TIRE, TREAD OR ROADWAY

A method of predicting tread-wear for pneumatic tires, the method incorporating laboratory measurements of pressure and traction data exerted by selected tires against a surface, and the collection of actual treadwear data from road-testing of the tires in order to establish an empirical relationship...     

The error signal corresponding to the deviation of the actual track position from the desired track position is applied to three pairs of threshold stages each pair consisting of one stage furnishing a threshold output signal if a positive error signal has an amplitude exceeding a predetermined value...     

A rigid structure supporting a motor driven spindle carried in a radially and axially stiff hydrostatic fluid film bearing provides for mounting and rotating a tire at a selected speed including a speed of the tire corresponding to a road speed in excess of 100 miles per hour (approximately 160 kilometers...     

A tire wear measuring arrangement incorporates a measuring device adapted to be brought to the tire tread under test. The measuring device and an optical view-finder are so mounted on a swivel carrier that the measuring axis is arranged parallel to the optical axis and both axes are spaced equidistantly...     

Apparatus is disclosed for detecting separations or air pockets hidden within truck tire casings which are being inspected to determine their fitness for retreading. The operator holds a roller against the inner surface of the tire casing which is being rotated. Regularly spaced cams which project from...     

A joint for connecting a drive unit to a measuring arrangement connected to a wheel. The measuring arrangement comprising a wheel shaft rotatably supported by a measuring hub having deformable beams for measuring moments and forces acting on the wheel and the joint comprising a diaphragm flexible in...     

An automated tire inspection system employs penetrative emanation such as X-radiation to inspect the integrity of portions of tires fed sequentially along a feed path through a centering station and into a shielded enclosure which where an inspection station is defined. Features of the system include:...     

A tire testing apparatus comprises a framework for attachment to a vehicle, a measuring beam for mounting substantially parallel to the transverse axis of a vehicle to which the apparatus is to be attached during use, said beam being mounted pivotally at one end to the framework so that the beam is capable...     

Apparatus and technique for use on a moving rail vehicle to detect, measure and record rail surface and side discontinuity by means of sensors mounted at intervals on the rail vehicle undercarriage. The sensors may be of the contact or non-contact variety, continually sensing track conditions. The sensor...     

A flexure based transducer structure capable of measuring forces along two mutually perpendicular axes without being adversely affected by large extraneous forces or moments. Forces are applied through one annular collar and are transmitted to a central hub by a pair of flexure elements and a pair of...     

An apparatus for accurately positioning a tire in a tire uniformity machine. The apparatus includes two members axially movable relative to each other and adapted to mate to form an annular channel for the mounting of a tire, radially movable pawls mounted in one of the members, and a plunger in the...     

A method and apparatus are provided for qualitatively determining relative tire wear of pneumatic tires. The shoulder ribs and adjacent ribs of the tire tread of the tire are radially, preferably statically loaded preferably against a movable follower member positioned in an opening in a bearing surface...     

The adhesion of cord or wire to the elastomer, rubber, or rubbery material is measured by exerting forces or loads collinear with the cords or wires such that one of the cords or wires is pulled from between a pair of cords. The three cords are embedded in a predetermined length of the elastomer. In...     

Apparatus for detecting the presence of flat wheels on railroad cars, comprising a high frequency transmitter or source connected so that the rail feed points are staggered or offset with respect to the detector apparatus. As a result, the transmitter cannot be completely shorted by a wheel axle; also,...     

A metallic weight used for balancing tires on wheel rims of motor vehicles configured in such a manner as to allow the recording thereon of the mileage and other pertinent data of the motor vehicle at the time the weight is installed on the wheel rim.

A system for dynamically measuring and displaying track curvature information to a locomotive engineer on a real-time basis. A car mounted sensor produces a variable output responsive to changes in the car's orientation caused by variation in track curvature, a control circuit converts the sensor output...     

The disclosure described herein is a Wheel-wear Monitor that identifies wheels on railroad cars which have so worn that wheel flanges, with additional wear, will contact the rail frogs. The device consists of a set of contacts which are actuated by the flange of a worn wheel, an air-pellet gun triggered...     

A method of increasing tire life of paired vehicular tires by measuring a plurality of mounted and inflated pneumatic tires to provide an indication of the tread diameter and/or circumference length of each tire with an indicated accuracy of at least about 0.020 inch on diameter or at least about 0.062...     

Apparatus for automatically inspecting and moving tires through an inspection system. The tire is placed in a pan of sand and is rotated by a device grasping the bead of the tire so that the tire becomes embedded in the sand in order to stabilize its position. A covering hood, with an attached mirror,...     

Apparatus and method for testing the nonuniformity of rotating bodies, and especially motor vehicle tires, in which the rotating body is pressed against a test drum and the radial and lateral reaction forces are measured at several locations on the drum. At each location a value proportional to the radial...     

A measuring wheel for the detection of vertical forces on the wheel when in operation, in which the wheel rim is provided with a plurality of recesses arranged in a circumferential direction adjacent to one another, the recesses being positioned so that webs are formed therebetween which extend transversely...     

A doppler radar of the type normally used to measure relative speed between a transmitter and a reflector is mounted so that its antenna is directed toward the surface to be measured. The radar is coupled to a means for de-emphasizing the doppler shift frequencies of the return signal associated with...     

A procedure and apparatus for determining the characteristic values of tires and rims and/or the attitude of the endurance limit of the same by rolling a wheel on a drum drive machine and measuring the forces and/or moments with a torque indicator. The measured forces are then transformed to the forces...     

A tire bead inspection machine comprises a base on which a tire may be mounted for inspection. A frame is mounted on the base from which a first roller is cantilevered with a generally vertical axis and a pair of rollers on either side of the first roller are cantilevered in a direction transverse to...     

A pneumatic tire having a tread design for reducing the amount of noise generated by the tire when rolled on a given surface, is disclosed. The tread comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs defining therebetween respective grooves, the lugs all being substantially similar to one another...     

An inspection and recording device for ascertaining surface abnormality on a pneumatic tire on a wheel on a dirigible vehicle and any deviation in the alignment of the wheel on which such tire is mounted with respect to the camber and toe-in of such wheel with respect to such vehicle and recording each...     

A load cell for measuring the rolling resistance of a tire as a function of a load placed on the tire. The cell includes a block having major parallel surfaces and a centrally disposed opening through which a shaft coupled to the tire rotates. An inner hub surrounding the opening and an outer hub are...     

A checking device for tires of land and air vehicles which includes a coherent light source, a photo shutter as well as an optical circuit which divides a beam emitted by the light source into an object beam and into a reference beam, and which deflects these beams. The device comprises a conical mirror...     

The flat belt tire tester which permits mounting a wheel and tire to be tested about an axis positioned above a flat belt, and has framework and controls for lowering the tire into contact with the belt under desired loads, using desired adjustments for camber and steering. The belt is powered, and can...     

A tire quality control arrangement for nondestructive material testing of vehicle tires, aircraft tires, and the like by way of holographic interferometry. A conical mirror arranged in the path of the object beam to examine a tire positioned in concentric relation with the conical mirror; a projecting...     

A vibrometer comprising a reed unit adjustably clamped in position within a case. The reed unit includes three vibratory reed portions projecting from a base. Each of the reeds will vibrate at its natural frequency in response to vibration at a preselected vehicle speed, and adjustment of the reed unit...     

An ultrasonic, non-destructive inspection system for detecting separations and/or holes in vehicle tires. The system employs a through transmission method at ultrasonic inspection in which the ultrasonic transmitter array and the ultrasonic receiver array are both mounted in air and in a non-contacting,...     

A force measuring hub for a wheel supported on a carrier has a first annular component adapted for a coaxial attachment to the wheel and provided with a plurality of radial webs having elongation-sensing strips and a second annular component adapted for a coaxial attachment to the carrier and being operatively...     

