Measurement of adherence between a vehicle wheel and the roadway
First Claim
1. A method for the detection of an adherence characteristic between a tire with a deformable tread and a surface along which it is rolling, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing in the tread at least one first measuring element and at least one second element, each said tread element having a contact surface with the ground, the contact surface of the first measuring element being configured such that, during normal operation of a vehicle wheel equipped with the tire, the surfaces of the first and second elements come into contact with the ground on each revolution of the tire and, at least within a range of rolling conditions to be monitored, the contact surface of the first element slides relative to the ground during its passage through the contact area;
b) generating a first signal that represents a tangential force in the contact surface of the first measuring element;
c) detecting a variation of the first signal that characterizes a loss of adherence;
d) producing an estimate of the friction potential in the contact surface of the first measuring element; and
e) producing an estimate of adherence potential of the tire.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire includes, among the conventional tread pattern elements, at least one measuring element having a central zone and an encircling zone. In normal operation, the central zone 10 of a measuring element slides over the ground while, conversely, the tread as a whole does not slide over the ground. Measurements are carried out of the maximum adherence potential with the ground, at any moment, due to the central zone of a measuring element. In an alternative embodiment, the measuring element may comprise a circumferentially extending rib(s) or tread block(s) whose ground contact surface(s) is spaced at a lesser radial distance from the wheel axle than the spacing of the ground contact surfaces of the conventional tread blocks.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for the detection of an adherence characteristic between a tire with a deformable tread and a surface along which it is rolling, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing in the tread at least one first measuring element and at least one second element, each said tread element having a contact surface with the ground, the contact surface of the first measuring element being configured such that, during normal operation of a vehicle wheel equipped with the tire, the surfaces of the first and second elements come into contact with the ground on each revolution of the tire and, at least within a range of rolling conditions to be monitored, the contact surface of the first element slides relative to the ground during its passage through the contact area; b) generating a first signal that represents a tangential force in the contact surface of the first measuring element; c) detecting a variation of the first signal that characterizes a loss of adherence; d) producing an estimate of the friction potential in the contact surface of the first measuring element; and e) producing an estimate of adherence potential of the tire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8, 9)
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4. A method for detecting an adherence characteristic between a tire with a deformable tread and a surface over which it is rolling, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing in the tread at least one first measuring element and at least one second element, each said tread element having a contact surface with the ground, the contact surface of the first tread element being configured such that, during normal operation of a vehicle wheel equipped with the tire, the surfaces of the first and second elements come into contact with the ground on each revolution of the tire and, at least within a range of rolling conditions to be monitored, the contact surface of the first measuring element slides relative to the ground during its passage through the contact area; b) generating a first signal representing a tangential force in the zone of the contact surface of the first measuring element; c) detecting in the first signal the instant when the first measuring element enters the contact area; d) detecting in the first signal the instant when the first signal undergoes a variation that characterizes a loss of adherence; and e) producing an indication that characterizes an available adherence margin from a function of the first signal between the instant when entry into the contact area is detected and the instant when said characteristic variation is detected. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 10, 11)
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Specification