Tire disruptor device

Abstract

Disruptor device consisting in a frame said frame (F) having a Water Jet system to disaggregate one portion a tread or a sidewall of a tire, an hydraulic power unit, a control cabinet with PLC and control panel, a lower assembly, an upper assembly, an hopper for collection of fragmented materials and a vibrating screen, a group for the forced ventilation system and the air/water separation wherein the upper assembly consists on a frame divided in two identical first half-frame and second half-frame (20b); the upper assembly is supported to the frame (F) by two arms (la, lb); the upper assembly (9) presents a series of rollers (14) and a movable plate (24) positioned on each half-frame (20a, 20b) between two of these rollers (14) and supporting an upper nozzles head (18) supplied by high pressure water through a piping system; the lower assembly (2) presents a set of rollers (15) mounted on a fixed frame (22); in the space between two of rollers (15) scrolls a slide (24) for nozzle-head (21) that supports one or more, left and right, lower nozzles (23) supplied by high pressure water through a piping system.

Claims

1. A disruptor device comprising: a frame, said frame having a water jet system to disaggregate one portion of a tread or a sidewall of a tire; a hydraulic power unit; a control cabinet with a PLC and a control panel; a lower assembly; an upper assembly; a hopper for collection of fragmented materials and a vibrating screen; a group for a forced ventilation system and an air/water separation, wherein: the upper assembly includes a series of rollers and an assembly frame having a first half-frame and a second half-frame, wherein the first half-frame and the second half-frame are identical; the upper assembly is supported by the frame by two arms; each of the first half-frame and the second half frame including a movable plate, the movable plate positioned between two rollers of the series of rollers and supporting an upper nozzles head supplied with high pressure water through a piping system; the lower assembly includes a set of rollers mounted on a fixed frame; and a slide for a nozzle head, the slide positioned in a space between two rollers included in the set of rollers, wherein the slide supports one or more, left and right, and lower nozzles supplied with the high pressure water through the piping system.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a side of each arm of the two arm is connected to the corresponding first half-frame or second half-frame and an other side of each arm of the two arms is connected to the frame through a lifting cylinder.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein each arm of the two arms includes a first arm connected to a second arm.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first half-frame is hinged to the second half-frame.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper assembly includes two fixed rear guides with an aligning limit switch device.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper assembly includes two movable front guides.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper assembly includes two guide rails and a movable slide.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the series of rollers includes a first set of upper driving rollers and a second set of upper driving rollers, wherein at least a slide is inserted between the first and second sets of upper driving rollers included in the series of rollers.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper assembly includes a first feed cylinder positioned on the first half-frame and connected to the slide of the first-half-frame and a second feed cylinder positioned on the second half-frame and connected to the slide of the second half-frame.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper assembly is equipped with a proximity switch to operate a reversing of a stroke of the upper nozzles head of the first half-frame and the upper nozzles head of the second half frames.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper assembly is equipped with gear motor.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lower assembly includes sets of rollers, wherein a slide is positioned between the sets of lower driving rollers.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lower assembly includes a feed cylinder for the nozzle head.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lower assembly is equipped with gear motor.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lower assembly is equipped with a thickness sensor.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rollers in the sets of rollers are tapered and the rollers in the series of rollers are tapered.

17. The device according to claim 1 wherein the frame includes at least two supporting rollers.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes a centering roller.

Description

(1) The device covered by this patent application is depicted in the attached figures where:

(2) FIG. 1 shows the general view of the configuration of the device for the disintegration of treads of tires.

(3) FIG. 2 shows the general view of the configuration of the device for the disintegration of sidewalls of tires.

(4) FIG. 3 shows the upper and lower assemblies of driving rollers displaying the tread in his location.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a detail of a first preferred embodiment of the upper assembly.

(6) FIG. 5 Shows a detail of a first preferred embodiment of the lower assembly.

(7) FIG. 6 Shows the detail a first preferred embodiment of the front of upper and lower system.

(8) FIG. 7 Shows the detail of a first preferred embodiment of the side guides.

(9) FIG. 8 Detail of a first preferred embodiment of the left front guide in open position.

(10) FIG. 9,10 Shows a detail of a second preferred embodiment of the lower assembly.

(11) FIG. 11,12 Shows a detail of a second preferred embodiment of the upper assembly.

(12) With reference to the attached figures, the device covered by this patent application consists of: lower assembly (2) of driving rollers, upper assembly (9) of driving rollers, and its suspension system constituted by a lift arms system (1a, 1b); a set of auxiliary elements in turn consisting of a hydraulic system for the delivery of the ultra-high pressure water (FIG. 10) provided by an external group of pumps (10.1), a frame built by square tubular covered with soundproofing panels and provided with a loading door with automatic opening not shown in the figures, a hopper (8) for collection of fragmented materials, a vibrating-screen assembly (4) for the collection and separation of granules from water, an hydraulic power pack (6), an electrical panel with PLC controller (5), and a group for forced ventilation system and of air/water separation (10).

(13) In a preferred embodiment (FIG. 1) the device for the disintegration of treads of tires (11) presents a lower assembly (2) and an upper assembly (9) as follows:

(14) with reference at FIG. 5, the lower assembly (2) presents a set of rollers (15) mounted on a fixed frame (22); in the space between two of these rollers (15) scrolls a slide (24) for nozzle-head (21) that supports one or more, left and right, lower nozzles (23).

(15) The nozzles (23) of the lower head (21) are powered by high pressure water and represent the Water-Jet tools that perform the work of disintegration.

(16) The upper assembly (9) of driving rollers (14) of the device described consists on a frame (20) divided into two identical first half-frame (20a) and second half-frame (20b) supported by two arms (1a, 1b).

(17) A side of each arm (1a, 1b) is connected to the frame (20) and the other side of each arm (1a, 1b) is connected to the chassis of the device through a couple of lifting cylinder (16a, 16b).

(18) The first half-frame (20a) is hinged to the second half-frame (20b) and the first and the second half-frames (20a, 20b) are suspended by an axis of rotation (13), by means of a couple of triangular frames connected to the axis of rotation (12) on the terminal of the arms (1a, 1b).

(19) The upper assembly (9) presents a series of rollers (14) and a movable plate (19) positioned on each half-frame (20a, 20b) between two of these rollers and supporting an upper nozzles head (18).

(20) The nozzles of the upper head (18) are powered by high pressure water and represent the Water-Jet tools that perform the work of disintegration.

(21) The small oscillations that two half-frames (20a, 20b) can carry around these axes (12.13) are used to maintain in constant mesh the upper driving rollers (14), adapting their geometry to the variation of the thickness (and thus the difference between the inner and outer diameters) of a tread (11).

(22) This geometric condition, which sees all the driving rollers constantly in mesh, is the basic requirement to ensure uniform feed and without lateral slipping of the tread. With this configuration you get the safe clamping of workpiece (11) between the two sets of rollers that simultaneously feed the same piece, while the rotating nozzles move transversely with reciprocating motion.

(23) The reciprocating motion of the upper and lower heads (18 and 21), combined with the feed of the tread (11) determined by the rotation of the rollers (14), makes it possible to scan the entire surface of the tread (11). The device covered by this patent application made as described, by virtue of the adaptability of the rollers (14,15) to the forms that are treating and implemented as described, results in a geometry that allows to keep constant the gap of the nozzles from the surface to be machined; this configuration is achieved by mounting the upper and lower nozzles-heads (18 and 21) between two rollers, positioned slightly behind (2-5 mm) than the tangent line of the two rollers, and ensuring that the two rollers are always in contact with the surface to treat and always in contrast with their respective position rollers of the opposite assembly. Also the configuration of the rollers with that of the nozzles-heads (18 and 21) is so that the whole surface to be treated is covered, leaving no parts that cannot be reached, eliminating the disadvantages of the state of the art that still necessitate fastening or drag points in the workpiece, with the consequence of making unachievable or “shielded” parts of it, and then to get untreated parts.

(24) Additional benefit resulting from the construction of the device as described is the automatic adjustment to the width of the piece, obtained through the side-guides (45, 46); it ensures that the working stroke of the respective nozzles-heads (18 and 23) is limited to the band-width to disrupt, considering that width is variable from one tread to the next.

(25) The function of the side guides for the tread (11) is essentially to keep the tread (11) in the correct position during the disgregation, preventing that the feed-drive causes lateral slippage.

(26) The rear guides (45) are mounted in a fixed position and, when they clashed from the edge of the tread (11) during the loading phase, actuate a alignment limit-switch device. The front guides (46) are mounted on a mobile plate (48) that can slide on guide rails (47) and can rotate about 60°, staying respectively in the open position (FIG. 8) and in the closed position (FIG. 7).

(27) Under the mobile plate (48) is fitted a proximity switch which limits the working stroke of the sleds carrying the nozzles-heads (18, 23).

(28) During the loading phase of the tread (11) on the disruptor device described, the front tread alignment guides (46) rotate upwards (FIG. 8), the feed cylinder (44) pushes the sled (48) forward to maximum stroke; now is loaded the tread (11) and placed on the lower assembly of driving rollers (2). The rotation cylinder of the front guides (29) rotates the front guide (46) down and the feed cylinder (44) move the slide of the edge guide (48) inwards until the tread (11) meets the rear guide (45) and its proximity switch: now the tread is in “working position”.

