TW440526B - Method of cutting an elastomeric component, tire component, and tire - Google Patents

Abstract

A tread (10) has a first end (12) that is cut at an angle θ. The surface created by the cutting of the tread (10) is the splice surface (20). The surface created by the cutting of the tread (10) is called the splice surface (20) of the first end (12). The tread (10) has a tread thickness TT. The angle at which the tread (10) was cut is called the splice angle θ. Expressed algebraically, θ equals: SL= (TT)/(cosine θ). The application of the invention is especially helpful in tires having thinner treads such as are commonly used in high performance tires where tread thicknesses can be as small as 1 cm (0.25 inches). The preferred embodiment of the invention is a tread with θ equal to 82 DEG.

Description

440526 _ Case No. 88108606_ Year Month Date__ V. Description of the invention (1) Technical scope The present invention relates to the components of pneumatic tires, and more specifically to the joining angle of these components, especially the joining in thin treads. Angles such as the joint angle used in high performance tires. Background of the Art The rubber components of tires such as treads, sidewalls, and apex are usually cut to a specified length during the tire assembly process or before the tire assembly. Some components are joined at an angle of Θ relative to a plane perpendicular to the component. For some components, a joint angle of 0 is equal to 0 °. This unusual joint is often referred to as M-to-seam joint. Most parts are cut to a fixed length and their joint angle is between about 30 ° and 60 °. These joints are often referred to as π overlap joints. "For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,638,7 32 discloses a device capable of cutting tire components into an angle of W Α, which varies between 10 ° and 80 ° However, the patent order does not teach or suggest that tire components should actually be cut to an angle close to 10 ° and 80 °, but rather that this machine can only cut to this angle. In fact, this See article for a better tread cutting angle of 22.5 °. When cutting rubber components, the joint angle of 0 is greater than 80 °. One advantage is that it increases the surface area when joining. The larger the surface area when joining, the better The result will increase the strength in the unvulcanized state and in the vulcanized state. This stronger strength is very heavy, because it can be used to correspond to the bonding between the two halves, which has a stronger adhesive force, because the adhesive strength is related to the surface area. Usually the joint The angle Θ is proportional to the joint strength.

58389.ptc Page 5 44〇526 Case No. 88108606 Amended on Month-Day-V. Description of the invention (2) After the rubber component is cut into a fixed length, the joint angle Θ is greater than 7 5 °. The second advantage is that it reduces the non-uniformity of the joint of the component Sensitivity such as the deviation of tire balance and force, usually the joint angle has a direct proportionality with the uniformity of the tire. A tire with a larger joint surface area will result in a more uniform tire. Many different methods can be used to cut the rubber component to a prescribed length at a joining angle of < 9. The tread component is usually cut with a "knife" known to the general tire industry. The cutter is typically cut to a joint angle Θ equal to or less than 7 (Γ's joint angle Θ, and the cutter is usually a rotating circular knife. Lubricate with water or steam. Some components, such as the tire wall, are typically cut with a transverse hot blade, which is likewise cut to a joint angle equal to or less than 70 °. There are components such as the tread or the tire wall that are typical The upper part uses a device called a "rubber knife" or a "round knife", which is also typically cut to a joint angle of less than or equal to 45 °. If any type of cutting system is generated during use, When the heat of the rubber causes the cutting surface of the rubber to reach the vulcanization temperature, the strength of the joint will be weakened. For these reasons, the most important thing during the cutting process is that the heat generated during cutting should not make the temperature of the end of the component close to the vulcanization Figure is a brief explanation. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tire assembly, a specific tread. Figure 2 is a side view showing the tire tread engagement angle. Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a tread. Joint angle invention. FIG. 4 a side view of the engagement system of a tread.

5S389.ptc Page 6 44〇52β _Case No. 88108606_ Year Month__ V. Description of the invention (3) Figure 5 is a side view of a tread joint, showing how manufacturing tolerances can be stacked, and Make the joint thicker than the rest of the tread. Symbols of main components 10 Tread 12 First tail end of tread 10 14 Second tail end 20 of tread 10 20 Joint surface of first tail end 2 8 Joints ESL effective joint length OL1, OL2 overlapping length SL joint Length TT Tread thickness TTS Tread joint thickness θ Joint angle Disclosure of the present invention * The present invention relates to a method for cutting a rubber component of a pneumatic tire. Referring to the following definitions used to explain the present invention, the present invention Its revealing is thoroughly understood. " Axial " and "axially" means a line or direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire. " Tire carcass " means a ply of unvulcanized tire ply material and other cut-to-length suitable for joining, and the connected tire components are made into a cylindrical or ring shape. Other components can be added to the tire body before its sulfur parts or before it is made into a tire model. M tire casing " means tire carcass other than the tread and its associated tire

58389.ptc Page 7 4 ^ 〇52β _Case No. 88108606_Year Month Day__ 5. Description of the invention (4) Component. " Circumferential " means a line or direction along the periphery of an annular tread perpendicular to the axial direction. " Equatorial plane (EP) " means a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tire and passing through the center of its tread. " Lateral " means the axial direction M radially " means radially toward or away from Direction of tire rotation axis. "Radial ply tire (also known as radial ply tire) means a pneumatic tire with a ring or a restricted circumference. The ply cord is arranged between the bead and the bead with a cord angle relative to that of the tire. The equatorial plane (EQ) is made at an angle between 65 ° and 90 °.

58339.ptc Page 8 44040526 Case No. 88108606 Amended 5. Description of the invention (5) "Tread wall (also known as sidewall r means the part between the tread and the bead of a tire. &Quot; Tread") It means a rubber or elastomer component, which when glued to a carcass, when the tire is under normal inflation and under normal load, includes the part of the tire contacting the ground. The invention includes a cutting tire component The method crosses the width and thickness of the component and is relative to a plane, which is perpendicular to the plane passing through the component and is cut to a prescribed length at an angle of Θ greater than or equal to 75 °. To complete this cutting, The cutting element is passed from one side of the component to the other side of the component. The principle that enables the cutting element to cut a rubber component to an 0 angle greater than or equal to 7 5 ° is called "vibration M. The cutting element vibrates at 2 5 A wide range from 0 hz to 5,000 hz. Generally, the frequency is considered to be ultrasonic when the frequency is greater than 20,000 hz. Various designs of ultrasonic cutting elements are included in the scope of the present invention. Below the ultrasonic range The rate is also used in a mechanism with mechanical vibration such as an eccentric or cam. The amplitude of the vibration cutting element can also be changed so that different elastic objects can get the most appropriate cutting. The maximum effective amplitude of the vibration cutting element is believed to be 25 mm (0 · 63 inches) ° The present invention will use a tire tread of a particular tire assembly used in this case. With reference to Figures 1-4, it illustrates-a typical tread. The tread 10 has a first The tail end 12 is cut into a joint angle of β angle. When the tire (not shown) is combined, the first tail end 12 will cooperate with the second tail end 12 of the tread 10 to form a tire with an iron ring configuration. Surface 1 0. The tread is cut from 10

58389.ptc Page 9 44〇526 Case No. 88108606 Revision V. Description of the Invention (6) The fixed area of the surface called the first tail end is called the joint angle. Then continue to refer to Figure 1.连接 表面 20。 The bonding surface 20. The engaging surface 20 itself has a tread 10 having a tread thickness TT. The tread is 10, the cut corner, the front tire, and the tire of TT ° is connected to it, because of the SL, the tire surface is flat. Back to 60 ° —jib 80 ° The invention is often coplanar, and the surface is often thick and long. When it is applied again, the length SL is several degrees. SL is equal to the thickness: The application of SL 2 is particularly related to the application. It has Xiaonan performance and running speed. The surface 10 has a degree SL when it is engaged. • This command graphically illustrates the relationship between the engagement angle 0 and the thickness of the tread. The joint angle of degree TT divided by cosine ^ can be determined according to the principle of trigonometry. Its algebra (TT) / (cosine6,) is helpful for tires with thinner tread. This tire is a high performance tire. High-performance tires have a tread thickness of 1.7 cm (0, 5 inches) before vulcanization. The tire has a tread thickness less than 1 cm (0. 25 inches), which is equal to 0.25 inches. It is only 0.35 inches long at an angle of 45 °. With a small tread thickness TT, there will be a very small joining length into a small joining area. In some applications, this small desirable performance. However, at a joint angle with a thicker tread, a sufficient joint surface can be provided to provide the required equal to 0—a tread thickness equal to 0.2 5 inches, even for a joint length of 0.50 inches σ ten. . This angle is not sufficient, but when the joining angle 0 is 1, the joining length is 1.44 inches. It is also effective in some high-performance combined angle-only production cases.

58389.ptc Page 10 05 2 6 Case No. 88108606 g Amendment V. Description of the invention (In the application of υ, this joint length sl is required, but even a larger effective joint length SL is sometimes more OK. For example, in an application example, the joint angle is 85 ° and the tread thickness and other TTs are 0.25 inches, and the joint length is 2. 8 7 inches. In some applications, 'this is a comparison A good solution. At present, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a tread having a joint angle equal to 8 2 °. With reference to 圊 4 and 5, some advantages of a longer effective joint length SL will be described with reference to the drawings. Ideally, the joint length SL of the first tail end 12 and the joint length SL of the second tail end 14 are exactly the same. However, due to manufacturing tolerances of "actually", differences in different joint lengths SL will occur. One of the advantages of the present invention is that the thickness of the tread increases when the tread is joined because the joint length SL of the first tail end 12 is longer at the joint 28 than the joint length SL of the second tail end 14. "Small" has a great advantage caused by the fetus The difference in thickness TT of the plane across the joint becomes very small. This advantage will be further explained with reference to Fig. 5. In the case of Fig. 5, the first tail end 12 of the tread 10 and the tread 1 The second trailing end 14 of 〇 does not match very well. In this example, a term is defined as " effective joint length SL " which will show a portion of the joint surface 20 that actually matches. Continue to refer to the figure 5 'The size of the re-entry part is a function of the joint length SL. In some applications, the relationship between the effective joint length ESL and the joint length SL is a joint length where the effective joint length ESL is equal to 60%. Therefore, a 1 0 inch joint length SL can get an effective joint diameter of 0.6 inch. This joint length SL will produce an overlap of 0.4 inch. This joint can be placed on the sides of the joint surface after the joint is placed in the center position Has an overlap length of 0.2 inches

