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WO2010074476A1 - Volant de direction en polypropylène expansé monolithique, appareil de fabrication et procédé pour celui-ci - Google Patents

Volant de direction en polypropylène expansé monolithique, appareil de fabrication et procédé pour celui-ci Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010074476A1
WO2010074476A1 PCT/KR2009/007655 KR2009007655W WO2010074476A1 WO 2010074476 A1 WO2010074476 A1 WO 2010074476A1 KR 2009007655 W KR2009007655 W KR 2009007655W WO 2010074476 A1 WO2010074476 A1 WO 2010074476A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cavity
steering wheel
polypropylene
heat source
manufacturing
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.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/KR2009/007655
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English (en)
Inventor
Doohoon Sun
Yongsik Kim
Gunjoo Lee
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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
Priority claimed from KR1020080133601A external-priority patent/KR100899682B1/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020080133591A external-priority patent/KR100899681B1/ko
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of WO2010074476A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010074476A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C44/00—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles
    • B29C44/34—Auxiliary operations
    • B29C44/58—Moulds
    • B29C44/585—Moulds with adjustable size of the mould cavity
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C44/00—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles
    • B29C44/02—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles for articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
    • B29C44/12—Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or reinforcements
    • B29C44/1271—Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or reinforcements the preformed parts being partially covered
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2023/00—Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
    • B29K2023/10—Polymers of propylene
    • B29K2023/12—PP, i.e. polypropylene
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/30—Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof
    • B29L2031/3047—Steering wheels

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, a manufacturing apparatus and method thereof; and, more particularly, to a manufacturing apparatus of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, which includes a cavity formed by coupling a lower cavity formed at a lower mold and an upper cavity formed at an upper mold so as to receive a steering wheel, a raw material injecting part for injecting a polypropylene raw material into the cavity, a heat source supplying part which supplies heat for expanding the polypropylene raw material injected through the raw material injecting part, and a lower plug which can move up and down the steering wheel received in the cavity, wherein the upper mold further includes a ring that forms an upper surface of the upper cavity and can be moved up and down and an upper plug for moving up and down the ring, and the upper plug is interlocked with the up and down movement of the steering wheel so as to move up and down the ring.
  • the present invention relates to a manufacturing method of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, which includes a steering wheel inserting step of inserting the steering wheel into the lower cavity of the lower mold; a cavity forming step of forming the cavity for receiving the steering wheel by assembling the upper mold having the upper cavity and the lower mold so as to couple the lower cavity and the upper cavity; a steering wheel moving step of moving the steering wheel received in the cavity therein; a ring moving step of moving a ring by an upper plug, wherein the upper mold further includes the ring that forms an upper surface of the upper cavity and can be moved up and down and the upper plug for moving up and down the ring; a polypropylene injecting step of injecting the polypropylene material through a raw material injection part for injecting the polypropylene into the cavity; and a polypropylene expanding step of supplying a heat source through a heat source supplying part for supplying the heat source into the cavity, and expanding the polypropylene material injected into the cavity.
  • a vehicle steering wheel functions to control a running direction of a vehicle and also functions as a safety device for protecting a driver when an accident happens. Further, since the steering wheel is an interior component, it is necessary to have fine esthetic feeling and touching sense when a driver handles the steering wheel. [3] In a conventional manufacturing method of the steering wheel by reaction injection molding, a polyurethane material is used. However, in this manufacturing method using the polyurethane material, there are some possibilities of occurring environmental trouble in occupational settings as well as safety trouble of a worker.
  • An embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, in which expanded polypropylene instead of polyurethane is over-molded around the steering wheel.
  • Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, in which the expanded polypropylene is monolithically over-molded around the steering wheel.
  • Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, in which the expanded polypropylene is uniformly and monolithically over- molded around a rim of the steering wheel.
  • Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel which has a uniform strength by uniformly injecting a polypropylene material having non-uniform size into a cavity.
  • Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, which can reduce the manufacturing time and cost thereof by minimizing manufacturing processes and also reducing the number of components.
  • Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, which can prevent moisture absorbing and deformation of the expanded polypropylene, thereby obtaining a high quality product.
  • the present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, including a cavity formed by coupling a lower cavity 11 formed at a lower mold 1 and an upper cavity 21 formed at an upper mold 2 so as to receive a steering wheel 3; a raw material injecting part 4 for injecting a polypropylene raw material into the cavity; a heat source supplying part 5 which supplies heat for expanding the polypropylene raw material injected through the raw material injecting part 4; and a lower plug 12 which can move up and down the steering wheel 3 received in the cavity.
  • the upper mold further includes a ring 211 that forms an upper surface of the upper cavity 21 and can be moved up and down and an upper plug 22 for moving up and down the ring 211.
  • the upper plug is interlocked with the up and down movement of the steering wheel so as to move up and down the ring 211.
  • the lower mold 1 further includes a lower stopper 13 which is movable at an end of the lower cavity 11 according to the up and down movement of the steering wheel 3, and the upper mold 2 further includes an upper stopper 23 which is movable at an end of the upper cavity 21 according to the up and down movement of the steering wheel 3.
  • the raw material injecting part 4 is formed at the lower cavity 11.
  • the raw material injecting part 4 is formed at a portion that the rim 31 of the lower cavity 11 and spoke 33 are connected with each other.
  • the heat source supplying part 5 supplies steam as a heat source.
  • the heat source supplying part 5 is formed at a side surface of the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 21.
  • cooling water and air as well as the heat source are injected through the heat source supplying part 5.
  • the present invention provides a manufacturing method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, including a steering wheel inserting step S 1 of inserting a steering wheel 3 into a lower cavity 11 of a lower mold 1 ; a cavity forming step S2 of assembling an upper mold 2 having an upper cavity 21 with the lower mold 1 so as to couple the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 21 with each other and thus forming a cavity a; and a steering wheel moving step S3 of moving the steering wheel 3 in the cavity.
  • the steering wheel moving step S3 the steering wheel is moved up and down by a lower plug 12 included in the lower mold 1.
  • the manufacturing method further includes a ring moving step S4 of moving a ring 211 by an upper plug 22, wherein the upper mold 2 includes the ring 211 that forms an upper surface of the upper cavity 21 and can be moved up and down and the upper plug 22 for moving up and down the ring 211.
  • the upper plug 22 is moved up and down responding to the up and down movement of the steering wheel so as to move up and down the ring.
  • the manufacturing method further includes a polypropylene injecting step
  • the polypropylene material is injected into the cavity a by using a high pressure injection method in which the polypropylene solid is injected by a desired pressure generated in the raw material tank, and a differential pressure injection method in which the polypropylene solid is injected by a desired differential pressure between a pressure generated in the raw material tank (not shown) and a pressure generated in the cavity a so as to be smaller than that in the raw material tank.
  • the heat source supplying part 5 is formed at a side surface of the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 21 so as to supply steam as a heat source.
  • the polypropylene expanding step S6 includes a first heat source supplying step S6a of supplying the steam to the cavity a from the heat source supplying part 5 positioned at the lower cavity 11 ; a second heat source supplying step S6b of supplying the steam to the cavity a from the heat source supplying part 5 positioned at the upper cavity 21; and a third heat source supplying step S6c of supplying the steam to the cavity a from all of the heat source supplying parts 5 positioned at the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 21.
  • the manufacturing method further includes a cooling step S7 of supplying cooling water to the cavity a through the heat source supplying part 5 and preventing deformation of the expanded polypropylene.
  • the manufacturing method further includes a vacuum cooling step S 8 of sucking air from the cavity a through the heat source supplying part 5 and forming a vacuum in the cavity a and thus preventing moisture absorbing and deformation of the expanded polypropylene by vacuum pressure.
  • the manufacturing method further includes a separating step S9 of injecting high pressure air into the cavity a through the heat source supplying part 5 and facilely separating the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel from the molds by using the air pressure.
  • the present invention provides a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel in which expanded polypropylene is monolithically over-molded at a rim and a spoke by the above-mentioned manufacturing method.
  • the present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, in which expanded polypropylene instead of polyurethane is over-molded around the steering wheel.
  • the present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, in which the expanded polypropylene is monolithically over-molded around the steering wheel.
  • the present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, in which the expanded polypropylene is uniformly and monolithically over-molded around a rim of the steering wheel.
  • the present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel which has a uniform strength by uniformly injecting a polypropylene material having non-uniform size into a cavity.
  • the present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, which can reduce the manufacturing time and cost thereof by minimizing manufacturing processes and also reducing the number of components.
  • the present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus and method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel, which can prevent moisture absorbing and deformation of the expanded polypropylene, thereby obtaining a high quality product.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a steering wheel which is inserted into a cavity formed by coupling upper and lower molds.
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a lower mold of a manufacturing apparatus of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower mold of Fig. 2, which is partially cut away.
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an upper mold of the manufacturing apparatus of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper mold of Fig. 4, which is partially cut away.
  • Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing a manufacturing method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 7 is a view showing a status that the steering wheel is moved upward while being inserted into the cavity.
  • Fig. 8 is a partially enlarged view of an Al part of Fig. 7.
  • Fig. 9 is a partially enlarged view of a B 1 part of Fig. 7.
  • Fig. 10 is a view showing a status that the steering wheel is moved downward while being inserted into the cavity.
  • FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged view of an A2 part of Fig. 7.
  • Fig. 12 is a partially enlarged view of a B2 part of Fig. 7.
  • Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a finally molded monolithic expended polypropylene steering wheel.
  • a manufacturing apparatus of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel according to the present invention includes a cavity formed by coupling a lower cavity formed at a lower mold and an upper cavity formed at an upper mold so as to receive a steering wheel, a raw material injecting part for injecting a polypropylene raw material into the cavity, a heat source supplying part which supplies heat for expanding the polypropylene raw material injected through the raw material injecting part, and a lower plug which can move up and down the steering wheel received in the cavity, wherein the upper mold further includes a ring that forms an upper surface of the upper cavity and can be moved up and down and an upper plug for moving up and down the ring, and the upper plug is interlocked with the up and down movement of the steering wheel so as to move up and down the ring.
  • a manufacturing method of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel includes a steering wheel inserting step of inserting the steering wheel into the lower cavity of the lower mold; a cavity forming step of forming the cavity for receiving the steering wheel by assembling the upper mold having the upper cavity and the lower mold so as to couple the lower cavity and the upper cavity; a steering wheel moving step of moving the steering wheel received in the cavity therein; a ring moving step of moving a ring by an upper plug, wherein the upper mold further includes the ring that forms an upper surface of the upper cavity and can be moved up and down and the upper plug for moving up and down the ring; a polypropylene injecting step of injecting a polypropylene material through a raw material injection part for injecting the polypropylene into the cavity; and a polypropylene expanding step of supplying a heat source through a heat source supplying part for supplying the heat source into the cavity, and expanding the polypropylene material injected into the cavity.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a steering wheel which is inserted into a cavity formed by coupling upper and lower molds.
  • the steering wheel 3 has a typical structure including a circular rim 31, a center hub 32 and a plurality of spokes 33 for connecting the rim 31 and the center hub 32.
  • the rim 31 has a -shape in section, and such shape of the rim 31 functions so that the polyurethane or polypropylene over-molded on the outer circumference of the rim 31 is monolithically formed with the rim 31 without being separated and moved from the rim 31.
  • the steering wheel 3 is formed of a light metallic material or a plastic material so as to reduce a weight thereof.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a lower mold of a manufacturing apparatus of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower mold of Fig. 2, which is partially cut away
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an upper mold of the manufacturing apparatus of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper mold of Fig. 4, which is partially cut away.
  • a manufacturing apparatus of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a cavity a (Fig. 6) formed by coupling a lower cavity 11 formed at a lower mold 1 and an upper cavity 21 formed at an upper mold 2 so as to receive a steering wheel 3, a raw material injecting part 4 for injecting a polypropylene raw material into the cavity a, a heat source supplying part 5 which supplies heat for expanding the polypropylene raw material injected through the raw material injecting part 4, and a lower plug 12 which can move up and down the steering wheel 3 received in the cavity a.
  • the lower mold 1 is a mold forming a lower portion of the manufacturing apparatus of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and it includes the lower cavity 11 for receiving the steering wheel 3 and the lower plug 12 for moving up and down the steering wheel 3 received in the cavity a.
  • the lower cavity 11 is a recessed portion formed in an upper surface of the lower mold 1 so as to be corresponding to a lower end of the steering wheel 3 and thus receive the lower end of the steering wheel 3.
  • the lower cavity 11 is coupled with the upper cavity 21 of the upper mold 2 to form the cavity a, such that the expanded polypropylene is monolithically molded onto the steering wheel 3 inserted into the cavity a.
  • the lower plug 12 functions to move up and down the steering wheel 3 received in the cavity a.
  • the lower plug 12 is contacted with a lower portion of the steering wheel 3 so as to push up and down the steering wheel 3.
  • the lower plug 12 is contacted with a center portion of the steering wheel 3 so as to push up and down the steering wheel 3.
  • the upper plug 12 is provided at a position corresponding to a lower surface of the lower mold 1 that the steering wheel 3 is located, preferably, a lower surface of the center hub 32 so as to be moved separately from the upper mold 1.
  • a hollow portion 14 is formed at a center portion of the lower mold 1, and then a cylindrical or square pole-shaped lower plug 12 may be inserted into the hollow portion 14 so as to be moved separately from the lower mold 1 by pneumatic and hydraulic pressure. Therefore, if the lower plug 12 contacted with the lower portion of the steering wheel 3 is moved up and down, the steering wheel 3 can be also moved up and down.
  • the upper mold 2 is a mold forming an upper portion of the manufacturing apparatus of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and it includes the upper cavity 21 for receiving the steering wheel 3.
  • the upper cavity 21 is a recessed portion formed in a lower surface of the upper mold 2 so as to be corresponding to an upper end of the steering wheel 3 and thus receive the upper end of the steering wheel 3.
  • the upper cavity 21 is coupled with the lower cavity 11 of the lower mold 1 to form the cavity a, such that the expanded polypropylene is monolithically molded onto the steering wheel 3 inserted into the cavity a.
  • the upper mold further includes a ring 211 that forms an upper surface of the upper cavity 21 and can be moved up and down and an upper plug 22 for moving up and down the ring 211.
  • the ring 211 is a member that forms the upper surface of the upper cavity 21 and can be moved up and down separately from the upper cavity 21. Since the ring 211 forms a circular loop along the upper surface of the upper cavity 21 which receives the rim 31 of the steering wheel 3, and can be moved up and down separately from the upper cavity 21, when the ring 211 is moved up, a portion of the upper cavity 21 that is occupied by the ring 211 is recessed to form a space. Then when the ring 211 is moved down, the upper cavity 21 has a monolithic upper surface corresponding to the rim 31 of the steering wheel 3.
  • the reason why the ring 211 is moved up and down separately from the upper cavity 21 is to uniformly fill the polypropylene material in a space between the upper portion of the rim 31 of the steering wheel 3 and the upper surface of the upper cavity 21 by moving up and down the steering wheel 3, whereby the polypropylene material can be uniformly filled in the cavity a.
  • the upper plug 22 is a member that is connected with the ring 211 so as to move the ring 211 up and down.
  • the upper plug 22 is formed to be connected with the upper portion of the ring 211 and functions to pull up and down the ring 211.
  • the upper plug 22 is interlocked with the up and down movement of the steering wheel 3 so as to move up and down the ring 211.
  • the upper mold 2 has one or more hollow portions 24a formed at an upper side of the ring 211, and also has a hollow portion 24b formed at a center portion of the upper mold 2, i.e., an upper side of the center hub 32.
  • a cylindrical or square pole-shaped upper plug 22a, 22b is inserted into each of the hollow portions 24a and 24b, and ends of the inserted upper plugs 22a and 22b are connected with each other.
  • the upper plug 22b which is inserted into the hollow portion 24b formed at the center portion of the upper mold 2 and connected with the upper portion of the center hub 32 of the steering wheel 3, is moved up when the steering wheel 3 is moved up.
  • the upper plugs 22a which are inserted into the hollow portion 24a formed at the upper side of the ring 211 and integrally connected with each other are also moved up so that the ring 211 is pulled up. Or otherwise, when the steering wheel 3 is moved down, the upper plugs 22a and 22b are acted reversely.
  • the upper plug 22 has the above-mentioned structure, since the upper plug 22 can be interlocked with the steering wheel 3 that is moved up and down by the lower plug 12, a separate device for moving the upper plug 22 is not needed, and the ring 211 can be also interlocked with the up and down movement of the steering wheel 3.
  • the raw material injecting part 4 allows the polypropylene material to be injected into the cavity a formed by coupling the upper cavity and the lower cavity, such that the polypropylene material in a raw material tank (not shown) is injected through one side of the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 21.
  • a plurality of through- holes 111 are formed at a lower surface of the lower cavity 11 of the lower mold 1, particularly, a lower surface of a part that the rim 31 of the steering wheel 3 and the spoke 33 are contacted with each other, and as shown in Fig, 7, the through-hole 111 is connected with the raw material tank (not shown), and a cylindrical or square pole-shaped stopple 41 (shown in Fig.
  • the through-hole 111 is provided in the through-hole 111 so as to be moved up and down.
  • the through-hole 111 is opened and thus the polypropylene material in the raw material tank (not shown) can be injected into the cavity a through the through-hole 111, and when the stopple 41 is moved up (B direction) and thus monolithically formed with the lower surface of the lower cavity 11, the through-hole 111 is closed, and an upper surface of the stopple 41 forms a part of the lower surface of the lower cavity 11.
  • the polypropylene material injected through the raw material injecting part 4 may be used in a particle type polypropylene solid state.
  • the polypropylene solid In order to inject the polypropylene solid into the cavity a, there may use a high pressure injection method in which the polypropylene solid is injected by a desired pressure generated in the raw material tank (not shown), and a differential pressure injection method in which the polypropylene solid is injected by a desired differential pressure between a pressure generated in the raw material tank (not shown) and a pressure generated in the cavity a so as to be smaller than that in the raw material tank (not shown).
  • the heat source supplying part 5 is a part that supplies heat to the cavity a in order to expand the polypropylene material, and has a structure that can supply enough heat to expand the polypropylene material injected in the cavity a through one side of the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 21.
  • a plurality of heat source supplying parts 5 are formed at a side surface of the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 21, and the heat source supplying part 5 may be formed into a nozzle type formed by multiple small holes through which high temperature steam is spouted out.
  • the heat source supplied through the heat source supplying part 5 may be high temperature steam. If the injected polypropylene material is the polypropylene solid, it is the most efficient to use the high temperature steam in melding and expanding the polypropylene material.
  • cooling water and air besides the high temperature steam may be injected through the heat source supplying part 5, wherein the cooling water is used in a cooling process, if necessary, for preventing deformation of the polypropylene expanded in the cavity a, and the air is used in a separating process for facilely separating a finally molded product from the cavity a.
  • the cooling water is used in a cooling process, if necessary, for preventing deformation of the polypropylene expanded in the cavity a, and the air is used in a separating process for facilely separating a finally molded product from the cavity a.
  • a manufacturing apparatus of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention further includes a lower stopper 13 which allows the lower mold 1 to be moved at an end of the lower cavity 11 according to the up and down movement of the steering wheel 3, and an upper stopper 23 which allows the upper mold 2 to be moved at an end of the upper cavity 21 according to the up and down movement of the steering wheel 3.
  • the lower stopper 13 provided at one end of the lower cavity 11 functions as a blocking plate that blocks the polypropylene material over-molded onto the steering wheel 3 so as to be over-molded only to a desired position.
  • the lower stopper 13 may be formed so as to block the polypropylene material at a middle portion of the spoke 33 so that the polypropylene material is over-molded only to a part of the spoke 33 and the rim 31 of the steering wheel 3.
  • the lower stopper 13 is also formed to be moved up and down according to the up and down movement of the steering wheel 3.
  • an elastic means like a spring is provided at a lower side of the lower stopper 13 so as to move up and down the lower stopper 13.
  • the upper stopper 23 provided at one end of the upper cavity 21 functions as a blocking plate that blocks the polypropylene material over-molded onto the steering wheel 3 so as to be over-molded only to a desired position.
