Portable tire X-ray apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A tire inspection apparatus comprising:
- (a) a frame supporting a tire during inspection;
(b) tire rotation means drivingly engaged with a tire supported on said frame and activated to cause rotation of said tire during inspection thereof;
(c) a fluoroscope positioned adjacent a tread of a tire supported on said frame and forming an image upon the irradiation of said fluoroscope by X-rays;
(d) an X-ray source aligned with said fluoroscope, said source positioned external to a tire on said frame and spaced from said fluoroscope substantially the length of a diameter of a tire on said frame;
(e) a video camera optically coupled to said fluoroscope to generate a video signal representing a radiographic image formed on said fluoroscope;
(f) a first video monitor operatively connected to said video camera and comprising means for displaying an image represented by said video signal(g) a video recorder interconnected with said video camera for recording radiographic images of a tire supported on said frame during inspection of the tire; and
(h) a second video monitor interconnected with said video recorder and comprising means for displaying previously recorded radiographic images of a tire taken at an earlier time for direct visual comparison to currently generated radiographic images of the same tire displayed on said first video monitor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable tire X-ray apparatus includes a frame having horizontal rollers supporting a tire vertically and a motor connected to at least one of the rollers to cause rotation of the tire. An X-ray tube and a fluoroscope are spaced apart approximately the length of the outer diameter of the tire and are aligned to irradiate an area including at least half the width of the tread and a portion of the sidewall of the tire. A video camera is optically coupled to the fluoroscope and is connected to a video tape recorder and a live video monitor to convert a radiographic image on the fluoroscope to a video signal which may be recorded and displayed on the monitor. Irregularities in the tire, including possible defects, are visible on the fluoroscope and may be viewed on the monitor and recorded. The video recorder is also provided with a video monitor such that live radiographic images may be displayed on the live monitor while previously recorded images are played back and displayed on the recorder monitor for comparison of the images to discover new irregularities in the tire.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A tire inspection apparatus comprising:
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(a) a frame supporting a tire during inspection; (b) tire rotation means drivingly engaged with a tire supported on said frame and activated to cause rotation of said tire during inspection thereof; (c) a fluoroscope positioned adjacent a tread of a tire supported on said frame and forming an image upon the irradiation of said fluoroscope by X-rays; (d) an X-ray source aligned with said fluoroscope, said source positioned external to a tire on said frame and spaced from said fluoroscope substantially the length of a diameter of a tire on said frame; (e) a video camera optically coupled to said fluoroscope to generate a video signal representing a radiographic image formed on said fluoroscope; (f) a first video monitor operatively connected to said video camera and comprising means for displaying an image represented by said video signal (g) a video recorder interconnected with said video camera for recording radiographic images of a tire supported on said frame during inspection of the tire; and (h) a second video monitor interconnected with said video recorder and comprising means for displaying previously recorded radiographic images of a tire taken at an earlier time for direct visual comparison to currently generated radiographic images of the same tire displayed on said first video monitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of inspecting a tire using an X-ray source, a fluoroscope aligned with said source, a video camera optically coupled with said fluoroscope, a video recorder connected to said camera, a live video monitor connected to said camera and a recorder video monitor connected to said video recorder, and means rotating an annular portion of said tire between said X-ray source and said fluoroscope, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) rotating an annular portion of a tire between an X-ray source and a fluoroscope; (b) irradiating said annular portion of a tire by activation of said X-ray source to generate on said fluoroscope first radiographic images of said tire; (c) generating by a video camera first video signals representing said first radiographic images of said tire; (d) recording said first video signals by a video recorder/playback unit; (e) after said tire has been in service for a period of time, rotating an annular portion of said tire between said X-ray source and said fluoroscope; (f) irradiating said annular portion of said tire by activation of said X-ray source to generate on said fluoroscope second radiographic images of said tire; (g) generating by said video camera second video signals representing said second radiographic images of said tire; (h) displaying said second radiographic images on a live video monitor connected to said video camera; (i) playing back the previously recorded first video signal representing said first radiographic images of said tire simultaneous with said displaying said second radiographic images; (j) during said playing back step, displaying said first radiographic images on a recorder video monitor connected to said video recorder/playback unit; and (k) visual comparing said first and second radiographic images of said tire to discover any new defect in said tire from placement of said tire in service. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of inspecting a tire using an X-ray source, a fluoroscope aligned with said source, a video camera optically coupled with said fluoroscope, a pair of video recorders, one of said video recorders connected to said camera, a live video monitor connected to said camera, a recorder video monitor connected to each video recorder, and means rotating an annular portion of said tire between said X-ray source and said fluoroscope, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) rotating an annular portion of a tire between said X-ray source and a fluoroscope; (b) irradiating said annular portion of a tire by activation of said X-ray source to generate on said fluoroscope first radiographic images of said tire; (c) generating by a video camera first video signals representing said first radiographic images of said tire; (d) recording said first video signals by a first video recorder/playback unit; (e) after said tire has been in service for a period of time, rotating an annular portion of said tire between said X-ray source and said fluoroscope; (f) irradiating said annular portion of said tire by activation of said X-ray source to generate on said fluoroscope second radiographic images of said tire; (g) generating by said video camera second video signals representing said second radiographic images of said tire; (h) recording said second video signals by said first video recorder/playback unit; (i) simultaneously playing back each of the previously recorded first and second video signals on of said first video recorder/playback unit and a second video recorder/playback unit; (j) during said playing back step, simultaneously displaying said first and second radiographic images respectively on a pair of recorder video monitors associated respectively with said first and second video recorder/playback units; and (k) visually comparing said first and second radiographic images of said tire to discover any new defect in said tire from placement of said tire in service. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A tire inspection apparatus comprising:
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(a) a frame including a base; (b) a pair of horizontally oriented rollers journaled on said base in spaced apart relation positioned such that when said apparatus is in use, said rollers are positioned so as to be in proximity to but spaced from a supporting floor surface; (c) tire guide means upstanding from said frame to support a tire on said rollers with an axis of rotation of the tire positioned horizontally;
said guide means including a pair of standards secured to said base and extending upwardly therefrom;
each of said standards including thereon roller means for engaging and supporting a tire while allowing such a tire to rotate on said rollers;(d) rotary motor means drivingly engaged with at least one of said rollers and activated to rotate same to cause rotation of a tire engaged therewith; (e) a ramp positioned to extend between said rollers and the floor surface;
said ramp aligned with said rollers so as to comprise means for facilitating the rolling of a tire onto said rollers from the floor surface by rolling of the tire by an operator;(f) a fluoroscope positioned adjacent a tread of a tire supported on said frame and forming an image upon the irradiation of said fluoroscope by X-rays; (g) an X-ray source oriented in alignment with said fluoroscope, said source positioned external to a tire on said frame and spaced from said fluoroscope substantially the length of a diameter of a tire on said frame; (h) a video camera optically coupled to said fluoroscope to generate a video signal representing an image formed on said fluoroscope; (i) a first video monitor operatively connected to said video camera and comprising means for displaying an image represented by said video signal; (j) a video recorder interconnected with said video camera and recording radiographic images of a tire supported on said frame during the inspection of said tire; and (k) a second video monitor interconnected with said video recorder, positioned adjacent said first video monitor, said second video monitor comprising means for displaying previously recorded radiographic images of a tire while said first video monitor displays currently generated radiographic images of the same tire supported on said frame and undergoing irradiation, for comparison purposes.
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Specification