REGROOVER • So long as it is done correctly, and
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to manufacturers' recommendations, regrooving can prolong tyre life by as much as 50%. Regrooving is frequently done manually, with the use of electrically heated knives which are pushed through solid rubber. Apart from the physical effort required of the operator, who may need to exert as much as 300Nm (70Ib) of pressure, there is a risk that tyres can be cut too deep, exposing the steel belting and rendering them useless.
Vibramat has launched a machine which not only takes most of the physical effort out of regrooving but also reduces the risk of bad cuts. It is called the Ring-Go and it measures electronically the depth of rubber to the steel belt, enabling the cutter to be set accordingly.
The machine comprises a frame into which the tyre which is to be regrcxwed is rolled, with or without its rim. Any necessary adjustments are made to the side support members and tool holder to accommodate the size of tyre. A three-phase electric motor, driving through a variable transmission and a chain, then turns the tyre at the rate of one revolution every 30-35 seconds and the depth of rubber is measured.
The machine's electronic memory registers the shallowest depth, giving a reading from which the cutter is set. When this has been done the tyre is rotated even more slowly than before, with the operator guiding the knife, but without having to apply force. Vibramat Ltd PO Box 27 Reigate Surrey RH2 OYZ