METHOD OF TREAD WEAR SENSOR INSTALLATION IN A TIRE
First Claim
1. A method of installing a tread wear sensor in a tire of the tire type comprising a tire carcass enclosing a tire cavity and a tire tread region on the a radially outward regions of the tire carcass, the tire further having a plurality of tread elements projecting from a base of the tire tread region, the method comprising:
- configuring a tread wear indicator to include at least one sacrificial resistive sensor element having a known resistance value;
affixing the at least one resistive sensor element of the tread wear indicator to a selected tread element in a sensor element orientation placing the sensor element substantially parallel to a ground engaging surface of the tread element at a known sensor depth from the ground engaging surface;
the at least one sensor element operative to sacrificially abrade and change in resistance responsive to progressive tread wear on the one tread element to the sensor depth;
measuring a change in resistivity in the one sensor element;
determining tread wear status of the one selected tread element based on the measured change in resistivity of the one sensor element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of installing a tread wear sensor in a tire includes configuring multiple tread wear indicators to each include a stack of sacrificial resistive sensor elements. The stacks of resistive sensor elements are affixed to respective selected tread lugs positioned at dispersed axial locations across a tire tread region. The resistive sensor elements sacrificially abrade and a change in resistance in each stack is measured. Connector assemblies within the tire carcass cavity are positioned radially opposite the selected tread lugs. A needle projection from each of the connector assemblies is inserted radially outward through the tire carrying leads which engage and establish electrical contact with a respective stack of resistive sensor elements.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of installing a tread wear sensor in a tire of the tire type comprising a tire carcass enclosing a tire cavity and a tire tread region on the a radially outward regions of the tire carcass, the tire further having a plurality of tread elements projecting from a base of the tire tread region, the method comprising:
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configuring a tread wear indicator to include at least one sacrificial resistive sensor element having a known resistance value; affixing the at least one resistive sensor element of the tread wear indicator to a selected tread element in a sensor element orientation placing the sensor element substantially parallel to a ground engaging surface of the tread element at a known sensor depth from the ground engaging surface;
the at least one sensor element operative to sacrificially abrade and change in resistance responsive to progressive tread wear on the one tread element to the sensor depth;measuring a change in resistivity in the one sensor element; determining tread wear status of the one selected tread element based on the measured change in resistivity of the one sensor element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of installing a tread wear sensor in a tire of the tire type comprising a tire carcass enclosing a tire cavity and a tire tread region on a radially outward region of the tire carcass, the tire further having a plurality of tread elements projecting from a base of the tire tread region, the method comprising:
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configuring a plurality of tread wear indicators to include respectively at least one sacrificial resistive sensor element having a known resistance value; affixing the at least one resistive sensor element of the plurality of tread wear indicators to respective selected tread elements positioned at dispersed axial locations across the tread region; placing each one resistive sensor element in an orientation wherein the sensor element is substantially parallel to a ground engaging surface of the respective tread element at a known sensor depth from the ground engaging surface;
the at least one sensor element operative to sacrificially abrade and change in resistance responsive to progressive tread wear on the respective tread element;measuring a change in resistivity in the one sensor element of each of the plurality of tread wear indicators; determining a tread wear status profile based on the measured change in resistivity of the one sensor element of each of the plurality of tread wear indicators. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of installing a tread wear sensor in a tire of the tire type comprising a tire carcass enclosing a tire cavity and a tire tread region on the a radially outward regions of the tire carcass, the tire further having a plurality of tread elements projecting from a base of the tire tread region, the method comprising:
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configuring a tread wear indicator to include at least one sacrificial resistive sensor element having a known resistance value; affixing the at least one resistive sensor element of the tread wear indicator to a selected tread element in a sensor element orientation placing the sensor element substantially parallel to a ground engaging surface of the tread element at a known sensor depth from the ground engaging surface;
the at least one sensor element operative to sacrificially abrade and change in resistance responsive to progressive tread wear on the one tread element to the sensor depth;affixing a data transmission device to the tire, the data transmission device including data transmission means for wirelessly transmitting data from the tire; measuring a change in resistivity in the one sensor element; wireless sly transmitting data reflecting the measured change in resistivity from the tire to a data processor; determining tread wear status of the one selected tread element based on the data reflecting measured change in resistivity of the one sensor element. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification