function. This eliminates the need for separate fingers attached to side shells, reducing structural complexity while maintaining cavity molding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sector body serves multiple functions: it molds the tread pattern and simultaneously provides injection nozzles for cavity formation. This multi-functional design replaces the need for dedicated fingers, reducing both complexity and manufacturing cost.
2Shape
If strips with small section are used to obtain teardrop cutouts, then complex shapes are achieved, but deformation and micro-cracks occur during manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The injection nozzle is integrated into robust sectors rather than using separate thin strips, combining the shape-forming function with structural support. This eliminates deformation and micro-crack issues while achieving the desired teardrop cutout shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The sectors are manufactured using powder-based additive manufacturing, creating a composite structure that provides both the necessary structural integrity and the complex geometric shapes required for teardrop cutouts, avoiding the fragility of thin strips.
3Ease of operation
If side shell is made in two parts with rotation mechanism, then demolding capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection nozzle and closure member are integrated into the sector assembly, allowing the entire sector to be removed as a single unit with the tire. This eliminates the need for complex rotation mechanisms and reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining demolding capability.
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 simple and robust molding of evolving tread sculptures, maintaining tire grip and water drainage performance by creating cavities under the tread surface, reducing manufacturing costs and minimizing deformation risks.
Implementation Method 1
The body, the injection nozzle and the shutter member are manufactured by depositing and selectively melting stacked layers of powder
Implementation Method 2
by sintering or by melting grains of said powder using an energy beam. By 'energy beam', is meant electromagnetic radiation (for example a laser beam)
Implementation Method 3
by sintering or by melting grains of said powder using an energy beam. By 'energy beam', is meant electromagnetic radiation (for example a laser beam) or a beam of particles (for example an electron beam)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6a~6e
AI summary
The invention relates to a matrix element for a tyre mould which includes a body (12) defining a moulding surface (14) intended for at least partially moulding a tread of the tyre, at least one injection nozzle (26) arranged on the body and provided with at least one outlet opening (26a), at least one supply channel extending into the body and the injection nozzle, communicating with said outlet opening, and at least one sealing member (30) which is movable relative to the injection nozzle between a closed position and an open position of said outlet opening. The body (12), the injection nozzle (26) and the sealing member (30) are manufactured by deposition and selective melting of stacked powder layers.