Tire Vulcanization Mold Blade Thickness Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thin blades used in tire vulcanization molds for molding sipes are prone to damage and bending due to low bending rigidity, leading to potential failure during the tire removal process, which affects the durability and performance of the mold.
Innovation Solution
A tire vulcanization mold with three-dimensional blades that have varying thicknesses, including a primary portion with a thickness of up to 0.3 mm and a secondary portion with a thickness of 0.4 to 0.6 mm, arranged in a zigzag pattern to enhance bending rigidity and prevent damage, along with a specific arrangement of circumferentially extending and laterally extending ribs to create a continuous tread molding face.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thin blades are used for molding sipes, then ground contact area is increased and friction force is improved, but blade durability is reduced due to low bending rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed with non-uniform thickness, having a first thickness in the circumferential direction and a second thickness in the radial direction, with the second thickness being greater than the first. This local quality variation provides enhanced bending rigidity at critical locations while maintaining thin overall profile for ground contact, thereby improving both friction force and blade durability simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The blade transitions from a conventional two-dimensional thin structure to a three-dimensional structure with varying thickness in multiple directions. By introducing thickness variation in both circumferential and radial directions, the blade achieves improved bending rigidity without significantly increasing the ground contact area, resolving the contradiction between thinness for friction and thickness for durability
2Area of moving object
If thin blades are used for molding sipes, then ground contact area is increased, but blades are prone to bending and damage during tire removal
Solution Approach 1:
The blade employs different thickness values in different directions and locations - a first thickness in the circumferential direction and a greater second thickness in the radial direction. This localized thickness enhancement provides the necessary bending resistance to prevent blade damage during tire removal while preserving the thin overall profile that ensures large ground contact area
3Ease of operation
If segments move radially outward for tire release, then tire removal is enabled, but blades at circumferential ends experience large bending moments and are liable to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed with enhanced thickness in the radial direction at circumferential end regions where bending moments are largest during segment movement. This localized reinforcement provides additional bending resistance precisely where needed during tire release, enabling easy tire removal while preventing blade damage at vulnerable circumferential end locations
Data Source
AI summary
A tire vulcanization mold comprises a ring shaped tread mold which comprises a plurality of segments, each segment with a radially inner face and a pair of end faces each of which extends from a circumferential end of the inner face toward radially outwardly of the tire, the segments arranged in a circumferential direction of the tire to have a substantially continuous tread molding face by connecting inner faces one another, each inner face of segments comprising a circumferentially extending rib, a laterally extending rib, and blades for molding sipes, the blades including three dimensional blades which comprises a first blade with a thickness not more than 0.3 mm and a second blade with a thickness of from 0.4 to 0.6 mm arranged in one of the circumferentially end regions.