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US 6,269,689 B1Granted
Tire inspection equipment and method
AssigneeOliver Rubber Company
InventorBruce M. Alexander
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for inspection of a tire for hidden irregularities and defects. The apparatus includes a remotely located control console to protect electronic components from contamination and debris associated with tire retreading and from mechanical vibration associated with handling and inspecting used tire casings. The apparatus includes a tire supporting and rotating assembly, a receiver control assembly, a moveable transmitter assembly for directing energy against a tire and a movable receiver assembly to receive energy passing through the tire. Components of the mechanical system used to control movement of the receiver assembly are spaced from components of the mechanical system which support and rotate the tire.
Claims21
Apparatus for inspecting a tire comprising:
- a first housing;
- a transmitter assembly for directing energy against an interior surface and through the tire as the tire is rotated during an inspection cycle;
- a receiver assembly to detect energy from the transmitter assembly which passes through the tire;
- mechanical and electrical systems for supporting and rotating the tire during an inspection cycle and for controlling movement of the transmitter assembly and the receiver assembly so that the energy will be directed through the tire as it rotates while maintaining the desired distance between the transmitter assembly, the receiver assembly and the tire surface;
- the mechanical system including both a tire supporting and rotating assembly attached to and extending from the housing and a single receiver control assembly attached to and extending from the housing;
- and
- the single receiver control assembly slidably disposed on a plurality of supporting beams which are secured to and extend from the housing at a single location spaced from the tire supporting and rotating assembly.
4 more elements
An apparatus for inspecting a tire comprising:
- a fist housing;
- a transmitter assembly for directing energy against an interior surface and through the tire as the tire is rotated during an inspection cycle;
- a receiver assembly to detect energy from the transmitter assembly which passes through the tire;
- a tire supporting and rotating assembly attached to and extending from the housing;
- a single receiver control assembly attached to and extending from the housing;
- the single receiver control assembly spaced from the tire supporting and rotating assembly;
- and
- the single receiver control assembly having a single control arm extending therefrom for supporting the receiver assembly and coordinating movement of the receiver assembly relative to the transmitter assembly during an inspection cycle.
5 more elements
An apparatus for inspecting a tire comprising:
- a housing;
- mechanical and electrical systems for supporting and rotating the tire during an inspection cycle;
- a transmitter assembly for directing energy through the tire as the tire is rotated during an inspection cycle;
- a receiver assembly to detect energy from the transmitter assembly which passes through the tire;
- the mechanical and electrical systems controlling movement of the transmitter assembly and the receiver assembly to maintain substantially the desired distance between the transmitter assembly, the receiver assembly and the tire during an inspection cycle;
- the mechanical system including both a tire supporting and rotating assembly attached to and extending from the housing and a single receiver control assembly attached to and extending from the housing;
- the single receiver control assembly having a generally U-shaped track remotely located from the tire supporting and rotating assembly;
- a control arm having a first end with the single receiver control assembly attached thereto;
- and
- the control arm having a second end with a follower extending therefrom and engaged with a groove in the track.
7 more elements
Apparatus for inspecting a tire comprising:
- a first housing;
- a transmitter assembly for directing energy against an interior surface and through the tire during an inspection cycle;
- a receiver assembly to detect energy from the transmitter assembly which passes through the tire;
- mechanical and electrical systems for supporting and rotating the tire during the inspection cycle and for controlling movement for the transmitter assembly and the receiver assembly while maintaining a desired distance between the transmitter assembly and the receiver assembly and the tire surface;
- the mechanical system including both a tire supporting and rotating assembly attached to and extending from the housing and a single receiver control assembly attached to and extending from the housing;
- the tire supporting and rotating assembly including a first bulkhead releasably secured to the first housing with multiple support frames attached to the first bulkhead and extending therefrom;
- a pair of roller shafts extending from the first bulkhead with the transmitter assembly disposed between the roller shafts;
- the single receiver control assembly including a second bulkhead releasably secured to the first housing and spaced from the first bulkhead;
- a first supporting beam, a second supporting beam and a third supporting beam with one end of each supporting beam secured to the second bulkhead;
- and
- mechanical components of the single receiver control assembly slidably disposed on the first, second and third supporting beams.
8 more elements
Apparatus for inspecting a tire comprising:
- a transmitter assembly for directing energy against an interior surface and through the tire during an inspection cycle;
- a receiver assembly to detect energy from the transmitter assembly which passes through the tire during the inspection cycle;
- mechanical and electrical systems for supporting and rotating the tire during the inspection cycle and for controlling movement of the transmitter assembly and the receiver assembly while maintaining a desired distance between the transmitter assembly and the receiver assembly and the tire surface;
- the mechanical system including both a tire supporting and rotating assembly and a single receiver control assembly spaced from each other and attached to a housing;
- the single receiver control assembly having a single control arm extending from the receiver control assembly toward the tire supporting and rotating assembly;
- and
- a single stroke lever attached to the single receiver control assembly to adjust linear movement of the transmitter assembly and the receiver assembly relative to each other.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.