JP2010158785A - Method of manufacturing tire - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily mount a tread to a tubular body, and to restrain plastic deformation of the tubular body. <P>SOLUTION: This method of manufacturing a tire 20 includes a tube component forming process for forming a tube component having at least an outer peripheral part 21a out of the tubular body 21 and allowing the internal space of the tubular body to communicate with the outside on the inner peripheral part 21c side of the tubular body; a tread forming process for forming an endless strip tread 22 along the circumferential direction of the tire; a mounting process for arranging the tube component inside in the tire radial direction of the tread in a state of the tube component being pressed in the radial direction of the tire and reduced in diameter, then releasing the pressing of the tube component to restore and deform the tube component, and mounting the inner peripheral surface of the tread in close contact with the outer peripheral part; and a tubular body forming process for sealing the internal space from the inner peripheral part side to form the tubular body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tire manufacturing method.

Conventionally, for example, a tire including a tube body formed endlessly along the tire circumferential direction as shown in Patent Document 1 below and a tread attached to the outer peripheral portion of the tube body is known. .
From the viewpoint of weight reduction and recycling, as a method for efficiently producing the tube body using a thermoplastic material, a plurality of endless tube segments along the tire circumferential direction are formed by a known method such as vacuum forming. Then, after forming these tube division bodies around the tube axis of the tube body extending along the tire circumferential direction, it is conceivable to form them by joining the side end portions adjacent to each other.
And after forming the endless belt-like tread along the tire circumferential direction at the same time as the formation of the tube body and before or after, or at the same time, the tube body is pressed in the tire radial direction to reduce the diameter, and this tube body is the tire diameter of the tread. A method of manufacturing a tire that is disposed inside in a direction, and then releases the pressure of the tube body and restores and deforms the tube body so that the inner peripheral surface of the tread is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral portion thereof can be considered.

International Publication No. 2004/037565 Pamphlet

  However, in the conventional tire manufacturing method, since a large pressing force is required to reduce the diameter of the tube body formed of the thermoplastic material, it is difficult to attach the tread to the tube body. Moreover, if the pressing force is too large, the tube body may be plastically deformed when pressed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a tire manufacturing method in which a tread can be easily attached to a tube body and the tube body can be prevented from being plastically deformed. It is to be.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
A tire manufacturing method according to the present invention is a tire manufacturing method comprising: a tube body formed endlessly along a tire circumferential direction with a thermoplastic material; and a tread mounted on an outer peripheral portion of the tube body. A tube constituent member forming step of forming a tube constituent member having at least the outer peripheral portion of the tube body, and the inner space and the outside of the tube body communicating on the inner peripheral side of the tube body; In the tread forming step of forming the endless belt-shaped tread along the tire circumferential direction, and in a state where the tube constituent member is pressed in the tire radial direction to reduce the diameter, the tube constituent member is arranged in the tire radial direction of the tread. It is arranged on the inner side, after that, the pressure of the tube constituent member is released, the tube constituent member is restored and deformed, and the inner peripheral surface of the tread is densely attached to the outer peripheral portion. A mounting step of mounting by, characterized in that the inner space and a, a tube body forming step of forming the tube body is sealed from the inner peripheral portion side.

According to the tire manufacturing method of the present invention, when the tube constituent member is pressed in the tire radial direction in the mounting step, it is easy to widen the opening that communicates the internal space with the outside. Therefore, the pressing force required to reduce the diameter of the tube constituent member can be reduced compared to the case where the diameter of the tube body is reduced to the same extent, the tread can be easily attached to the tube body, and the tube body is plastically deformed. Can be suppressed.
Examples of the thermoplastic material include thermoplastic resins such as urethane resin, olefin resin, vinyl chloride resin, and polyamide resin, and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Of these, when a thermoplastic elastomer is used, it is easier to mold than, for example, a conventional vulcanized rubber tire, and moreover, for example, a ride comfort (elasticity) during running than when a thermoplastic resin is used. Can be improved.

  The tube constituent member forming step includes a tube divided body forming step for forming two tube divided bodies obtained by dividing the tube body at a central portion in the tire width direction, and the two tube divided bodies along the tire circumferential direction. A side end joining step of joining the one side ends located on the outer peripheral side of the tube body to form the tube constituent member in a state where the tube bodies are arranged around the tube axis. And the tube body forming step may seal the internal space by joining the other side end portions located on the inner peripheral side of the tube body.

In this case, since the tube constituent member is formed by the two tube divided bodies, for example, the tube constituent member can be reliably and easily formed at low cost as compared with the case where the tube constituent member is integrally formed.
Further, in the tube body forming step, the internal space can be sealed simply by joining the other side end portions, so that this tire can be easily manufactured.

