Vehicle Tire Sidewall Application on Cambering Drum

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle tire manufacturing methods are complex and limit the feasibility of certain tire constructions, making it difficult to produce special tire designs and optimize the cycle time for manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A method where the sidewalls are prefabricated and applied directly to the crowning drum, allowing for the production of special tire constructions like C-ply designs, where the carcass insert is wrapped around the bead core in a specific way, and optimizing the cycle time by eliminating the need for a separate sidewall drum and simplifying the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If sidewalls are wound up on the carcass drum in conventional two-stage processes, then the tire carcass can be built up, but the process becomes complex and certain tire constructions become infeasible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire construction feasibilityVSAvoidcarcass drum structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the tire building process into two separate stages: carcass assembly on a simple drum and sidewall application on a different drum. This segmentation allows each drum to have a specialized, simpler structure rather than one complex drum trying to perform all functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying sidewalls to the carcass on the carcass drum and then moving to the crowning drum, the patent inverts the sequence by applying sidewalls directly to the crowning drum first, then assembling the carcass components around them

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If the tire carcass with sidewalls is moved from carcass drum to crowning drum in conventional processes, then the tire can be crowned, but the cycle time is extended and special tire designs are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecycle timeVSAvoidtire design flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by applying sidewalls directly to the crowning drum before the carcass assembly is completed and transferred. This preliminary positioning of sidewalls eliminates subsequent moving and repositioning steps, reducing cycle time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables new tire constructions like C-ply designs by changing the dimensional sequence of operations - applying sidewalls in the axial direction on the crowning drum before radial carcass assembly, rather than the conventional radial then axial sequence

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If a separate sidewall drum is used in conventional processes, then sidewalls can be applied, but the overall cycle time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesidewall applicationVSAvoidcycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sidewall application function with the crowning drum by equipping the crowning drum with raising means that can apply sidewalls directly. This eliminates the need for a separate sidewall drum and the associated transfer operations, reducing cycle time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2709837B1Method for producing a vehicle tire
Publication Date: 2016.07.20 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP2709837B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6
  • EP2709837B1 patent drawingFigure 7~12
  • EP2709837B1 patent drawingFigure 13~19

AI summary

The aim of the invention is to provide a method by which a vehicle tire can be produced in a simple manner, said method comprising the following steps: a) finishing the tire carcass (10) on a carcass drum, wherein no tire structure components in the form of sidewalls (2, 3) are laid on the carcass drum; b) removing the tire carcass (10) from the carcass drum using a carcass transfer unit; c) moving the carcass transfer unit (9) with the tire carcass (10) over a cambering drum (6), wherein during said step the tire structure components in the form of sidewalls (2, 3) are already arranged on the cambering drum (6); d) carrying out a core clamping with segments (7) of the cambering drum (6), wherein the tire sidewalls (2, 3) abutting on the cambering drum (6) via the core clamping are connected to the coaxially positioned tire carcass (10) in the region of the tire bead; e) moving the carcass transfer unit (9) away from the cambering drum (6); f) cambering the tire carcass (10) with the tire sidewalls (2, 3) which are connected on both sides, wherein the tire sidewalls (2, 3) are turned up laterally on the tire carcass (10) by a turning-up means (16), and the tire carcass (10) is combined with the coaxially arranged belt-tread package (14).