A system is disclosed for detecting potential defects as evidenced by surface irregularities in the sidewalls of a tire to be tested. A test is performed on a "uniformity machine" programmed to run standard tire tests. The system preferably utilizes a pair of oppositely disposed non-contact probes, means...     

An ultrasonic, non-destructive inspection system for detecting separations and/or holes in vehicle tires. The system employs a through transmission method at ultrasonic inspection in which the ultrasonic transmitter array and the ultrasonic receiver array are both mounted in air and in a non-contacting,...     

An inspection and recording device for ascertaining any surface abnormality on a pneumatic tire on a wheel on a dirigible vehicle and any deviation in the alignment of the wheel on which such tire is mounted with respect to the camber and toe-in of such wheel with respect to such vehicle and recording...     

The flat belt tire tester which permits mounting a wheel and tire to be tested about an axis positioned above a flat belt, and has framework and controls for lowering the tire into contact with the belt under desired loads, using desired adjustments for camber and steering. The belt is powered, and can...     

An apparatus for gauging the hardness of tire treads wherein a support member moveable supports a durometer which is connected to means for controlling the rate of descent of such a durometer to provide a constant predetermined force for measuring the hardness of a tire tread. A tire support supports...     

Apparatus for obtaining tire dynamic characteristics in which a wheel and tire assembly is mounted on a shaft assembly of low mass. The tire tread is engageable with either a rotating or stationary supporting surface. Flexible connecting members having load-applying capabilities for urging the tire tread...     

An improved technique for correcting errors in track, for example errors in alignment and cross-level. A record of the actual geometric condition of a section of track is obtained by running a recording car operating at a predetermined speed and axle loading over the track. A record which may be on magnetic...     

A rail vehicle for track investigation is provided which comprises an excavator attached to said vehicle for removing material supporting the rails and disposed below the rail level, a support provision attached to the rail vehicle and a measurement unit attached to the support provision. The measurement...     

The magnitude of a variable property of a tire such as the dynamic imbalance may be predicted by measuring lateral runout at positions close to the end of the tread pattern on both sides of the tire and determining the first harmonic runout values. The first harmonic runout values relative to the centerplane...     

An analog compensation circuit for compensating for mechanical instrumentation resonance. The transfer function of the instrumentation resonance phenomenon is determined, and the compensation circuit is constructed to produce the inverse transfer function of the instrumentation resonance transfer function....     

A method for determining the bias angle of the oblique metal reinforcing elements in annular belt layers located in crown areas of pneumatic tires that includes cutting a transverse tire section and preparing the cut edges so that the individual elements are clearly defined, securing a strip of paper,...     

A system for measuring wheel wear of a railroad vehicle includes a first speed measuring device, such as a microwave doppler speed sensor for measuring speed of the vehicle independent of wheel rotation rate, a second speed measuring device for measuring vehicle speed in terms of wheel rotation rate...     

An improvement in a tire manufacturing system including apparatus for testing by different combinations of testing algorithms and tire sensors. An operator selects the combinations best suited to test the tire according to the user's specifications. The tire is rotated and measured for lateral runout...     

An improvement in a tire manufacturing system including means for testing the extent of sidewall deformation of a tire. The tire is rotated and measured for lateral runout of both sidewalls. The resulting data is converted to digital form and analyzed by groups in order to increase the accuracy by which...     

A measuring vehicle for roadways comprises a tow vehicle and an instrument carrying vehicle connected for movement to the tow vehicle. The connection between the two vehicles includes a periodically operative lost motion arrangement so that as the tow vehicle moves continuously along the roadway, the...     

The automotive tire being measured is loaded in advance by the load applying means, and the drum is driven to rotate the tire. A displacement of the rotatable shaft produced in response to a variation in the radial force acting between the tire and the drum is detected as a displacement of the movable...     

A roller-type ultrasonic inspection device for inspecting vehicle tires comprises a roller assembly 20 mounted on a non-rotatable hug 16. Two piezoelectric crystals 80,82 are mounted in the hub 16 such that their principal transmitting/receiving axes A and B converge generally radially outwardly of the...     

An improvement in a tire manufacturing system including means for testing the extent of sidewall deformation of a tire. The tire is rotated and measured for lateral runout of both sidewalls. The resulting data is converted to digital form and analyzed by groups in order to increase the accuracy by which...     

The magnitude of a variable property of a tire such as the dynamic imbalance may be predicted by measuring lateral runout at positions close to the end of the thread pattern on both sides of the tire and determining the first harmonic runout values. The first harmonic runout values relative to the centerplane...     

A tire inspecting apparatus for automatically detecting the presence of at least one excessive indent or defect on one or both side walls of the tire comprises supply inspection and delivery conveyors arranged in line with each other. The apparatus includes contact detectors adapted to contact the side...     

An arrangement for measuring the rolling resistance of tires. The arrangement includes a horizontal roadwheel and several horizontally rotatable tires which are urged against the roadwheel and rotated thereby. The tire spindle assembly is borne by a carriage which is movable toward and away from the...     

The tire for automobiles being measured is loaded in advance by the load applying means and the drum is driven to rotate the tire. A displacement of the rotatable shaft produced in response to a variation in the radial force acting between the tire and the drum is detected as a displacement of the movable...     

A road testing apparatus has a framework extending over a test portion of road pavement and has tracks with upwardly curved ends along which wheels of a trolley unit roll so that the trolley unit decelerates as it approaches an end position to cause kinetic energy to be transformed into potential energy...     

An accident reconstruction device is provided which allows for simple and accurate measurement of the coefficient of friction for a given surface. The device comprises a metal H-beam, I-shaped in vertical section, having a rubber tire tread affixed to its lower flange and a hole at one end positioned...     

A dynamometer comprises a drum mounted for rotation and driven by a drive motor, a test body coupled to the drum for rotation therewith in a fixed velocity relationship, a sensor apparatus for deriving the energy absorbed or dissipated by the test body, a sensor for determining the rotational velocity...     

An apparatus is disclosed for the evaluation and diagnosis of tire contributions to annoying erratic motions of a vehicle, which motions are induced when the vehicle travels over longitudinally grooved pavement. The apparatus utilizes a vehicle the forward end of which is supported on a laterally movable...     

A dynamic friction coefficient measuring apparatus includes a friction measuring portion having a disc with a friction measuring rubber member attached thereto, a driving disc adapted to rotate coaxially with the disc and a dynamometer which interconnects the disc and the driving disc. A tachometer measures...     

A marking device used in conjunction with a tire inspection machine in order to allow a tire to be marked at the location of irregularities detected by the tire inspection means.

A tire chuck is disclosed which is designed with stepped ridges so as to accommodate a range of tire sizes, and is constructed of a material which is deformable and is relatively transparent to, and not degraded by x-rays.

The present process allows recycling used tires which are at present considered to be no longer suitable for restructuring according to known processes. According to the invention a preliminary control is carried out, also by scanning by means of a laser, to assess the seriousness of the internal ruptures...     

Apparatus for exposing the interior of tires including a rotary disc for receiving and positioning a tire on its side thereon and members engage the bead of a tire for positioning the tire and holding one bead and sidewall portion against the rotary disc to cause the tire to rotate with the disc and...     

A transducer head for a moving surface dynamometer comprises a casing having connections for attachment to a extremity of a support arm on a sliding carriage of a loading head of the eventual dynamometer. An axle housing in the casing supports an axle of a test subject to be spun in rolling contact with...     

A machine for testing the uniformity of tires. The machine comprises: a test spindle configured to receive a rim supporting a tire; an index table having a pair of index spindles; indexing means to rotate the index table whereby the index spindles may move a tire between an operator loading station and...     

The invention concerns a system to detect irregularities in the geometry of railway wheels. The system is characterized in that a linearly expanding accelerometer is solidly joined to the rail underneath its head. The accelerometer sensitivity is constant over its entire length and generates a voltage...     