58389.ptc Page 11 4 ^ 05 2 6 Case No. 88108606 Amendment to the Mould 5. Description of the invention (8) OL1, OL2 ° Continue to refer to Figure 5, when making the joint, each corresponding half-joint system is "stacked". In this joint, the thickness of the tread at the TTS joint is greater than the thickness of the tread at the other TT joint of the tread. The difference in the thickness of the tread can be about the thickness of the tread. 5% of TT. In a high-performance tire, its tread thickness is approximately 0.64 cm (0.25 inches), and the difference in tread thickness TT is approximately 0.04 cm (0.015 Inch). Since high-performance tires are operated and tested at high speeds, speeds of about 140 mph or more, even small differences are important. The small amount obtained by the method and articles of the present invention There is no deviation of the joined joints for radiating machines. Conversely, the overlapping of joints for joints joined with a joint angle Θ in the range of 45 ° to 80 ° will appear on a radiating machine. It will be obvious. When high-performance tires and sports tires run at high speeds, The deviation of these forces will generate a radial first harmonic input which will cause significant vibration when testing without grooves, that is, "tyre without pattern", showing that the deviation of the joint thickness will cause unevenness of the tire . The second advantage of the extremely low-angle joint is that the surface of the bonded portion is increased several times. This creates a more secure bond. The above-mentioned joint design of the present invention can be cut with steel wire or a fine ultrasonic tool, and can be completed under cooling, which means that the vulcanized surface can not be seen at the joint as when using a hot knife in general. Other benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading and understanding the following detailed description.

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Claims (1)

4 ^ 〇526 Case No. 88108606 Amendment VI. Patent Application Scope 1. A method for cutting a rubber component, the steps include cutting a component at an angle of 0 relative to a plane and crossing its width and thickness, the plane It is perpendicular to the plane passing through the center of the component. The feature of this method is that the β angle is greater than 75 °. 2. The method according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, further comprising the step of moving the cutting element along the longitudinal axis of the element. 3. The method according to item 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein the step of moving the cutting element further includes swinging the cutting element within an amplitude of less than 25 mm from the top bee to the top drop. 4. The method according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, where 0 is greater than or equal to 8 2 °, a cutting element is cut by friction and the surface after cutting is still not vulcanized and preferably has no measurable vulcanized surface . 5. The method according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, further comprising supporting at least one side of the component adjacent to the cutting path, wherein the cutting surface of the entire piece is substantially planar and maintained at a fixed angle of 0 relative to the equatorial plane. 6. The method according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the cutting element of Yin-Yi has a longitudinal axis and the cutting element has at least one direction parallel to the pumping movement when it crosses the assembly. 7. The method according to item 1 of the patent application scope further includes the step of tightening the component to make it easier to cut. 8. The method according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein cutting is performed by passing the cutting element from one side to the other. 9. A tire assembly having a first and a second tail end which are closely connected together in a joint, and which is improved in that the joining angle β is greater than 75 °. 1 0. The tire component according to item 9 of the patent application, wherein the joint angle 583S9.ptc Page 13 440526 _Case No. 881Q8606_ Year Month __ VI. The scope of patent application is greater than 80 °. 1 1. The tire component according to item 9 of the scope of patent application, the component of which is the tread of a tire. 12 2. The tire assembly according to item 11 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the tire tread has a tread thickness less than 12.7 mm (0.50 inches). 1 3. The tire assembly according to item 11 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the tire tread has a tread thickness of less than 6.4 m / m (0.25 inches). 14. The tire assembly according to item 11 of the scope of patent application, wherein the tread is used in high-performance tires with speeds exceeding 299 km / hr (130 mph). 15. A tire having a tread having first and second tail ends and joining together to form a joint. The improved feature is that the joining angle is greater than 75 °. 16. The tire according to item 15 of the scope of patent application, wherein the joint angle is greater than 8G °. 17. The tire according to item 15 of the scope of patent application, wherein the tire tread has a tread thickness of less than 12.7 mm (0.50 inch). 18. The tire according to item 15 of the scope of patent application, wherein the tread is a high-performance tire with a speed of more than 299 km / h (130 mph). 58389.ptc Page 14