Ventless Segmented Tire Mold Vacuum Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tire molds with vents result in unnecessary rubber burrs, increased manufacturing costs, and frequent maintenance issues due to plugged vents and complex tire designs, making tire production more expensive and less efficient.

Innovation Solution

A ventless segmented tire mold with a conical actuating ring assembly and sealing means, such as silicone seals, that maintains the mold in an airtight condition only when fully closed, allowing for vacuum curing without the need for vents, reducing waste and maintenance costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If vents are provided in the tire mold to allow air escape, then air evacuation is improved, but rubber burrs are generated on the tire surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair evacuationVSAvoidtire surface quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful function of vents (creating burrs) is extracted and eliminated. The patent removes the vent holes from the mold cavity surfaces while maintaining air evacuation capability through alternative means (vacuum system), thereby eliminating the source of rubber burr generation while preserving the essential air removal function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of actively forcing air out through vents during molding, the patent inverts the approach by using vacuum to actively draw air out during demolding. This reversal of the air evacuation mechanism eliminates the need for vent holes that cause burrs, while still achieving complete air removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If vents are provided in the tire mold, then air evacuation is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to extra processing steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair evacuationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the vent holes from the mold structure, thereby removing the associated post-processing step of burr removal. This eliminates labor costs, equipment costs for deburring machines, and material waste from removed burrs, directly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining air evacuation through vacuum

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum system operates continuously during the demolding process to evacuate air, eliminating the need for separate vent cleaning and burr removal operations. This continuous air evacuation integrated into the normal molding cycle eliminates additional processing steps and associated costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If vents are provided in the tire mold, then air evacuation is improved, but maintenance complexity increases due to vent plugging and cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair evacuationVSAvoidvent maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the vent holes from the mold structure, thereby removing the entire vent maintenance system. Without vent holes, there are no vents to plug, clean, or maintain, eliminating this source of downtime and maintenance complexity while air evacuation is handled by the vacuum system during demolding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum system automatically evacuates air during the normal demolding operation without requiring separate vent cleaning or maintenance interventions. The system serves itself by integrating air evacuation into the existing molding cycle, eliminating the need for dedicated vent maintenance activities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 ventless mold design eliminates rubber burrs, reduces manufacturing costs, and improves efficiency by eliminating the need for vent maintenance and extra processing steps, while maintaining the ability to produce complex tire designs without air evacuation issues.

Implementation Method 1

a vacuum container comprising a top sealing means between the actuating ring assembly and the upper sidewall assembly and a bottom sealing means between the actuating ring assembly and the lower sidewall assembly such that the tire mold is airtight only when fully closed and evacuated only when fully closed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentEP2881230B1Ventless segmented tire mold

Publication Date: 2017.10.18 THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO

AI summary

An apparatus is disclosed for providing a vacuum in a segmented tire mold (10) having an upper sidewall assembly (12) and a lower sidewall assembly (14), a plurality of radially moveable tread mold segments (16) operable with the upper sidewall assembly and the lower sidewall assembly to define a tire mold cavity (18) in the closed position of the tire mold (10), a conical actuating ring assembly (20) surrounding the tread mold segments for providing a radial movement of the tread mold segments (16) into engagement with the upper sidewall assembly (12) and the lower sidewall assembly (14). The apparatus comprises a top sealing means (501) between the actuating ring assembly (20) and the upper sidewall assembly (12) and a bottom sealing means (502) between the actuating ring assembly (20) and the lower sidewall assembly (14) such that the tire mold (10) is airtight and ready for evacuation or evacuated only when fully closed.