Molding element of a mold for a tire, comprising a plurality of holes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9352522-B2
Application number	US-201314436530-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2013
Priority date	Oct 17, 2012
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A molding element for a tire mold manufactured from a metallic powder fused together layer by layer, having a body, comprising a first surface intended to mold all or part of a tread surface of the tire and a second surface opposite to the first surface and intended to be in contact with another part of the mold, the thickness (E) of the body of the molding element being between 1 and 6 millimetres. The molding element has at least one cavity opening onto the second surface of this body. The molding element also has a plate positioned across the cavity and formed as one with the body of the molding element, being at the same level as the first surface of the body, and having at least one hole allowing air to pass between the first surface of the molding element and the second surface thereof.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A molding element for a tire mold manufactured from a metallic powder fused together layer by layer, the molding element comprising:
a body, this body comprising:
a first surface intended to mold all or part of a tread surface of the tire, and
a second surface opposite to the first surface and intended to be in contact with another part of the mold,

wherein the body has a thickness (E) between 1 and 6 millimetres,
at least one cavity opening onto the second surface of this body,
a plate positioned across the at least one cavity and formed as one with the body of the molding element,
wherein this plate is at the same level as the first surface of the body, and wherein the plate comprises at least one hole allowing air to pass between the first surface of the molding element and the second surface thereof,
a lateral surface connecting the first surface of the body of the molding element to the second surface thereof,
a porous area connecting the cavity to the lateral surface, this porous area forming all or part of the second surface of the body of the element and comprising a plurality of pores that allow air to pass and generate a voids volume which is greater than 20%.

2. The molding element according to claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises a plurality of holes forming a grid structure on this plate, these holes having an equivalent diameter comprised between 0.05 mm and 1 mm.

3. The molding element according to claim 2 , wherein the grid structure of holes forms a marking on the molding element, this marking being able to mold a pattern on the tire.

4. The molding element according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of protrusions projecting from the first surface of the body of this element and adapted to mold cuts in the tread of the tire, wherein at least two protrusions of the plurality of protrusions intersect on this first surface, and wherein the hole or holes in the plate opens or open at the intersection of the two protrusions.

Assignees

• Michelin & Cie
• Michelin Rech Tech
• Michelin Rech Tech

Inventors

• Gueugneau Anthony
• Blanchet Etienne

Classifications

• B29D2030/0617

  Venting devices, e.g. vent plugs or inserts · CPC title

• B29D2030/0613

  Means, e.g. sipes or blade-like elements, for forming narrow recesses in the tyres, e.g. cuts or incisions for winter tyres · CPC title

• B29D30/0606 Primary

  Vulcanising moulds not integral with vulcanising presses (for solid tyres B29D30/02) · CPC title

• B29D2030/0612

  Means for forming recesses or protrusions in the tyres, e.g. grooves or ribs, to create the tread or sidewalls patterns · CPC title

• B29D30/0629

  with radially movable sectors · CPC title