US 4,016,020 A · System for measuring and correcting vibrations generated in vehicular tires

Abstract

An integrated system for eliminating the vibrations generated in vehicular tires under cruising speed conditions by correcting the tire both for peripheral non-uniformities and for lack of symmetry. The system includes means for revolving the tire being corrected under conditions simulating the weight load placed on the tire in actual use as well as the centrifugal forces encountered when operated at a cruising speed of from 50 to 90 miles per hour, together with means for measuring both the magnitude and location of the forces generated by peripheral non-uniformities developed in the tire and also the magnitude and location of the forces generated by lack of tire symmetry. The measuring means generate signals which are fed to a digital computer which governs the correction of the tire in a two stage corrective procedure, the first stage comprising the honing of the outside periphery of the tire while it is being revolved at cruising speed at the proper locations and in sufficient amounts to effectively remove the non-uniform areas which are developed in the tire. Concurrently the measuring means also determines and feeds to the computer signals indicating the location and amounts of weight necessary to counterbalance the forces generated by lack of symmetry in the tire once it has been corrected for the peripheral non-uniformities.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of correcting a rubber tire for vibration producing forces generated in the tire when operated under load and at cruising speed, which comprises the steps of:

revolving the tire at a cruising speed equal to from 50-90 m.p.h. under a load simulating the weight load supported by the tire in normal use to develop centrifugally generated forces in the tire,
measuring the magnitudes and locations of the centrifugally generated forces developed in the revolving tire, said measured forces comprising (a) forces generated by peripheral non-uniformities, and (b) forces developed by lack of tire symmetry, and
correcting the tire for both the (a) and (b) forces in two stages, the first stage comprising correction for the (a) forces by removing rubber from the periphery of the tire in accordance with the magnitude and location of the non-uniformities while the tire is rotating at cruising speed, and the second stage comprising correction for the (b) forces by selectively adding to or removing rubber from the tire in the areas at or adjacent the tire beads in accordance with the magnitude and location of the (b) forces.

In a system for correcting a rubber tire for vibration producing forces in two stages,

means for revolving the tire at a cruising speed of from 50-90 m.p.h. under a load simulting the weight load supported by the tire when in use,
sensing means for measuring the magnitude and location of the centrifugally generated forces developed in the tire, said sensing means comprising a first set of sensors for measuring the forces generated by peripheral non-uniformities in the tire and a second set of sensors for measuring the forces generated by lack of tire symmetry,
computer means responsive to said sets of sensing means for generating corrective signals in accordance with the magnitude and location of the measured forces,
a first stage correction means comprising a first honing means positioned to be moved into and out of engagement with the periphery of the tire while it is being revolved by said revolving means, and actuating means for said first honing means responsive to the corrective signals generated by said computer means for moving said first honing means into and out of honing engagement with the periphery of the tire, said actuating means being responsive to the corrective signals generated by said computer means in accordance with the magnitude and location of forces generated by peripheral non-uniformites in the tire,
a second stage correction means comprising a cradle for receiving and positioning the tire upon removal from said tire revolving means in the same relative position it occupied when mounted on said tire revolving means,
a second honing means adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the inner surfaces of the tire in the areas of the tire beads when the tire is positioned in said cradle, and actuating means for moving said second honing device into and out of honing engagement with the inner surface of the tire, said last named actuating means being responsive to the corrective signals generated by said computer means in accordance with the magnitude and location of the forces generated by lack of symmetry.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for measuring and correcting vibrations generated in vehicular tires

Life of this patent

System for measuring and correcting vibrations generated in vehicular tires

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19