CN114103204B - Tire vulcanization mold assembly - Google Patents

Tire vulcanization mold assembly Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN114103204B
CN114103204B CN202111398766.6A CN202111398766A CN114103204B CN 114103204 B CN114103204 B CN 114103204B CN 202111398766 A CN202111398766 A CN 202111398766A CN 114103204 B CN114103204 B CN 114103204B
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
steel ring
rim
ring
tire
disc
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
CN202111398766.6A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Other versions
CN114103204A (en
Inventor
向春东
李贞延
陈文喜
卿勤
黄玉君
韦春利
徐学强
蒋化学
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sichuan Tire Rubber Group Co ltd
Original Assignee
Sichuan Tire Rubber Group Co ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sichuan Tire Rubber Group Co ltd filed Critical Sichuan Tire Rubber Group Co ltd
Priority to CN202111398766.6A priority Critical patent/CN114103204B/en
Publication of CN114103204A publication Critical patent/CN114103204A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN114103204B publication Critical patent/CN114103204B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29DPRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D30/00Producing pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof
    • B29D30/06Pneumatic tyres or parts thereof (e.g. produced by casting, moulding, compression moulding, injection moulding, centrifugal casting)
    • B29D30/0601Vulcanising tyres; Vulcanising presses for tyres
    • B29D30/0606Vulcanising moulds not integral with vulcanising presses
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29DPRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D30/00Producing pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof
    • B29D30/06Pneumatic tyres or parts thereof (e.g. produced by casting, moulding, compression moulding, injection moulding, centrifugal casting)
    • B29D30/0601Vulcanising tyres; Vulcanising presses for tyres
    • B29D30/0606Vulcanising moulds not integral with vulcanising presses
    • B29D2030/0607Constructional features of the moulds

Abstract

The invention provides a tire vulcanization mold assembly, and relates to the field of rubber tire manufacturing. The tire vulcanizing mold assembly comprises an upper mold, a lower mold, an upper steel ring and a lower steel ring, wherein the lower mold is matched with the upper mold, the upper steel ring comprises an upper steel ring and an upper steel ring disk, the lower steel ring comprises a lower steel ring, a first lower steel ring disk and a second lower steel ring disk, the upper steel ring and the upper steel ring disk are used for being combined to form a first upper steel ring, the lower steel ring and the first lower steel ring disk are used for being combined to form a first lower steel ring, and the first upper steel ring, the upper mold, the lower mold and the first cavity for being combined to form a first tire; the upper rim is used for forming a second upper rim, the lower rim and the second lower rim are used for combining to form a second lower rim, the second upper rim, the second lower rim, the upper die and the lower die are used for combining to form a second cavity for forming a second tire, and the second tire is identical to the first tire in shape and size. The tire vulcanizing mold assembly can realize the dual-purpose of a vulcanizing mold in an A-type vulcanizing machine and a B-type vulcanizing machine.

Description

Tire vulcanization mold assembly
Technical Field
The invention relates to the field of rubber tire manufacturing, in particular to a tire vulcanization mold assembly.
Background
At present, the tire industry emphasizes flexible production, and the application range of the tool needs to be widened. The known tire vulcanization production mostly adopts a shaping vulcanizing machine, is mainly divided into an A-type vulcanizing machine and a B-type vulcanizing machine according to the adopted capsule form, has advantages and disadvantages in the two vulcanizing machine types, and commonly exists in the A-type vulcanizing machine and the B-type vulcanizing machine of a traditional tire factory at the same time. The vulcanizing production uses a tooling for a vulcanizing model, the vulcanizing model consists of an upper die, a lower die, a steel ring and a clamp, the steel ring is divided into an upper steel ring and a lower steel ring, the A-shaped machine clamp consists of a steel ring and a self-contained part of equipment, and the self-contained part of the equipment comprises a clamp plate, a ball nose, a bag barrel and the like; the clamp of the B-type machine consists of a lower steel ring, a positioning disc, an upper chuck and a lower chuck, wherein the tire bead engagement parts of the steel rings of the vulcanization models of the A-type vulcanizing machine and the B-type vulcanizing machine are consistent, but the clamp difference of the capsules is large, the geometric shapes and the structures of the clamp are different, and the two models cannot be used simultaneously under the conventional condition, namely, the vulcanization model of the same tire product can only be applied to the A-type vulcanizing machine or the B-type vulcanizing machine. The interface of the steel ring of the vulcanization model and the upper and lower dies is positioned on the product surface, the interface is called as the product interface of the steel ring, the interface condition directly affects the appearance quality of the tire product, the interface is in taper fit, the parameters of the interface have the requirements of fit clearance and the difference between the surfaces of the two, in the processing, even if the design is a high-requirement small tolerance value, the steel ring also has to be repeatedly tried and matched with the corresponding parts of the upper and lower dies to reach the requirements, namely the vulcanization steel ring has one-to-one correspondence with the upper and lower dies, and the part processing technical requirements are high. The timeliness of the actual tire products is superior to the production timeliness, namely the tire production requirement is fast, the scientificity is emphasized by the tire model storage and coordinated production organization, the productivity of equipment can be exerted to the greatest extent, and the contradiction between the storage quantity and the utilization rate of equipment tools is balanced; the difference in the real market also determines that the reserve of the tire model is difficult to determine, and the production of two vulcanizing machines is shared in the life cycle of the vulcanizing model.
The inventor researches that if the two sets of steel rings which are suitable for the A-type vulcanizing machine and the B-type vulcanizing machine are selected to be produced simultaneously at the beginning of the asset input, each pair of models needs to be provided with two sets of steel rings which are suitable for the A-type vulcanizing machine and the B-type vulcanizing machine, and the storage capacity of the steel ring asset is large and the idle capacity of the asset is also large due to the plurality of models. If the small number of models are used as the models according to market demands, the processing of the vulcanized steel ring needs to be matched with the upper die and the lower die, the delayed production exists in the matched process of the vulcanized die, the processing preparation condition of the supplemented vulcanized steel ring is harsh, and the flexibility is poor. The technical requirement of steel ring processing is high and the flexibility is poor, so that the processing difficulty of the vulcanized steel ring is high.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention provides a tire vulcanizing mold assembly, which is used for an upper mold and a lower mold of a vulcanizing machine by combining an upper steel ring, an upper steel ring disk, a lower steel ring disk, a first lower steel ring disk and a second lower steel ring disk differently.
Embodiments of the invention may be implemented as follows:
in a first aspect, the present invention provides a tire curing mold assembly comprising:
an upper die;
the lower die is used for being matched with the upper die;
the upper steel ring comprises an upper steel ring and an upper steel ring disc which are used for being connected with the upper die;
the lower steel ring comprises a lower steel ring, a first lower steel ring disc and a second lower steel ring disc which are used for being connected with the lower die;
the upper steel ring and the upper steel ring disc are used for combining to form a first upper steel ring, the lower steel ring and the first lower steel ring disc are used for combining to form a first lower steel ring, and the first upper steel ring, the first lower steel ring, the upper die and the lower die are used for combining to form a first cavity for forming the first tire; the upper rim is used for forming a second upper rim, the lower rim and the second lower rim are used for combining to form a second lower rim, and the second upper rim, the second lower rim, the upper die and the lower die are used for combining to form a second cavity for forming a second tire, wherein the shape and the size of the second tire are the same as those of the first tire.
In an alternative embodiment, the upper steel ring comprises a first upper ring surface and a second upper ring surface, wherein the first upper ring surface and the second upper ring surface are connected at an angle of 105 degrees and respectively attached to the surface of the upper die;
in an alternative embodiment, the second upper ring surface is provided with a first threaded connection hole and a second threaded connection hole, the upper die is connected with the upper steel ring through a first bolt matched with the first threaded connection hole, and the upper steel ring is connected with the upper steel ring disc through a second bolt matched with the second threaded connection hole.
In an alternative embodiment, the upper rim further comprises a third upper rim surface and a fourth upper rim surface, the third upper rim surface and the fourth upper rim surface are connected at an angle of 105 degrees and respectively fit with the surfaces of the upper rim plate.
In an alternative embodiment, the upper steel ring disc comprises a first upper disc surface and a second upper disc surface which are connected with each other, the first upper disc surface is attached to the third upper ring surface, and the second upper disc surface is attached to the fourth upper ring surface.
In an alternative embodiment, a third threaded connection hole is formed in the second upper disc surface, and the upper steel ring disc is connected with the upper steel ring through a third bolt matched with the third threaded connection hole.
In an alternative embodiment, the lower steel ring comprises a first lower ring surface and a second lower ring surface, the first lower ring surface is connected with the second lower ring surface in an included angle mode and is respectively attached to the surface of the lower die, a fourth threaded connection hole is formed in the second lower ring surface, and the second lower steel ring disc is connected with the lower steel ring through a fourth bolt matched with the fourth threaded connection hole.
In an alternative embodiment, the first lower steel ring disc comprises a first lower disc surface and a second lower disc surface, the lower steel ring further comprises a third lower disc surface and a fourth lower disc surface, the first lower disc surface is attached to the third lower disc surface, and the second lower disc surface is attached to the fourth lower disc surface.
In an alternative embodiment, the second lower steel ring disc comprises a third lower disc surface and a fourth lower disc surface, the third lower disc surface is attached to the third lower ring surface, the fourth lower disc surface is attached to the fourth lower ring surface, and the fourth lower disc surface is provided with a fifth threaded connection hole matched with the fourth threaded connection hole on the second lower ring surface.
In an alternative embodiment, the tire curing mold assembly further comprises a positioning disk, an upper chuck and a lower chuck, wherein the positioning disk is used for being connected with the upper steel ring and the upper chuck at the same time, and the lower chuck is used for being connected with the second lower steel ring disk, so that a space for accommodating the clamping edge of the rubber capsule is formed between the positioning disk and the upper chuck, and between the lower chuck and the second lower steel ring.
The beneficial effects of the embodiment of the invention include:
the tire vulcanizing mold assembly comprises an upper mold, a lower mold, an upper steel ring and a lower steel ring, wherein the lower mold is used for being matched with the upper mold, the upper steel ring comprises an upper steel ring and an upper steel ring disk which are used for being connected with the upper mold, the lower steel ring comprises a lower steel ring, a first lower steel ring disk and a second lower steel ring disk which are used for being connected with the lower mold, the upper steel ring and the upper steel ring disk are used for being combined to form a first upper steel ring, the lower steel ring and the first lower steel ring disk are used for being combined to form a first lower steel ring, and the first upper steel ring, the first lower steel ring, the upper mold and the lower mold are used for being combined to form a first cavity for forming a first tire; the upper rim is used for forming a second upper rim, the lower rim and the second lower rim are used for combining to form a second lower rim, the second upper rim, the second lower rim, the upper die and the lower die are used for combining to form a second cavity for forming a second tire, wherein the second tire is identical to the first tire in shape and size, and the two tires are identical. The tire vulcanizing mold assembly has the advantages that the tire is machined in different combination modes, the vulcanizing mold can be used in both A-type vulcanizing machines and B-type vulcanizing machines, the investment of assets is low, the steel ring product interface of the vulcanizing mold is only machined once, the steel ring machining is not required to be matched when the additional repair is added, and the machining difficulty of the vulcanizing steel ring is reduced.
Drawings
In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings that are needed in the embodiments will be briefly described below, it being understood that the following drawings only illustrate some embodiments of the present invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope, and other related drawings may be obtained according to these drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a tire curing mold assembly of a first embodiment of the present invention assembled into an A-type curing press;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a tire curing mold assembly assembled in a B-type configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the structure of the upper rim in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the upper steel ring disc in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the structure of the lower rim in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a first steel coil plate according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic structural view of a second lower rim plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 8 is a schematic view showing a structure of a tire curing mold assembly assembled into a B-type vulcanizing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Icon: 1-a tire curing mold assembly; 10-upper die; 20-lower die; 100-a first steel ring; 110-an upper steel ring; 111-a first upper collar surface; 112-a second upper collar surface; 113-a third upper collar surface; 114-a fourth upper collar surface; 115-a first threaded connection hole; 116-a second threaded connection hole; 117-clamp threaded connection holes; 120-mounting a steel ring disc; 121-a first upper tray surface; 122-a second upper plate surface; 123-a third threaded connection hole; 150-a first lower steel ring; 160-lower steel ring; 161-first lower loop surface; 162-second lower loop surface; 163-third lower ring surface; 164-fourth lower turn surface; 165-fourth threaded connection holes; 170-a first lower steel ring disc; 171-a first lower tray surface; 172-a second lower tray surface; 180-a first cavity; 200-a second steel ring; 250-a second lower steel ring; 270-a second lower steel ring disc; 271-third lower tray surface; 272-a fourth lower plate surface; 273-fifth threaded connection hole; 280-a second cavity; 300-positioning plate; 410-upper chuck; 420-lower chuck.
Detailed Description
The difference in the real market also determines that the reserve of the tire model is difficult to determine, and the production of two vulcanizing machines is shared in the life cycle of the vulcanizing model. If the asset input is considered to be selected on the A-type vulcanizing machine or the B-type vulcanizing machine to be produced simultaneously, two sets of steel rings which are suitable for the A-type vulcanizing machine and the B-type vulcanizing machine are required to be configured for each pair of models, and a plurality of models enable the storage capacity of the steel ring asset to be large and the idle capacity of the asset to be large. If a few models are used as the models according to market demands, the processing difficulty of the vulcanized steel ring is high, and the production delay exists in real-time vehicle matching and supplementing.
In order to overcome the defects that the existing vulcanization model cannot be used in both an A-type vulcanizing machine and a B-type vulcanizing machine, or the tooling investment is large and idle when the existing vulcanization model is used in both the A-type vulcanizing machine and the B-type vulcanizing machine, and the processing difficulty is large when the additional dual-purpose vulcanizing machine is added, the tire vulcanization mold assembly provided by the invention can realize the dual-purpose of the vulcanization model in both the A-type vulcanizing machine and the B-type vulcanizing machine, has less asset investment and improves the production efficiency.
For the purpose of making the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more apparent, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is apparent that the described embodiments are some embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments of the present invention. The components of the embodiments of the present invention generally described and illustrated in the figures herein may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.
Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, as presented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments, which can be made by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without making any inventive effort, are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
It should be noted that: like reference numerals and letters denote like items in the following figures, and thus once an item is defined in one figure, no further definition or explanation thereof is necessary in the following figures.
In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, if the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", and the like indicate an azimuth or a positional relationship based on the azimuth or the positional relationship shown in the drawings, or the azimuth or the positional relationship in which the inventive product is conventionally put in use, it is merely for convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and it is not indicated or implied that the apparatus or element referred to must have a specific azimuth, be configured and operated in a specific azimuth, and thus it should not be construed as limiting the present invention.
Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and the like, if any, are used merely for distinguishing between descriptions and not for indicating or implying a relative importance.
It should be noted that the features of the embodiments of the present invention may be combined with each other without conflict.
First embodiment:
referring to fig. 1 and 2, the present embodiment provides a tire vulcanizing mold assembly 1, comprising an upper mold 10, a lower mold 20, an upper rim and a lower rim, wherein the lower mold 20 is used for being matched with the upper mold 10, the upper rim comprises an upper rim 110 and an upper rim plate 120 for being connected with the upper mold 10, and the lower rim comprises a lower rim 160, a first lower rim plate 170 and a second lower rim plate 270 for being connected with the lower mold 20; the upper rim 110 and the upper rim plate 120 are used for combining to form a first upper rim 100, the lower rim 160 and the first lower rim plate 170 are used for combining to form a first lower rim 150, and the first upper rim 100 and the first lower rim 150 are used for combining with the upper die 10 and the lower die 20 to form a first cavity 180 for forming a first tire; the upper rim ring 110 is used to form the second upper rim ring 200, the lower rim ring 160 and the second lower rim plate 270 are used to form the second lower rim ring 250 in combination, and the second upper rim ring 200 and the second lower rim ring 250 are used to form the second cavity 280 for forming the second tire in combination with the upper mold 10 and the lower mold 20, wherein the second tire has the same shape and size as the first tire, and the two tires are identical. Different parts of the tire vulcanizing mold assembly 1 are mutually combined so as to be suitable for an A-type vulcanizing machine or a B-type vulcanizing machine, a first upper steel ring 100 and a first lower steel ring 150 are combined to form a first cavity 180, and the first cavity 180 is respectively arranged on an upper mold 10 and a lower mold 20 and is used for being assembled into the A-type vulcanizing machine; the second upper steel ring 200 and the second lower steel ring 250 are combined to form a second cavity 280, and are respectively installed on the upper die 10 and the lower die 20 for being assembled into a B-type vulcanizing machine. The upper die 10, the lower die 20, the upper steel ring 110 and the lower steel ring 160 are common parts of the A-type vulcanizing machine and the B-type vulcanizing machine, only one part needs to be processed during processing, the investment of processing parts is reduced, the first upper steel ring 100, the first lower steel ring 150, the clamp plate, the ball nose, the bag barrel and other parts of the A-type vulcanizing machine equipment form a fixed A-type capsule and use, the second lower steel ring 250, the positioning disc, the upper chuck and the lower chuck of the B-type vulcanizing machine form a clamp, the B-type capsule is fixed and used, and the scheme can realize the dual-purpose of the tire vulcanizing assembly in the A-type vulcanizing machine and the B-type vulcanizing machine.
Referring to fig. 3, fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an upper steel ring 110, the upper steel ring 110 includes a first upper ring surface 111, a second upper ring surface 112, a third upper ring surface 113 and a fourth upper ring surface 114, the first upper ring surface 111 is connected with the second upper ring surface 112 at an angle of 105 ° and respectively attached to the surface of the upper mold 10, the third upper ring surface 113 is connected with the fourth upper ring surface 114 at an angle of 105 ° and respectively attached to the surface of the upper steel ring disk 120, a first threaded connection hole 115 and a second threaded connection hole 116 are provided on the second upper ring surface 112, the upper mold 10 is connected with the upper steel ring 110 through a first bolt matched with the first threaded connection hole 115, and the upper steel ring 110 is connected with the upper steel ring disk 120 through a second bolt matched with the second threaded connection hole 116.
The upper steel ring 110 is a universal piece of two types, specifically, a seam allowance bonding part of the upper steel ring 110, a first upper ring surface 111 and a second upper ring surface 112 matched with the upper die 10 are designed, and a first threaded connection hole 115 of the upper steel ring 110 and an upper die of the A-type machine is formed in the second upper ring surface 112; meanwhile, a group of threaded connecting holes are additionally formed, the connection between the upper steel ring 110 and the upper steel ring disk 120 is fixed, namely, the center diameter of the group of threaded connecting holes, the threaded structure through holes and the threaded structure counter bores are designed, the strength of the connecting holes (the lower supporting thickness of the threaded structure counter bores) influences the strength of the upper steel ring 110, and the thickness of the upper steel ring 110 is insufficient, so that the width of a conical surface of an interface between the upper steel ring and the upper die 10 can be enlarged for adjustment; in addition, a clamp threaded connection hole 117 is formed, and the first threaded connection hole 115, the second threaded connection hole 116 and the clamp threaded connection hole 117 are sequentially formed along the second upper ring surface direction; the first threaded connection hole 115 is a fixed threaded connection hole for fixing the upper rim 110 to the upper die 10, the second threaded connection hole 116 is a fixed threaded connection hole for fixing the upper rim 110 to the upper rim plate 120, and the clamp threaded connection hole 117 is a fixed threaded connection hole for fixing the first upper rim 100 and the a-type machine clamp.
The third upper ring surface 113 and the fourth upper ring surface 114 are parting surfaces of the upper steel ring 110 matched with the upper steel ring disc 120, according to the shape design of an A-type upper clamp-clamp plate, the diameter of the lowest point of the third upper ring surface 113 is the diameter of the parting surfaces of the upper steel ring 110, and according to the rim attaching diameter and the outer diameter design of the capsule clamping edge of the B-type machine, the value of the diameter value of the parting surfaces of the upper steel ring 110 should consider the strength of the steel ring and the positioning disc 300 in the radial direction; the angle between the third upper ring surface 113 and the vertical direction is the taper of the parting surface of the upper steel ring 110, the vertical height of the third upper ring surface 113 relative to the fourth upper ring surface 114 is the width of the parting surface, and the angle is the parameter size consistent with the design of the shape of the clamp plate, namely the clamp plate on the model A, so that the upper steel ring plate 120 has a regular structure; the connection mode of the parting surface of the upper steel ring 110 and the upper steel ring disk 120 is threaded connection, in this embodiment, through bolted connection, in other embodiments, the connection is inner hexagonal bolt fixed connection, and the connected bolt head is hidden in the upper steel ring 110, such as the space is not enough, the width adjustment of accessible steel ring product interface. Thus, the upper steel ring 110 and the upper steel ring disk 120 are assembled into the upper steel ring of the A-type machine, and the upper steel ring 110 and the positioning disk 300 of the B-type machine can also be directly assembled, so that the upper steel ring 110 is independently formed into the upper steel ring of the B-type machine, and the combined structure of the upper steel ring is completed.
Referring to fig. 4, the upper steel ring disc 120 includes a first upper disc surface 121 and a second upper disc surface 122 that are connected to each other, the first upper disc surface 121 is attached to the third upper ring surface 113, and the second upper disc surface 122 is attached to the fourth upper ring surface 114. The second upper disc surface 122 is provided with a third threaded connection hole 123, and the upper steel ring disc 120 is connected with the upper steel ring 110 through a third bolt matched with the third threaded connection hole 123.
The upper steel ring disc 120 is an intermediate of two transitional types, the first upper disc surface 121 and the second upper disc surface 122 form an outer interface of the upper steel ring disc 120, the other two corresponding surfaces form an inner interface of the upper steel ring disc 120, the inner interface and the outer interface are both tapered, the outer interface is a matched port of the outer interface with the upper steel ring 110, the taper and the width of the matched port are designed according to the clamp plate fixture of the A-type machine, and the diameter of the matched port is optimally designed according to the rim sub-port of the tire and the positioning disc 300 of the B-type vulcanizing machine; the internal interface is a matching port of an A-type machine clamp, and the diameter, the taper and the width of the interface are designed according to the A-type machine clamp; the third threaded connection hole 123 is designed to be fixed with the upper rim 110, so that the upper rim plate 120 can be fixed on the upper rim 110 when in use. The upper steel ring disk 120 is used for changing the large-diameter taper interface of the B-type vulcanizing machine clamp into the small-diameter taper interface of the A-type vulcanizing machine clamp.
Referring to fig. 5, the lower steel ring 160 includes a first lower ring surface 161, a second lower ring surface 162, a third lower ring surface 163 and a fourth lower ring surface 164, the first lower ring surface 161 and the second lower ring surface 162 are connected at an included angle and respectively attached to the surface of the lower mold 20, a fourth threaded connection hole 165 is provided on the second lower ring surface 162, and the second lower steel ring disc 270 is connected with the lower steel ring 160 through a fourth bolt matched with the fourth threaded connection hole 165.
The lower rim 160 is a common part of two types, and it is necessary to design a seam allowance of the lower rim 160, an outer interface (i.e., a portion formed by the first lower rim 161 and the second lower rim 162) matched with the lower die 20, an inner interface (i.e., a portion formed by the third lower rim 163 and the fourth lower rim 164) matched with the lower rim plate, and a set of fourth threaded connection holes 165. The center diameter of the fourth threaded connecting hole 165, the threaded structure through hole and the threaded structure counter bore are designed, the counter bore diameter can be transited to the lower steel ring B disk, and the parting diameters of the lower steel ring 160 and the lower steel ring disk are reduced. Because the lower rim 160 is connected with the bolt head counter bore to affect the radial space of the parting plane, the threaded connection is used for fixing the lower rim 160 and the second lower rim plate 270 of the B-type vulcanizing machine.
The third lower ring surface 163 and the fourth lower ring surface 164 are parting surfaces of the lower ring 160 matched with the lower ring disk, the parting surfaces of the lower ring 160 are in a small conical surface form, the angle of the small conical surface is 95-100 degrees, parts are easy to assemble according to the design of the conical surface, the small conical surface is used for reducing the diameter difference of two ends of the conical surface, parting space can be saved, the limitation of disassembly is avoided, the design is feasible, the conical surface matching mainly comprises the parting surface interface point diameter, the taper and the width of an interface, the parting surface diameter of the lower ring 160 is required to be optimized according to the tire bead diameter, the corresponding outer diameter value of a bag barrel of an A-type machine clamp and the outer diameter of a capsule clamping edge of a B-type machine, and due to the limited space in the radial direction, the strength of the lower ring 160 is required to be ensured, and the arrangement space for fixedly connecting the lower ring 160 and the disk is required to be arranged, and the parting interface is required to be optimized in consideration; the parting surface taper and width of the lower steel ring 160 are about 8 degrees, so that the assembly guide can be realized, and the parting space is saved; the width of the parting surface interface takes a value of about 18mm, and the value is not too large, so that the depth arrangement of the connecting threaded connecting holes can be ensured.
The connection mode of the lower steel ring 160 and the lower steel ring disk is the differentiated axial fixed connection of the A, B vulcanizing machine, and the fixed connection between the lower steel ring 160 and the first lower steel ring disk 170 of the A-type vulcanizing machine can not be designed, because the lower steel ring is only subjected to the unidirectional pressure of the downward die 20, and the first lower steel ring disk 170 is only subjected to the unidirectional pressure of the tightly adhered lower steel ring 160; the fixed connection of the thread structure is designed between the lower steel ring 160 and the second lower steel ring disk 270 of the B-type machine, because the second lower steel ring disk 270 needs to bear force bidirectionally, the lower steel ring 160 only considers the via hole space for connecting the thread structure and does not need to consider the counter bore space of the thread structure, and the parting space of the joint surface at the joint position is further saved; the differential connection design is used for saving parting space, increasing the trial range of the invention, in addition, the connection mode can also be designed into radial fixed connection, the machining is difficult, the radial fixed connection thread structure is subjected to shearing force, the stress is less, the connection can be ensured, and the connection is partially complemented by limited axial connection.
Referring to fig. 6, a first lower ring plate 170 is an a-type machine part, the first lower ring plate 170 includes a first lower plate surface 171 and a second lower plate surface 172, the first lower plate surface 171 is attached to the third lower plate surface 163, and the second lower plate surface 172 is attached to the fourth lower plate surface 164. The included angle formed by connecting the first lower disc surface 171 and the second lower disc surface 172 is 95 ° -100 °, in this embodiment, 98 °, specifically, the first lower disc surface 170 is set to be in a zigzag shape, the first lower disc surface 171 is located at the zigzag head, and when assembled and used, is attached to the third lower disc surface 163 of the lower disc ring 160, and according to actual needs, the interface size matched with the lower disc ring 160 is designed, and the interface size of the clamping edge of the a-type capsule is fixed together with the a-type capsule barrel and the two semi-rings.
Referring to fig. 7, the second lower steel ring disc 270 is a B-type machine member, the second lower steel ring disc 270 includes a third lower disc surface 271 and a fourth lower disc surface 272, an included angle formed by connecting the third lower disc surface 271 and the fourth lower disc surface 272 is 95 ° -100 °, in this embodiment, 98 °, the third lower disc surface 271 is attached to the third lower disc surface 163, the fourth lower disc surface 272 is attached to the fourth lower disc surface 164, and the fourth lower disc surface 272 is provided with a fifth threaded connection hole 273 that is matched with the fourth threaded connection hole 165 on the second lower disc surface 162. According to the actual needs, an interface matched with the lower steel ring 160, an interface matched with the lower clamping chuck 420 of the B-type machine for fixing the clamping edge of the B-type capsule, a fifth threaded connection hole 273 fixed with the lower steel ring 160, and a threaded structure operation space fixedly connected with the lower steel ring 160 and the second lower steel ring disk 270 are additionally arranged, so that the countersink space of threaded connection is met.
The working principle and the working process of the tire vulcanization mold component 1 are as follows:
when the tire is required to be processed by the A-type vulcanizing machine, an upper die 10, a lower die 20, an upper steel ring 110, an upper steel ring disc 120, a lower steel ring 160 and a first lower steel ring disc 170 are selected, all parts are cleaned, and the upper steel ring 110 and the upper steel ring disc 120 are connected and fixed to be used as a first upper steel ring 100 of the A-type vulcanizing machine; the lower steel ring 160 and the first lower steel ring disc 170 are taken as the first lower steel ring 150 of the A-type vulcanizing machine together, and the lower steel ring 160 and the first lower steel ring disc 170 are fixed in a non-connecting way; the conventional tire vulcanization model is assembled by an upper die 10, a lower die 20, a first upper steel ring 100, a first lower steel ring 150 and a clamp of an A-type vulcanizing machine, wherein in the lower steel ring assembly, a lower steel ring 160 is firstly arranged on the lower die 20, a first lower steel ring disc 170 is arranged on the lower steel ring 160, and the lower steel ring 160 and the first lower steel ring disc 170 are not connected and fixed, so that the installation of the tire vulcanization die assembly 1 in the A-type vulcanizing machine is completed for the production of vulcanization of a tire casing.
