Spray Curtain Slowly Cools Rubber in Tire Manufacturing Process
 Rear Connections Simplify Service Without Disturbing Air and Liquid Connections
This United Kingdom tire manufacturer was designing a new rubber rolling machine for its manufacturing process. The machine needed to slowly reduce the temperature of the virgin rubber so that it is moldable - a process which enhances the property of the rubber.
PROBLEM: The development engineers in the R&D department at the firm concluded that rubber's physical properties are enhanced if the rubber is slowly cooled prior to being rolled into flat shoots. Using spray nozzles to create a spray curtain was a logical solution. However, the application required a precise flow across the rubber. Since rubber is exceptionally absorbent, too much water on the rubber results in tires that skid in wet conditions. Too little water adversely affects the tire molding process.
SOLUTION: How could the company create a fine spray curtain and deliver a precise flow rate at the same time? The Spraying Systems Co. sales engineer recommended Automatic Air Atomizing Nozzles. Eight spray nozzles are mounted to eight headers. Each spray nozzle is connected to a remote temperature sensor. The sensors allow each nozzle to be independently turned on or off depending on the temperature of the rubber. This regulated flow of water in the spray curtain maintains the desired temperature and ensures a precise flow.
The 64 Model ¼JAUPMCO nozzle bodies are attached to a mounting plate by a single nut for easy removal or replacement. The tire manufacturer liked the fact that the rear of the mounting plate contains all inlets, which means easy nozzle servicing without disturbing the air and liquid line connections. This is a significant advantage over side entry nozzles.
The second advantage is that similar rubber rolling machines are used in locations where hard water is a problem. The spray nozzles feature a clean-out needle, which cleans out the fluid orifice with each 'on-off' cycle of the nozzle. The spray nozzles are operating continuously 24 hours a day, so this built-in clean-out feature is important as it reduces the possibility of calcium build-up on the nozzle tip.
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