Device for monitoring tires of more than 30 inches via video means

A device for carrying out a method for monitoring the tires of transport vehicles in mines, using tire handling equipment,

• the tires being equipped with radio frequency identification tags and physical parameter sensors,
• the method using a database containing identifiers of the vehicles, identifiers of the tires, identifiers of the sensors and of the positions of the tires on the axles,
• the method including the following steps:
• receiving, via the tire handling equipment, an instruction containing an identity of a transport vehicle and a position of a tire to be replaced on the transport vehicle;
• identifying, via the tire handling equipment, the transport vehicle by means of a video acquisition and processing system, the vehicle being equipped with a detectable visual identifier, wherein the video acquisition and processing system comprises at least a wide angle camera for identifying the transport vehicle;
• activating, via the tire handling equipment, detection of the tire to be replaced on the vehicle by radio frequency means;
• activating, via the tire handling equipment, detection of the axle by means of the video acquisition and processing system, wherein the video acquisition and processing system further comprises a high resolution camera for identifying the axle of the tire to be replaced;
• activating, via the tire handling equipment, detection of the position of the tire on the vehicle axle by means of the video acquisition and processing system, wherein the axle position is an inner position or an outer position of a twin tire mount;
• replacing, via the tire handling equipment, the tire to be replaced with a replacement tire;
• and
• updating the database with the identifiers of the vehicle and of the replacement tire and a position of the replacement tire on the axle, and
• the device comprising:
• the video acquisition and processing system, optionally further having suitable lighting to identify the vehicles which are provided with a visual identifier detectable by the image acquisition and processing system;
• reading means for reading the identification tags of the sensors and of the tires;
• calculation and image processing means to detect the axles and the position of the tires on the axles of the vehicle;
• and
• a database which associates the identifiers of the tires and of the vehicle on which they are fitted, and the positions on the axles.