When the B-type vulcanizing machine is required to process the tire, an upper die 10, a lower die 20, an upper steel ring 110, a lower steel ring 160 and a second lower steel ring disc 270 are selected, all parts are cleaned, the lower steel ring 160 and the second lower steel ring disc 270 are connected and fixed to be used as a second lower steel ring 250 of the B-type vulcanizing machine, and the upper steel ring 110 is used as a second upper steel ring 200; the assembly is carried out according to a conventional tire vulcanization model, and the assembly is formed by an upper die 10, a lower die 20, a second upper steel ring 200, a second lower steel ring 250 and a clamp, so that the installation of the tire vulcanization die assembly 1 in a B-type vulcanizing machine is completed, and the assembly is used for producing and vulcanizing a tire casing.
The disassembly of the tire curing mold assembly 1 is consistent with the disassembly of other mechanical assembly equipment, and is completed in reverse order of assembly operations.
The tire curing mold assembly 1 has at least the following advantages:
the tire vulcanizing mold assembly 1 is provided with the combination form of the upper rim 110, the upper rim plate 120, the lower rim plate 160 and the lower rim plate between the upper mold 10 and the lower mold 20, specifically, the upper rim 110 and the upper rim plate 120 are used for combining to form the first upper rim 100, the lower rim 160 and the first lower rim plate 170 are used for combining to form the first lower rim 150, the first upper rim 100 and the first lower rim 150 are used for combining to form the first cavity 180 for forming the first tire, and the first cavity 180 is a containing space for producing the tire by using an A-type vulcanizing machine; the upper rim 110 is used for forming a second upper rim 200, the lower rim 160 and the second lower rim plate 270 are used for combining to form a second lower rim 250, the second upper rim 200 and the second lower rim 250 are used for combining to form a second cavity 280 for forming a second tire, and the second cavity 280 is an accommodating space for producing the tire by using a B-type vulcanizing machine; wherein the second tire is the same shape and size as the first tire. The tire produced by the method can be flexibly converted between the A-type vulcanizing machine and the B-type vulcanizing machine, the application range of the vulcanizing model is enlarged, the organization of the production is better, the vulcanizing model conversion operation structure is simple and reliable, the processing difficulty of parts is reduced, and the processing flexibility is better.
Second embodiment:
referring to fig. 8, in addition to the parts described in the first embodiment, the tire vulcanizing mold assembly 1 further includes a positioning plate 300, an upper chuck 410 and a lower chuck 420, wherein the positioning plate 300 is connected to the upper rim 110 and the upper chuck 410 at the same time, and the lower chuck 420 is connected to the second lower rim plate 270, so that a space for accommodating the rim of the rubber bladder is formed between the positioning plate 300 and the upper chuck 410, the lower chuck 420 and the second lower rim 250, and the rim of the rubber bladder is clamped, thereby fixing the rubber bladder and the use. Specifically, the positioning plate 300 and the upper chuck 410, the lower chuck 420 and the second lower steel ring 250 are respectively matched and connected, and the two clamping edges for clamping the B-type capsule are respectively used for the B-type vulcanizing machine, the positioning plate 300, the upper chuck 410 and the lower chuck 420 are limited by the thickness of the upper steel ring 110 and the limitation of the positioning plate 300 in the upper steel ring 110, the thickness of the positioning plate 300 is also limited, the positioning plate 300 is designed into an exposed structure for positioning assembly between the positioning plate 300 and the upper chuck 410, and the positioning guide is changed from the inside of the positioning plate 300 to the outside of the upper chuck 410, namely, the positioning guide is arranged between the two observable parts, so that the assembly positioning length and the part strength are ensured, and the thickness of the positioning plate 300 is reduced.
The foregoing is merely illustrative of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and any changes or substitutions easily contemplated by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention should be included in the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. A tire curing mold assembly, comprising:
an upper die;
the lower die is used for being matched with the upper die;
the upper steel ring comprises an upper steel ring and an upper steel ring disc which are used for being connected with the upper die;
the lower steel ring comprises a lower steel ring, a first lower steel ring disc and a second lower steel ring disc which are used for being connected with the lower die;
the upper steel ring and the upper steel ring disc are used for being combined to form a first upper steel ring, the lower steel ring and the first lower steel ring disc are used for being combined to form a first lower steel ring, and the first upper steel ring and the first lower steel ring are used for being combined with the upper die and the lower die to form a first die cavity for forming a first tire; the upper steel ring is used for forming a second upper steel ring, the lower steel ring and the second lower steel ring disc are used for forming a second lower steel ring in a combined mode, and the second upper steel ring, the second lower steel ring, the upper die and the lower die are used for forming a second cavity for forming a second tire in a combined mode, wherein the shape and the size of the second tire are the same as those of the first tire;
the upper steel ring comprises a first upper ring surface and a second upper ring surface, and the first upper ring surface is connected with the second upper ring surface at an angle of 105 degrees and is respectively attached to the surface of the upper die; the second upper ring surface is provided with a first threaded connecting hole and a second threaded connecting hole, the upper die is connected with the upper steel ring through a first bolt matched with the first threaded connecting hole, and the upper steel ring is connected with the upper steel ring disc through a second bolt matched with the second threaded connecting hole;
the lower steel ring comprises a first lower ring surface and a second lower ring surface, the first lower ring surface is connected with the second lower ring surface in an included angle mode and is respectively attached to the surface of the lower die, a fourth threaded connection hole is formed in the second lower ring surface, and the second lower steel ring disc is connected with the lower steel ring through a fourth bolt matched with the fourth threaded connection hole.
