Heating Unit, Tire Heating Apparatus, and Method for Remodeling Tire Mold

• US 20090308861A1
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Inventors: Kuwabara, Hideaki, Okada, Kazuto, Toshima, Masatake, Fujieda, Yasuhiko, Murata, Tomomichi, Mitamura, Hisashi
• Granted Patent: US 8,941,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/618
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0811 using induction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0816 using eddy currents
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/06 using radiation , e.g. electro-magnetic waves, induction heating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0805 using electromagnetic radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0667 Circulating the fluids, e.g. introducing and removing them into and from the moulds; devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0674 Heating by using non-fluid means, e.g. electrical heating
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0677 Controlling temperature differences
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0601 Vulcanising tyres; Vulcanising presses for tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0605 Vulcanising presses characterised by moulds integral with the presses having radially movable sectors
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2030/00 Pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof conveyor belts B29L2031/7092; drive belts B29L2031/7094; fourdrinier belts B29L2031/733
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working

Abstract

The present invention provides a heating unit capable of easily and inexpensively adjusting total impedance based on tire mold size so that a power source can be used at a high power factor, and a tire heating apparatus using the same. A ferromagnetic metallic member 10a heats a tire mold M1 by heat conduction. An induction heating coil C1 is disposed on the side of the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a opposite the tire mold M1 to induction-heat the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a by generating magnetic field lines. A nonmagnetic conductor 30a is disposed on the side of the induction heating coil C1 opposite the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a to shield the magnetic field lines generated by the induction heating coil C1. A heating unit 100a including these elements heats the tire mold M1 storing a tire. A relative positional relationship among the nonmagnetic conductor 30a, the induction heating coil C1 and the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a is set by first spacers 71a and 72a and second spacers 21a to 23a.

Claims

1. A heating unit for heating a tire mold for storing a tire, comprising:

a ferromagnetic metallic member for heating said tire mold by heat conduction;

an induction heating coil disposed on a side of said ferromagnetic metallic member opposite said tire mold, which induction-heats said ferromagnetic metallic member by generating magnetic field lines;

a nonmagnetic conductor disposed on a side of said induction heating coil opposite said ferromagnetic metallic member, which shields the magnetic field lines generated by said induction heating coil; and

positioning means for setting a relative positional relationship among said nonmagnetic conductor, said induction heating coil, and said ferromagnetic metallic member.

2. A heating unit according to claim 1, wherein said heating unit includes, as said positioning means, a first spacer for setting a distance between said nonmagnetic conductor and said induction heating coil.

3. A heating unit according to claim 1, wherein said heating unit includes, as said positioning means, a second spacer for setting a distance between said ferromagnetic metallic member and said induction heating coil.

4. A heating unit according to claim 1, wherein said heating unit further includes a heat insulating member provided between said induction heating coil and said ferromagnetic metallic member.

5. A heating unit according to claim 1, wherein said heating unit further includes a ferromagnetic nonconductive member provided between said nonmagnetic conductor and said induction heating coil.

6. A heating unit according to claim 1, wherein said nonmagnetic conductor is aluminum.

7. A heating unit according to claim 1, wherein said ferromagnetic metallic member is a steel-made member having magnetic permeability of 100 to 1000.

8. A tire heating apparatus, comprising:

a tire mold for storing a tire; and

two sets of said heating units comprising a ferromagnetic metallic member for heating said tire mold by heat conduction;

an induction heating coil disposed on a side of said ferromagnetic metallic member opposite said tire mold, which induction-heats said ferromagnetic metallic member by generating magnetic field lines;

a nonmagnetic conductor disposed on a side of said induction heating coil opposite said ferromagnetic metallic member, which shields the magnetic field lines generated by said induction heating coil; and

positioning means for setting a relative positional relationship among said nonmagnetic conductor, said induction heating coil, and said ferromagnetic metallic member, wherein said heating unit includes, as said positioning means, a first spacer for setting a distance between said nonmagnetic conductor and said induction heating coil, or wherein said heating unit includes, as said positioning means, a second spacer for setting a distance between said ferromagnetic metallic member and said induction heating coil, or wherein said heating unit further includes a heat insulating member provided between said induction heating coil and said ferromagnetic metallic member, or wherein said heating unit further includes a ferromagnetic nonconductive member provided between said nonmagnetic conductor and said induction heating coil, or wherein said nonmagnetic conductor is aluminum, or wherein said ferromagnetic metallic member is a steel-made member having magnetic permeability of 100 to 1000, which are vertically disposed opposite each other across said tire mold, wherein

said two heating units heating said tire mold from both upper side and lower side of said tire mold.

9. A tire heating apparatus, comprising:

said heating unit comprising a ferromagnetic metallic member for heating said tire mold by heat conduction;

an induction heating coil disposed on a side of said ferromagnetic metallic member opposite said tire mold, which induction-heats said ferromagnetic metallic member by generating magnetic field lines;

a nonmagnetic conductor disposed on a side of said induction heating coil opposite said ferromagnetic metallic member, which shields the magnetic field lines generated by said induction heating coil; and

positioning means for setting a relative positional relationship among said nonmagnetic conductor, said induction heating coil, and said ferromagnetic metallic member, wherein said heating unit includes, as said positioning means, a first spacer for setting a distance between said nonmagnetic conductor and said induction heating coil, or wherein said heating unit includes, as said positioning means, a second spacer for setting a distance between said ferromagnetic metallic member and said induction heating coil, or wherein said heating unit further includes a heat insulating member provided between said induction heating coil and said ferromagnetic metallic member, or wherein said heating unit further includes a ferromagnetic nonconductive member provided between said nonmagnetic conductor and said induction heating coil, or wherein said nonmagnetic conductor is aluminum, or wherein said ferromagnetic metallic member is a steel-made member having magnetic permeability of 100 to 1000; and

a tire mold composed of a plurality of split segments and having an annular hole internally formed, wherein

said annular hole being filled with a filling material having high thermal diffusivity.

10. A tire heating apparatus, comprising:

a tire mold having an annular hole internally formed to encapsulate heating steam; and

a heating mechanism for heating said tire mold by heat conduction, wherein

said annular hole being filled with a filling material having high thermal diffusivity, and

said tire mold being heated by said heating mechanism.

11. A remodeling method of a tire mold having an annular hole internally formed to encapsulate heating steam, comprising the steps of:

filling the annular hole with a filling material having high thermal diffusivity;

installing a heating mechanism for heating the tire mold by heat conduction; and

heating the tire mold by the heating mechanism.