Tyre Conductivity Testing on Building Drum

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for checking the electrical conductivity of tyres during the building process are limited, as they primarily focus on individual extruded components and cannot efficiently handle modern tyre production methods involving continuous elongated elements or strip-like components wound on building drums, requiring multiple devices and not allowing for comprehensive conductivity testing before vulcanisation.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that apply an electrode to the radially outer surface of tyre components wound on a building drum, creating an electrical circuit to determine conductivity, allowing for simultaneous testing of multiple components without modifying existing production machinery, ensuring accurate and complete conductivity verification before the tyre is complete.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing conductivity checking methods are used on individual extruded components, then conductivity measurement is possible, but the testing cannot handle modern tyre production methods involving continuous elongated elements or strip-like components wound on building drums

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with modern tyre production methodsVSAvoidcompleteness of conductivity testing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conductivity checking apparatus is designed to universally handle multiple tyre production methods including continuous elongated elements and strip-like components wound on building drums, not limited to individual extruded components. The device can test various component types (tread bands, belt structures, carcass plies) regardless of how they are formed or applied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus transitions from testing individual components in isolation to testing components while they are wound on the building drum in their actual operational configuration. This dimensional change from component-level to assembly-level testing ensures complete conductivity verification of the entire tyre structure.

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

2Reliability

If multiple separate devices are used to test different components, then each component can be tested, but the device complexity and production line requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage of conductivity testingVSAvoidnumber of testing devices required
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the functionality of multiple separate conductivity testing devices into a single integrated apparatus. The device can simultaneously or sequentially test tread bands, belt structures, and carcass plies using one unified system, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices and simplifying the production line configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If conductivity testing is performed after vulcanisation, then the final tyre can be tested, but the testing cannot identify defective components before the building process is complete

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming of conductivity verificationVSAvoidtime to identify and reject defective components
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The conductivity testing is performed preliminarily during the building process before vulcanisation occurs. This allows defective components to be identified and rejected early in production, preventing wasted time and resources on subsequent processing of faulty tyres. The testing is integrated into the building workflow rather than being a post-processing step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach enhances the precision, speed, and completeness of conductivity testing, enabling the identification and rejection of defective components, ensuring effective electrostatic charge dissipation and improving tyre quality by integrating conductivity checks during the building process without significant cost or process changes.

Implementation Method 1

measuring an electrical resistance of the at least one component between the electrode and the building drum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP3894847B1Method and apparatus for checking the electrical conductivity of a tyre being processed
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 PIRELLI TYRE SPA
  • EP3894847B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3894847B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3894847B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method for checking the electrical conductivity of a tyre being processed, comprises: applying an electrode against a radially outer surface of at least one component of a tyre being processed (100) wound around a building drum (14); generating a voltage between the electrode and the building drum (14) and determining an electrical resistance between the electrode and the building drum (14) while the electrode rests against the radially outer surface.