2. The tire curing mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper rim further comprises a third upper rim surface and a fourth upper rim surface, the third upper rim surface being connected at an angle of 105 ° to the fourth upper rim surface and respectively conforming to the surface of the upper rim plate.
3. The tire curing mold assembly of claim 2, wherein the steel rim plate comprises a first upper plate surface and a second upper plate surface that are interconnected, the first upper plate surface being in engagement with the third upper plate surface and the second upper plate surface being in engagement with the fourth upper plate surface.
4. A tyre vulcanisation mould assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second upper disc surface is provided with a third threaded connection hole, said upper rim disc being connected to said upper rim by means of a third bolt cooperating with said third threaded connection hole.
5. The tire curing mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the first underwire comprises a first underwire surface and a second underwire surface, the underwire further comprising a third underwire surface and a fourth underwire surface, the first underwire surface being in engagement with the third underwire surface, the second underwire surface being in engagement with the fourth underwire surface.
6. The tire curing mold assembly of claim 5, wherein the second lower rim plate comprises a third lower plate surface and a fourth lower plate surface, the third lower plate surface is in engagement with the third lower plate surface, the fourth lower plate surface is in engagement with the fourth lower plate surface, and the fourth lower plate surface is provided with a fifth threaded connection hole that mates with the fourth threaded connection hole on the second lower plate surface.
7. The tire curing mold assembly of claim 1, further comprising a positioning plate for coupling with both the upper rim and the upper chuck, and a lower chuck for coupling to the second lower rim plate such that a space is formed between the positioning plate and the upper chuck, the lower chuck and the second lower rim for receiving a rim of a rubber bladder.
CN202111398766.6A 2021-11-24 2021-11-24 Tire vulcanization mold assembly Active CN114103204B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN202111398766.6A CN114103204B (en) 2021-11-24 2021-11-24 Tire vulcanization mold assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN202111398766.6A CN114103204B (en) 2021-11-24 2021-11-24 Tire vulcanization mold assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN114103204A CN114103204A (en) 2022-03-01
CN114103204B true CN114103204B (en) 2024-03-22

Family

ID=80440368

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN202111398766.6A Active CN114103204B (en) 2021-11-24 2021-11-24 Tire vulcanization mold assembly

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CN (1) CN114103204B (en)

Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3336636A (en) * 1965-10-23 1967-08-22 Mcneil Corp Mounting mold sections used in vulcanizing presses
GB2035229A (en) * 1978-11-27 1980-06-18 Pemco Kalamazoo Disk wheel with resilient bearing support and rigid annular tread mounting surface
EP0224007A2 (en) * 1985-11-26 1987-06-03 WOCO Franz-Josef Wolf & Co. Process for making shaped plastic articles incorporating surface-formed or inserted rubber-elastic parts
EP0368297A2 (en) * 1988-11-11 1990-05-16 Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Upper metal mold clamp device in a tire vulcanizing machine
US6461134B1 (en) * 1999-04-01 2002-10-08 Bridgestone Corporation Mold exchanger system for tire vulcanizing machine
CN201009397Y (en) * 2007-03-02 2008-01-23 三角轮胎股份有限公司 Interchangeable capsule clamping apparatus of tyre vulcanizer
CN201086374Y (en) * 2007-05-24 2008-07-16 双钱集团(如皋)轮胎有限公司 Sealing mechanism of B type vulcanizing machine center mechanism
CN201592499U (en) * 2009-09-28 2010-09-29 青岛联鑫机械有限公司 Tyre wall plate of tyre segmental mold
CN201619205U (en) * 2010-03-29 2010-11-03 桦林佳通轮胎有限公司 Semi-steel meridian tyre curing bladder mold tooling
CN102126195A (en) * 2010-12-15 2011-07-20 四川轮胎橡胶(集团)股份有限公司 Method for installing explosion-proof plate on matched piece, namely flap of heavy-duty tyre
WO2011155553A1 (en) * 2010-06-11 2011-12-15 東洋ゴム工業株式会社 Method for manufacturing rubber molded product and transfer molding die
CN203566979U (en) * 2013-09-28 2014-04-30 无锡翼龙航空设备有限公司 Central mechanism of tire vulcanizer
JP2014140971A (en) * 2013-01-22 2014-08-07 Matsumoto Yushi Seiyaku Co Ltd Release-agent composition for molding and vulcanizing rubber product and method for producing rubber product
CN206780771U (en) * 2017-04-25 2017-12-22 山东豪迈机械科技股份有限公司 A kind of pore-free steel ring and tire-mold
US10047717B1 (en) * 2018-02-05 2018-08-14 Energystics, Ltd. Linear faraday induction generator for the generation of electrical power from ocean wave kinetic energy and arrangements thereof
CN208305852U (en) * 2018-03-08 2019-01-01 四川轮胎橡胶(集团)股份有限公司 The capsule clamp fixture that Type B tire forming vulcanizer multi-model uses
CN110039691A (en) * 2019-04-25 2019-07-23 山东豪迈机械科技股份有限公司 A kind of clamping device, capsule fixture and vulcanization plant
CN209920357U (en) * 2019-04-25 2020-01-10 山东豪迈机械科技股份有限公司 Clamping mechanism, capsule clamp and vulcanizing device
CN210590104U (en) * 2019-06-21 2020-05-22 山东丰源轮胎制造股份有限公司 Steel ring and curb plate integration tire mould under mould
CN211389753U (en) * 2019-11-27 2020-09-01 宁国市正德橡塑制品有限公司 Subassembly is changed to rubber coating aluminium cover vulcanizer mould
