Vacuum Container Seal Design for Tyre Curing Mold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum containers for tyre curing molds with dynamic annular seals face severe wear due to pressure and sliding movement, leading to high maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum container design featuring only one dynamic seal between the conical bell and the annular outer edge of the bottom plate, with the remaining seals being static, reducing sliding movement and wear, and allowing for easy conversion from conventional containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two dynamic annular seals are used in the vacuum container, then the container can maintain vacuum sealability, but the seals suffer severe wear due to pressure and sliding movement requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes one of the two dynamic annular seals from the system, extracting the problematic sliding seal component. By having only one dynamic seal instead of two, the invention eliminates the severe wear issue while maintaining sufficient vacuum sealability through the remaining seal and alternative sealing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a static seal design that eliminates the need for expensive replacement of worn dynamic seals. The single dynamic seal is complemented by static sealing elements that do not require frequent replacement, reducing maintenance costs and extending service life.
2Reliability
If dynamic annular seals are used to maintain vacuum, then sealability is achieved, but sliding movement causes severe wear and frequent seal replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts one dynamic seal from the dual-seal configuration, reducing the number of sliding components that cause wear. This leaves a single dynamic seal that works in conjunction with static sealing elements, extending the service life of the sealing system.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using multiple dynamic seals to ensure sealability, the patent inverts the approach by using a combination of fewer dynamic seals and static seals. The static seals provide the majority of the sealing action, reducing sliding movement and extending component life.
3Reliability
If conventional vacuum containers with multiple dynamic seals are used, then vacuum functionality is maintained, but production cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the seal system by removing one dynamic seal from the conventional dual-seal design. This reduction in the number of dynamic components decreases device complexity while maintaining vacuum functionality through the remaining seal and static sealing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sealing functions of multiple dynamic seals into a combination of one dynamic seal and static seals. This consolidation reduces the number of moving parts and simplifies the overall seal system while preserving the vacuum functionality.
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
The solution significantly reduces maintenance costs and simplifies production by minimizing wear on seals, maintaining airtightness while allowing for efficient vacuum formation inside the curing mold.
Implementation Method 1
the container is connected to a vacuum pump to produce a vacuum inside the container (and therefore inside the curing mold) to improve fill of the curing mold by the green tyre and prevent the formation of air pockets
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum container for a tyre curing mold having two sidewalls and a number of lateral sectors; the container having an inclined-surface actuating device, which moves the lateral sectors radially, is activated by a press having a movable plate with a central airtight chamber, and has, for each lateral sector, a wedge integral with the lateral sector, and a conical bell fitted in sliding manner to the wedges; and the container having: an air shut-off plate integral with the movable plate of the press to transmit motion to the conical bell; an adjusting ring integral with the air shut-off plate and the conical bell; a static first annular seal interposed between the conical bell and the adjusting ring; and a static second annular seal interposed between the air shut-off plate and the movable plate of the press.