Method for estimating a tire wear life

• US 6,212,947 B1
• Filed: 05/03/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Inventors: Mouri, Hiroshi, Yamagishi, Naoto, Haraguchi, Tetsunori, Katoh, Kohshi, Kobayashi, Hiroshi, Shimizu, Akiyoshi, Sasaka, Naohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/303,664
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 73/7, 73/8, 73/9, 731/46
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres

Abstract

A wear resistance index G1 of a tire whose wear life is to be estimated is measured by the Lambourn abrasion tester. Then, friction energies in free rolling, when the tire is fitted with a toe angle, under application of a side force, under application of a braking force and under application of a driving force of the tire are measured. An expected value of the wear life T1 is calculated using the wear resistance index G1 and the friction energies thus obtained and the wear life of the tire is estimated on the basis of the expected value of the wear life T1. The wear life of a tire can be estimated accurately in a short time in accordance with the method for estimating a tire wear life of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for estimating a tire wear life which comprises:

a step of obtaining a friction energy of the tire Ewf in a state in which the tire is free rolling, a friction energy of the tire Ewa in a state in which the tire is free rolling and set at an initial toe angle, a friction energy of the tire Ews in a state in which a side force is applied to the tire, a friction energy of the tire Ewd in a state in which a driving force is applied to the tire, and a friction energy of the tire Ewb in a state in which a braking force is applied to the tire;

a step of obtaining a wear resistance index G1 of rubber of a tire tread portion;

a step of obtaining a friction energy Ew expressed by a total of the friction energies Ewf, Ewa, Ews, Ewd and Ewb; and

a step of estimating the tire wear life on the basis of a product of the wear resistance index G1 and a reciprocal of the friction energy Ew (1/Ew), i.e., G1×

(1/Ew).

2. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 1, wherein the friction energy Ew is calculated by taking data of a vehicle to which the tire wear life is to be estimated is taken into consideration, the data of the vehicle comprising:

a toe angle, a camber angle and a load per one tire under a static condition of the vehicle; and

at least one of changes in the toe angle, the camber angle and the load per one tire due to change in a condition of the vehicle from the static condition to a dynamic condition and the toe angle, the camber angle and the load per one tire under the dynamic condition of the vehicle.

3. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 1, wherein the tire wear life is estimated on the basis of a value obtained by multiplying the product G1×

(1/Ew) by a residual groove depth remaining before the groove depth reaches a limit for disposal of the tire.

4. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 2, wherein the tire wear life is estimated on the basis of a value obtained by multiplying the product G1×

(1/Ew) by a residual groove depth remaining before the groove depth reaches a limit for disposal of the tire.

5. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 1, which further comprises:

a step of expressing the friction energy Ews, the friction energy Ewd and the friction energy Ewb, using an input force in a transverse direction Fy, a force in a forward direction Fx+ generated by the driving force, a force in a backward direction Fx−

generated by the braking force, undetermined coefficients S, D and B and exponents ns, nd and nb, by the following formulae;

6. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 3, which further comprises:

a step of expressing the friction energy Ews, the friction energy Ewd and the friction energy Ewb, using an input force in a transverse direction Fy, a force in a forward direction Fx+ generated by the driving force, a force in a backward direction Fx−

generated by the braking force, undetermined coefficients S, D and B and exponents ns, nd and nb, by the following formulae;

7. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 1, which further comprises:

a step of expressing the friction energy Ews, the friction energy Ewd and the friction energy Ewb, using an input force in a transverse direction Fy, a force in a forward direction Fx+ generated by the driving force, a force in a backward direction Fx−

generated by the braking force, undetermined coefficients S, D and B and exponents ns, nd and nb, by the following formulae;

8. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 3, which further comprises:

a step of expressing the friction energy Ews, the friction energy Ewd and the friction energy Ewb, using an input force in a transverse direction Fy, a force in a forward direction Fx+ generated by the driving force, a force in a backward direction Fx+ generated by the braking force, undetermined coefficients S, D and B and exponents ns, nd and nb, by the following formulae;

9. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 2, which further comprises a step of inputting data of an individual tire, the date including:

a wear resistance index G1 at a standard temperature of an atmosphere of a rubber sample made of the same material as the material of the tire tread portion of the tire whose tire wear life is to be estimated;

an effective groove depth Z;

parameters relating to the tire in free rolling;

parameters relating to the tire under application of a side force;

parameters relating to the tire under application of a braking force; and

parameters relating to the tire under application of a driving force.

10. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 4, which further comprises a step of inputting data of an individual tire which comprises:

a wear resistance index G1 at a standard temperature of an atmosphere of a rubber sample made of the same material as the material of the tire tread portion of the tire whose wear life is to be estimated;

an effective groove depth Z;

parameters relating to the tire in free rolling;

parameters relating to the tire under application of a side force;

parameters relating to the tire under application of a braking force; and

parameters relating to the tire under application of a driving force.

11. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 9, wherein the parameters relating to the tire in free rolling comprise:

a friction energy of the tire in free rolling ef,

a friction energy of the tire in free rolling when the tire is provided with an initial toe angle eaf; and

a friction energy of the tire per camber angle in free rolling Kf,

the parameters relating to the tire under application of a side force comprise;

a friction energy of the tire under application of the side force es;

a change in a friction energy of the tire under application of the side force which is obtained by taking into consideration a change in a cornering power (hereinafter referred to as Cp) due to roll steer and due to a change in a load, a change in the toe angle due to the change in Cp and a change in the camber under application of the side force due to the change in Cp eas; and

a change in a friction energy of the tire per camber angle under application of the side force Ks,

the parameters relating to the tire under application of a braking force comprise;

a friction energy of the tire under application of the braking force eb;

a change in a friction energy of the tire under application of the braking force which is obtained by taking into consideration a change in Cp due to steer by a force in a longitudinal direction and due to a change in a load and a change in the toe angle due to the change in Cp eab; and

a change in a friction energy of the tire per camber angle under application of the braking force Kb, and

the parameters relating to the tire under application of a driving force comprise;

a friction energy of the tire under application of the driving force ed;

a change in a friction energy of the tire under application of the driving force which is obtained by taking into consideration a change in Cp due to steer by a force in a longitudinal direction and due to a change in a load and a change in the toe angle due to the change in Cp ead; and

a change in a friction energy of the tire per camber angle under application of the driving force Kd.

12. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 10, wherein the parameters relating to the tire in free rolling comprise:

a friction energy of the tire in free rolling ef,

a friction energy of the tire in free rolling when the tire is provided with an initial toe angle eaf; and

a friction energy of the tire per camber angle in free rolling Kf,

the parameters relating to the tire under application of a side force comprise;

a friction energy of the tire under application of the side force es;

a change in a friction energy of the tire under application of the side force which is obtained by taking into consideration a change in a cornering power (hereinafter referred to as Cp) due to roll steer and due to a change in a load, a change in the toe angle due to the change in Cp and a change in the camber under application of the side force due to the change in Cp eas; and

a change in a friction energy of the tire per camber angle under application of the side force Ks,

the parameters relating to the tire under application of a braking force comprise;

a friction energy of the tire under application of the braking force eb;

a change in a friction energy of the tire under application of the braking force which is obtained by taking into consideration a change in Cp due to steer by a force in a longitudinal direction and due to a change in a load and a change in the toe angle due to the change in Cp eab; and

a change in a friction energy of the tire per camber angle under application of the braking force Kb, and

the parameters relating to the tire under application of a driving force comprise;

a friction energy of the tire under application of the driving force ed;

a change in a friction energy of the tire under application of the driving force which is obtained by taking into consideration a change in Cp due to steer by a force in a longitudinal direction and due to a change in a load and a change in the toe angle due to the change in Cp ead; and

a change in a friction energy of the tire per camber angle under application of the driving force Kd.

13. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 11, which further comprises:

a step of calculating a friction energy Ew as a total friction energy by using the data which have been input in the step of inputting data of the individual tire in the following formula (15);

$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Ew}=\underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>\left(\mathrm{Ewfi}+\mathrm{Ewsi}+\mathrm{Ewbi}+\mathrm{Ewdi}\right)& \left(15\right)\end{array}$

wherein n represents a number of the values of acceleration G taken as samples to obtain an distribution of acceleration in actual use of a vehicle, Ewfi represents a friction energy of the tire in free rolling obtained in accordance with the following formula (17), Ewsi represents a friction energy of the tire under application of a side force obtained in accordance with the following formula (18), Ewbi represents a friction energy of the tire under application of a braking force obtained in accordance with the following formula (19) and Ewdi represents a friction energy of the tire under application of a driving force obtained in accordance with the following formula (20);

14. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 12, which further comprises:

a step of calculating a friction energy Ew as a total friction energy by using the data which have been input in the step of inputting data of the individual tire in the following formula (15);

$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Ew}=\underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>\left(\mathrm{Ewfi}+\mathrm{Ewsi}+\mathrm{Ewbi}+\mathrm{Ewdi}\right)& \left(15\right)\end{array}$

wherein n represents a number of the values of acceleration G taken as samples to obtain a distribution of acceleration in actual use of a vehicle, Ewfi represents a friction energy of the tire in free rolling obtained in accordance with the following formula (17), Ewsi represents a friction energy of the tire under application of a side force obtained in accordance with the following formula (18), Ewbi represents a friction energy of the tire under application of a braking force obtained in accordance with the following formula (19) and Ewdi represents a friction energy of the tire under application of a driving force obtained in accordance with the following formula (20);

15. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 2, which further comprises:

a step of expressing the friction energy Ews, the friction energy Ewd and the friction energy Ewb, using an input force in a transverse direction Fy, a force in a forward direction Fx+ generated by the driving force, a force in a backward direction Fx−

generated by the braking force, undetermined coefficients S, D and B and exponents ns, nd and nb, by the following formulae;

16. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 4, which further comprises:

a step of expressing the friction energy Ews, the friction energy Ewd and the friction energy Ewb, using an input force in a transverse direction Fy, a force in a forward direction Fx+ generated by the driving force, a force in a backward direction Fx−

generated by the braking force, undetermined coefficients S, D and B and exponents ns, nd and nb, by the following formulae;

17. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 2, which further comprises:

a step of expressing the friction energy Ews, the friction energy Ewd and the friction energy Ewb, using an input force in a transverse direction Fy, a force in a forward direction Fx+ generated by the driving force, a force in a backward direction Fx−

generated by the braking force, undetermined coefficients S, D and B and exponents ns, nd and nb, by the following formulae;

18. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 4, which further comprises:

a step of expressing the friction energy Ews, the friction energy Ewd and the friction energy Ewb, using an input force in a transverse direction Fy, a force in a forward direction Fx+ generated by the driving force, a force in a backward direction Fx−

generated by the braking force, undetermined coefficients S, D and B and exponents ns, nd and nb, by the following formulae;

19. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 13, which further comprises a step of carrying out a routine for computing a estimated value of wear life, said step comprising:

a step of calculating a conversion coefficient A for converting a wear coefficient to an estimated wear life by using an actually measured value of the tire wear life Mj obtained in actual conditions in use to which the estimation is to be applied and a wear coefficient MK obtained at a vehicle having a tire to be estimated fitted thereto obtained by formula (16), in the following formula (21);

20. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 14, which further comprises a step of carrying out a routine for computing a estimated value of wear life, said step comprising:

a step of calculating a conversion coefficient A for converting a wear coefficient to an estimated wear life by using an actually measured value of the tire wear life Mj obtained in actual conditions in use to which the estimation is to be applied and a wear coefficient MK obtained a vehicle having a tire to be estimated fitted thereto obtained by formula (16), in the following formula (21);

21. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 19, which further comprises:

a step of setting a given value as an initial value of the conversion coefficient A for converting a wear coefficient to an estimated wear life;

a step of obtaining a plurality (3 or more) of values of estimated tire wear life M by using the initial value of the conversion coefficient A for converting a wear coefficient to an estimated wear life;

a step of calculating a correlation coefficient T between the obtained plurality of values of estimated tire wear life M and data of actual wear life obtained in actual use of the tire;

a step of comparing the calculated correlation coefficient T with a given threshold value δ

; and

when the calculated correlation coefficient T is not greater than the given threshold value, a step of changing the initial value of the conversion coefficient A by a given value and carrying out the step of obtaining a plurality of values of estimated tire wear life M by using the changed value of the conversion coefficient A and the step of calculating a correlation coefficient T.

22. A method for estimating a tire wear life according to claim 20, which further comprises:

a step of setting a given value as an initial value of the conversion coefficient A for converting a wear coefficient to an estimated wear life;

a step of obtaining a plurality (3 or more) of values of estimated the tire wear life M by using the initial value of the conversion coefficient A for converting a wear coefficient to an estimated wear life;

a step of calculating a correlation coefficient T between the obtained plurality of values of estimated tire wear life M and data of actual wear life obtained in actual use of the tire;

a step of comparing the calculated correlation coefficient T with a given threshold value δ

; and

when the calculated correlation coefficient T is not greater than the given threshold value, a step of changing the initial value of the conversion coefficient A by a given value and carrying out the step of obtaining a plurality of values of estimated tire wear life M by using the changed value of the conversion coefficient A and the step of calculating a correlation coefficient T.