Apparatus and method for electronic tire testing

A method of detecting flaws in a vehicular tire having a carcass with an inner surface and at least one integral steel belt, the tire presenting a rotational axis, the method comprising steps of:

• coupling first and second electrodes to an electrically insulating body member so that the electrodes are spaced apart on the body member;
• connecting the first electrode with a high voltage power source;
• connecting the second electrode with electrical ground potential;
• disposing the first and second electrodes in the carcass with at least a portion of each electrode in contact with the inner surface, said electrodes being slidable thereon;
• and
• rotating the carcass about the rotational axis, thereby moving the electrodes over the surface of the inner surface so that as either electrode is passed over a defect in the inner surface, an electrical arc occurs through the defect between the steel belt portion and the electrode nearest the defect.

A detecting head for a non-destructive vehicular tire testing apparatus, the tire having a carcass with a pair of opposing sidewalls, an inner surface, and at least one integral steel belt portion, the tire presenting a rotational axis, the detecting head comprising:

• a body portion made from electrically insulating material;
• a first elongate electrode operably coupled with the body portion and adapted to be operably electrically connectable with a high-voltage power source;
• and
• a second elongate electrode operably coupled with the body portion and spaced apart from the first electrode portion, the second electrode adapted to be operably electrically connectable with an electrical ground potential source,
• wherein each of the first and second electrodes have at least one portion adapted to be contactable with the inner surface of the tire carcass and to be slidable thereon as the tire is rotated about the rotational axis, so that as either electrode is passed over a defect in the inner surface, an electrical arc occurs through the defect between the steel belt portion and the electrode nearest the defect.

A detecting head for a non-destructive vehicular tire testing apparatus, the tire having a carcass with a pair of opposing sidewalls, an inner surface, and at least one integral steel belt portion, the detecting head comprising:

• a body portion made from electrically insulating material;
• first means on said body portion for slidably contacting a portion of the inner surface, said means adapted to be operably connected with a high potential electrical power source;
• second means on said body portion for slidably contacting a separate portion of the inner surface, said second means spaced apart from said first means, said second means adapted to be operably connected with electrical ground potential;
• wherein each of the first and second means are adapted to slide over the inner surface of the carcass as the tire is rotated about the rotational axis, so that as either means passes over a defect in the inner surface, an electrical arc occurs through the defect between the steel belt portion and the means nearest the defect.