Tire Vulcanization Mold Vent Unit Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for installing and maintaining vent units in tire vulcanization molds are inefficient and lack accuracy, requiring high-precision processing and manual detection, leading to displacement and prolonged maintenance times.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a master mold with a positioning member to accurately install a vent unit by transferring surface shapes through rubber and plaster molds, followed by casting, and using position data for precise maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If high-precision processing technology is used to form exhaust holes at predetermined positions, then positioning accuracy of vent units is improved, but production time and effort increase considerably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracy of vent unitsVSAvoidproduction time and effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by pre-forming positioning protrusions on the master mold before producing the rubber mold. These positioning protrusions are then transferred through the rubber mold and plaster mold to the final vent holes in the tire molding surface, ensuring accurate positioning is established in advance rather than requiring high-precision processing at each subsequent stage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses copying by creating a master mold with positioning protrusions and then reproducing this positioning structure through sequential molding processes (rubber mold → plaster mold → final mold). The positioning features are copied from the master mold through each intermediate stage, ensuring the final vent holes accurately replicate the predetermined positions without requiring high-precision processing at each step

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of repair

If manual detection and cleaning methods are used for vent unit maintenance, then maintenance can be performed, but maintenance time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevent unit maintenance capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies self-service by enabling the vent unit to be easily removed and reinstalled using the positioning protrusions and recesses. The standardized positioning structure allows maintenance personnel to quickly remove contaminated vent units and replace them with clean ones without requiring complex detection or alignment procedures, making the maintenance process straightforward and rapid

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If vent units are installed without accurate positioning structures, then installation process is simpler, but vent units become displaced due to low hardness of mold material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidvent unit positioning stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by providing localized positioning protrusions at specific locations on the master mold and corresponding positioning recesses in the rubber and plaster molds. These localized positioning structures concentrate the positioning function at critical points rather than requiring uniform high precision across the entire mold surface, maintaining installation simplicity while ensuring vent unit stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses preliminary action by pre-forming the positioning protrusions on the master mold and positioning recesses in the rubber and plaster molds before the final vent unit installation. This preliminary preparation of positioning structures ensures that when vent units are installed, they automatically align correctly without requiring complex adjustment procedures, preventing displacement while maintaining installation simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4116055B1Method for producing mold for tire vulcanization and maintenance method
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD
  • EP4116055B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4116055B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4116055B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a method for producing a tire vulcanization mold enabling accurate and efficient installation of a vent unit at a predetermined position on a tire vulcanization mold and a maintenance method enabling efficient maintenance of the vent unit. A positioning member (9) is provided at an attachment position corresponding to a predetermined position on a surface of a master mold (11) so as to protrude. A positioning hole (9H) is formed by a tip end (9a) of the positioning member (9) in a rubber mold (12) to which the surface of the master mold (11) is transferred. The tip end (9a) is embedded in the positioning hole (9H) so that a rear end (9b) protrudes from the surface of the rubber mold (12). The rear end (9b) is embedded in a plaster mold (13) to which the surface of the rubber mold (12) is transferred. A case (6) is detachably fixed to the tip end (9a) protruding from the surface of the plaster mold (13). The case 6 is cast into the mold (1) to which the surface of the plaster mold (13) is transferred and fixed at a predetermined position of the mold (1). A valve body (7) is inserted into the case (6) from which the positioning member (9) is removed.