The position of an event, such as emergency braking, of a railroad vehicle enroute on a track mapped on a chart is accurately recorded by continually sensing the degree and direction of track curvature, and recording the track curvature and event data for later display. Speed is also recorded as a function...     

A sensor used for detecting the passage of vehicles over a roadway is formed of a force sensing variable resistor which is embedded in a resilient, rubber-like strip that is molded around the resistor within an elongated sheet metal channel. The channel is sized to fit within a narrow saw-cut groove...     

A road surface detecting device has a circular plate connected with an axle of a vehicle so as to be rotated with said axle, and has a large number of teeth at regular intervals in its outer periphery. A rotary sensor detecting the passage of the teeth of the circular plate, and generates a pulse signal,...     

A load transducer used for determining loads on a tire in a tire testing apparatus has very high stiffness and a high natural frequency. A tire support spindle has an end plate mounted on one end of the transducer on a center support sleeve which is supported relative to an outer housing at spaced locations...     

A tire testing machine for measuring rolling resistance of a pneumatic tire by bringing a freely rotatably mounted tire into contact with a driven rotating load wheel. Spindles of the tire mounting structure and load wheel are supported in bearing assemblies. Each of the bearing assemblies includes an...     

A tire endurance testing machine comprising a main frame; a drum rotatably provided on the main frame; two load carriage guides suspended in parallel in the up-and-down direction on the main frame; a tire loading carriage provided on the load carriage guide, which is movable to the direction of the outer...     

A tire testing machine has two spaced parallel diamond shaped support structures. On each support structure, a road wheel and two tire carriages are mounted. A motor is mounted on each support structure and drivably connected to the road wheel. Pistons and cylinders are mounted between the support structures...     

A system for recording railroad track curvature utilizes linear motion transducers between the tracks of a railroad vehicle and the sides of the vehicle, or between adjacent vehicles, to continually measure the degree of curvature together with speed, stopped time and distance. A conventional event recorder...     

In a tire testing machine, a loadwheel is repeatedly engaged by a tire. Rubber from the tire is embedded in the grit on the surface of the loadwheel. A rotating brush is moved against the loadwheel, engaging the rotating loadwheel between testing operations to maintain the loadwheel substantially free...     

A sidewall appearance monitor for a tire uniformity machine. The tire uniformity machine has an upper chuck, a lower chuck, and a conveyor that brings a tire between the two chucks. The lower chuck raises the tire to the upper chuck where it is inflated and rotated by engagement with a loadwheel for...     

A pavement inspection apparatus is described for inspecting the condition of a full lane of pavement using a vehicle capable of traveling along the lane at normal traffic speeds, such as 55 miles per hour. The apparatus is capable of determining the size and shapes of surface distress features such as...     

A diagnostic testing device for diagnosing and testing chassis, mechanical, tire and tire tread problems in vehicles which simulates normal operating angles and normal vehicle weight conditions with the wheels of the vehicle being cycled and steered at a full range of vehicle speeds. The diagnostic testing...     

A flatness integrating/recording apparatus of the present invention includes a car than can travel on a road surface, a device associated with the wheel of the car for calculating the travelled distance of the car, and an optical road surface irregularities measuring device provided on the car. The data...     

The present invention relates to an abrasion tester, and in particular to an abrasion tester capable of testing abrasion or breakage of a road generated by the travel of cars in the winter or summer under actual road conditions. The tester includes a turntable rotatably supported in the apparatus for...     

A testing device for vehicle tires, especially anti-skid features situated in the vehicle tire, in which the tire to be tested is pressed against an outer circle or surface of another tire, while these two tires are rotated in opposite directions. The other tire acting as a counterpart or pair for the...     

A tire test machine which provides four attitudes of motion to the tire comprising a pair of triangular upper and lower main suspension frames each lying in a horizontal plane and having a first long side extending in the direction of movement of the test road surface, one end of the long side of each...     

A pavement inspection apparatus 10 is described for inspecting the condition of a full lane of pavement using a vehicle capable of traveling along the lane at normal traffic speeds, such as 55 miles per hour. The apparatus is capable of determing the elevational profile of the pavement and the size and...     

The treadle assembly of the present invention comprises one or more lightweight flexible circuits completely sealed within an envelope of resilient elastomeric material. This treadle is thus more resistant to water, wear, road salt, and other environmental factors than conventional treadle assemblies.

A tire uniformity measuring apparatus having: a drum for rotating a tire; an oscillating member disposed parallel to a drum rotating shaft and pivotally supported on a machine base through a fulcrum; a movable member disposed in parallel to the drum rotating shaft in the plane including the drum rotating...     

A manually-operated device for safely inflating automotive vehicle tires. A pressurized gas cylinder is connected to a manual valve for delivery of pressurized gas to a vehicle tire. The gas pressure is safely controlled (regulated) by a stepped piston that is slidably arranged in a vent chamber. A small...     

A railroad track fault detector is mounted on a tracked vehicle and uses the track ahead or behind the vehicle as a transmission line for a high frequency signal. The transmission line has a known characteristic impedance in a condition of no track fault. The impedance is included in a bridge network...     

A diagnostic testing device for diagnosing and testing chassis, mechanical, tire and tire tread problems in vehicles which simulates normal operating angles and normal vehicle weight conditions with the wheels of the vehicle being cycled and steered at a full range of vehicle speeds. The diagnostic testing...     

A dynamic load simulator is provided to simulate the suspension system of a vehicle. A spindle, connected to a suspension system, receives a tire in engagement with a rotating drum. A force gauge and velocity gauge are maintained at the spindle to monitor axle forces and movement. Road force is monitored...     

An apparatus for measuring the profile of a rail head includes a base, an actuating unit, a carriage and a sensing device. These components cooperate to laterally move the sensing device across the width of the rail as it is moved longitudinally along the length of the rail, so that a single sensing...     

A wheel measuring machine includes juxtaposed first and second spindles relatively movable toward and away from one another for mounting a wheel to be measured therebetween. A first centering device is mounted on the first spindle to selectively center a first surface feature of the wheel on an axis....     

A tire uniformity inspecting machine includes a framework constructed by setting first, second and third columns upright in a triangular arrangement and fixedly joining a substantially triangular top plate to the respective upper ends of the first, second and third columns, a tire conveying device for...     

The invention is directed to an arrangement for monitoring a road condition which determines the coefficient of friction of the road surface on the basis of a signal corresponding to an acceleration of a vehicle detected by an acceleration sensor. The signal is converted into one of at least two predetermined...     

A surface profiling apparatus comprises a vehicle with a body having ground engaging wheels for supporting the body. An arm is pivotally mounted on the body at one end of the arm and a sensing wheel is rotatably connected to the arm at the other end thereof. Means for measuring the inclination of the...     

A rim mounting mechanism for a tire uniformity machine has on the side of upper and lower spindles thereof an upper rim and a lower rim to be fitted in bead portions of a tire, respectively, and arranged to lift up the tire by a tire transfer means, grip the tire from the upper and lower sides thereof...     

The apparatus of the invention includes a mounting frame which is pivotally mounted on the load drum carriage and is pivotally positioned by a pneumatic positioner. A cleaning brush assembly is rotatably mounted on the mounting frame so that, as the actuater moves the mounting frame toward the load drum...     

This invention relates to tire testing apparatus and, more particularly, to an improved roadwheel for use with tire testing apparatus of various types which are capable of more accurately measuring the roadability and wear characteristics at high speeds of rotation. The roadwheel has angularly-inclined...     

A method and apparatus for predicting tire traction characteristics of tread compounds are provided. The method makes possible the determination of such characteristics without building tires. Also, the compounds can be easily characterized for a large number of different road surfaces and many different...     

A system used for monitoring the flow and speed of traffic has a strip member (1) comprising electrical contacts (3, 7) on distinct layers (2, 6) separated by a dielectric spacer layer (4), such that, when a vehicle drives over the strip, the weight of the vehicle on the strip closes the contact through...