FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970) & THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10, rule 13)
1. Title of the invention: A MIXING ASSEMBLY
2. Applicant(s)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS
CEAT LIMITED Indian RPG HOUSE, 463, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400030, India
3. Preamble to the description
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed.

BACKGROUND
[0001] Tyres are a crucial component of an automobile. In an automobile,
a tyre may be responsible for a plurality of functions. A tyre may be required to conform to a plurality of industry and safety standards, owing to which, the raw material used in manufacturing any tyre may be considered crucial. Generally, different types of polymeric materials in combination with other chemicals may be used as raw materials for manufacturing different types of tyres. Such combinations of polymeric materials and other chemicals may have varying viscosity and other physio-chemical properties depending upon the type of tyre to be manufactured using such raw materials.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] The following detailed description references the drawings,
wherein:
[0003] FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting an example mixing assembly for
processing a plurality of components, for manufacturing sealant composition required for making puncture safe tyres, as per an implementation of the present subject matter; and
[0004] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for processing a plurality of
components, for manufacturing sealant composition required for making
puncture safe tyres, as per an implementation of the present subject matter.
[0005] Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate
similar, but not necessarily identical elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] Vehicles have become an essential requirement for private
individuals as well as for commercial purposes. As would be generally understood, a tyre is one of the most essential and critical component of a vehicle. During vehicle operation, a tyre is the only source of contact between the vehicle and the road, owing to which, a plurality of dynamics of the vehicle operation may be controlled by the tyre. The tyres may be responsible for guiding and maintaining the alignment and movement of a vehicle while driving. In addition, the tyres contribute to the safety of the vehicle while carrying loads, and when the automobile is to be halted by application of brakes.
[0007] Owing to the complexity of roles performed by the tyres in a vehicle,
it may be crucial for tyre manufacturers to conform to the adequate quality parameters during any tyre manufacturing process. Conventionally, different types of polymeric materials, in combination with various chemicals may be used as raw materials for manufacturing different types of tyres. Such polymeric materials and chemicals may have different physio-chemical properties, the combination of which may be used as raw materials for manufacturing different types of tyres. One such example of physio-chemical property of raw materials to be used in tyre manufacturing process is the viscosity of the polymeric material.
[0008] In one example, rubber, along with other additive oils, may be used
as raw materials for manufacturing tyres. In another example, other high viscosity polymeric materials may be used, in combination with other chemicals as raw material for manufacturing the tyres. Further, the raw materials may be chosen based on their physio-chemical properties and the type of the tyre to be manufactured using them. For example, the type of polymeric material and other chemicals used as raw material for manufacturing a 2-wheeler tyre may be different from the type of polymeric materials used for manufacturing a heavy duty 4-wheeler tyre.

[0009] Generally, such polymeric materials may possess high viscosity,
and may be blended with other chemicals in their liquid form to form a resulting mixture which may then be used as raw materials for manufacturing tyres. The resulting liquid mixture may then be subjected to various other processes involved in the manufacturing of tyres.
[0010] However, owing to the high viscosity of the polymeric materials
used in preparation of the raw material for tyre manufacturing, it may not be
convenient to handle the high viscosity polymeric material efficiently and
properly. The high viscosity polymeric material may possess difficulty while
flowing through various conventional equipment used at various stages of tyre
manufacturing process. As a result, it may be inefficient and cumbersome
while handling and processing the high viscosity polymeric materials.
[0011] Further, owing to the highly viscous nature of the polymeric
materials, such high viscosity polymeric materials may not blend
homogenously with other chemicals. As would be understood, various
chemicals may be blended with the high viscosity polymeric materials to
enhance the properties of the final tyre to be manufactured. As a result,
inconsistency in blending the high viscosity polymeric materials with other
chemicals may result in poor characteristics of the tyre to be manufactured.
[0012] To this end, approaches for processing a plurality of components,
in a mixing assembly, for manufacturing sealant composition required for making puncture safe tyres are described. In one example, the mixing assembly may include a first tank. The first tank may include a first inlet, and may receive a volume of a high viscosity polymeric fluid through the first inlet. Examples of such high viscosity polymeric materials may include, but are not limited to, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, and nylon-6,6.
[0013] Thereafter, a heating element may heat the volume of high
viscosity polymeric fluid in the first tank at a first temperature for a pre-defined time duration in the first tank to obtain a volume of low viscosity polymeric fluid. In one example, the high viscosity polymeric fluid may be heated at 140ºC for

45 minutes in the first tank. It may be noted that such temperature and time duration may be based on the type of high viscosity polymeric fluid, so as to transform it into a low viscosity polymeric fluid while retaining the chemical properties. Such examples of temperature and time duration are only illustrative, and other temperature and time ranges may also be used depending on the type of the polymeric material without deviating from the scope of the present subject matter.
[0014] Returning to the present example, the first tank holding the volume
of the low viscosity polymeric fluid may further include a second inlet, and may receive a volume of an additive through the second inlet. Examples of such additives may include, but are not limited to, sulphur, carbon black, antioxidants, or any other chemical that may be used along with the primary polymer for enhancing the properties of the manufactured tyre.
[0015] Thereafter, the low viscosity polymeric fluid and the additive may
be concurrently blended to obtain a mixture. As would be noted, the heating of the high viscosity polymeric fluid and the blending of the mixture, i.e., the polymeric fluid with additive, may be done concurrently, so as to obtain a uniformly dispensed mixture. In one example, an electrically non-conducting stirrer may be used to blend the low viscosity polymeric fluid and additive, to obtain the mixture.
[0016] Thereafter, the obtained mixture may then be transferred from the
first tank to a second tank using an outlet valve. The second tank may be a
storage tank, and may further include a heating element to maintain the
temperature of the obtained mixture at a mixing temperature. The mixing
temperature may be referred to as the temperature at which the obtained
mixture may retain its composition and chemical properties. The second tank
may further include a mixing unit to maintain the consistency of the obtained
mixture. As would be noted, the high viscosity polymeric fluid may be heated
to lower the viscosity to allow it to flow and blend with the additive.
[0017] The approaches of the present subject matter may be designed in
such a way so as to heat the plurality of components, such as high viscosity

polymeric fluid and additive, and blend them concurrently, so as to obtain the
required mixture. The obtained mixture may then be used for manufacturing
sealant composition required for making puncture safe tyres. In one example,
the first tank and the second tank may further include an insulation for
maintaining the required temperatures of the mixture. In another example, the
tanks may include an exhaust system for discharging any volume of fumes
that may form while processing the components to obtain a mixture.
[0018] Further, it may be noted that, although the present description has
been described with respect to heating and blending a high viscosity polymeric material and an additive, such example is only illustrative and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present subject matter. Any number of multiple such additives may be blended with any polymeric material at different time instances without deviating from the scope of the present subject matter.
[0019] As would be appreciated, the approaches of the present subject
matter may provide a uniformly dispensed mixture of a polymeric fluid blended with additive, which may then be used for manufacturing sealant composition required for making puncture safe tyres. The obtained mixture may be easy to handle, and easily flowable through various apparatuses and equipment, thereby resulting in efficient processing, increasing the overall throughput and conserving the resources. Further, the approaches of the present subject matter may also provide for storing the obtained mixture at desired mixing temperature, so as to maintain the properties and consistency of the obtained mixture. It may further be noted that since the high viscosity polymeric fluid may be blended homogeneously with other components, the tyres manufactures from the resultant obtained mixture may provide with better strength, durability, and reliability.
[0020] These, and other aspects, are described herein with reference to
the accompanying FIGS. 1-2. It should be noted that the description and figures relate to certain example, and should not be construed as a limitation to the present subject matter. It is also to be understood that various

arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present subject matter, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting an example mixing assembly, for
processing a plurality of components, for manufacturing sealant composition required for making puncture safe tyres, as per an implementation of the present subject matter. The mixing assembly 100 may be a part of the tyre manufacturing process, and may be used in conjunction with other components (not shown in FIG.1) for implementing various processes involved with manufacturing tyres.
[0022] The mixing assembly 100 may include a first tank 102 and a second
tank 104. The first tank 102 and the second tank 104 may be referred to as mixing tank and storage tank respectively. Such first tank 102 and second tank 104 may be any longitudinally extending container for accommodating a volume of plurality of components and blending them. In one example, the first tank 102 and the second tank 104 may include insulation 106. The insulation 106 may be provided, so as to maintain a temperature of the fluid that may be accommodated in the first tank 102 and the second tank 104.
[0023] The first tank 102 may be coupled to the second tank 104 in such
a manner, so that the fluid from the first tank 102 may be capable of flowing to the second tank 104. In one example, the first tank 102 may include an outlet valve 108 for transferring the fluid to the second tank 104, and may be coupled to the second tank 104 through an insulated pipe 110. Further, any technique known to a person skilled in the art may be used for transferring the fluid from the first tank 102 to the second tank 104. In one example, a motor assembly (not shown in FIG.1) may be used for pumping the fluid from the first tank 102 to the second tank 104.
[0024] Returning to the present example, the first tank 102 may further
include a first inlet 112 and a second inlet 114. It may be noted, that although

the present description has been described with respect to two different inlets, such example is only illustrative and any number of inlets may be coupled to the first tank 102 without deviating from the scope of the present subject matter. The first tank 102 and the second tank 104 may further include heating element 116, to heat the contents of each of the tanks. In one example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the heating element 116 may be located at the walls of the tanks. However, such positioning of heating element 116 is only illustrative, and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present subject matter. The heating element 116 may also be positioned in any different manner without deviating from the scope of the present subject matter.
[0025] Returning to the present example, the first tank 102 may further
include a geared motor 118 and a stirrer 120 coupled to the geared motor 118 (collectively referred to as a mixing unit). The geared motor 118 may cause the stirrer 120 to rotate, thereby blending the contents of the first tank 102. Any other blending techniques or mixing units may also be used without deviating from the scope of the present subject matter. In a similar manner, the second tank 104 may also include a mixing unit.
[0026] In operation, the first tank 102 may receive a volume of a high
viscosity polymeric fluid through the first inlet 112. In one example, a pump 122 may be used to supply the high viscosity polymeric fluid to the first tank 102 through the first inlet 112. Examples of such high viscosity polymeric fluids may include, but are not limited to, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, and nylon-6,6.
[0027] Thereafter, the heating element 116 may heat the volume of high
viscosity polymeric fluid in the first tank 102 at a first temperature for a pre-defined time duration to obtain a volume of low viscosity polymeric fluid. In one example, the high viscosity polymeric fluid may be heated at 140ºC for 45 minutes in the first tank 102. It may be noted that such temperature and time duration may be based on the type of high viscosity polymeric fluid, so as to transform it into a low viscosity polymeric fluid while retaining the chemical

properties. Such examples of temperature and time duration are only illustrative, and other temperature and time ranges may also be used depending on the type of the polymeric material without deviating from the scope of the present subject matter.
[0028] Returning to the present example, the first tank 102 holding the
volume of the low viscosity polymeric fluid may further receive a volume of additive through the second inlet 114. Examples of such additives may include, but are not limited to, sulphur, carbon black, antioxidants, or any other chemical that may be used along with the primary polymer for enhancing the properties of the manufactured tyre.
[0029] Thereafter, the volume of the low viscosity polymeric fluid may then
be blended with the volume of additive. In one example, as described in FIG. 1, the geared motor 118 may cause the stirrer 120 to rotate, thereby uniformly blending the components. In another example, the stirrer 120 may be an electrically non-conducting stirrer. The use of electrically non-conducting stirrer may ensure that no static charges are developed in the mixture of polymeric fluid and additive, thereby retaining the original chemical properties of various components.
[0030] As would be noted, the volume of the high viscosity polymeric fluid
may be heated, so as to decrease the viscosity and allow it to flow and blend
with other components (such as an additive), so that the resultant mixture may
then be used for manufacturing sealant composition required for making
puncture safe tyres. The approaches of the present subject matter may be
designed in such a manner, so that heating the high viscosity polymeric fluid
to obtain a low viscosity polymeric fluid, and blending it with the additive may
be performed concurrently, so as to obtain a uniformly dispensed mixture.
[0031] Returning to the present example, as described previously, the first
tank 102 may be insulated so as to maintain the temperature of the obtained mixture. As a result, the components may be continuously heated and blended, and the temperature of the resulting mixture may be maintained so as to retain the desired properties of the mixture.

