Method and system for measuring wear on a tire
AssigneeMichelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
InventorsGilles Godeau, Michel Robert, Georges Peyron, Gilbert Menard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The tread wear on a tire is measured while the tire is mounted on a wheel. Electromagnetic energy is transmitted to an internal space of the tire via a transmission element disposed in a tire tread element. That transmitted energy is detected inside the tire, and an energy variable from the detected electromagnetic radiation is determined which is used to determine a wear variable representative of wear on the tire tread element. A signal transmitter disposed within the internal space sends signals representative of the wear.
Claims40
A method of measuring the wear on a tire mounted on a wheel, the tire comprising tread pattern elements and defining an internal space, the method comprising the steps of detecting at a location within the internal space electromagnetic radiation transmitted through at least one tread pattern element from outside the tire, determining an energy variable from the detected electromagnetic radiation, and determining a wear variable representative of wear on the at least one tread pattern element from the energy variable.
A tire having an internal space defined by a radially inner face and having tread pattern elements for ground contact, the tire comprising an electromagnetic radiation transmitter element embedded in at least one tread pattern element and operable to transmit through the at least one tread pattern element incident electromagnetic radiation issuing externally of the tire to the internal space when a radially outer portion of said transmitter element is flush with a top surface of the at least one tread pattern element.
A wheel having a rim configured to mount a tire having electromagnetic radiation transmission means to transmit through at least one tread pattern element of the tire incident radiation from externally of the tire to an internal space formed with the tire mounted on the wheel, and an electromagnetic radiation detector mounted on the rim and arranged for detecting energy of electromagnetic radiation transmitted radially into the tire from outside of the tire for measuring tread wear.
A tire/wheel assembly comprising:
- a tire having an internal space defined by a radially inner face and having tread pattern elements for ground contact, the tire comprising an electromagnetic radiation transmitter element to transmit through at least one tread pattern element incident radiation issuing externally of the tire when said transmitter element is made flush with a top surface of the at least one tread pattern element in response to tread wear,
- a wheel, the tire being mounted on the wheel and defining an internal space between the tire and the wheel, and
- a radiation detector disposed in the internal space for detecting energy of radiation transmitted to the internal space by said transmitter element through the at least one tread pattern element.
A motor vehicle, having at least one tire/wheel assembly,
- the tire/wheel assembly comprising a tire having an internal space defined by a radially inner face and having tread pattern elements for ground contact, the tire comprising an electromagnetic radiation transmitter element to transmit through at least one tread pattern element incident radiation issuing externally of the tire, when said transmitter element after wear is made flush with a top surface of the at least one tread pattern element,
- a wheel, the tire being mounted on the wheel and defining an internal space between the tire and wheel, and,
- a radiation detector disposed in the internal space for detecting energy of radiation transmitted to the internal space by said transmitter element through the at least one tread pattern element, and generating a signal representative of said detected radiation, and a signal transmitter for transmitting said signal externally of the wheel;
- the vehicle further comprising a receiver to receive signals from the signal transmitter, a computer connected to the receiver to process the signals, and a display installed in the cabin of the vehicle connected to the computer and configured to inform a vehicle operator of a state of wear of the tread pattern elements of the tire of the at least one tire/wheel assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.