TIRE AIR PRESSURE OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING TREAD WEAR
First Claim
1. A method for regulating air pressure of a tire on a vehicle, the tire having shoulders, a tread with a ground contacting portion, and defining lateral and longitudinal directions, the lateral direction being parallel to an axis of rotation of the tire, the longitudinal direction being perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tire, the method comprising:
- ascertaining an actual or anticipated tire load La on the tire;
selecting, from a correlation of preferred air pressures Pp for a range of multiple tire loads Li on the tire, a preferred air pressure Pp for the actual or anticipated load La on the tire; and
adjusting the air pressure of the tire while on the vehicle to the preferred air pressure Pp for the actual or anticipated tire load La;
wherein the correlation of preferred air pressures Pp is based on average longitudinal stress σ
x-avg in the tread at one or more loads Li over the range of multiple loads Li.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for automatically adjusting the air pressure of a tire based on variations in loading to improve tread wear. For a particular loading of the tire, the system provides for the determination of a preferred air pressure setting designed to minimize tread wear. This preferred air pressure, Pp, is determined from an analysis of the longitudinal stresses that occur within the contact patch of the tread.
8 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for regulating air pressure of a tire on a vehicle, the tire having shoulders, a tread with a ground contacting portion, and defining lateral and longitudinal directions, the lateral direction being parallel to an axis of rotation of the tire, the longitudinal direction being perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tire, the method comprising:
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ascertaining an actual or anticipated tire load La on the tire; selecting, from a correlation of preferred air pressures Pp for a range of multiple tire loads Li on the tire, a preferred air pressure Pp for the actual or anticipated load La on the tire; and adjusting the air pressure of the tire while on the vehicle to the preferred air pressure Pp for the actual or anticipated tire load La; wherein the correlation of preferred air pressures Pp is based on average longitudinal stress σ
x-avg in the tread at one or more loads Li over the range of multiple loads Li. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for adjustment of tire air pressure on a vehicle, comprising:
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equipment for measuring the pressure of at least one tire on the vehicle; equipment for adjusting the pressure of at least one tire on the vehicle; and a controller configured for ascertaining an actual or anticipated tire load La on the tire; selecting, from a correlation of preferred air pressures Pp for a range of multiple tire loads Li on the tire, a preferred air pressure Pp for the actual or anticipated load La on the tire; and adjusting the air pressure of the tire while on the vehicle to the preferred air pressure Pp for the actual or anticipated tire load La; wherein the correlation of preferred air pressures Pp is based on average longitudinal stress σ
x-avg in the tread at one or more loads Li over the range of multiple loads Li. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification