Tire testing machine and tire testing method
First Claim
1. A tire testing machine, comprising:
- a spindle adapted to rotate about a vertical axis together with a tire;
a rotational drive unit for rotating said spindle;
a spindle housing which supports said spindle rotatably;
a base; and
a piezoelectric sensor for measuring dynamic balance of said tire,wherein said spindle housing is fixed to said base through said piezoelectric sensor,said piezoelectric sensor is disposed within a plane including an axis of said spindle, said plane being oriented such that said piezoelectric sensor measures a force component perpendicular to said plane.
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Abstract
A tire testing machine according to the present invention, which can measure both uniformity and dynamic balance of a tire T, comprises a spindle for driving the tire T to rotate about a vertical axis, a spindle housing which supports the spindle rotatably, and a rotating drum rotatable about an axis parallel to an axis of the spindle and movable toward and away from the tire T. The spindle housing is fixed to a base through a piezoelectric sensor so that it can bear a pressing force provided from the rotating drum. The piezoelectric sensor is disposed within a plane including the axis of the spindle and perpendicular to the pressing force. With this structure, dynamic balance of the tire can be measured accurately and easily.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A tire testing machine, comprising:
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a spindle adapted to rotate about a vertical axis together with a tire; a rotational drive unit for rotating said spindle; a spindle housing which supports said spindle rotatably; a base; and a piezoelectric sensor for measuring dynamic balance of said tire, wherein said spindle housing is fixed to said base through said piezoelectric sensor, said piezoelectric sensor is disposed within a plane including an axis of said spindle, said plane being oriented such that said piezoelectric sensor measures a force component perpendicular to said plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A tire testing method for measuring both uniformity and dynamic balance of a tire in a tire testing machine comprising a spindle for driving said tire to rotate about a vertical axis, a spindle housing which supports said spindle rotatably, and a rotating drum rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of said spindle and movable toward and away from said tire, said tire testing method comprising the steps of:
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driving said tire to rotate about the axis of said spindle; measuring uniformity of said tire while pressing said rotating drum against said tire; and measuring dynamic balance of said tire in a separated state of said rotating drum from the tire, wherein in said dynamic balance measuring step, at least a force component for measuring the dynamic balance is measured by a piezoelectric sensor, said piezoelectric sensor being positioned within a plane including the axis of said spindle and perpendicular to the direction in which said rotating drum is pressed against said tire. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification