# US 9,038,449 B2 · Tire testing systems and methods

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,038,449 B2
- Document ID: US9038449B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/097,674
- Filed: 2013-12-05
- Published: 2014-04-03
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2010-04-15
- Assignees: Camber Ridge, LLC
- Applicants: James F. Cuttino
- Inventors: James F. Cuttino
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038449B2

## CPC

- G01M 17/02: Tyres
- G01M 17/021: {Tyre supporting devices, e.g. chucks (for balancing G01M1/04)}
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A manipulator assembly for moving and displacing a tire undergoing tire testing, including: a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local vertical z-axis; a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local lateral y-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis; a rotary actuator for cambering the tire within a local coordinate system partially defined by the local vertical z-axis and the local lateral y-axis; and a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a global lateral y-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis such that the local coordinate system is moved and displaced along the global lateral y-axis. Specifically, the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces an origin of the local coordinate system along the global lateral y-axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A manipulator assembly for moving and displacing a tire undergoing tire testing, comprising:
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local vertical z-axis;
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local lateral y-axis that is perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis;
a rotary actuator for cambering the tire within a local coordinate system partially defined by the local vertical z-axis and the local lateral y-axis; and
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a global lateral y-axis that is perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis such that the local coordinate system is moved and displaced along the global lateral y-axis;
wherein all degrees of freedom of the tire are independently controlled.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The manipulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the manipulator assembly is coupled to one of a carriage assembly, a fixed base, and a moving reference.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The manipulator assembly of claim 2, wherein the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces the manipulator assembly with respect to the one of the carriage assembly, the fixed base, and the moving reference along the global lateral y-axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The manipulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces an origin of the local coordinate system along the global lateral y-axis.

### Claim 5

A method for moving and displacing a tire undergoing tire testing, comprising:
providing a manipulator assembly, comprising:
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local vertical z-axis;
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local lateral y-axis that is perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis;
a rotary actuator for cambering the tire within a local coordinate system partially defined by the local vertical z-axis and the local lateral y-axis; and
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a global lateral y-axis that is perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis such that the local coordinate system is moved and displaced along the global lateral y-axis;
wherein all degrees of freedom of the tire are independently controlled;
moving the tire using the manipulator assembly; and
collecting performance data associated with the tire.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the manipulator assembly is coupled to one of a carriage assembly, a fixed base, and a moving reference.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces the manipulator assembly with respect to the one of the carriage assembly, the fixed base, and the moving reference along the global lateral y-axis.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces an origin of the local coordinate system along the global lateral y-axis.