Method for analysing tire vibration characteristics and an apparatus for carrying out said method

• US 8,024,965 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Tyre SPA (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Tyre SPA (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: Albohr, Oliver, Kumpf, Jörg, Garro, Luciano, Schnellbächer, Joachim, Sattler, Bernd, Winner, Hermann, Reul, Marcus-André
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US12/309,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20090314075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/025 using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations

Abstract

A method for analyzing tire vibration characteristics and an apparatus for carrying out the method, wherein the apparatus includes a stiff frame including a wheel support for supporting a wheel with a tire to be analyzed. A base part is flexibly connected with the frame by elastic means. The elastic means is embodied such that the frame is flexibly supported in one predefined functional direction. An actuator is provided for exciting vibrations into the wheel. The method and apparatus allow separate analysis of the natural vibrations in all four functional directions.

Claims

1. A method for non-destructive analysis of natural vibrations of a tire comprising the steps:

fitting a tire to be analysed on a wheel;

arranging said wheel in an apparatus comprising a wheel support supporting said wheel, wherein said wheel support is adjustably fastened to a stiff frame flexibly connected to a base part by elastic means such that separate analysis of the natural vibrations in a predefined functional direction is allowed;

excitation of vibrations in the predefined functional direction in said wheel by means of an actuator;

measuring an input signal at a contact surface between said tire and said wheel;

measuring an output signal at a surface of said tire; and

calculating transfer function of said tire by means of the input signal and the output signal.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said analysis is carried out with and without load on said tire.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said excitation is introduced in a center of gravity of said wheel.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said output signal is formed by the vibration of the complete tire structure of the tire surface.

5. An apparatus for non-destructive analysis of natural vibrations of a tire, comprising:

a stiff frame comprising a wheel support for supporting a wheel with a tire to be analysed, said wheel support being adjustably fastened to a stiff frame;

a base part flexibly connected with said frame by elastic means, said elastic means being embodied such that the frame is flexibly supported in one predefined functional direction; and

an actuator for exciting vibrations into said wheel.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said elastic means comprises a plurality of leaf springs distanced apart from each other.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein stiffness of said leaf springs is dimensioned such that a frequency of resonance in a direction of excitation lies below a desired frequency of excitation of said tire.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the stiffness of said frame and of said leaf springs in a transverse direction is dimensioned such that the frequency of resonance is above the desired frequency of excitation of said tire.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said frame comprises welded aluminium wrought products.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said wheel support comprises two supporting members distanced apart from each other, said supporting members supporting a shaft for mounting said wheel.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a wheel adapter is connected to said shaft.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said shaft is supported in clamping jaws arranged at ends of said shaft.

13. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said wheel support comprises at least one thrust member for taking up thrust forces.

14. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said actuator is a hydraulic, electrodynamic, electromagnetic or piezoelectric actuator.

15. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said actuator is an electrodynamic shaker comprising a stinger connected to said frame.

16. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said actuator for introducing rotational vibrations comprises at least one shaker which is connected to a lever fastened to said shaft.

17. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said actuator is elastically suspended.