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System for residual tire life prediction by ultrasound

  • US 4,089,225 A
  • Filed: 03/16/1976
  • Issued: 05/16/1978
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1976
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A pulse ultrasonic reflection system, useful for residual tire life prediction by monitoring cord/rubber condition of at least one ply of a tire carcass, which comprises:

  • a transmitter transducer that converts high-frequency electrical pulses provided to its input into pulses of ultrasonic vibrations for transmittal into an area of the multi-ply containing portion of the carcass of a tire to be tested;

    clock means to provide voltage signals at its output;

    means having an input and an output, said means being constructed to provide a pulse of high-frequency electrical energy at its output after it is triggered by each voltage signal that is received at its said input, said pulse-providing means having an input connected to said output of said clock means that by its periodic voltage signals initiates and controls the frequency at which the high-frequency electrical pulses are provided by said pulse-providing means to said transmitter transducer;

    a receiver transducer, that in the system is either mounted relative to said transmitter transducer to provide a pitch-catch type or is constructed with said transmitter transducer to provide a pulse-echo type of pulse ultrasonic reflection system, to receive ultrasonic energy reflected by the tire after each ultrasonic pulse provided to the tire by said transmitter transducer, said receiver transducer having an output that provides voltage signals based on said received reflected ultrasonic energy;

    amplifier means including an amplifier having an output and an input that is connected to said output of said receiver transducer;

    gate means having first and second inputs and having a gate with an output, said gate means having;

    its said first input connected to said output of said amplifier; and

    its said second input connected to one of said outputs of said receiver transducer, said pulse-providing means and said clock means,said gate means being constructed to be responsive to a voltage signal at said second input of said gate means to open said gate of said gate means, after a predetermined delay, for a predetermined period of time to provide time-gated voltage signals at said output of said gate, after each pulse is provided by said pulse-providing means to said transducer, based on the reflected ultrasonic energy only from the interior portion of the tire, that includes at least one ply of the tire, to which the ultrasonic energy is applied by said transmitter transducer;

    processing means having an output and an output that is connected to said output of said gate of said gate means, said processing means being constructed to convert the time-gated amplified signals from said output of said gate, after each electrical pulse provided to said transmitter transducer, to one voltage signal representing the cord/rubber condition of plies of the carcass of the tire; and

    means having an input connected to said output of said processing means and constructed to provide a visual readout based on said voltage signal, provided at said output of said processing means, that indicates the condition of plies of the carcass of the tire.

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