[0032] Thereafter, the obtained mixture may then be transferred to the
second tank 104. In one example, the obtained mixture may be transferred using a controlled outlet valve 108, so as to maintain a uniform flow across the first tank 102 and the second tank 104. The second tank 104 may be used to accommodate the volume of obtained mixture, and may further include the mixing unit and heating element 116 in a similar manner, as that of first tank 102. Furthermore, the second tank 104 may also include insulation 106, so as to maintain the mixing temperature of the stored mixture.
[0033] The mixture, when accommodated in the second tank 104, may
then be stirred so as to maintain the uniformity and consistency of the mixture. Further, the heating element 116 provided in the second tank 104 may maintain the temperature of the mixture at a required mixing temperature. In one example, the mixture may be maintained at a temperature in the range of about 130ºC to 140ºC in the second tank 104. Further, the insulation provided may help to maintain the mixing temperature and prevent from any heat loss.
[0034] It may be noted, that although the present description has been
described with respect to an additive being blended with a high viscosity polymeric fluid, such example is only illustrative and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present subject matter. Multiple such additives may be blended at different time instances with any type of polymeric fluid depending upon the requirement without deviating from the scope of the present subject matter.
[0035] In another example, the first tank 102 and the second tank 104 may
include a temperature sensor, so as to monitor the temperature of the contents inside the tanks. As mentioned previously, the mixing assembly 100 may be a part of tyre manufacturing equipment and may be connected to additional components. In yet another example, a controlling unit (not shown in FIG. 1) may be used to monitor the temperature of the first tank 102 and the second tank 104, and accordingly the heating element 116 may be used. In yet another example, the mixing assembly 100 may include a display device (not

shown in FIG. 1) for displaying the temperature of the contents in the first tank 102 and second tank 104.
[0036] In yet another example, the first tank 102 and the second tank 104
may include exhaust system (not shown in FIG. 1) for discharging any volume
of fumes that may generate while processing the polymeric fluid and the
additive. In yet another example, the first tank 102 and the second tank 104
may include a load cell (not depicted in FIG. 1 for the sake of brevity). The
load cell of the first tank 102 may be used for giving feedback to the pump 122
after required quantity of high viscosity polymeric fluid or additive is pumped
in the first tank 102. In a similar manner, the load cell of the second tank 104
may be used for giving feedback to the first tank 102 to maintain the mixture
quantity in the second tank 104 using the controlled outlet valve 108.
[0037] In yet another example, the pipelines used for transferring
polymeric fluid, additive, or mixture, may be provided with a control valve for controlling the flow of fluids within the mixing assembly 100.
[0038] Returning to the present example, the stored mixture from the
second tank 104 may then be used for manufacturing sealant composition required for making puncture safe tyres. In one example, an outlet valve (not shown in FIG. 1) may be provided in the second tank 104 and may be used to transfer the mixture to a gravimetric feeder of an extruder.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method 200 for processing a plurality of
components in a mixing assembly, for manufacturing sealant composition required for making puncture safe tyres, as per an implementation of the present subject matter. The method 200 may be implemented in the mixing assembly 100, as described in FIG. 1. The order in which the method 200 is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks may be combined in any order to implement the aforementioned method, or an alternative method. Further, it should be noted that, although, the method 200 is described below with reference to the mixing assembly 100 as described previously, other suitable systems for the execution of this method can also be utilized. Additionally, implementation of

this method is not limited to such examples.
[0040] At block 202, a volume of a high viscosity polymeric fluid may be
received in a first tank through a first inlet. For example, the first tank 102 may include a first inlet 112. In operation, the first tank 102 may receive a volume of a high viscosity polymeric fluid through the first inlet 112. In one example, a pump 122 may be used to supply the high viscosity polymeric fluid to the first tank 102. Examples of such high viscosity polymeric materials may include, but are not limited to, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, and nylon-6,6.
[0041] At block 204, the volume of the high viscosity polymeric fluid may
be heated in the first tank at a first temperature for a pre-defined time duration to obtain a low viscosity polymeric fluid. For example, the heating element 116 may heat the volume of high viscosity polymeric fluid in the first tank 102 at a first temperature for a pre-defined time duration to obtain a volume of low viscosity polymeric fluid. In one example, the high viscosity polymeric fluid may be heated at 140ºC for 45 minutes in the first tank 102.
[0042] At block 206, a volume of an additive may be received in the first
tank holding the volume of the low viscosity polymeric fluid through a second
inlet. For example, the first tank 102 may further include a second inlet port
114, and may receive a volume of additive through the second inlet 114.
Examples of such additives may include, but are not limited to, sulphur, carbon
black, antioxidants, or any other chemical that may be used along with the
primary polymer for enhancing the properties of the manufactured tyre.
[0043] At block 208, the volume of the low viscosity polymeric fluid and the
volume of additive may be concurrently blended to obtain a mixture. For example, the first tank 102 may further include a geared motor 118 and a stirrer 120 coupled to the geared motor 118 (collectively referred to as a mixing unit). The geared motor 118 may cause the stirrer 120 to rotate, thereby uniformly blending the low viscosity polymeric fluid and the volume of additive in the first tank 102. As would be noted, the volume of the high viscosity polymeric fluid may be heated, so as to decrease the viscosity and allow it to

flow and blend with other components (such as additive), so that the resultant mixture may then be used for manufacturing sealant composition required for making puncture safe tyres.
[0044] At block 210, the obtained mixture may be transferred from the first
tank to a second tank. For example, the first tank 102 may be coupled to the second tank 104 in such a manner, so that the fluid from the first tank 102 may be capable of flowing to the second tank 104. In one example, the first tank 102 may include an outlet valve 108 for transferring the fluid to the second tank 104, and may be coupled to the second tank 104 through an insulated pipe 110. The second tank 104 may be used to accommodate the volume of obtained mixture.
[0045] Although examples for the present disclosure have been described
in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it should be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed and explained as examples of the present disclosure.

I/We Claim:
1. A mixing assembly for processing a plurality of components, for
manufacturing sealant composition required for making puncture safe tyres,
the apparatus comprising:
a first tank;
a first inlet coupled to the first tank, wherein the first inlet is to receive a volume of a high viscosity polymeric fluid into the first tank;
a heating element, wherein the heating element is to heat the volume of the high viscosity polymeric fluid at a first temperature for a pre-defined time duration in the first tank to obtain a volume of low viscosity polymeric fluid;
a second inlet coupled to the first tank, wherein the second inlet is to receive a volume of an additive into the first tank holding the volume of the low viscosity polymeric fluid;
a mixing unit, wherein the mixing unit is to concurrently blend the volume of the low viscosity polymeric fluid and the additive in the first tank to obtain a mixture; and
an outlet valve, wherein the outlet valve is to transfer the obtained mixture from the first tank to a second tank.
2. The mixing assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pump, wherein the pump is to supply the high viscosity polymeric fluid to the first tank through the first inlet.
3. The mixing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the high viscosity polymeric fluid is heated at 140ºC in the first tank.
4. The mixing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the high viscosity polymeric fluid is heated for 45 minutes in the first tank.

5. The mixing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixing unit
further comprises:
a geared motor; and
an electrically non-conducting stirrer coupled to the geared motor, wherein the electrically non-conducting stirrer is to uniformly disperse the components in the first and the second tank.
6. The mixing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the obtained mixture is used for manufacturing sealant composition required for making puncture safe tyres.
7. The mixing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second tank is to accommodate the obtained mixture.
8. The mixing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second tank further comprises:
a heating element, wherein the heating element is to maintain a temperature of the obtained mixture at a mixing temperature;
a mixing unit, wherein the mixing unit is to maintain a uniformity of the obtained mixture; and
an outlet valve, wherein the outlet valve is to obtain the mixture from the second tank.
9. The mixing assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second tank is to maintain the temperature of the obtained mixture in the range of about 130ºC to 140ºC.
10. The mixing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first tank and the second tank further comprise an insulation.

11. The mixing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first tank and the second tank further comprise a load cell and a temperature sensor.
12. The mixing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first tank and the second tank further comprise an exhaust system, wherein the exhaust system is to discharge a volume of fumes generated from the processing of the plurality of components.
13. A method for processing a plurality of components for manufacturing sealant composition required for making puncture safe tyres, the method comprising:
receiving in a first tank, a volume of a high viscosity polymeric fluid through a first inlet;
heating in the first tank, the volume of the high viscosity polymeric fluid at a first temperature for a pre-defined time duration to obtain a low viscosity polymeric fluid;
receiving in the first tank holding the volume of the low viscosity polymeric fluid, a volume of an additive through a second inlet;
concurrently mixing in the first tank, the volume of low viscosity polymeric fluid and the volume of additive to obtain a mixture; and
causing to transfer from the first tank, the obtained mixture to a second tank.