Tire tread scanner drive-over unit

• US 8,171,783 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2010
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tire Measurements, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tire Measurements, Inc.
• Inventors: Tracy, Roger H.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US12/938,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20110100108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres

Abstract

A tire tread scanner drive-over unit is used to measure the tread depth and tire wear condition of a vehicle with two or four wheels on the axle. The unit includes a surface with two tire position area areas, each between an elevated rearward area and an elevated forward area to define a trough therebetween. Scanners are located behind scanner windows in the rearward area under scanner covers. When a vehicle is driven onto the surface so that the tires of one of its axels are on the tire position areas between the rearward and forward areas, the tires self-center against the scanner windows so that the tire profile may be measured to determine wear and wear characteristics.

Claims

1. A tire tread scanner, comprising:

(a) a tread depth scanner adapted to produce a profile of a tire tread; and

(b) a surface carrying a tire position area between a rearward area and a forward area, said forward area and rearward area being higher in elevation than said tire position area, said rearward area having a scanner window formed therein, said scanner carried behind said window so that, when a tire is on said tire position area between said rearward area and said forward area, said scanner is positioned to scan said tire surface through said scanner window to obtain a profile of said tire tread.

2. The tire tread scanner of claim 1, further comprising an entrance ramp to said rearward area and an exit ramp from said forward area.

3. The tire tread scanner of claim 1, wherein said tire position area is narrow enough so that, when said tire in on said tire position area, said forward area urges said tire against said scanner window of said rearward area.

4. The tire tread scanner of claim 1, wherein said scanner further comprises an Ethernet port to facilitate export of data from said scanner.

5. A tire tread scanner, comprising:

(a) two spaced apart tread depth scanners adapted to produce profiles of treads of tires; and

(b) a surface carrying two tire position areas, each tire position area being between a rearward area and a forward area, said forward area and rearward area being higher in elevation than said tire position area, said rearward area having a scanner window formed therein, said scanner carried behind said window so that, when a tire is on said tire position area between said rearward area and said forward area, each scanner of said two scanners is positioned to scan said tire surface through said scanner window to obtain a profile of said tire tread.

6. The tire tread scanner of claim 5, further comprising an access panel between said two scanners.

7. The tire tread scanner of claim 5, further comprising an entrance ramp from said surface to said rearward area and an exit ramp from said forward area.

8. The tire tread scanner of claim 5, wherein said each tire position area area is narrow enough so that, when said tire in on said tire position area area, said forward area urges said tire against said scanner window of said rearward area.

9. The tire tread scanner of claim 5, wherein said scanner further comprises an Ethernet port to facilitate export of data from said scanner.

10. A tire tread scanner, comprising:

(a) a surface having a left portion, a right portion and a central portion;

(b) a first lid support panel attachable to said left portion;

(c) a second lid support panel attachable to said right portion;

(d) a third lid support panel attachable to said central portion;

(e) a forward ramp cover hingedly attachable to said left portion;

(f) a forward ramp cover hingedly attachable to said right portion;

(g) a forward hinge access cover hingedly attached to said central portion;

(h) a rearward hinge access cover hingedly attached to said central portion so that both said forward hinge access cover and said rearward hinge access cover rest on said third lid support panel when said third lid support panel is attached to said said central portion;

(i) a first scanner cover hingedly attachable to said left portion, said first scanner cover having a scanner window formed therein;

(j) a second scanner cover hingedly attachable to said right portion, said second scanner cover having a scanner window formed therein;

(k) a first scanner positionable on said left portion below said first scanner cover and behind said first lid support panel; and

(l) a second scanner positionable on said right portion below said first scanner cover and behind said first lid support panel.