JP2015030104A - Tire vulcanizing method and tire vulcanizing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve productivity improvement and energy saving by reducing temperature drop in a vulcanizing machine or piping in a shaping process before vulcanization, thereby shortening the time and reducing the heat energy required for raising the temperature of the vulcanizing machine or piping in the vulcanization process.SOLUTION: In a tire vulcanization method, a shaping process is performed before vulcanization process. In the shaping process, a hot gas for vulcanization (inactive pressurized gas for vulcanization) collected after previous vulcanization is stored in a tank 36, a valve 37 is open but the valves 31 to 35 are closed, the inactive pressurized gas stored in the tank 36 passes through a pressure-reducing valve 38 and piping 23, 21 to be introduced in a vulcanizing machine 1, and is reused as the inactive pressurized gas for shaping. Thereby, lowering of temperature in the vulcanizing machine 1 and in the piping or the like when shaping, can be reduced by the heat energy which is discharged after finishing the previous vulcanization and is stored in the tank 36 together with the inactive pressurized gas.

Description

  The present invention relates to a tire vulcanizing method and a tire vulcanizing apparatus.

  A steam gas vulcanization method known as a tire vulcanization method is a vulcanization method in which a raw tire is vulcanized between a mold that forms an annular space inside and a bladder that is stretched in the annular space. A heater is not provided in the internal space, and high-temperature and high-pressure steam is supplied into the bladder from a boiler provided at another location. In this case, since the heat transfer coefficient of steam is very high, heat can be easily transferred to the bladder and vulcanization can be performed efficiently.

  In this conventional steam gas vulcanization method, an inert pressurized gas for shaping is press-fitted into a bladder mounted in the raw tire so that the bladder is brought into close contact with the inside of the raw tire, and the raw tire is shaped into the mold. It is necessary to provide a shaping step that approaches As the inert pressurized gas for shaping in this shaping step, it is common to use low-pressure steam or room temperature nitrogen gas.

  When low-pressure steam is used as the inert pressurizing gas for shaping, the steam is usually pressed into the bladder at a pressure of 0.08 to 0.20 Mpa. At this time, if the temperature inside the bladder is low, the steam is deprived of heat by the inner surface of the bladder and drains, the pressure in the bladder varies, and the outer diameter of the raw tire cannot be controlled. Problems such as variations in contact occurred, resulting in manufacturing defects.

  On the other hand, shaping using nitrogen gas is known as a very good technique in terms of tire manufacturing quality because there is no draining in the bladder, the shaping pressure is stable and the inflated state of the raw tire is uniform. (Patent Document 1).

  Next, the operation of a conventional tire vulcanizing apparatus that uses room temperature nitrogen gas as an inert pressurized gas for shaping will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the timing of each process executed by the tire vulcanizer and the temperature inside the vulcanizer.

  In the period S11, the (N-1) th vulcanization step is performed. Here, N is an integer of 2 or more. In this vulcanization process, high-temperature and high-pressure nitrogen gas is vulcanized from the supply source of the inert pressure gas for vulcanization through the supply pipe of the inert pressure gas for vulcanization as the inert pressure gas for vulcanization. Supplied on board. During this time, the temperature in the vulcanizer rises from X ° C. to A ° C., and the raw tire is vulcanized.

  In the next period S12, the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization is exhausted, the vulcanizer (kettle) is opened, the tire is taken out, the raw tire to be vulcanized in the next round (Nth) is introduced, and the bladder is Installing. Further, the shaping step is performed in the period S14 in the period S12.

  At the time of exhausting in the period S12, the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization in the vulcanizer is exhausted to the outside from the exhaust pipe. During this time, the temperature of the vulcanizer decreases from A ° C.

  In period S12, when a raw tire to be vulcanized for the Nth time is introduced and a bladder is attached, a shaping process is executed in period S14. In this shaping process, normal-temperature nitrogen gas is introduced into the vulcanizer as the shaping pressurized pressurized gas from the shaping pressurized pressurized gas supply source through the shaping inert pressurized gas supply pipe. . During this time, the temperature of the vulcanizer further decreases to X ° C.

  When the shaping is completed, the vulcanizer is closed and the Nth vulcanization step is executed in period S13. In this process, high-temperature nitrogen gas is supplied as an inert pressurized gas for vulcanization from a supply source of the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization through a supply pipe for the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization into the vulcanizer. The

  However, in the above vulcanizing apparatus, since the shaping pressurized pressurized gas is at room temperature, the temperature of the vulcanizer body, bladder and piping in the vulcanizer is lowered in the shaping process, and the vulcanization process to be performed next There is a problem that it takes time to raise the temperature of the vulcanizer main body, piping, bladder, etc., and heat energy is also required.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-34409 (paragraph 0006)

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and its purpose is to reduce the temperature drop of the vulcanizer and piping in the shaping process before vulcanization, thereby reducing the temperature in the vulcanization process. This is to reduce the time and heat energy required for raising the temperature of vulcanizers and pipes, thereby improving productivity and saving energy. Moreover, the objective is to implement | achieve further energy saving by utilizing effectively the pressure energy and heat energy of the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization which were exhausted conventionally for the next shaping.

The tire vulcanizing method according to the present invention includes a shaping step of shaping a raw tire using an inert pressurized gas for shaping, and a vulcanization of the shaped raw tire using an inert pressurized gas for vulcanization. A vulcanizing step for vulcanizing, and a recovery step for recovering and storing the inert pressure gas for vulcanization used in the vulcanization step. This is a tire vulcanization method that is reused as an inert pressurized gas for shaping in the process.
A tire vulcanizing apparatus according to the present invention includes a vulcanizer in which a raw tire is accommodated, and a piping system for intake and exhaust of inert pressurized gas to the vulcanizer, and the vulcanizer The tire vulcanization is performed by supplying an inert pressurized gas for shaping to the raw tire and shaping the raw tire and then supplying the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization to the vulcanizer to vulcanize the raw tire. An apparatus, a pipe for recovering an inert pressurized gas for vulcanization exhausted from the vulcanizer after the vulcanization, and means for storing the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization recovered by the pipe And a pipe for supplying the inert pressure gas for vulcanization stored in the means as the inert pressure gas for shaping to the vulcanizer.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time and heat energy required for raising the temperature of the vulcanizer and piping in the vulcanization process by reducing the temperature drop of the vulcanizer and piping in the shaping process before vulcanization. By reducing, productivity can be improved and energy saving can be realized. Further, it is possible to recover the pressure energy and heat energy of the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization that has been exhausted conventionally, and further energy saving can be realized.

It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the tire vulcanization apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the timing of each process performed by the vulcanizer which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the temperature inside a vulcanizer. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the piping system at the time of (N-1) vulcanization in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the piping system at the time of the exhaust_gas | exhaustion after the (N-1) times vulcanization | curing in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the piping system at the time of shaping before the Nth vulcanization | curing in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the timing of each process performed with the conventional tire vulcanizing apparatus which uses low-pressure nitrogen gas as an inert pressurized gas for shaping, and the temperature inside a vulcanizer.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<Configuration of vulcanizer>
Drawing 1 is a figure for explaining the composition of the tire vulcanizer concerning the embodiment of the present invention.

  The tire vulcanizing apparatus includes a vulcanizer 1 and a piping system 2. In the vulcanizer 1, the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 are combined to form an annular space 13 in the same manner as the conventional vulcanizer, and the raw tire T is fitted along the inner peripheral surface thereof. A bladder 14 is attached to the inner surface of the. The upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 incorporate an electric heater for heating the green tire T from the outside during vulcanization. However, an upper mold and a lower mold that do not incorporate an electric heater that can be heated by another heat source such as steam can also be used.

  The piping system 2 includes a piping 21 that connects a gas supply port 15 of the vulcanizer 1 and a supply source of an inert pressure gas for vulcanization (not shown), a gas discharge port 16 of the vulcanizer 1, and an illustration (not shown). A pipe 22 connecting the exhaust part of the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization, a pipe 23 connecting the pipe 21 and the tank 36, a pipe 24 connecting the pipe 22 and a gas discharge destination (not shown), and a pipe 24 A pipe 25 connecting the tank 36 is provided.

  The pipes 21 and 22 are provided with valves 31 and 32, respectively. Between the pipe 23 and the tank 36, a valve 37 and a pressure reducing valve 38 are provided in this order from the connection part (merging part) side to the pipe 21. The pipe 24 is provided with valves 33 and 34 in order from the side of the connection part (branch part) with the pipe 22. The pipe 25 branches from between the valve 33 and the valve 34 in the pipe 24, and the valve 35 is provided between the tank 36.

<Relationship between process and temperature>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the timing of each process executed by the vulcanizing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the piping system at the (N-1) th vulcanization in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a piping at the time of exhaust after the (N-1) th vulcanization. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the system, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the piping system during shaping before the Nth vulcanization. 3-5, the black valve indicates that it is closed and the white valve indicates that it is open. The arrows indicate the gas flow.

  In the period S1 in FIG. 2, the (N-1) th vulcanization step is performed. Here, N is an integer of 3 or more. In this vulcanization step, as shown in FIG. 3, the valves 31, 32, 34, and 35 are open, and the valves 33 and 37 are closed. The pressure reducing valve 38 is open.

  High-pressure and high-temperature nitrogen gas is supplied into the vulcanizer 1 through the pipe 21 as an inert pressurized gas for vulcanization, and is discharged from the vulcanizer 1 and flows from the pipe 22 to the circulation section. The inert pressurized gas for vulcanization is circulated between the vulcanizer 1, the pipe 21, the pipe 22, and the circulation unit. During this time, the temperature in the vulcanizer 1 rises from Y ° C. to A ° C., and the raw tire T is vulcanized. Here, Y> X (the reason will be described later). In addition, it is good also as piping of the structure where the inert pressurization gas for vulcanization is confined in the vulcanizer 1, and is not circulated in this vulcanization process.

  In this vulcanization process, the inert gas stored in the tank 36 is exhausted through the pipes 25 and 24. This inert gas is the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization recovered after the previous: (N-2) vulcanization step. However, in the first vulcanization step, the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization is not stored in the tank 36.

  In the next period S2, the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization is recovered, the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 of the vulcanizer 1 (kettle) are opened, the tire is taken out, and the raw tire to be vulcanized for the Nth time is introduced. Then, the bladder 14 is attached. Further, the shaping step is performed in the period S4 within the period S2.

  During exhaust in the period S2, as shown in FIG. 4, the valves 33 and 35 are open, and the valves 31, 32, 34, and 37 are closed. The pressure reducing valve 38 is open. The inert pressurized gas for vulcanization in the vulcanizer 1 is collected through the pipes 24 and 25 and stored in the tank 36. During this time, the temperature of the vulcanizer 1 decreases from A ° C.

  When the raw tire T to be vulcanized for the Nth time is introduced and the bladder 14 is mounted, the shaping process is performed in the period S4. In this shaping process, as shown in FIG. 5, the valve 37 is open and the valves 31 to 35 are closed. The pressure reducing valve 38 is open. As the inert pressurized gas for shaping, the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization stored in the tank 36 is supplied to the vulcanizer 1 through the pipes 23 and 21. At this time, the pressure reducing valve 38 adjusts the pressure of the gas delivered from the tank 36.

  During this time, although the temperature of the vulcanizer 1 decreases to Y ° C., the high-temperature inert pressurizing gas for vulcanization is recovered and stored as compared with the conventional apparatus that supplies the inert pressurizing gas for shaping at room temperature. In this embodiment, which is reused as an inert pressurized gas for shaping, the amount of decrease in temperature is reduced. It is also possible to make the temperature drop almost 0 (Y≈A). Since the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization is not stored in the tank 36 in the first vulcanization step, the inert pressurized gas for shaping at room temperature is supplied to the pipe 23 from a pipe not shown. .

  When the shaping process is completed, the vulcanizer 1 is closed, and the Nth vulcanization process is performed in the period S3. The operation of the piping system 2 in this vulcanization step is the same as the (N-1) th vulcanization step shown in FIG. That is, high-pressure and high-temperature nitrogen gas is supplied to the vulcanizer 1 through the pipe 21 and circulated as an inert pressurized gas for vulcanization. In this vulcanization process, since the temperature decrease of the vulcanizer 1 and the piping system 2 in the shaping process is small, the time until the temperature of the vulcanizer 1 reaches A ° C. is shorter than the conventional apparatus, and the productivity is increased. improves. Further, since the heat energy required for heating the vulcanizer 1 and the piping system 2 is reduced, energy is saved.

  As described above in detail, according to the tire vulcanizing apparatus and the tire vulcanizing method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the inert pressurized gas for vulcanization used in the vulcanization process is recovered and stored, and Because it is reused as an inert pressurized gas for shaping in the shaping process before the vulcanization process of raw tires, the vulcanization time can be reduced by reducing the temperature drop of the vulcanizer and piping in the shaping process. Energy saving can be realized by reducing the thermal energy used while shortening the productivity.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vulcanizer, 2 ... Piping system, 11 ... Upper mold, 12 ... Lower mold, 13 ... Annular space, 14 ... Bladder, 21-25 ... Piping, 31-35, 37 ... valve, 36 ... tank, 38 ... pressure reducing valve.

Claims (5)

A shaping step of shaping the raw tire using an inert pressurized gas for shaping;
A vulcanization step of vulcanizing the shaped raw tire using an inert pressurized gas for vulcanization;
A recovery step of recovering and storing the inert pressure gas for vulcanization used in the vulcanization step,
A tire vulcanizing method in which the stored inert pressurized gas for vulcanization is reused as an inert pressurized gas for shaping in the next shaping step. In the tire vulcanizing method according to claim 1,
A tire vulcanizing method including a step of adjusting the pressure of the stored inert pressurized gas for vulcanization. In the tire vulcanizing method according to claim 1 or 2,
A tire vulcanization method in which pressure energy is recovered by recovering an inert pressurized gas for vulcanization after vulcanization and used in the next shaping process. In the tire vulcanization method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A tire vulcanization method that simultaneously collects pressure energy and thermal energy by collecting the inert pressure gas for vulcanization after vulcanization, and uses it for the next shaping process. A vulcanizer for storing raw tires and a piping system for intake and exhaust of inert pressurized gas to and from the vulcanizer, and supplying the inert pressurized gas for shaping to the vulcanizer A tire vulcanizer for vulcanizing the raw tire by supplying an inert pressurized gas for vulcanization to the vulcanizer after shaping the raw tire,
A pipe for collecting the inert pressure gas for vulcanization exhausted from the vulcanizer after the vulcanization, a means for storing the inert pressure gas for vulcanization recovered in the pipe, and Piping for supplying the stored inert pressurized gas for vulcanization as the inert pressurized gas for shaping to the vulcanizer;
A tire vulcanizing device.

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