WO2021073894A1

WO2021073894A1 - Mobile clutch in a tire manufacturing system

Info

Publication number: WO2021073894A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/077624
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Guy; Clément NAGODE
Original assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA
Current assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA
Priority date: 2019-10-18
Filing date: 2020-10-02
Publication date: 2021-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2022-04-18
Also published as: FR3102222B1; FR3102222A1

Abstract

The invention is directed to a mobile clutch system having one or more mobile clutch devices (100), each with a main body (102) and at least one retractable finger (104) that is provided in the main body in a reciprocating manner, each finger including an elongated cylindrical member with a predetermined length between an engagement end (104a) and an opposite installation end (104b). The mobile clutch system also includes a brake housing (124) integrated with each movable member (18) of a building system, the brake housing including a groove (124a) that receives a corresponding finger when the device is actuated, and a brake pad (122) that is held under pressure with respect to a key (20) of a drum of the building system; whereby each finger realizes free reciprocating movement between a standby position and an engaged position. The invention is also related to a displacement process effected by a tire building system.

Description

Mobile Clutch in a Tire Manufacturing System

Technical Domain

The present invention is directed to a mobile clutch system for axially displacing, during a displacement process, movable members via a motorized central screw of a tire building system incorporating such a mobile clutch system.

Background

A tire type device is intended to equip any type of vehicle, including, without limitation, passenger vehicles, heavy-duty vehicles, two-wheeled vehicles, agricultural vehicles, engineering vehicles and aircraft. It is understood that a tire in this sense includes a crown with a tread designed to contact the ground via a tread surface. In a known manner, the tread of a tire is provided with a tread pattern having notably tread elements or elementary blocks delimited by various main, longitudinal or circumferential, transverse or even oblique grooves, the elementary blocks being able to additionally include various incisions or finer sipes. The grooves constitute channels intended to evacuate water when driving on wet ground.

In the context of tire assembly, the tools used to manufacture tires are complex to use. Indeed, a number of independent functions (including, without limitation, a relative displacement of bead grip elements, an increase or decrease in diameter, an inflation of turn up membranes and a displacement of elements inherent to a particular point of the raw material being manufactured) must be carried out on a rotating tool. When designing tires, a large effort can be placed in the manufacturing tooling that must be developed and then implemented. This, however, must be associated with the existing tire building machines in the industry. This can introduce various constraints such as space requirements, cycle time or available energy sources (in type and in number).

Generally speaking, the basic structure of a tool is relatively simple. The basic structure of a tooling system includes a longitudinal drum that supports all of the tool mechanics and is attached to a rotating mandrel on a manufacturing frame. Moving parts are attached on the drum for carrying out the corresponding manufacturing steps (including, without limitation, axially and radially movable sectors, roll-up membranes on a manufacturing tool, expanders on a finishing drum and radial sectors on a top form).

In the state of the art, the control of the moving parts is done either by pneumatic or hydraulic means ("means") (not shown) or by a motorized central screw ("central screw") that is electrically controlled. In some embodiments, the control of the moving parts is done by a combination of a pneumatic means and a motorized screw. The means allow the generation of single or double acting effect (including, without limitation, mechanical pushing/recoiling by means of an annular cylinder, inflation of a rollback membrane, and radial expansion of sectors by means of a membrane). The central screw is generally with opposite pitches on either side of the median plane of symmetry of the tooling, and allows a precise, controlled and symmetrical movement of the parts moved by this screw via known mobile fasteners (not shown), including, without limitation, an adjustment of a distance between rods, a closer approach of the expanders during shaping and a differential radial expansion in manufacture. In both cases, the connection of the moving parts to their energy source is continuous and an input corresponds to an output. This has the effect of limiting movement to a single pair of moving parts in translation.

Considering the energy available on existing machines, the number of energy means supplying the manufacturing tooling is generally limited by the size of the rotating joint of the manufacturing frame. The rotating joint makes it possible to connect the fixed part of the energy conduit (for example, pneumatic or hydraulic) to the moving parts controlled by these energy means. In order to change this number of available paths, several machines must be modified with a significant impact on costs and/or lead times. Thus, it is often necessary for the tradesperson to design a tooling compatible with the number of available means. Constraints are made at a certain level of complexity on the tooling to adapt it, if the number of independent functions on the tooling exceeds that of the number of means of the rotating joint.

In order to provide a greater number of independent and controllable actions during the assembly of tires, the disclosed invention breaks this mechanical link so that the drum can become a simple tool holder, allowing to choose which moving part is moved axially via the motorized central screw.

Summary of the Invention

The invention relates to a mobile clutch system for axially displacing, during a displacement process, movable members by means of a central screw of a tire building system, characterized in that the mobile clutch system includes:

- at least one mobile clutch device having:

- a main body with a central passage through which the central screw is inserted to facilitate installation of the device relative to a drum of the tire building system; and - at least one retractable finger that is alternately provided in the main body, each finger including a cylindrical elongated member with a predetermined length between an engagement end and an opposite installation end;

- and a brake pad integral with each movable member, the brake pad having a groove configured to receive a corresponding finger when the device is actuated, and a brake pad that is maintained under pressure relative to a drum key; such that each finger realizes a free reciprocating displacement between a standby position, where the finger is retracted awaiting actuation when the device is not actuated, and an engaged position, where the engaging end of the finger engages the brake pad when the device is actuated.

In some embodiments of the mobile clutch system, the mobile clutch system also includes a spring that maintains the brake pad under pressure relative to the drum key.

In some embodiments of the mobile clutch system, the device includes at least three retractable fingers that are evenly distributed in relation to a central axis of the main body.

In some embodiments of the mobile clutch system, the mobile clutch system includes at least two mobile clutch devices.

In some embodiments of the mobile clutch system, the central screw of the manufacturing system includes parts with opposite threads allowing the symmetrical movement of the devices.

The invention also relates to a tire building system having:

- the mobile clutch system of the invention;

- a building frame having movable members configured to be moved axially by means of a central screw of the building system; and

- a drum in relation to which the device of the mobile clutch system is installed, the drum having a rotating joint that serves as a tool holder for the mobile parts.

In certain embodiments of the building system, the drum includes a key in relation to which the brake pad is maintained in pressure by the spring; such that one of the retractable fingers is configured to compress the spring and release a contact between the key and the brake pad when the device is actuated.

The invention further relates to a displacement process effected by the building system of the invention, characterized in that the displacement process includes the following steps:

- the step of deactivating the fingers of each device of the mobile clutch system, during which the fingers are arranged in a standby position and the devices are in correspondence with the moving members at their origin; - the step of displacing the devices from a position in correspondence with the moving members at their origin to a position in correspondence with a target position of the moving members that are intended for axial displacement along the drum, wherein the fingers associated with the displaced devices remain in the standby position;

- the step of activating the fingers of the displaced devices to engage the corresponding targeted moving members, during which the fingers of the displaced devices are in the engaged position; and

- the step of displacing the intended targeted moving members to a specified destination along the drum, during which the fingers of the moved members remain in the engaged position.

In certain embodiments of the process, the process is carried out iteratively.

In some embodiments of the process, the displacement step includes a symmetrical displacement step.

In some embodiments of the process, the displacement step includes an asymmetrical displacement step.

Other aspects of the invention will become evident from the following detailed description.

Brief description of the drawings

The nature and the various advantages of the invention will become more obvious when reading the following detailed description, together with the attached drawings, in which the same reference numbers designate identical parts everywhere, and in which:

Figure 1 represents a schematic view of a building system including a mobile clutch system of the invention.

Figure 2 represents a sectional view along line A-A of Figure 1 of an embodiment of a mobile clutch device of the system of the invention in a stand-by position.

Figure 3 represents the mobile clutch device of Figure 2 in an engaged position.

Figure 4 represents a sectional view along the line B-B of Figure 3.

Figure 5 represents an embodiment of a symmetrical displacement process effected by the mobile clutch system of the invention.

Figure 6 represents an embodiment of an asymmetrical displacement process effected by the mobile clutch system of the invention. Detailed Description

Referring now to the figures, in which the same numbers identify the same elements, Figure 1 shows a building system 10 incorporating a building frame having movable members 18 capable of being displaced axially via a central screw 200 of the building system 10 (see Figures 5 and 6). The building system 10 includes a drum 12 with a known swivel joint that serves as a tool holder for the movable members 18. The movable members 18 can be moved so as to maintain a symmetrical layout. The number of movable members 18 is not limited to the number of movable members shown in the figures, and this number can be changed between building cycles.

The building system 10 is given as an example. It is understood that the device 100 can be functionally incorporated into other equivalent building systems.

Referring furthermore to Figures 2 to 4, the building system 10 includes a mobile clutch system for axially displacing movable members 18 during a displacement process. The mobile clutch system includes at least one mobile clutch device (or "device") 100. The central screw 200 of the building system 10 is provided with opposite pitches that allow the symmetrical displacement of one or more devices 100 of the invention. It is understood that the building system 10 (or its equivalent) can incorporate one or more mobile clutch devices of the invention.

The device 100 has a main body 102 with a central passage 102a through which the central screw 200 is inserted to facilitate the installation of the device 100. The main body 102 is attached to a nut on the central screw 200, and it is stopped from rotating relative to the drum 12. In the embodiment of the device 100 shown in Figures 2 and 3, the main body 102 has a substantially cylindrical body with the passage 102a being cylindrical in shape and arranged concentrically with respect to the main body.

The main body 102 of the device 100 has at least one retractable finger (or "finger") 104 that is provided in a reciprocating manner in the main body 102. Each retractable finger 104 includes a cylindrical elongated member with a predetermined length between an engagement end 104a and an opposite installation end 104b. Each finger 104 realizes free reciprocating movement between a standby position, where the finger 104 is retracted while awaiting actuation of the device 100 (see Figure 2), and an engaged position, where the engagement end 104a of the finger 104 engages a brake pad 122 to release it (allowing actuation of the device 100) (see Figure 3). A return spring (not shown) is provided to effect movement of the finger 104 between the engaged position and the standby position. A single- acting operation is thus achieved that only consumes one path. In some embodiments of the device 100, the main body 102 is provided with at least three retractable fingers 104 that are evenly distributed (e.g., in a star shape) in relation to a central axis of the main body. It is understood that the number of retractable fingers may vary.

The retractable fingers 104 make it possible to break a mechanical link with a given movable member 18 and to move inside the drum 12 without causing any translation. The main body 102 of the device 100 is stopped in rotation with respect to the drum 12. Thus, the nut is also blocked in rotation, which induces a translational movement when the central screw 200 is actuated.

In addition, the retractable fingers 104 create a new mechanical connection with the next movable member 18. In order to limit the consumption of available paths, these are simple acting systems with a spring return.

Referring again to figures 2 to 4, the breaking of a continuous mechanical link between a nut on the central screw 200 and the movable members means that the movable members must be held in position when a clutch is not activated. The mobile clutch system of the invention is therefore combined with passive braking of the movable members on the drum 12.

In order to stop the rotation of the movable members with respect to the drum 12, and to serve as a hitch for passive braking, each movable member 18 is equipped with a brake housing 124, each having a groove 124a. The groove 124a receives a corresponding finger 104 when the finger takes the engaged position. The brake housing 124 also includes the brake pad 122 that is a passive brake for the mobile clutch system. A spring 135 maintains the brake pad 122 under pressure against a key 20 on the drum 12. In the standby position of the device 100, this pressure maintains the longitudinal position of the movable members 18 along the drum 12.

When the clutch is activated in front of the brake housing 124 (see arrow I of figure 3), itself being fixed to the movable member 18, one of the fingers 104 compresses the spring 135, thus releasing the contact between the key 20 and the brake pad 122 (see arrow II of figure 3). As a result, the movable members are either unbraked and mechanically linked to the nuts of the central screw 200, or braked and locked on the drum 12. Thus, the fingers 104 ensure the transmission of the translational movement of the nuts to the movable members positioned on the drum 12.

Referring to Figure 5, a detailed description is given of an exemplary symmetrical displacement process realized by the device 100 of the invention. It is proposed to install on the nuts of the central screw 200 a device allowing mechanical engagement of the various movable members 18 present on the drum 12. When the central screw 200 is driven in rotation, this causes the displacement of the nuts of the central screw and thus of the clutches symmetrically on either side of the median plane of the tool.

In starting a symmetrical displacement process of the invention, the process includes a step of deactivating the fingers 104 of each device 100 (see step I and arrows A, A' of figure 5). In commencing this step, the devices 100 are placed in a standby position in correspondence with original movable members 18a that are intended to remain in their current position. The standby position that is represented can be established either at the beginning of the current displacement process or at the end of a previous displacement process. During this step, the fingers 104 are retracted into the standby position (see Figure 2)·

The process further includes a step of displacing the devices 100 from a position in correspondence with the original movable members 18a to a position in correspondence with targeted movable members 18b that are intended for displacement toward a specified destination along the drum 12 (see step II and arrows B, B' of Figure 5).

In embodiments of the mobile clutch system using several devices 100, the displacement of the devices is synchronized. The displacement of the devices 100 can be realized by known means (e.g., by pneumatic and/or hydraulic cylinder(s), spring(s), etc.). During this step, the fingers 104 remain retracted in the standby position.

The process includes an additional step of activating the fingers 104 of the devices 100 to engage the corresponding targeted movable members 18b (see step III and arrows C, C of Figure 5). During this step, the fingers 104 are in the engaged position (see Figure 3).

At the end of the symmetrical displacement process, the process further includes a step of displacing the targeted movable members 18b to the specified destination along the drum 12 (see step IV and arrows D, D' in Figure 5). During this step, the fingers 104 remain in the engaged position.

In some embodiments of the symmetrical displacement process, the process is performed iteratively. In these embodiments of the process, the symmetrical displacements can be carried out successively in a synchronized manner.

Referring to figure 6, a detailed description is given of an exemplary asymmetrical displacement process realized by the device 100 of the invention. Each device 100 embedded on the nuts of the central screw 200 can be controlled independently to control the engagement. Thus, the displacement of the nuts is separated from that of the movable members carried by the drum 12. When the central screw 200 is controlled in rotation, the nuts, and thus the devices 100, move symmetrically with respect to the median plane of the tool. However, the movable members 18 facing each other will only be moved if the clutch is activated.

In starting an asymmetrical displacement process of the invention, the process includes a step of deactivating the fingers 104 of each device 100 (see step I and arrows E, E' of Figure 6). By commencing this step, the devices 100 are placed in a position corresponding to the original movable members 18a that are intended to remain in their current position. This position can be established either at the beginning of the current displacement process or at the end of a previous displacement process. During this step, the fingers 104 are retracted into the standby position (see Figure 2).

The process further includes a step of displacing the devices 100 from a position in correspondence with the original movable members 18a to a position in correspondence with targeted movable members 18b (that are intended for displacement toward a specified destination along the drum 12) (see step II and arrows F, F' in Figure 6). In embodiments of the mobile clutch system using several devices 100, the displacement of the devices is synchronized. During this step, the fingers 104 remain retracted in the standby position.

The process includes the additional step of activating a single retractable finger 104 of a device 100 to engage a corresponding targeted movable member 18b (see step III and arrow G in Figure 6). During this step, the fingers of an activated device 100 are in the engaged position (see Figure 3), and the fingers of a non-activated device 100 are retracted to the standby position.

At the end of a symmetrical displacement process, the process further includes a step of displacing the engaged targeted movable member 18b toward the specified destination along the drum 12 (see step IV and arrow H in Figure 6). During this step, the fingers 104 of device 100 remain in the engaged position, and the fingers of the non-activated device 100 remain retracted in the standby position. In some embodiments of the process, this last step can be repeated with respect to a non-activated targeted movable member 18b.

In some embodiments of the asymmetrical displacement process, the process is performed iteratively. In these embodiments of the process, the asymmetrical displacements can be carried out successively in a non-synchronized manner.

A displacement process (either symmetrical or asymmetrical) can be realized during a building cycle carried out by a building system of which the mobile clutch system is a part.

Of course, the process can be easily adapted for all embodiments of a building system 10 incorporating the mobile clutch system. It is therefore possible to choose either symmetrical or independent control of the same pair of movable members on the drum 12.

A symmetrical/asymmetrical displacement process (and/or a building cycle including a symmetrical/asymmetrical displacement process of the invention) realized by the building system 10 incorporating the mobile clutch system can be effected by control of a PLC and can include pre-programming of the management information. For example, a process setting can be associated with the parameters of the original movable members 18a and the targeted movable members 18b and the intended destinations for displacement. The properties of the posed products can be programmed to ensure the correct positioning of the movable members during the building cycles.

For all embodiments, a monitoring system could be put in place. At least part of the monitoring system may be provided in a portable device such as a mobile network device (e.g., mobile phone, laptop computer, network-connected portable device(s) (including "augmented reality" and/or "virtual reality" devices, network-connected portable clothing and/or any combination and/or equivalent)). In embodiments of a building system 10 incorporating the disclosed mobile clutch system, the building system 10 can receive voice commands or other audio data representing, for example, a request for the current state of a displacement process. A response may be generated in audible, visual, tactile (e.g., using a haptic interface) and/or virtual and/or augmented form.

A building system incorporating the disclosed mobile clutch system can facilitate training in order to recognize representative values of displacements along the drum 12 and to make a comparison with target values. This step may include the step of training the mobile clutch system (or a building system in which the mobile clutch system is incorporated) to recognize non-equivalences between the values being compared. Each training step includes a classification generated by self-learning means. This classification may include, without limitation, the parameters of the rubber mixtures incorporated in the products, the duration of the mixing cycles and the values expected at the end of a displacement process in progress.

The terms "at least one" and "one or more" are used interchangeably. Ranges that are presented as "between a and b" include the values "a" and "b".

While specific embodiments of the disclosed device have been illustrated and described, it is understood that various changes, additions and modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Consequently, no limitations should be imposed on the scope of the invention described except those set forth in the claims annexed hereto.

Claims

1. A mobile clutch system for axially displacing, during a displacement process, movable members (18) by means of a central screw (200) of a tire building system (10), characterized in that the mobile clutch system comprises: at least one mobile clutch device (100) comprising: a main body (102) with a central passage (102a) through which the central screw is inserted to facilitate installation of the device (100) relative to a drum (12) of the building system; and at least one retractable finger (104) that is provided in a reciprocal manner in the main body (102), each finger (104) comprising an elongated cylindrical member with a predetermined length between an engagement end (104a) and an opposite installation end (104b); and a brake housing (124) integrated with each movable member (18), the brake housing (124) comprising a groove (124a) configured to receive a corresponding finger (104) when the device (100) is operated, and a brake pad (122) that is maintained under pressure with respect to a key (20) of the drum (12); such that each finger (104) realizes free reciprocating movement between a standby position, where the finger (104) is retracted while awaiting actuation when the device (100) is not actuated, and an engaged position, where the engaging end (104a) of the finger (104) engages the brake pad (122) when the device (100) is actuated.

2. The mobile clutch system of claim 1, further comprising a spring (135) that maintains the brake pad (122) under pressure relative to the key (20) of the drum (12).

3. The mobile clutch system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the device (100) comprises at least three retractable fingers (104) that are regularly distributed with respect to a central axis of the main body (102).

4. The mobile clutch system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile clutch system comprises at least two mobile clutch devices (100).

5. The mobile clutch system of claim 4, wherein the central screw of the building system (10) comprises oppositely threaded portions that allow symmetrical displacement of the devices (100).

6. A tire building system comprising: the mobile clutch system of any one of claims 2 to 5; a building frame having movable members (18) configured to be displaced axially along a central screw (200) of the building system; and a drum (12) in relation to which the device (100) of the mobile clutch system is installed, the drum (12) comprising a rotary joint that serves as a tool holder for the movable members (18).

7. The building system of claim 6, in which the drum (12) comprises a key (20) with respect to which the brake pad (122) is maintained under pressure by the spring (135); whereby one of the retractable fingers (104) is configured to compress the spring (135) and release contact between the key (20) and the brake pad (122) when the device is actuated.

8. A displacement process effected by the building system of claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the displacement process comprises the following steps: a step of deactivating the fingers (104) of each device (100) of the mobile clutch system, during which the fingers are arranged in a standby position and the devices (100) are in correspondence with original movable members (18a); a step of displacing the devices (100) from a position in correspondence with the original movable members (18a) to a position in correspondence with corresponding targeted movable members (18b) that are intended for axial displacement along the drum (12), during which the fingers associated with the displaced devices (100) remain in the standby position; a step of activating the fingers (104) of the displaced devices (100) to engage the corresponding targeted movable members (18b), wherein the fingers (104) of the displaced devices (100) are in the engaged position; and a step of displacing the targeted movable members (18b) to a specified destination along the drum (12), during which the fingers (104) of the displaced devices (100) remain in the engaged position.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the process is performed iteratively.

10. The process of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the step of displacing comprises a step of symmetrical displacement.

11. The process of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the step of displacing comprises a step of asymmetric displacement.