  • the upper stopper 23 may be formed so as to block the polypropylene material at a middle portion of the spoke 33 so that the polypropylene material is over-molded only to a part of the spoke 33 and the rim 31 of the steering wheel 3.
  • the upper stopper 23 performs its own function at a position corresponding to the lower stopper 13 together with the lower stopper 13.
  • the upper stopper 23 is also formed to be moved up and down according to the up and down movement of the steering wheel 3.
  • an elastic means like a spring is connected with an end of the upper stopper 23 so as to move up and down the upper stopper 23.
  • FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a manufacturing method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 7 is a view showing a status that the steering wheel is moved upward while being inserted into the cavity
  • Fig. 8 is a partially enlarged view of an Al part of Fig. 7
  • Fig. 9 is a partially enlarged view of a Bl part of Fig. 7
  • Fig. 10 is a view showing a status that the steering wheel is moved downward while being inserted into the cavity
  • Fig. 11 is a partially enlarged view of an A2 part of Fig. 7
  • Fig. 12 is a partially enlarged view of a B2 part of Fig. 7,
  • Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a finally molded monolithic expended polypropylene steering wheel.
  • the manufacturing method of a monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel of the present invention includes a steering wheel inserting step Sl of inserting a steering wheel 3 into a lower cavity 11 of a lower mold 1, a cavity forming step S2 of assembling an upper mold 2 having an upper cavity 21 with the lower mold 1 so as to couple the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 21 with each other and thus forming a cavity a, and a steering wheel moving step S3 of moving the steering wheel 3 in the cavity a.
  • the steering wheel 3 is inserted into the lower cavity 11 formed at the lower mold 1.
  • a lower surface of a center hub 32 of the steering wheel 3 is contacted with a lower plug 12, and a spoke 33 is contacted with a lower stopper 13.
  • the upper mold 2 having the upper cavity 21 is assembled with the lower mold 1, in which the steering wheel 3 is received, so as to couple the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 21 with each other, thereby forming the cavity a for receiving the steering wheel 3.
  • an upper plug 22b of the upper mold 2 is contacted with an upper surface of the center hub 32 of the steering wheel 3, and an upper stopper 23 is contacted with the spoke 33.
  • the present invention may include any other structure capable of moving the steering wheel 3.
  • the steering wheel 3 is moved up and down by up and down movement of the lower plug 12 that is contacted with the center hub 32 of the steering wheel 3.
  • the manufacturing method of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel further includes a ring moving step S4 of moving a ring 211 by an upper plug 22, wherein the upper mold 2 further includes the ring 211 that forms an upper surface of the upper cavity 21 and can be moved up and down and the upper plug 22 for moving up and down the ring 211.
  • the ring 211 is moved correspondingly and thus a space in the cavity a, in which the polypropylene material is filled, can be secured, and the polypropylene material can be pressed and uniformly filled. Since the upper plug 22a connected with the upper portion of the ring 211 is integrally formed with the upper ring 22b contacted with the upper portion of the center hub 32 of the steering wheel 3, the upper plug 22 is moved up and down according to the up and down movement of the steering wheel 3, thereby moving up and down the ring 211.
  • the lower plug 12 is moved down again ( direction), and the rim 31 and the ring 211 are moved down ( direction and D direction), respectively.
  • the polypropylene solid is uniformly filled over concave and convex portions of the rim 31.
  • the manufacturing method of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel may further include a polypropylene injecting step S5 of injecting the polypropylene material through a raw material injection part 4 for injecting the polypropylene into the cavity a; and a polypropylene expanding step S6 of supplying a heat source through a heat source supplying part 5 for supplying the heat source into the cavity, and expanding the polypropylene material injected into the cavity a.
  • the polypropylene material is injected through a raw material injection part 4 for injecting the polypropylene into the cavity a.
  • the polypropylene material is facilely injected into the cavity a by using the high pressure injection method in which the polypropylene solid is injected by a desired pressure generated in the raw material tank (not shown), and the differential pressure injection method in which the polypropylene solid is injected by a desired differential pressure between a pressure generated in the raw material tank (not shown) and a pressure generated in the cavity a so as to be smaller than that in the raw material tank (not shown).
  • the polypropylene material may be used in a particle type polypropylene solid state.
  • a heat source is supplied through a heat source supplying part 5 for supplying the heat source into the cavity so as to expand the polypropylene material injected into the cavity a.
  • the heat source supplying part 5 is a structure that can supply enough heat to expand the polypropylene material injected in the cavity a.
  • a plurality of heat source supplying parts 5 are formed at a side surface of the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 21, and the heat source supplying part 5 may be formed into a nozzle type formed by multiple small holes through which high temperature steam is spouted out.
  • the heat source supplied through the heat source supplying part 5 may be high temperature steam.
  • the polypropylene expanding step S6 may include a first heat source supplying step S6a of supplying the steam to the cavity a from the heat source supplying part 5 positioned at the lower cavity 11, a second heat source supplying step S6b of supplying the steam to the cavity a from the heat source supplying part 5 positioned at the upper cavity 21, and a third heat source supplying step S6c of supplying the steam to the cavity a from all of the heat source supplying parts 5 positioned at the lower cavity 11 and the upper cavity 21.
  • an inner pressure of the cavity a is maintained at 2.5bar
  • the inner pressure of the cavity a is maintained at 3.5bar
  • the inner pressure of the cavity a is maintained at 4bar. If the heat source is supplied, in turn, to the cavity a, it is possible to mold the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel which is uniformly over-molded with the expanded polypropylene.
  • the manu- facturing method of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel may further include a cooling step S7 of supplying cooling water to the cavity a through the heat source supplying part 5 and preventing deformation of the expanded polypropylene, a vacuum cooling step S8 of sucking air from the cavity a through the heat source supplying part 5 and forming a vacuum in the cavity a and thus preventing moisture absorbing and deformation of the expanded polypropylene by vacuum pressure, and a separating step S9 of injecting high pressure air into the cavity a through the heat source supplying part 5 and facilely separating the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel from the molds by using the air pressure.
  • cooling water is supplied to the cavity a through the heat source supplying part 5 so as to prevent the deformation of the expanded polypropylene. It is possible to prevent the deformation of the expanded polypropylene by cooling the heated polypropylene. At this time, it is preferable that the inner pressure of the cavity a is maintained at 3bar.
  • the vacuum cooling step S 8 air is sucked from the cavity a through the heat source supplying part 5 so as to form a vacuum in the cavity a and thus prevent the moisture absorbing and the deformation of the expanded polypropylene owing to vacuum pressure.
  • the moisture absorbing and the deformation of the expanded polypropylene caused by the cooling water supplied in the cooling step S7 can be prevented by forming a vacuum in the cavity a.
  • the high pressure air is injected into the cavity a through the heat source supplying part 5 so as to facilely separate the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel from the molds. Therefore, it is possible to facilely separate the finally monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel molded in the cavity a.
  • the manufacturing method of the monolithic expanded polypropylene steering wheel of the present invention since the expanded polypropylene is used instead of polyurethane, it is possible to provide an Eco-friendly and stable working environment. Further, since the expanded polypropylene is monolithically formed, it is possible to remove a separate bonding process, thereby reducing the manufacturing time and cost, and also it is possible to provide a uniformly expanded monolithic polypropylene steering wheel regardless of the cross-sectional shape of the steering wheel. Further, it is possible to prevent the deformation of a product after the molding and also facilely separate the product from a mold, thereby increasing the efficiency in the manufacturing cost and time.
  • the present invention related to the manufacturing method and apparatus of a vehicle steering wheel can be applied to a molding process of the expanded polypropylene steering wheel which is monolithically over-molded by the expanded polypropylene.
  • the present invention can be applied a molding process of the expanded polypropylene steering wheel, in which the polypropylene is uniformly and monolithically over the rim of the steering wheel regardless of the cross-sectional view of the steering wheel, and the polypropylene material having a non-uniform size is uniformly supplied into the cavity so as to provide a uniform strength.
  • the present invention can be variously applied to other expanded polypropylene over-molded product as well as the expanded polypropylene steering wheel.

Landscapes

  • Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un appareil de fabrication d'un volant de direction en polypropylène expansé monolithique, comprenant une cavité formée par couplage d'une cavité inférieure formée sur un moule inférieur et d'une cavité supérieure formée sur un moule supérieur de façon à recevoir un volant de direction ; une partie d'injection de matière première pour injecter une matière première en polypropylène dans la cavité ; une partie d'alimentation de source de chaleur qui délivre de la chaleur pour faire subir une expansion à la matière première de polypropylène injectée par l'intermédiaire de la partie d'injection de matière première ; et un bouchon inférieur qui peut élever et abaisser le volant de direction reçu dans la cavité, et sur un procédé de fabrication d'un volant de direction en polypropylène expansé monolithique, comprenant l'insertion d'un volant de direction dans une cavité inférieure d'un moule inférieur ; l'assemblage d'un moule supérieur comprenant une cavité supérieure avec le moule inférieur de façon à coupler la cavité inférieure et la cavité supérieure entre elles et à former ainsi une cavité ; et le déplacement du volant de direction dans la cavité.
PCT/KR2009/007655 2008-12-24 2009-12-22 Volant de direction en polypropylène expansé monolithique, appareil de fabrication et procédé pour celui-ci Ceased WO2010074476A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR10-2008-0133601 2008-12-24
KR1020080133601A KR100899682B1 (ko) 2008-12-24 2008-12-24 일체로 성형된 발포폴리프로필렌 스티어링 휠의 제조방법 및 그에 따라 생산된 일체로 성형된 발포폴리프로필렌 스티어링 휠
KR10-2008-0133591 2008-12-24
KR1020080133591A KR100899681B1 (ko) 2008-12-24 2008-12-24 일체로 성형된 발포폴리프로필렌 스티어링 휠의 제조장치

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010074476A1 true WO2010074476A1 (fr) 2010-07-01

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ID=42287959

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/KR2009/007655 Ceased WO2010074476A1 (fr) 2008-12-24 2009-12-22 Volant de direction en polypropylène expansé monolithique, appareil de fabrication et procédé pour celui-ci

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2010074476A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2013035270A (ja) * 2011-08-09 2013-02-21 Dongshin Industry Inc 車両用ステアリングホイールｅｐｐ発泡フォーム成形金型
CN106042290A (zh) * 2016-08-05 2016-10-26 南通超达装备股份有限公司 汽车方向盘模具

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001205643A (ja) * 2000-01-27 2001-07-31 Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd インサート成形装置
KR20040078502A (ko) * 2003-03-04 2004-09-10 주식회사 엘지화학 자동차용 반응사출 금형 및 자동차용 스티어링 휠의제조방법
JP2006151313A (ja) * 2004-12-01 2006-06-15 T S Tec Kk ステアリングホイール及びステアリングホイールの製造方法
KR20070028409A (ko) * 2004-06-10 2007-03-12 키 세이프티 시스템즈 인코포레이티드 차량 실내용 부품 제조 방법, 차량 실내용 부품 및 예비성형 시트용 주형
KR20080092214A (ko) * 2007-04-10 2008-10-15 주식회사 엘지화학 조향핸들과 그 제작방법

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001205643A (ja) * 2000-01-27 2001-07-31 Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd インサート成形装置
KR20040078502A (ko) * 2003-03-04 2004-09-10 주식회사 엘지화학 자동차용 반응사출 금형 및 자동차용 스티어링 휠의제조방법
KR20070028409A (ko) * 2004-06-10 2007-03-12 키 세이프티 시스템즈 인코포레이티드 차량 실내용 부품 제조 방법, 차량 실내용 부품 및 예비성형 시트용 주형
JP2006151313A (ja) * 2004-12-01 2006-06-15 T S Tec Kk ステアリングホイール及びステアリングホイールの製造方法
KR20080092214A (ko) * 2007-04-10 2008-10-15 주식회사 엘지화학 조향핸들과 그 제작방법

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2013035270A (ja) * 2011-08-09 2013-02-21 Dongshin Industry Inc 車両用ステアリングホイールｅｐｐ発泡フォーム成形金型
CN106042290A (zh) * 2016-08-05 2016-10-26 南通超达装备股份有限公司 汽车方向盘模具

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