  In addition, the other side end portion of each of the two tube divided bodies may be a flange-like joint portion that protrudes inward in the tire radial direction.

In this case, since the other side end portion of each of the two tube divided bodies is the flange-like joint portion, by joining the flange-like joint portions during the tube body forming step, the other side end portion is obtained. The parts can be joined to each other by a surface, and the joining can be made easy and strong.
In this joining, the flange-like joining portion may be pressurized and joined from both sides in the tire width direction. In this case, the bonding between the two can be made even stronger. In addition, since the flange-like joint projects toward the inner side in the tire radial direction, other components of the tire do not get in the way of this pressurization.

  According to the tire manufacturing method of the present invention, the tread can be easily attached to the tube body, and the tube body can be prevented from being plastically deformed.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a tire / rim assembly including a tire according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tire / rim assembly shown in FIG. 1 is cut along the tire width direction. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected a part of tire shown in FIG. 1 along the tire width direction. It is a figure explaining 1 process of the manufacturing method which manufactures the tire shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining 1 process of the manufacturing method which manufactures the tire shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, a tire / rim assembly provided with a tire according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tire / rim assembly including a tire according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tire / rim assembly shown in FIG. 1 is cut along the tire width direction. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the tire shown in FIG. 1 cut along the tire width direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tire / rim assembly 1 includes a rim 10 formed in a disc shape, and a tire 20 mounted on a support portion 12 described later of the rim 10. Each of the tires 20 is arranged coaxially with a common axis extending along the tire width direction H.
As shown in FIG. 2, the rim 10 is connected to a disc-shaped rim main body 11 and an outer peripheral surface of the rim main body 11, and a longitudinal sectional view shape along the tire width direction H faces outward in the tire radial direction. And a support portion 12 formed in an open V shape. Further, a plurality of mounting holes 13 for assembling the rim 10 to an axle (not shown) are formed in the central portion in the radial direction of the rim body 11.

  Here, both surfaces facing the inside in the tire width direction H in the support portion 12 and a bottom surface connecting these surfaces, that is, the support surface 12a, are formed in an arc shape that is smoothly connected in a longitudinal sectional view along the tire width direction H. It is along the said longitudinal cross-sectional view shape in the inner peripheral part 21c of the tube body 21 mentioned later. That is, both end portions in the tire width direction H of the support portion 12 are support protrusions 12b that extend in the tire radial direction and support the tube body 21 described later from the outside in the tire width direction H. In the illustrated example, the support protrusion 12b gradually extends toward the outer side in the tire width direction H toward the outer side in the tire radial direction. Further, the shape of the rim 10 viewed from the longitudinal section is line-symmetric with respect to a virtual center line passing through the center portion in the tire width direction H.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tire 20 includes a tube body 21 that is formed endlessly along the tire circumferential direction, and a tread 22 that is attached to an outer peripheral portion 21 a of the tube body 21. In the present embodiment, the tube body 21 is filled with, for example, air or nitrogen gas, and a positive gas pressure is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the tire / rim assembly 1, the tube body 21 is attached to the rim 10 in a state where the central portions in the tire width direction H of the rim 10, the tube body 21, and the tread 22 are aligned with each other. The tread 22 is fitted to the outer peripheral portion 21a of the tube body 21 so as to be detachable from the outside. Furthermore, the tube body 21 has both ends in the tire width direction H of the outer peripheral portion 21a in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the tread 22 and the inner peripheral portion 21c is the support surface 12a of the rim 10 due to the positive gas pressure inside the tube body 21. It is being fixed between the tread 22 and the rim | limb 10 by contacting closely.

  The tube body 21 is a donut-like body having an airtight space A that extends continuously over the entire circumference and has a circular shape in the longitudinal sectional view. And it can hold | maintain to a positive pressure by filling this airtight space A with air. Both side portions 21b of the tube body 21 in the tire width direction H are not covered with the support surface 12a and the tread 22 of the rim 10 and are exposed to the outside.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tube body 21 is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer having a longitudinal elastic modulus of 1.0 MPa to 500 MPa.
Examples of the thermoplastic elastomer include an amide thermoplastic elastomer (TPA), an ester thermoplastic elastomer (TPC), an olefin thermoplastic elastomer (TPO), a styrene thermoplastic elastomer (TPS) specified in JIS K6418, Examples thereof include urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPU), crosslinked thermoplastic rubber (TPV), and other thermoplastic elastomers (TPZ).