CN211868698U (en) * 2019-11-13 2020-11-06 河北万达轮胎有限公司 Two-half type tire mold
CN212218985U (en) * 2020-03-11 2020-12-25 青岛海泰克机械科技有限公司 Mould for tire vulcanization
CN212241762U (en) * 2020-11-16 2020-12-29 山东豪迈机械科技股份有限公司 Tire mold and tire vulcanizing device
CN214000641U (en) * 2020-09-23 2021-08-20 江苏金成机械科技有限公司 Integrated radial tire mold

Patent Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3336636A (en) * 1965-10-23 1967-08-22 Mcneil Corp Mounting mold sections used in vulcanizing presses
GB2035229A (en) * 1978-11-27 1980-06-18 Pemco Kalamazoo Disk wheel with resilient bearing support and rigid annular tread mounting surface
EP0224007A2 (en) * 1985-11-26 1987-06-03 WOCO Franz-Josef Wolf & Co. Process for making shaped plastic articles incorporating surface-formed or inserted rubber-elastic parts
EP0368297A2 (en) * 1988-11-11 1990-05-16 Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Upper metal mold clamp device in a tire vulcanizing machine
US6461134B1 (en) * 1999-04-01 2002-10-08 Bridgestone Corporation Mold exchanger system for tire vulcanizing machine
CN201009397Y (en) * 2007-03-02 2008-01-23 三角轮胎股份有限公司 Interchangeable capsule clamping apparatus of tyre vulcanizer
CN201086374Y (en) * 2007-05-24 2008-07-16 双钱集团(如皋)轮胎有限公司 Sealing mechanism of B type vulcanizing machine center mechanism
CN201592499U (en) * 2009-09-28 2010-09-29 青岛联鑫机械有限公司 Tyre wall plate of tyre segmental mold
CN201619205U (en) * 2010-03-29 2010-11-03 桦林佳通轮胎有限公司 Semi-steel meridian tyre curing bladder mold tooling
WO2011155553A1 (en) * 2010-06-11 2011-12-15 東洋ゴム工業株式会社 Method for manufacturing rubber molded product and transfer molding die
CN102126195A (en) * 2010-12-15 2011-07-20 四川轮胎橡胶(集团)股份有限公司 Method for installing explosion-proof plate on matched piece, namely flap of heavy-duty tyre
JP2014140971A (en) * 2013-01-22 2014-08-07 Matsumoto Yushi Seiyaku Co Ltd Release-agent composition for molding and vulcanizing rubber product and method for producing rubber product
CN203566979U (en) * 2013-09-28 2014-04-30 无锡翼龙航空设备有限公司 Central mechanism of tire vulcanizer
CN206780771U (en) * 2017-04-25 2017-12-22 山东豪迈机械科技股份有限公司 A kind of pore-free steel ring and tire-mold
US10047717B1 (en) * 2018-02-05 2018-08-14 Energystics, Ltd. Linear faraday induction generator for the generation of electrical power from ocean wave kinetic energy and arrangements thereof
CN208305852U (en) * 2018-03-08 2019-01-01 四川轮胎橡胶(集团)股份有限公司 The capsule clamp fixture that Type B tire forming vulcanizer multi-model uses
CN110039691A (en) * 2019-04-25 2019-07-23 山东豪迈机械科技股份有限公司 A kind of clamping device, capsule fixture and vulcanization plant
CN209920357U (en) * 2019-04-25 2020-01-10 山东豪迈机械科技股份有限公司 Clamping mechanism, capsule clamp and vulcanizing device
CN210590104U (en) * 2019-06-21 2020-05-22 山东丰源轮胎制造股份有限公司 Steel ring and curb plate integration tire mould under mould
CN211868698U (en) * 2019-11-13 2020-11-06 河北万达轮胎有限公司 Two-half type tire mold
CN211389753U (en) * 2019-11-27 2020-09-01 宁国市正德橡塑制品有限公司 Subassembly is changed to rubber coating aluminium cover vulcanizer mould
CN212218985U (en) * 2020-03-11 2020-12-25 青岛海泰克机械科技有限公司 Mould for tire vulcanization
CN214000641U (en) * 2020-09-23 2021-08-20 江苏金成机械科技有限公司 Integrated radial tire mold
CN212241762U (en) * 2020-11-16 2020-12-29 山东豪迈机械科技股份有限公司 Tire mold and tire vulcanizing device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN114103204A (en) 2022-03-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN108637151B (en) A kind of lightweight special-shaped shell body partial plastic forming method
CN104368945A (en) Manufacturing technology for integrated wheel hub
CN114103204B (en) Tire vulcanization mold assembly
CN108213426B (en) Manufacturing method of recyclable tire mold based on additive manufacturing technology
CN107116961A (en) A kind of back-up ring welded type has tyre tube wheel and its manufacture method
CN203696465U (en) Clamp for producing solid rocket engine shell core model spoke
CN205519804U (en) Motor flange jig
CN103302182A (en) Sizing die structure for holder
CN108971400B (en) Method for producing titanium alloy special-shaped forge piece by using free forging equipment
CN209206343U (en) A kind of aluminium lithium alloy cone cylinder mold
CN108941411B (en) Special-shaped shell body partial plastic forming mold
CN209998805U (en) novel sectional type guide rail machining tool
CN206912041U (en) High-accuracy high-efficiency pad chamfer forming device
CN218425376U (en) Forging die of crusher forging head
CN114029375B (en) Multi-wave type metal sealing ring two-time hydraulic forming die device
CN209849737U (en) One-step forming end socket die
CN113579277B (en) Method for machining forging die of radial forging machine by applying machining jig
CN202411812U (en) Device for manufacturing automobile decoupling motor belt pulley with small spoke structure on single side
CN218855342U (en) Uniform-curvature compensation sheet rubber bag forming universal tool
CN203426262U (en) Special die for deburring of pin holes in bearing retainer workpieces
CN112536607B (en) Combined tool for skin stretch forming and numerical control milling and use method
CN217776802U (en) Machining clamp for die lip
CN210172467U (en) Bolt cold heading die set
CN114799737B (en) Turning and milling composite machining process method for passenger car speed reducer shell
CN218134964U (en) Metal powder atomizing nozzle mould piece convenient to location

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PB01 Publication
PB01 Publication
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
GR01 Patent grant
GR01 Patent grant