Tire Vulcanization Mold Side Ring Centering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire vulcanization molds fail to ensure uniform vent gaps in the tire circumferential direction, leading to air discharge inefficiencies and rubber protrusion issues when the side ring is not centered, and close fitting methods often compromise machining accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A tire vulcanization mold design featuring an annular side mold with an annular recess and a side ring that forms vent gaps between its circumferential surfaces and the recess, centered via a close contact fitting portion without gaps, ensuring uniform vent gaps over the tire's circumference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the side ring is tightly fitted into the annular recess for centering, then centering precision is improved, but vent gap formation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The annular recess is divided into two functional zones: a first annular recess portion for forming the vent gap and a second annular recess portion for providing close contact fitting. This segmentation allows the side ring to simultaneously achieve both vent gap formation and precise centering without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the annular recess are given different functions: the first portion (upper part) provides a gap for air discharge, while the second portion (lower part) provides close contact for centering. This local differentiation of function resolves the contradiction between needing a gap for venting and close contact for precision centering.
2Reliability
If the side ring is mounted eccentrically to ensure vent gap, then air discharge is enabled, but uniform vent gap in circumferential direction is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The annular recess is segmented into a first portion for vent gap formation and a second portion for centering. This allows the side ring to be centered precisely by the second portion while the first portion maintains uniform gap for air discharge, eliminating the need for eccentric mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The second annular recess portion acts as an intermediary centering mechanism that mediates between the side ring and mold body, ensuring precise centering while the first portion provides the vent gap function. This intermediary structure resolves the conflict between uniform gap requirement and air discharge need.
3Reliability
If grooves are provided in mating surfaces for air discharge, then air venting is enabled, but rubber intrusion into grooves occurs causing poor appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The vent gap function is extracted from the mating surfaces by providing it in the first annular recess portion, separate from the close contact fitting portion. This eliminates the need for grooves in the mating surfaces, preventing rubber intrusion while maintaining air venting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using permanent grooves that can trap rubber and cause appearance defects, the invention uses a simple gap structure in the first annular recess portion that allows air to escape without providing pathways for rubber intrusion, effectively eliminating the appearance defect problem.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire vulcanization mold 10 of an embodiment includes an annular side mold 14 having a side molding surface 18 for molding a side wall portion T2. In a side mold body 15 of the side mold 14, an annular recess 20 is provided in the side molding surface 18 and a side ring 22 is fitted into the annular recess. The side ring 22 is mounted in the annular recess 20 such that a vent gap 30 for discharging air is formed between the side ring and the annular recess, on an opening portion side of the annular recess 20, and such that the side ring 22 is centered with respect to the side mold body 15 by a close contact fitting portion 28 in which the side ring and the annular recess are fitted without a gap therebetween, on a bottom portion side of the annular recess 20.