  The thickness of the tube body 21 is, for example, about 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm, and the gas pressure applied to the inside thereof is, for example, about 50 kPa to 500 kPa. For example, general motorcycles and ordinary passenger cars having a total weight of less than 3 t can be mentioned.

In addition, when the thickness of the tube body 21 is less than 0.5 mm, the pressure resistance and blade resistance may be insufficient. When the thickness is greater than 5.0 mm, the weight increases or the tube body 21 is subjected to bending strain. When acting, there is a possibility that the difference in stress generated between the outer surface side and the inner surface side becomes large and the fatigue resistance deteriorates.
Further, when the gas pressure applied to the tube body 21 is lower than 50 kPa, the load supporting performance may be lowered, and when it is higher than 500 kPa, the riding comfort and pressure resistance may be deteriorated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tube body 21 is formed with a flat portion 24 that continuously extends along the tire circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer surface 24a and the inner surface 24b of the flat portion 24 are both flat surfaces having an infinite curvature radius. Further, in the present embodiment, the flat portion 24 is formed at an intermediate portion in the tire width direction H in the outer peripheral portion 21a and extends along the tire width direction H, and the outer surface 24a of the flat portion 24 and All the inner surfaces 24b are orthogonal surfaces orthogonal to the tire radial direction. Further, the central portion of the flat portion 24 in the tire width direction H coincides with the central portion of the tube body 21 in the tire width direction H.

By forming the flat portion 24 in this manner, each portion of the outer peripheral portion 21a of the tube body 21 that is continuous with the flat portion 24 from both ends in the tire width direction H becomes a corner portion 24c that is pointed outward in the tire radial direction. ing.
The tread 22 is formed of vulcanized rubber obtained by vulcanizing natural rubber or / and a rubber composition. As shown in FIG. 3, a reinforcing layer 23 formed by arranging a plurality of steel cords or organic fibers in the tire width direction is embedded in the tread 22 over the entire circumference in the tire circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, the tread 22 covers the corner portion 24c of the tube body 21 from the outer side in the tire radial direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the support surface 12a of the rim 10 and the inner peripheral portion 21c of the tube body 21 are respectively engageable with each other and positioned along the tire width direction H with respect to the rim 10 of the tube body 21. Engaging grooves 25 and engaging projections 26 are provided separately to prevent displacement.
The engaging groove 25 is provided at the center portion in the tire width direction H on the support surface 12a of the rim 10, and is recessed toward the inside in the tire radial direction over the entire circumference in the tire circumferential direction on the support surface 12a. It has become. In the example shown in the drawing, the engagement groove 25 has a first groove 25a having a rectangular shape with a plan view long in the tire circumferential direction, and a rectangular shape with a plan view shape long in the tire circumferential direction and in the tire radial direction. The second concave grooves 25b having a depth along the tire that is larger than the depth of the first concave grooves 25a are alternately arranged adjacently along the tire circumferential direction. Note that, among the wall surfaces defining the engaging groove 25, the wall surfaces facing each other in the tire width direction H are all flush.

  Further, the engaging convex portion 26 extends over the entire circumference in the tire circumferential direction at the center portion in the tire width direction H on the inner circumferential portion 21c side of the tube body 21 and projects toward the inner side in the tire radial direction. . In the illustrated example, the engaging convex portion 26 includes a first convex portion 26a engaged with the first concave groove 25a and a second convex portion 26b engaged with the second concave groove 25b. Corresponding to 25a and 25b, they are formed by being alternately arranged adjacently along the tire circumferential direction. That is, the 2nd convex part 26b has the protrusion height which is a magnitude | size along the tire radial direction rather than the 1st convex part 26a. In the engaging convex portion 26, the surfaces facing the outside in the tire width direction H are all flush. Moreover, the engaging convex part 26 is solid over the whole region.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the vertical sectional view shapes of the engaging groove 25 and the engaging protrusion 26 are both rectangular. Then, the engaging convex portion 26 provided in the tube body 21 is fitted into the engaging concave groove 25 provided in the rim 10 and is in close contact with the inner surface of the engaging concave groove 25 without a gap. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the engagement convex part 26 is inserted into the engagement groove 25 by the positive gas pressure in the tube body 21 and is in close contact with the inner surface of the engagement groove 25 without a gap.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the rim 10 can be divided into a disk-shaped first divided rim 14 and a ring-shaped second divided rim 15. In the illustrated example, the support portion 12 of the rim 10 is divided into two equal parts at the center portion in the tire width direction H by the first divided rim 14 and the second divided rim 15. The substrate is divided into a base disc portion 16 serving as a base and an auxiliary ring portion 17 that can be attached to and detached from the base disc portion 16. Thereby, the engagement concave groove 25 is divided into two in the tire width direction H.

The second divided rim 15 includes one of the support parts 12 divided into two equal parts and the auxiliary ring part 17, and both are integrally formed.
The auxiliary ring portion 17 includes an annular portion 17a that protrudes inward in the tire radial direction from the inner edge in the tire width direction H toward the inner side in the tire radial direction on one side of the support portion 12, and an annular portion 17a. And a plurality of fixing portions 17b projecting inward in the tire radial direction at intervals from the inner edge in the tire radial direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the surfaces facing the inner side in the tire width direction H in each of the ring portion 17 a and the fixed portion 17 b form a split surface B of the second split rim 15. In the illustrated example, five fixing portions 17b are formed at equal intervals in the tire circumferential direction.

The first divided rim 14 includes the other of the support parts 12 divided into two equal parts and the base disk part 16, and both are integrally formed.
A mounting recess 16 a in which the auxiliary ring portion 17 is mounted is formed in a shape corresponding to the auxiliary ring portion 17 on the outer peripheral edge portion of the base disk portion 16 in the tire radial direction. Of the wall surfaces defining the mounting recess 16 a, the wall surface facing the inner side in the tire width direction H forms the split surface B of the first split rim 14.

In the present embodiment, the rim body 11 is formed with an insertion hole 18 penetrating both the first divided rim 14 and the second divided rim 15 in addition to the mounting hole 13. In the illustrated example, one insertion hole 18 is formed in each fixing portion 17 b in the auxiliary ring portion 17. In the base disk portion 16, the insertion hole 18 is formed in the insertion hole 18 formed in the auxiliary ring portion 17. It is formed at a corresponding position, that is, at a position facing the insertion hole 18 formed in the auxiliary ring portion 17 in the tire width direction H. The insertion hole 18 has an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 13.
Then, by screwing nuts to bolts (not shown) inserted into the insertion holes 18, the divided surfaces B of the first divided rim 14 and the second divided rim 15 are brought into intimate contact with each other. The first divided rim 14 and the second divided rim 15 are fixed.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the tube bodies 21 are adjacent to each other in a state in which a plurality of endless tube divided bodies 30 along the tire circumferential direction are arranged around the tube axis C extending along the tire circumferential direction. The side end portions 31 and 33 are joined to each other. In the illustrated example, the tube body 21 is formed by joining two tube divided bodies 30 divided into two at the center in the tire width direction H, and the flat portion 24 is adjacent to one side. The end portions 31 are located. Moreover, the two tube division bodies 30 are mutually formed in the same shape and the same size.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the one side end portions 31 are welded by a welding member 32 that covers the side end edges that face each other over the entire circumference in the tire circumferential direction from the outer surface 24 a side. Are joined. The welding member 32 is formed in a belt shape, and is formed of, for example, a thermoplastic material, preferably the same material as the tube body 21.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the side edge part of the other side of the two tube division bodies 30 located in the inner peripheral part 21c side of the tube body 21 is the flange-shaped junction part 33 which protrudes toward the inner side of a tire radial direction. The flange-shaped joint portions 33 are joined to each other at the inner surfaces 33a facing each other in the tire width direction H, whereby the engagement convex portion 26 is formed. In the example shown in the drawing, the flange-like joint portion 33 is formed so as to divide the engagement convex portion 26 into two in the tire width direction H.

Next, a method for manufacturing the tire 20 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining one step of the manufacturing method for manufacturing the tire shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining one step of the manufacturing method for manufacturing the tire shown in FIG. 1.
First, in the tube body 21, a tube constituent member that forms at least the outer peripheral portion 21 a and forms a tube constituent member 34 in which the inner space and the outside of the tube body 21 communicate with each other on the inner peripheral portion 21 c side of the tube body 21. A formation process is performed.

In this process, first, a tube divided body forming step for forming two tube divided bodies 30 is performed by a known method such as vacuum forming using a thermoplastic elastomer.
Next, in a state where these two tube divided bodies 30 are arranged around the tube axis C, a side end joining step is performed in which the one side end portions 31 are joined together to form the tube constituent member 34. At this time, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the one side end portions 31 are butted against each other at the side end edges, and the welding member 32 is disposed. And while heating the said one side edge part 31 and the welding member 32 with a hot air, a laser, etc., or vibrating with an ultrasonic wave and generating frictional heat, said one side edge part 31 mutually, for example, a roll etc. It joins by pressing and welding by pressing from the outer surface 24a side and the inner surface 24b side by the pressurizing means D.

When the pressurizing means D is retracted after joining, the tube-shaped divided body 30 is deformed so that the flange-like joint portions 33 are close to each other in the tire width direction due to the elastic restoring force of the thermoplastic elastomer, and the flange-like joint portion 33 is deformed. Are formed on the inner surface 33a. In this embodiment, the tube constituent member 34 is the tube body 21 in a state where the flange-like joint portion 33 is not joined, and the internal space and the outside are communicated through the inner surface 33a of the flange-like joint portion 33. Yes.
The tube component forming process is thus completed.

Next, a tread forming process for forming an endless belt-like tread 22 along the tire circumferential direction is performed.
Next, a mounting process is performed in which the inner peripheral surface of the tread 22 is closely attached to the outer peripheral portion 21 a of the tube constituent member 34.
In this process, first, the outer peripheral portion 21a of the tube constituent member 34 is pressed in the tire radial direction to reduce the diameter of the tube constituent member 34. At this time, the tube constituent member 34 is deformed so that the inner surfaces 33a of the flange-shaped joint portions 33 that are in contact with each other are separated from each other in the tire width direction H, so that an opening is formed on the inner peripheral portion 21c side. The tube constituent member 34 is deformed.

Next, the reduced tube constituent member 34 is disposed inside the tread 22 in the tire radial direction, and then the tube constituent member 34 is released from the pressure, and the tube constituent member 34 is restored and deformed to the outer peripheral portion 21a. The inner peripheral surface of the tread 22 is brought into close contact. As a result, the tread 22 is fitted to the outer peripheral portion 21 a of the tube constituent member 34 from the outside, and the tread 22 is attached to the tube constituent member 34.
This completes the mounting process.

Next, a tube body forming step is performed in which the internal space is sealed from the inner peripheral portion 21 c side to form the airtight space A to form the tube body 21. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the inner surfaces 33a of the flange-like joint portions 33 are brought into contact with each other, and frictional heat is generated by heating the flange-like joint portion 33 with hot air, a laser, or the like, or vibrating with ultrasonic waves. Then, the flange-like joint portions 33 are sandwiched by pressure means D such as a roll from both sides in the tire width direction H, and are joined by pressing.
This completes the manufacture of the tire 20.

  As described above, according to the method for manufacturing a tire according to the present embodiment, when the tube constituent member 34 is pressed in the tire radial direction in the mounting step, an opening that communicates the internal space with the outside is formed. This opening can be easily widened. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the pressing force required to reduce the diameter of the tube constituent member 34 as compared with the case where the diameter of the tube body 21 is reduced to the same extent, so that the tread 22 can be easily attached to the tube body 21. It is possible to suppress the tube body 21 from being plastically deformed.

In addition, since the tube constituent member 34 is formed by the two tube divided bodies 30, it can be easily and reliably formed at a lower cost than when the tube constituent member 34 is formed integrally, for example.
Further, since the two tube divided bodies 30 divided at the center portion in the tire width direction H are joined and formed in this way, the two tube divided bodies 30 can be made the same shape and the same size as each other. Thus, the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.
Further, in the tube body forming step, the inner space can be sealed to form the airtight space A simply by joining the flange-like joint portions 33 to each other, so that the tire 20 can be easily manufactured.

Moreover, since the said other side edge part of each of the two tube division bodies 30 is made into the flange-shaped junction part 33, it joins the flange-shaped junction parts 33 with a surface (inner surface 33a) at the time of a tube body formation process. This makes it possible to easily and firmly join the two.
In addition, since the flange-like joint portion 33 is pressed and joined from both sides in the tire width direction H during this joining, the joining between the two can be made even stronger. In addition, since the flange-like joint portion 33 protrudes toward the inside in the tire radial direction, other components of the tire 20 do not get in the way during this pressurization.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since the flat part 24 is formed in the outer peripheral part 21a of the tube structural member 34, the tube structural member 34 can be easily pressed to a tire radial direction in an attachment process. Furthermore, since the flat part 24 is formed in the center part of the tire width direction H in the outer peripheral part 21a, and extends along the tire width direction H, the tread 22 can be easily attached to the outer peripheral part 21a. Can do.

  Further, when the two tube divided bodies 30 are joined when the tube body 21 is manufactured, after the one side end portions 31 located in the flat portion 24 are joined together, the flange-like joined portions 33 are joined to the tire width. Since the inner peripheral portion 21c side is sandwiched and pressed from both sides in the direction H, the flange-like joint portions 33 on the inner peripheral portion 21c side that are not joined to each other as shown in FIG. The side end portions 31 of the two tube divided bodies 30 can be pressurized from the inner side in the tire radial direction by the pressurizing means D. Moreover, since the latter joining should just pressurize from both sides of the tire width direction H, as shown in FIG. 5, this pressurization operation is not disturbed by the other components of the tube body 21. Therefore, these joining can be performed easily.

