Measurement of adherence between a vehicle wheel and the roadway
First Claim
1. A tire whose tread comprises at least a first tread element and at least one second tread element, each of said tread elements having a contact surface that, during normal operation of a vehicle wheel equipped with the tire, comes into contact with the ground in a contact area on each revolution of the tire, the first tread element being configured such that, at least within a range of rolling conditions to be monitored, the contact surface thereof slides relative to the ground during its passage through the contact area, the said tire comprising means that constitute a sensor within the said first tread element which is sensitive at least to a tangential force in the contact surface of the first tread element during its passage through the contact area.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tire includes, among the conventional tread pattern elements, at least one measuring element having a central zone and an encircling zone. In normal operation, the central zone 10 of a measuring element slides over the ground while, conversely, the tread as a whole does not slide over the ground. Measurements are carried out of the maximum adherence potential with the ground, at any moment, due to the central zone of a measuring element. In an alternative embodiment, the measuring element may comprise a circumferentially extending rib(s) or tread block(s) whose ground contact surface(s) is spaced at a lesser radial distance from the wheel axle than the spacing of the ground contact surfaces of the conventional tread blocks.
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Citations
29 Claims
- 1. A tire whose tread comprises at least a first tread element and at least one second tread element, each of said tread elements having a contact surface that, during normal operation of a vehicle wheel equipped with the tire, comes into contact with the ground in a contact area on each revolution of the tire, the first tread element being configured such that, at least within a range of rolling conditions to be monitored, the contact surface thereof slides relative to the ground during its passage through the contact area, the said tire comprising means that constitute a sensor within the said first tread element which is sensitive at least to a tangential force in the contact surface of the first tread element during its passage through the contact area.
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22. A method for the detection of an adherence characteristic between a tire with a deformable tread and a surface along which it is rolling, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing in the tread at least one first measuring element and at least one second element, each said tread element having a contact surface with the ground, the contact surface of the first measuring element being configured such that, during normal operation of a vehicle wheel equipped with the tire, the surfaces of the first and second elements come into contact with the ground on each revolution of the tire and, at least within a range of rolling conditions to be monitored, the contact surface of the first element slides relative to the ground during its passage through the contact area;
b) generating a first signal that represents a tangential force in the contact surface of the first measuring element;
c) detecting a variation of the first signal that characterizes a loss of adherence;
d) producing an estimate of the friction potential in the contact surface of the first measuring element; and
e) producing an estimate of adherence potential of the tire. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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25. A method for detecting an adherence characteristic between a tire with a deformable tread and a surface over which it is rolling, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing in the tread at least one first measuring element and at least one second element, each said tread element having a contact surface with the ground, the contact surface of the first tread element being configured such that, during normal operation of a vehicle wheel equipped with the tire, the surfaces of the first and second elements come into contact with the ground on each revolution of the tire and, at least within a range of rolling conditions to be monitored, the contact surface of the first measuring element slides relative to the ground during its passage through the contact area;
b) generating a first signal representing a tangential force in the zone of the contact surface of the first measuring element;
c) detecting in the first signal the instant when the first measuring element enters the contact area;
d) detecting in the first signal the instant when the first signal undergoes a variation that characterizes a loss of adherence; and
e) producing an indication that characterizes an available adherence margin from a function of the first signal between the instant when entry into the contact area is detected and the instant when said characteristic variation is detected.
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Specification