Heating unit, tire heating apparatus, and method for remodeling tire mold

• US 8,941,036 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Kobe Steel Limited
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuto, Kuwabara, Hideaki, Mitamura, Hisashi, Murata, Tomomichi, Toshima, Masatake, Fujieda, Yasuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Ket D
• Application Number:
  US12/309,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20090308861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,685 Days
• Field of Search: 219/618, 219/200, 219/635, 219/672, 219/770, 219/777, 219/745, 219/756, 219/762, 425/40, 425/41, 425/42, 425/46, 425/50, 425/174.4, 336/45, 336 57- 62, 336/65, 336/73, 336/75, 336/77, 336/82, 336/84.R, 336/84.C, 336/84.M, 336/160, 336/170, 336/199
• 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, and spaced from, said ferromagnetic metallic member opposite said tire mold, said induction heating coil induction-heats said ferromagnetic metallic member by generating magnetic field lines;

a nonmagnetic conductor disposed on a side of said induction heating coil facing opposite said ferromagnetic metallic member, which shields the magnetic field lines generated by said induction heating coil wherein said induction heating coil is disposed between the ferromagnetic metal facing opposite said tire mold and the nonmagnetic conductor; and

a positioning unit that adjusts a relative positional relationship among said nonmagnetic conductor, said induction heating coil, and said ferromagnetic metallic member.

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

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

4. The 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. The 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. The heating unit according to claim 1, wherein said nonmagnetic conductor is aluminum.

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

8. The heating unit of claim 1, wherein the positioning unit comprises at least one threaded element threadingly engaged with at least one of the nonmagnetic conductor, the induction heating coil, and the ferromagnetic member, wherein, upon rotation of said threaded element, a relative positional relationship is adjusted between at least two of the nonmagnetic conductor, the induction heating coil and the ferromagnetic member.

9. A tire heating apparatus, comprising:

a tire mold for storing a tire; and

two sets of heating units comprising;

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

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

a nonmagnetic conductor disposed on a side of said induction heating coil facing opposite said ferromagnetic metallic member, which shields the magnetic field lines generated by said induction heating coil wherein said induction heating coil is disposed between the ferromagnetic metal facing opposite said tire mold and the nonmagnetic conductor; and

a positioning unit that adjusts a relative positional relationship among said nonmagnetic conductor, said induction heating coil, and said ferromagnetic metallic member,

wherein at least one of said heating units includes, as said positioning unit has a first spacer for setting a distance between said nonmagnetic conductor and said induction heating coil, or

wherein at least one of said heating units includes, as said positioning unit has a second spacer for setting a distance between said ferromagnetic metallic member and said induction heating coil, or

wherein at least one of said heating units 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, and wherein

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

10. The tire heating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the positioning unit compnses at least one threaded element threadingly engaged with at least one of the nonmagnetic conductor, the induction heating coil, and the ferromagnetic member, wherein, upon rotation of said threaded element, a relative positional relationship is adjusted between at least two of the nonmagnetic conductor, said induction heating coil and the ferromagnetic member.

11. A tire heating apparatus, comprising:

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

an induction heating coil disposed on a side of, and spaced from, 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 facing opposite said ferromagnetic metallic member, which shields the magnetic field lines generated by said induction heating coil wherein said induction heating coil is disposed between the ferromagnetic metal facing opposite said tire mold and the nonmagnetic conductor; and

a positioning unit that adjusts 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 unit, 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 unit, 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.

12. The tire heating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the positioning unit comprises at least one threaded element threadingly engaged with at least one of the nonmagnetic conductor, the induction heating coil, and the ferromagnetic member, wherein, upon rotation of said threaded element, a relative positional relationship is adjusted between at least two of the nonmagnetic conductor, the induction heating coil and the ferromagnetic member.