Tire tread gauging device

Abstract

A drive-over tire tread depth gauging system includes a housing (110) including an optical opening (120), where the housing (110) is configured to be embedded in a road (130) such that a tire (140) of a vehicle can roll across the optical opening (120) of the housing (110), an optical scanner (150) disposed inside the housing (110), where the optical scanner (150) is configured to measure, through the optical opening (120) of the housing (110), the tread depth of the tire (140) as the tire (140) rolls across the optical opening (120) of the housing (110), and at least one air nozzle (170) configured to provide an air flow barrier (180) between the optical scanner (150) and the optical opening (120) of the housing (110). A method employs the drive-over tire tread depth gauging system (100) and the use of such a system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.