Method and apparatus for determining the depth of a metal feature in a rubber or elastomeric material
AssigneesMichelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
InventorsAdib Chebli, Metodi Ikonomov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the depth of a metal feature in a rubber or elastomeric material is provided. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the depth of e.g., a metal cable in a tire. A sensor that changes state within range of the metal feature is used to determine the depth of such feature in the material without the necessity of deconstructing the material.
Claims17
A method for determining the depth of a metal feature within a rubber or elastomeric material having opposing sides, the method comprising;
- positioning a sensor at a starting position along one side of the material;
- moving the sensor relative to the material until the sensor changes state at a finishing position;
- determining the distance, along a direction normal to one side of the material, between the starting position and the finishing position where the sensor changed state;
- repeating said steps of positioning, moving, and determining along the other side of the material;
- determining the thickness of the material along the normal direction;
- and
- calculating the depth of the metal feature using measurements from the previously recited steps.
An apparatus for determining the depth of a metal feature within a rubber or elastomeric material having opposing sides, comprising:
- a sensor that activates upon coming within range of a metal or metallic substance;
- a housing configured for receipt of the sensor,
- a positioning element for locating the sensor relative to a surface of the rubber or elastomeric material;
- means for measuring the distance between sensor and the surface of the rubber or elastomeric material;
- and
- means for measuring the thickness of the rubber or elastomeric material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.