In addition, according to the tube body 21 according to the present embodiment, since the one side end portions 31 adjacent to each other are positioned on the flat portion 24, the one side end when the tube body 21 is manufactured. When the side end portions 31 are sandwiched and pressed from the outer surface 24a side and the inner surface 24b side in order to join the portions 31 to each other, the one side end portion 31 approaches or separates from the tube axis C. Rippling in the direction can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to apply pressure while the outer surfaces 24a and the inner surfaces 24b are flush with each other, and the occurrence of wrinkles in the tube body 21 can be suppressed.
In addition, since a thermoplastic elastomer is used as a material for forming the tube body 21, it is easier to mold than, for example, a conventional vulcanized rubber tire, and moreover, for example, when traveling than a case where a thermoplastic resin is used. The riding comfort (elasticity) can be improved.

Further, since the one side end portions 31 located in the flat portion 24 are joined together by welding the welding member 32, the joining of the one side end portions 31 is made strong. it can.
In addition, since the one side end portions 31 are abutted with each other at the side end edges, when manufacturing the tube body 21, each side end portion is joined to join the one side end portions 31 to each other. When the side 31 is sandwiched and pressed from the outer surface 24a side and the inner surface 24b side, for example, compared with the case where the side end edges overlap each other in the thickness direction of the tube divided body 30, these side end portions 31 are It is possible to reliably suppress deformation in the direction approaching or separating from the tube axis C. Therefore, wrinkles can be reliably suppressed from occurring in the tube body 21.

  Further, according to the tire 20 according to the present embodiment, since the corner portion 24c of the tube body 21 is covered from the outer side in the tire radial direction by the tread 22, when a load is applied to the tire 20 from the outer side in the tire radial direction. In addition, it is possible to prevent the load from being concentrated on the corner portion 24 c due to the flat portion 24 of the tube body 21 being deformed so as to be pressed and recessed by the tread 22.

  Further, since the bead core is not embedded in the tire 20 and the tube body 21 is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer having high flexibility, the tire 20 is lighter than the tire 20 in which the bead core is embedded. Furthermore, the tube body 21 can be easily deformed without applying a strong force when assembling or unpacking the rim, so that the workability of rim assembly and rim unraveling can be improved. In addition, the tube body 21 can be prevented from being damaged when the rim is assembled or unwound.

  In the present embodiment, the tire 20 is composed of the tread 22 and the tube body 21, and the tube body 21 is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer, and a reinforcing material having organic fibers, a steel cord, or the like is embedded therein. Therefore, the structure can be simplified, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the weight can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, since the tread 22 is detachably fitted to the outer peripheral portion 21a of the tube body 21, when either one of the tread 22 or the tube body 21 is worn or deteriorated, Only one of them can be exchanged, and efficient exchange is realized, and the cost required for this exchange can be reduced.
Moreover, in this embodiment, since the said both-sides part 21b of the tube body 21 is exposed, the tread 22 can be easily attached or detached with respect to the tube body 21. FIG.

Further, since the tread 22 is detachably fitted to the outer peripheral portion 21a of the tube body 21 as described above, and the reinforcing layer is not embedded in the tube body 21 as described above, the tube body 21 and the tread 22 are disposed. Is not required to separate another member from the tube body 21, and the tube body 21 is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer. Therefore, if the tube body 21 is simply heated and melted, It becomes possible to re-mold, and the tire 20 can have excellent recyclability.
In addition, since the reinforcing layer 23 is provided on the tread 22 and the tube body 21 is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer having a longitudinal elastic modulus of 1.0 MPa or more and 500 MPa or less, the tire 20 has an influence on actual usability. It can be provided with a certain degree of rigidity.

Further, according to the tire / rim assembly 1 according to the present invention, since the outer peripheral portion 21 a of the rim 10 includes the support protrusion 12 b, the tube body 21 is positioned along the tire width direction H with respect to the rim 10. It can suppress shifting.
Further, since the engaging concave groove 25 is provided on the support surface 12a of the rim 10, and the engaging convex portion 26 is provided on the inner peripheral portion 21c of the tube body 21, the tube body 21 is removed by eliminating the bead core. It becomes possible to prevent the position of the rim 10 from being easily displaced along the tire width direction H, and actual usability can be ensured.

