# US 9,752,953 B2 · Detecting wheel rim cracks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,953 B2 - Document ID: US9752953B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/767,147 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2016-01-07 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-11 - Assignees: Preventcore, Incorporated - Applicants: Pneumacore, Inc. - Inventors: Stephen Firestone; Seth Schneider - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752953B2 ## CPC - G01M 3/20: using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material - G01J 1/58: using luminescence generated by light - G01M 17/013: Wheels - G01M 17/021: {Tyre supporting devices, e.g. chucks (for balancing G01M1/04)} - B29C 73/163: {Sealing compositions or agents, e.g. combined with propellant agents} - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A crack in a wheel rim is detected by placing a composition including a liquid carrier, such as water, and a fluorescent dye, into an interior space formed between a tire and a rim. After an interval, the exterior surface of the wheel rim is inspected using a UV light source, which causes visible light to be emitted from the fluorescent dye. The light emissions indicate the presence of dye which has seeped from the interior space, through a crack in the material of the rim, to an exterior of the rim. A conditioner or sealant can be combined with the fluorescent dye to provide other benefits. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of detecting seepage from a wheel rim, comprising: placing a composition including propylene glycol and a fluorescent dye into an interior space formed between a tire and a rim; and waiting an interval, then inspecting an exterior surface of the wheel rim, using a light source which causes visible light to be emitted from the fluorescent dye, to detect the presence of dye which has seeped from the interior space through material of the rim to an exterior of the rim. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further includes triethanolamine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further includes ceramic fibers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further includes aluminosilicate fibers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further includes cellulose. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is placed into the interior space when the tire has been partially assembled onto the rim. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is placed into the interior space when the tire is fully seated upon the rim. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the composition is placed into the interior space when the tire is at least partially inflated. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the dye is selected from DAYGLO A- and AX pigments, phthalocyanine, napthalocyanine, aluminum compound of aromatic amine, methane dye, azulene-squaric acid dye, UVITEX OB, TINOPAL SFp, TRY-33 (CAS#. 801-00023-5021-P), TRY-53, MT-6172-IB, WD-801, and fluorescein. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further includes a ballast material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the ballast material retards oxidation of metal of the rim in the presence of water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rim is fabricated with at least one of aluminum, steel, brass, copper, iron, chrome, and magnesium alloy. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein inspecting is carried out using a sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is added to the interior space using an air compressor and a pump, the pump operative to increase a gas pressure in the interior space while adding the composition. ### Claim 15 A method of detecting cracks in wheel rim, comprising: placing a composition including propylene glycol, triethanolamine, and a fluorescent dye into an interior space formed between a tire and a rim; and waiting an interval, then inspecting an exterior surface of the wheel rim, using a UV light source which causes visible light to be emitted from the fluorescent dye, to detect the presence of dye which has seeped from the space through a crack in the material of the rim, to an exterior of the rim. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including repairing the crack. ### Claim 17 A system for detecting cracks in wheel rims, comprising: a composition including propylene glycol and a fluorescent dye; and a pumping system configured for adding the composition into an interior space formed between a tire and a rim under pressure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, further including an electronic detection system configured for detecting the presence of fluorescent dye which has seeped from the interior space through a crack in the material of the rim to an exterior of the rim. ### Claim 19 A method of detecting seepage from a wheel rim, comprising: placing a composition including a liquid carrier and a fluorescent dye into an interior space formed between a tire and a rim; and waiting an interval, then inspecting an exterior surface of the wheel rim, using a UV light source which causes visible light to be emitted from the fluorescent dye, to detect the presence of dye which has seeped from the interior space through material of the rim to an exterior of the rim. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the liquid carrier includes at least one of water, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol.