System for characterizing tire uniformity machines and methods of using the characterizations
AssigneeAkron Special Machinery, Inc.
InventorsByron R. Stanoszek, David L. Poling, Jr., Brian Mitchell, Michael Haines, Alexander Hasbach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tire uniformity machine includes an apparatus for receiving and rotating a tire. The apparatus includes opposed spindles for receiving, inflating and rotating a tire, and a load wheel applied to the rotating tire to obtain tire test results. A spindle alignment assembly is associated with the opposed spindles to align the spindles with one another each time a tire is received. At least one characterizing device is associated with components of the apparatus to characterize forces of the opposed spindles and the characterized forces are used in adjusting tire test results.
Claims12
A tire uniformity machine, comprising:
- an apparatus for receiving and rotating a tire, said apparatus including opposed spindles for receiving, inflating and rotating the tire, and a load wheel applied to the rotating tire to obtain tire test results;
- a spindle alignment assembly associated with said opposed spindles to align said spindles with one another each time a tire is received;
- and
- at least one characterizing device associated with components of said apparatus to characterize forces of said opposed spindles, wherein said characterized forces are used in adjusting tire test results.
A method for testing tires, comprising:
- receiving at least one control tire at a time in an apparatus, each said control tire having a known characteristic;
- angularly aligning spindles for each said at least one control tire received to a same angular position;
- applying a load wheel to said at least one control tire and generating a load wheel force;
- detecting an angular position of said load wheel;
- correlating said angular position of said load wheel with said load wheel force;
- and
- generating a characteristic waveform of said spindles from said angularly aligned spindles, said angular position of said load wheel, and said load wheel force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.