Tire Mold Vent With Movable Elastomeric Insert
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Solution Overview
Problem
During the tire manufacturing process, trapped air between the green tire and the mold cavity can cause 'lightness' in the cured tire, and existing vent designs often lead to sprue formation as elastomeric tire material flows into the vents during air evacuation.
Innovation Solution
A tire mold vent assembly featuring a cylindrical vent housing with a slot and an elastomeric insert that moves between positions to allow air flow while preventing sprue formation, utilizing a resilient design to accommodate varying vent hole diameters and providing flexibility for easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vents are drilled through the mold to evacuate trapped air, then air can be vented from the mold cavity, but elastomeric tire material flows into the vents creating sprues on the tire surface
Solution Approach 1:
The vent assembly employs a movable closure member that can shift between open and closed positions. During air evacuation, the closure member remains open to allow trapped air to escape. When elastomeric material approaches the vent, pressure differential or material contact causes the closure member to move and block the vent passage, preventing sprue formation while maintaining air evacuation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The vent assembly automatically responds to changing conditions within the mold cavity. The closure member is designed to move in response to pressure changes or material contact, self-regulating the vent opening state without external control. This self-activating mechanism eliminates the need for external sensors or actuators to prevent sprue formation
2Strength
If a rigid vent housing is used to maintain structural integrity, then the vent assembly provides stable airflow control, but installation requires precise hole diameter matching making installation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The vent housing incorporates a flexible circumferential element or resilient portion that can be compressed radially during installation. This flexible section allows the housing to be inserted into vent holes of varying diameters by temporarily deforming the housing, then returning to its original shape to provide a secure interference fit, eliminating the need for precise hole diameter matching
Solution Approach 2:
The vent housing design allows temporary change in its dimensional parameters during installation. The housing can be compressed to reduce its outside diameter below the vent hole diameter, facilitating easy insertion. After installation, the housing returns to its original dimensions to provide structural integrity and secure anchoring in the vent hole
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
Effectively vents air without allowing elastomeric material to flow into the vents, preventing sprue formation and ensuring a smooth tire surface, while simplifying the installation process by allowing the vent housing to be resiliently deformed for a secure fit within the vent hole.
Implementation Method 1
An elastomeric insert is received in the slot. The insert includes a head extending laterally adjacent the first end of the housing. The head is movable between a first position permitting air flow into the passage at the first end of the housing, and a second position at least partially blocking the passage at the first end of the housing.
Implementation Method 2
The housing has an unrestricted housing outside diameter greater than the hole diameter. The housing is resiliently deformed across the slot when the housing is received in the vent hole.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire mold vent assembly includes a cylindrical vent housing having a slot defined therein along the length of the housing to provide a circumferential flexibility to the vent housing. An elastomeric insert is received in the slot and includes a head extending laterally from one end of the housing. The head is movable between a first position permitting air flow into the passage through the housing, and a second position which blocks the passage to prevent sprue formation.