Further, since the engagement concave groove 25 and the engagement convex portion 26 are provided in this way, when the tube body 21 is fitted to the support surface 12a of the rim 10, the tire width of the tube body 21 with respect to the rim 10 is determined. The position along the direction H can be determined easily and with high accuracy, and the workability of the rim assembly can be further improved.
Further, since the tube body 21 is provided with the engagement convex portion 26, and the rim 10 is provided with the engagement concave groove 25, the engagement convex portion is caused by the expansion of the tube body 21 due to the positive gas pressure. 26 can be easily forced to enter the engaging groove 25, and the engaging protrusion 26 and the engaging groove 25 can be firmly engaged.
Further, in the present embodiment, since the engaging convex portion 26 is a solid protruding portion, the protruding height of the engaging convex portion 26 from the tube body 21 due to the expansion of the tube body 21 due to the positive gas pressure. It is possible to prevent the dimension from becoming unstable, such as a change in sheath width, and to ensure that the engaging convex portion 26 enters the engaging concave groove 25.
In this way, the engagement convex portion 26 is surely entered into the engagement concave groove 25 and the both are firmly engaged, thereby reliably suppressing the displacement (relative displacement) between the tube body 21 and the rim 10. Is possible. Therefore, as in the rim / tire assembly 1 shown in the present embodiment, these configurations are configured so that the input from the road surface is transmitted to the rim 10 via the tube body 21, so that the positions of the tube body 21 and the rim 10 This is extremely effective in a configuration in which the deviation needs to be sufficiently suppressed.

In addition, the engaging grooves 25 are alternately arranged adjacent to each other along the tire circumferential direction, with the first and second grooves 25a and 25b having different depths. Since the first protrusions 26a and the second protrusions 26b that are different from each other are formed by being alternately arranged adjacent to each other along the tire circumferential direction, the rim 10 and the tube body 21 in the tire circumferential direction are formed. The relative displacement along the tire circumferential direction of the tube body 21 and the rim 10 can be easily performed when the tube body 21 is fitted to the support surface 12a of the rim 10. In addition, it can be determined with high accuracy.
As described above, it is possible to prevent not only the relative displacement in the tire width direction H of the rim 10 and the tire 20 but also the displacement in the tire circumferential direction, and the relative tire width direction of the rim 10 and the tire 20. Not only the position of H but also the position in the tire circumferential direction can be determined easily and with high accuracy, the above-mentioned actual usability can be ensured reliably, and workability at the time of rim assembly and rim unpacking can be ensured. This can be further improved.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the embodiment, the reinforcing layer 23 is embedded in the tread 22, but the reinforcing layer 23 may not be provided.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the structure which was formed in the endless strip | belt shape as the tread 22, and was fitted to the outer peripheral part 21a of the tube body 21 was shown, it will be restricted if this is formed in the endless strip | belt shape. Instead of this, instead of this, a tread integrally formed by vulcanization bonding to the outer peripheral portion of the tube body may be adopted.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, it forms in the inner peripheral part 21c by the flange-shaped junction part 33 which is said other side edge part, and it extends toward the inner side of a tire radial direction while extending over the perimeter of a tire circumferential direction. As the flange portion to be used, the engagement convex portion 26 that prevents the displacement of the tube body 21 along the tire width direction H with respect to the rim 10 is employed. However, the flange portion is displaced like the engagement convex portion 26. It may not have the function to prevent. Moreover, it is good also as a structure without the flange-shaped junction part 33 of the tube division body 30, and the said flange part.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the engagement convex part 26 was made into the solid protrusion, you may make it hollow.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, the engaging convex part 26 is formed by alternately arrange | positioning the 1st convex part 26a and the 2nd convex part 26b from which protrusion height differs adjacently along a tire circumferential direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may have a certain protruding height along the tire circumferential direction.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, the rim | limb 10 is not restricted to what was shown to the said embodiment, For example, the rim | limb which is not divided | segmented may be sufficient. Further, the rim may not have an engaging groove.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, two rolls are employ | adopted as the pressurization means D, and these one side edge parts 31 located in the flat part 24 are these from the outer surface 24a side and the inner surface 24b side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one of the pressurizing means may be a roll, the other may be a support that supports the pressurization by the roll, and the one side end portion 31 may be sandwiched between these rolls and the support to be pressed.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although said one side edge part 31 located in the flat part 24 shall be welded to the welding member 32, it is not restricted to this. For example, the one side end portions may be welded to each other without using a welding member, or may be bonded together using an adhesive or the like. Further, the one side end portions may be overlapped with each other in the thickness direction of the tube divided body and welded or bonded together to join. Furthermore, when manufacturing such a tube body, the same or different thermoplastic material as the tube body is melted and poured between the one side end portions, and the side end portions are bonded by pressure bonding. Also good.
Further, even when the one side end portions 31 are welded to the welding member 32, the side end edges may not be abutted against each other.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the tube body 21 shall be formed with a thermoplastic elastomer, if it is a thermoplastic material, it will not be restricted to this, For example, you may form a tube body with a thermoplastic resin. . Examples of the thermoplastic resin include urethane resin, olefin resin, vinyl chloride resin, and polyamide resin.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the flat part 24 shall be formed in the outer peripheral part 21a, it is not restricted to this, For example, you may form in the inner peripheral part and it is formed in the other part. Also good. Further, there may be no flat portion.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the positive gas pressure shall be given inside the tube body 21, it is not restricted to this.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the tube structural member 34 shall be formed of the tube body 21 to which the flange-shaped junction part 33 is not joined, it is not restricted to this. For example, the tube constituent member employs a halved tube body that has only the outer peripheral portion 21a of the tube body 21, an opening that opens toward the inside in the tire radial direction, and a half internal space. May be. Moreover, in this case, what is necessary is just to form a tube body by adhere | attaching the other tube structural member which forms the inner peripheral part 21c of the tube body 21 to a tube structural member in a tube body formation process.

