Systems and methods for monitoring vehicles
OwnerGhislain LAPERLE, David GINGRASinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Monitoring vehicles comprising track systems or tires to obtain information regarding the vehicle, including information regarding the track systems or tires, such as an indication of a level of wear, a rupture like a break, a puncture, chunking, de-bonding, etc., which can be used for various purposes, such as, for example, to convey the information to a user (e.g., the operator); control the vehicle (e.g., a speed of the vehicle, operation of a work implement, etc.); transmit the information to a remote party (e.g., a provider such as a manufacturer or distributor of the track systems or tires); etc.
Claims15
A track system for traction of a vehicle, the track system comprising:
- a plurality of wheels;
- and
- a track mounted around the wheels, the track comprising elastomeric material and having a ground-engaging outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface;
- wherein said track further comprises a metal track core at least partially embedded in the elastomeric material and at least a first reinforcing cable made of electrically conductive material embedded in the elastomeric material and spaced apart from the metal track core;
- wherein:
- the track system comprises a sensor configured to sense deterioration of the track;
- said sensor comprising an open electrical detection circuit closable in response to de-bonding of at least one of said metal track core and said first reinforcing cable;
- the open electrical detection circuit comprises a power source having a first terminal electrically connected to the first reinforcing cable;
- wherein the open electrical detection circuit is configured to close when said first reinforcing cable comes into electrical contact with the metal track core as a result of said de-bonding.
A tire system for a vehicle having a tire, the tire system comprising:
- elastomeric material;
- a first reinforcing member and a second reinforcing member at least partially embedded in the elastomeric material, the first and second reinforcing members being spaced-apart from one another and made of electrically conductive material;
- wherein:
- the tire system comprises a sensor configured to sense deterioration of the tire of the tire system;
- said sensor comprising an open electrical detection circuit closable in response to de-bonding of at least one of the first and second reinforcing members;
- the open electrical detection circuit comprises a power source having a first and a second terminal, each of the first and second terminals being electrically connected to the first and second reinforcing members, respectively;
- and
- wherein the open electrical detection circuit is configured to close when the first and second reinforcing members come into electrical contact as a result of said de-bonding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.