(29) These side guides (45 and 46), in addition to the mechanical function of passive guide, have the other two functions: tread alignment after the loading operation, bringing the inside edge of the tread always in the same position, limitation of the working stroke of the sleds carrying the nozzles-heads.

(30) Additional advantages of the device created as described is the auto-fit to the thickness of the piece: as described above the nozzle holder heads geometry (18 and 21) is obtained by inserting them between two rollers, positioned slightly behind (2-5 mm) than the tangent line the two rollers, allowing the two rollers to be always in contact with the surface to disgregate and always in contrast with the corresponding roller of the opposite rollers-assembly. This measure alone is not enough to get the complete result, in fact we must also take into account that treads that are processed can have different diameters and thickness.

(31) To take account of this factor, the geometry of the assembly of lower driving rollers (2) and upper driving rollers (9) follows two different criteria: the rollers of the lower assembly (2) are mounted in a fixed position along a circular shaped generatrix; the rollers of the upper assembly (9) are mounted on adjustable equipment, suspended by a rotation axis (13) that give them the ability to rotate to fit the underlying surface; the adjustable equipment themselves are suspended at a rotation axis (12) at the ends of the arms (1), supported by the lifting cylinders (16a, 16b).

(32) Squeezing the upper roller assembly (9), using the lift cylinders (16), on the tread laying on the assembly of lower driving rollers (2) keep the rollers always in contact with the respective surfaces to treat and then the nozzles-heads always riser at the same distance from the surfaces themselves.

(33) The device described is an automatic device, expected to run a route repetitively and to stop in case of malfunctions.

(34) The route implemented through the device created as described consists of the following phases: initial condition first cycle repeated until the stop command or anomaly.
Description of the Phase “Initial Condition”

(35) The initial condition provides that the rollers (14) and the nozzles-heads (18 and 21) are stationary, the water pressure to a minimum, the front tread alignment guides (45) are rotated upward (FIG. 8 b) and moved to “external” position, the upper roller assembly (9) lifted and the tread (11) to disgregate laying on the rollers (15). Description of the phase “starting first cycle”:

(36) The startup of the first cycle begins with the lowering of the upper rollers (9) to the intermediate position, the spin down of the front-guides and the following shifting inwards until the tread meets the rear guides (45) and the relative limit switch: at this point the tread is in “working position”.

(37) Subsequently the upper rollers assembly (9) is lowered further by pressing on the rubber and the rollers (14,15) rotate to drag the tread (11).

(38) Afterwards the nozzles-heads (18 and 21) spin on themselves and slide on their guides with alternative movement.

(39) The water pressure rises the maximum value and the Jets issued from the nozzles-heads (18 and 21) erode the rubber until leaving exposed the steel belts.

(40) The cycle continues until a thickness sensor finds the set value of “minimum level change” and gives the signal of “end of cycle” and the new tread is brought to the standby position from the loading system.

(41) The device as described will stop at the end of the previous cycle in “loading/unloading waits” position: water pressure to a minimum, rollers stationary, nozzles-heads stationary. Throughout the cycle the rubber disintegrated and the process water fall into the hopper (8), from the hopper are conveyed in the vibrating screen (4), the vibrating screen (4) separates the oversized pieces from the rest of the rubber, rubber water-mixture is then separated and recovered.

(42) In another preferred embodiment (FIG. 2,9,10,11,12), the device for the disintegration of sidewalls of tires, previously separated by the corresponding treads (11), presents a lower assembly (2) and an upper assembly (9) as follows: with reference at FIGS. 9,10,11 the lower assembly (2) presents a set of rollers (15), in particular tapered rollers, mounted on a fixed frame (22); in the space between two of these tapered rollers (15) scrolls a slide (24) for nozzle-head (21) that supports one or more, left and right, lower nozzles (23).

(43) The lower nozzles (23) of the lower head (21) are powered by high pressure water and represent the Water-Jet tools that perform the work of disintegration.

(44) With reference at FIGS. 11 and 12, the upper assembly (9) presents a set of driving rollers (14), in particular tapered rollers, mounted on a mobile frame (20) composed by a two identical half-frame (20a, 20b) each of half-frame (20a, 20b) supported by two arms (1a, 1b).

(45) A side of each arm (1a, 1b) is connected to the half-frame (20a, 20b) and the other side of each arm (1a, 1b) is connected to the chassis of the device through a couple of lifting cylinder (16a, 16b).

(46) Each arm (1a, 1b) is composed by a first arm (1aa, 1bb) connected to a second arm (1aaa,1bbb) by a generic mechanical means that act as rotation axis (13).

(47) The first half-frame (20a) is hinged to the second half-frame (20b) and the first and the second half-frames (20a, 20b) are suspended by a rotation axis (13).

(48) The upper assembly (9) presents a series of rollers (14) and a movable plate (19) positioned on each half-frame (20a, 20b) between two of these rollers and supporting an upper nozzles head (18).

(49) The nozzles of the upper head (18) are powered by high pressure water and represent the Water-Jet tools that perform the work of disintegration.

(50) More specifically, the upper assembly (9) is supported by a frame (20) composed by a two identical half-frame (20a, 20b) each of half-frame (20a, 20b) hinged on at least one spindle that act as rotation axis (12) and each of half-frame (20a, 20b) is suspended to a first lift arms (1a, 1b).

(51) The whole assembly is then moved and held in place around the rotation axes (13)—through the lift cylinders (16a, 16b).

(52) The small oscillations that two half-frames (20a, 20b) can carry around their axes of rotation (12,13) are used to maintain in constant mesh the upper driving tapered rollers (14) adapting their geometry to the variation of thickness of the sidewall (53) of the tread.

(53) This geometric condition, which sees all the driving rollers constantly in mesh, is the basic requirement to ensure uniform feed and without lateral slipping of the sidewall (53) in process.

(54) To ensure precise positioning of the sidewall (53), on the lower frame (22) are mounted at least two supporting rollers (50) on which supports and rotate the crown formed from the sidewall (53).

(55) As completion of the accurate positioning of sidewall (53) in the machining device comes the centering roller (51) of sidewall (53) that is pushed in place through the lifting cylinder of centering roller (52), mounted on the lower frame (22).

(56) With this configuration you get the safe clamping of sidewall (53) between the two sets of tapered rollers (14,15) that simultaneously feed the same piece, while the rotating nozzles move transversely with reciprocating motion.

(57) The reciprocating motion of the upper assembly (9) and lower assembly (2), combined with the feed of the sidewall (53) determined by the rotation of the driving tapered rollers (14,15), makes it possible to scan the entire surface of the sidewall (53).

(58) The device described, by virtue of the adaptability of the rollers (14,15) to the forms that are treating and implemented as described, results in a geometry that allows to keep constant the distance of the nozzles from the surface to be machined; this configuration is achieved by mounting the upper and lower nozzles-heads (18 and 21) between two rollers, positioned slightly behind (2-5 mm) than the tangent line of the two rollers, and ensuring that the two rollers are always in contact with the surface to treat and always in contrast with their respective position rollers of the opposite assembly.

(59) Also the configuration of the rollers with that of the nozzles-heads is so that the whole surface to be treated is covered, leaving no parts that cannot be reached, eliminating the disadvantages of the state of the art that still necessitate fastening or drag points in the workpiece, with the consequence of making unachievable or “shielded” parts of it, and then to get untreated parts.

(60) Description of the Phase “Initial Condition”

(61) The initial condition provides that the rollers (14,15) and the nozzles-heads (18,21) are stationary, the water pressure is to a minimum, the centering roller (51) are in the “up” position, the mobile tapered roller assembly (9) lifted and the sidewall (53)—to be disgregate resting—on the supporting rollers (50).

(62) Description of the Phase “Starting First Cycle”

(63) The startup of the first cycle provides for the lowering of the mobile tapered roller assembly (9) up to the job position, the rotation down flank centering roller (51): at this point the sidewall is in “working position”. Subsequently the upper mobile tapered roller assembly (9) presses the sidewall (53) on the fixed tapered roller assembly (2) and all the rollers (14,15) start rotating to drag the sidewall (53).

(64) Afterwards the nozzles-heads (18 and 21) spins on themselves and slide on their guides (19,24) with alternative movement. The water pressure rises the maximum value and the Jets issued from the nozzles (23) erode the rubber until leaving exposed the internal steel armature.

(65) The cycle continues until the thickness sensor finds the set value of “minimum level change” and gives the signal of “end of cycle” and the new sidewall is brought to the standby position from the loading system.

(66) The device as described will stop at the end of the previous cycle in “loading/unloading waits” position: water pressure to a minimum, rollers stationary, nozzles-heads stationary.

(67) Throughout the cycle the rubber disintegrated and the process water fall into the hopper (8), from the hopper (8) are conveyed in the vibrating screen (4), the vibrating screen (4) separates the oversized pieces from the rest of the rubber, rubber water-mixture is then separated and recovered.