Furthermore, as the tube constituent member, a configuration in which the flange-like joint portions 33 are joined at a plurality of locations spaced in the tire circumferential direction may be employed. Even in this case, when the tube constituent member is pressed inward in the tire radial direction, the gap (opening) of the non-joined portion in the flange-like joined portion 33 is widened, and the same effects as those described above are achieved. Will be.
Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the tube structural member 34 shall be formed of the two tube division bodies 30 which divided the tube body 21 in the center part of the tire width direction H, it is not restricted to this. For example, you may form with three or more tube division bodies, and you may form the tube component member 34 integrally instead of joining a some tube division body as the tube component member 34. As shown in FIG.

Next, a verification test related to the above-described operation effect will be described.
As a conventional example, the tube body shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 was adopted, and as an example, a tube constituent member in which one side end portion of the tube divided body as described above was joined was adopted. The tube body has an outer diameter centered on the common axis of 500 mm in a side view viewed from the tire width direction, an outer diameter centered on the tube axis of 90 mm, and a wall thickness of 2 mm in the longitudinal sectional view. It was adopted. Further, as the material of the tube body, an olefin thermoplastic elastomer (TPO) having a longitudinal elastic modulus of 50 MPa was adopted. Then, each is placed vertically so that the outer peripheral portion comes into contact with a table (not shown) and pressed in the tire radial direction from above, until the outer diameter in the vertical direction is reduced to 2/3 of the size before pressing. The force required for the measurement was measured in each of the examples and comparative examples.
As a result, it was confirmed that the required force can be reduced to about 50% in the example as compared with the conventional example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Tire 21 Tube body 21a Outer peripheral part 21c Inner peripheral part 22 Tread 30 Tube division body 31 One side edge part of the tube division body 33 Flange-shaped joining part 34 Tube component C Tube axis H Tire width direction

Claims (3)

A tire manufacturing method comprising: a tube body formed endlessly along a tire circumferential direction with a thermoplastic material; and a tread mounted on an outer peripheral portion of the tube body,
A tube constituent member forming step of forming a tube constituent member having at least the outer peripheral portion of the tube body, and the internal space and the outside of the tube body communicating on the inner peripheral side of the tube body;
A tread forming step of forming the endless belt-shaped tread along the tire circumferential direction;
In a state where the tube constituent member is pressed in the tire radial direction and reduced in diameter, the tube constituent member is disposed inside the tread in the tire radial direction, and then the tube constituent member is released from being pressed, and the tube A mounting step of restoring and deforming the constituent members and mounting the inner peripheral surface of the tread in close contact with the outer peripheral portion thereof;
A tube body forming step of sealing the internal space from the inner peripheral side to form the tube body;
A method for producing a tire, comprising: It is a manufacturing method of the tire according to claim 1, Comprising:
The tube component forming step includes
A tube divided body forming step for forming two tube divided bodies obtained by dividing the tube body at the center in the tire width direction;
In the state where the two tube division bodies are arranged around the tube axis of the tube body extending along the tire circumferential direction, one side end portion located on the outer peripheral side of the tube body is joined to each other to form the tube A side end joining step for forming a member,
The said tube body formation process joins the other side edge parts located in the inner peripheral part side of the said tube body, and seals the said interior space, The manufacturing method of the tire characterized by the above-mentioned. A method of manufacturing a tire according to claim 2,
2. The tire manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the other side end portion of each of the two tube divided bodies is a flange-like joint portion projecting inward in the tire radial direction.

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