METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING A HEATING PRESS WITH ENERGY AND HEATING PRESS HAVING AN ENERGY SUPPLY DEVICE

Abstract

A method and the device serve to supply a heating press with electrical energy. At least one fuel cell is used. In particular, the fuel cell is located in a tire heating press or in close proximity to the tire heating press.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A device for supplying a heating press with energy, comprising at least one fuel cell.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the heating press is a tire heating press.

17. The device according to claim 15, wherein the fuel cell is arranged in a region of a unit separate from the heating press.

18. The device according to claim 15, wherein the heating press includes heating devices, wherein the at least one fuel cell supplies electrical energy and/or thermal energy to at least some of the heating devices.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the heating devices is an electrical heating device that is supplied with electrical energy via the at least one fuel cell.

20. The device according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the heating device is a thermal-medium heater that is supplied with thermal energy via the at least one fuel cell.

21. The device according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the heating devices is a thermal-medium heater that has a thermal medium heated by exhaust gas of the at least one fuel cell.

22. The device according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the he devices is a thermal-medium heater, exhaust gas of the at least one fuel cell being used at least as part of the thermal medium of the thermal-medium heater.

23. A heating press comprising at least one fuel cell for generating electrical energy.

24. A method for supplying a heating press with electrical energy, comprising the step of using at least one fuel cell to supply electrical energy to the heating press.

25. The method for supplying a heating press with electrical energy according to claim 24, including generating electrical energy using the at least one fuel cell, supplying the energy generated using the at least one fuel cell to at least some electrical heating devices of the heating press, and heating at least some components or subassemblies of the heating press for a vulcanization of a green tire using the electrical heating devices.

26. The method for supplying a heating press with electrical energy according to claim 24, including heating a thermal medium of at least one thermal-medium heater of the heating press using the at least one fuel cell.

27. The method for supplying a heating press with electrical energy according to claim 26, including using exhaust gas of the at least one fuel cell for heating the thermal medium of the at least one thermal-medium heater of the heating press.

28. The method for supplying a heating press with electrical energy according to claim 24 including using a device for supplying energy that includes the at least one fuel cell.

Description

[0067] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is schematically represented in the drawing, in which:

[0068] FIG. 1: shows a schematic representation to illustrate a tire heating press having a fuel cell.

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a detail of a heating press (100) according to the invention, which is designed as a tire heating press. The heating press (100) has a fuel cell (1), to which, for the generation of electrical energy by way of electrical current (I), the reaction partners required for the function of the fuel cell (1) (provided by way of example by H.sub.2 and O.sub.2) and water (H.sub.2O) can be fed.

[0070] The electrical energy that can be generated with the aid of the fuel cell (1) can be directed by way of suitable cables (1) to electrical heating devices (3). The electrical heating devices (3) represented are arranged in the region of a mold (4) of the heating press (100), so that the mold (4) can be heated with the aid of the electrical heating devices (3).

[0071] Furthermore, water can be heated with the aid of the fuel cell (1). The heated water is connected by way of a feed line (5) to a hot-water store (6), which is designed as a hot-water accumulator.

[0072] The hot water can be transported in the form of steam at a temperature T.sub.1 by way of a supply line (7) into the region of an internal heater (8) for a green tire to be vulcanized. In the embodiment represented, the internal heater (8) has an expandable bladder, into which the hot steam can be introduced.

[0073] From the hot steam, thermal energy can be transmitted through the bladder to a green tire to be vulcanized, so that the temperature of the steam falls to a temperature T.sub.2. The steam and/or condensate produced can subsequently be directed with the aid of a return line (9) into the hot-water store (6).

[0074] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the steam and/or condensate produced can be directed out of the region of the internal heater (8) with the aid of a return line (9′), represented by dashed lines, into the region of the fuel cell (1) and can be heated there, before it is returned into the hot-water store (6).

[0075] As an alternative or in addition to the use of the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell for supplying an electrical heating element that is explained above by way of example, it is also possible to use the electrical energy for supplying electrical actuators in the region of the heating press with energy and/or for supplying an electrical or electronic control of the machine with energy. The actuators already mentioned may for example be used in the region of handling devices. Electrical feeding of drive motors is likewise envisaged.

[0076] As likewise already mentioned, the fuel cell may be integrated in mechanical engineering terms in the construction of the heating press. However, it is likewise possible to arrange the fuel cell in the region of a separate supply unit and just to connect the supply unit electrically to the heating press.

[0077] As likewise already mentioned, the fuel cell may be realized according to various structural design principles. The fuel cell obtains the electrical energy by the oxidation of an oxidizable chemical substance. This may be for example hydrogen gas, but any carbon-containing gases or carbon-containing liquids are likewise conceivable. The fuel cell is preferably operated at ambient temperature, but operating temperatures above ambient temperature are also possible in principle. The ambient temperature typically lies in a range from −30 to +60° C.

[0078] Depending on the specific technical way in which the fuel cell is realized, a gas or liquid is obtained as the oxidation product.

[0079] As an alternative to the oxidation of substances already mentioned, it is also possible in principle to use fuel cells which generate electrical energy by other chemical reactions between at least two substances and/or by chemical conversions of at least one substance.