Tire Mold Sectors for Autonomous Radial Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing moulds for manufacturing agricultural tyres with complex tread profiles require actuators for radial sector displacement, increasing costs and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A mould design featuring permanently coupled sectors to the upper portion and temporarily coupled sectors to the lower portion, allowing for autonomous radial displacement and pivoting during mould opening and closing, eliminating the need for external actuators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a mould with sectors is used to manufacture agricultural tyres with complex tread profiles, then the tyre profile complexity is improved, but actuators are required which increase cost and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The sector is designed to automatically perform its own radial displacement and pivoting movements during mould opening and closing operations. The sector leverages the mould's own opening motion to trigger the radial displacement mechanism, eliminating the need for separate actuators. The sector serves itself by using the mould's operational cycles to drive its positional changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The sector transitions from a static component to a dynamic one that can change position radially and pivot angularly during mould operation. The sector is designed with movable connections to the mould portions, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation based on the mould's opening and closing states, enabling complex tread profiling without additional actuating mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If sectors are made movable relative to lower and upper portions to enable radial displacement, then tyre extraction is improved, but coupling mechanisms become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is divided into two distinct functional segments: a permanent coupling between the sector and upper portion that maintains structural integrity, and a temporary coupling between the sector and lower portion that enables controlled radial displacement during opening. This segmentation allows each coupling to be optimized for its specific function, simplifying the overall mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanisms are designed to be dynamic rather than static. The temporary coupling with the lower portion is configured to automatically engage and disengage based on the mould's opening motion, enabling the sector to radially displace during opening and return during closing without requiring complex control systems.
3Device complexity
If the mould uses conventional two portions for moulding, then the structure is simple, but tyres with complex profiles cannot be extracted
Solution Approach 1:
The mould's tread-forming surface is segmented into multiple independent sectors that can be distributed around the mould's circumference. Each sector can be independently positioned and configured to create different tread patterns. This segmentation allows the mould to produce various tyre profiles by arranging sectors in different configurations, greatly enhancing adaptability while keeping the basic mould structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The sectors are designed to be movable relative to the mould portions, transitioning from fixed positions to dynamic, adjustable positions. During mould opening, sectors can radially displace and pivot to accommodate complex tyre profiles, enabling extraction of tyres with intricate tread patterns while maintaining a fundamentally simple two-portion mould structure.
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
Enables the moulding of tyres with increased rubber block height and simplified mould operation, reducing costs and maintenance by eliminating the need for actuators and allowing for conventional press use.
Implementation Method 1
a radial displacement of said sector toward the outside followed by an angular pivoting of said sector towards the outside, under the effect of its own weight
Data Source
AI summary
The tire mold comprises lower 12 and upper portions 14 which are movable relative to one another between a close-together position for molding the tire and a distanced position for extracting said tire from the mold, and a plurality of central sectors 16 which are in axial contact with the lower 12 and upper portions 14 in their close-together molding position. For each sector 16, the mold comprises an upper member 22 for permanently coupling said sector to the upper portion 14, and a lower member 20 for temporarily coupling said sector to the lower portion 12, said coupling members 20, 22 being configured so as to obtain, during an axial distancing movement of the lower 12 and upper portions 14 from their close-together molding position, a radial displacement of said sector 16 toward the outside followed by an angular pivoting.