Tire Vulcanizer Nitrogen Medium Pressure Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tire vulcanizing apparatuses face challenges in independently controlling pressure and temperature of the heating and pressurizing medium, leading to issues such as insufficient tire pressing, external appearance defects, and non-uniform tire molding due to interdependence between water vapor pressure and temperature, as well as air blockages and productivity declines.

Innovation Solution

A tire vulcanizing apparatus and method utilizing nitrogen gas as the heating and pressurizing medium, with independent control of pressure and temperature achieved through a medium circulation path, temperature sensor, heating unit, and pressure control valves, allowing for optimal vulcanization temperature and reduced defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If water vapor is used as the heating and pressurizing medium and supply pressure is reduced to lower temperature, then vulcanization temperature is reduced, but water vapor pressure falls and insufficient pressing force is applied to the tire

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevulcanization temperatureVSAvoidpressing force
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameter of the heating medium from water vapor to nitrogen gas. This fundamental parameter change allows decoupling of temperature and pressure control, enabling low-temperature vulcanization while maintaining high pressing force, as nitrogen gas pressure is not constrained by saturation temperature relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces water vapor with nitrogen gas as the heating and pressurizing medium. This substitution copies the useful functions of water vapor (heating and pressurizing) while eliminating the harmful constraint of coupled pressure-temperature control, allowing independent optimization of both parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Stress or pressure

If high-pressure water vapor is supplied to achieve desired pressing force, then pressing force is sufficient, but temperature becomes too high for low-temperature vulcanization compounds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing forceVSAvoidvulcanization temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the heating medium parameter from water vapor to nitrogen gas, which allows high pressure to be applied without the temperature automatically rising to saturation points. This enables sufficient pressing force while maintaining controlled, lower vulcanization temperatures suitable for temperature-sensitive rubber compounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stress or pressure

If pressure control is improved by adding pressure gauge and control valves, then pressure stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical water vapor system with a gas-based system (nitrogen) that is more amenable to precise pressure control through valves and sensors. The nitrogen gas system allows for better pressure stability with comparable or reduced complexity, as gas flow can be more precisely regulated without the phase change constraints of water vapor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Manufacturing precision

If vulcanization time is extended to improve tire uniformity, then molding quality improves, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire uniformityVSAvoidvulcanization throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the heating medium to nitrogen gas, which enables more uniform heat distribution and better temperature control throughout the tire. This improved thermal uniformity allows for shorter vulcanization times while maintaining or improving tire uniformity, thereby increasing productivity without sacrificing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables precise control of pressure and temperature within the tire, improving tire uniformity, reducing defects, and enhancing productivity by allowing for optimal vulcanization conditions and shorter processing times.

Implementation Method 1

a heating unit, provided in the medium circulation path, for controlling the temperature of the heating and pressurizing medium passing through the medium circulation path on the basis of a signal from the temperature sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a pressure control valve, provided in the medium path, for controlling the pressure of the heating and pressurizing medium passing through the medium path on the basis of a signal from the pressure sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure control: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

a medium circulation apparatus, provided in the medium circulation path, for circulating the heating and pressurizing medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2100709B1Tire vulcanizer and tire vulcanizing method
Publication Date: 2015.11.11 KOBE STEEL LTD
  • EP2100709B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2100709B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2100709B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tire vulcanizing apparatus and a tire vulcanizing method, by which the pressure and temperature of a heating and pressurizing medium to be supplied to the internal space of a raw tire can be controlled without the condition of pressure being affected by the condition of temperature. The tire vulcanizing apparatus has: a medium path, connected to an internal space of a raw tire, for passing a heating and pressurizing medium; a pressure sensor, provided in the medium path, for measuring a pressure of the heating and pressurizing medium; a pressure control valve for controlling a pressure of the heating and pressurizing medium passing through the medium path on the basis of a signal from the pressure sensor; a temperature sensor, provided in the medium path, for measuring a temperature of the heating and pressurizing medium; and a heating unit for controlling the temperature of the heating and pressurizing medium passing through the medium path on the basis of a signal from the temperature sensor, wherein the pressure control valve and the heating unit control the pressure and temperature of the heating and pressurizing medium supplied from the medium path to the internal space of the raw tire respectively and independently.