Method and system of detection of a run-flat condition of a tire; inserts, wheels and tires designed for such method and system

• US 6,860,146 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Dufournier, Arnaud
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US09/754,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/462, 731/463, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340442-444
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/006 Warning devices, e.g. devices generating noise due to flat or worn tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/061 by monitoring wheel speed measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/062 Frequency spectrum analysis of wheel speed signals, e.g. using Fourier transformation

Abstract

A method of detection of a run-flat condition of a vehicle tire, said tire being mounted on a wheel, wherein:

• a quantity f(α, t) is sensed, which varies which the angular displacement of the wheel in time;
• measuring signals are elaborated, which vary with the angular speed of the wheel dα(t)/dt;
• a quantity characteristic of the dispersion of measuring signals is calculated;
• an alarm is set off when the characteristic quantity satisfies a given ratio.

Claims

1. A method of detection of a run-flat condition of a vehicle tire, said tire being mounted on a wheel, wherein:

a quantity f(α

, t) is sensed, which varies with the angular displacement of the wheel in time;

measuring signals are developed from that quantity, which vary with the angular speed of the wheel dα

(t)/dt;

a quantity characteristic of the dispersion of measuring signals is calculated;

an alarm is set off when the characteristic quantity satisfies a given ratio.

2. A method of detection according to claim 1, in which said characteristic quantity is the value of the standard deviation of said measuring signals.

3. A method of detection according to claim 1, in which, in order to calculate the characteristic quantity of dispersion of the measuring signals:

the rotation frequency of the wheel is determined;

the energy of the measuring signals is calculated in at least one narrow frequency band centered on one of the first harmonics of said rotation frequency; and

an alarm is set off when said energy satisfies a given ratio.

4. A method of detection according to claim 3, in which the rotation frequency of the wheel is determined from said measuring signals.

5. A method of detection according to claim 3, in which the energy of said measuring signals is calculated in at least two narrow frequency bands, each centered on one of the first harmonics of the rotation frequency of said wheel, with the exception of the first harmonic.

6. A method of detection according to claim 3, in which, after having detected that the sum of the energies of the measuring signals in at least two narrow frequency bands centered on one of the first harmonics satisfies a given ratio, the energy of the measuring, signals is compared in each of said frequency bands to a given corresponding threshold and an alarm is set off when, for at least two of said frequency bands, the energy of the signals is higher than said corresponding threshold.

7. A method according to claim 3, including comparing the energy or energies of the measuring signals of the wheel of said tire with the energy or energies of the measuring signals of at least one of the other tires of the vehicle and an alarm is set off when the result of the comparison satisfies a given ratio.

8. A method of detection according to claim 3, in which measuring signals are developed which vary with the angular acceleration of the wheel d²α

(t)/dt².

9. A method of detection according to claim 3, in which said narrow frequency band or bands has a width less than or equal to 10 hertz.

10. A method of detection according to claim 3, in which the energy of said measuring signals is further calculated in at least a second frequency band, where the measuring signals are substantially independent of the run-flat condition of said tire and no alarm is set off when the measuring energy in said second frequency bands exceeds a given threshold.

11. A method of detection according to claim 10, in which said second frequency bands are situated outside the multiple frequencies of the rotation frequency of said wheel.

12. A method of detection according to claim 1, in which no alarm is set off when the speed of said vehicle is below a given threshold.

13. A method of detection according to claim 1, in which the location of the tire in run-flat condition is identified and transmitted to the driver of the vehicle.

14. A method of detection according to claim 1, in which, a vehicle containing a wheel antilock device, the measuring signals are developed from sensors of said wheel antilock device.