Method of tread wear sensor installation in a tire
First Claim
1. A method of installing a tread wear sensor in a tire of the tire type comprising a tire carcass enclosing a tire cavity and a tire tread region on the a radially outward regions of the tire carcass, the tire further having a plurality of tread elements projecting from a base of the tire tread region, the method comprising:
- configuring a tread wear indicator to include at least one sacrificial resistive sensor element having a known resistance value;
affixing the at least one resistive sensor element of the tread wear indicator to a selected tread element in a sensor element orientation placing the sensor element substantially parallel to a ground engaging surface of the tread element at a known sensor depth from the ground engaging surface;
the at least one sensor element operative to sacrificially abrade and change in resistance responsive to progressive tread wear on the one tread element to the sensor depth;
positioning a connector assembly within the tire carcass cavity radially opposite the one resistive sensor element; and
inserting a needle projection of the connector assembly through the tire carcass radially outward from a tire cavity side, the needle projection extending to a position opposite the one resistive sensor element, and the connector assembly carrying conductive leads operative to engage and establish electrical contact with the one resistive sensor element;
measuring a change in resistivity in the one sensor element;
determining tread wear status of the one selected tread element based on the measured change in resistivity of the one sensor element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of installing a tread wear sensor in a tire includes configuring multiple tread wear indicators to each include a stack of sacrificial resistive sensor elements. The stacks of resistive sensor elements are affixed to respective selected tread lugs positioned at dispersed axial locations across a tire tread region. The resistive sensor elements sacrificially abrade and a change in resistance in each stack is measured. Connector assemblies within the tire carcass cavity are positioned radially opposite the selected tread lugs. A needle projection from each of the connector assemblies is inserted radially outward through the tire carrying leads which engage and establish electrical contact with a respective stack of resistive sensor elements.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of installing a tread wear sensor in a tire of the tire type comprising a tire carcass enclosing a tire cavity and a tire tread region on the a radially outward regions of the tire carcass, the tire further having a plurality of tread elements projecting from a base of the tire tread region, the method comprising:
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configuring a tread wear indicator to include at least one sacrificial resistive sensor element having a known resistance value; affixing the at least one resistive sensor element of the tread wear indicator to a selected tread element in a sensor element orientation placing the sensor element substantially parallel to a ground engaging surface of the tread element at a known sensor depth from the ground engaging surface;
the at least one sensor element operative to sacrificially abrade and change in resistance responsive to progressive tread wear on the one tread element to the sensor depth;positioning a connector assembly within the tire carcass cavity radially opposite the one resistive sensor element; and inserting a needle projection of the connector assembly through the tire carcass radially outward from a tire cavity side, the needle projection extending to a position opposite the one resistive sensor element, and the connector assembly carrying conductive leads operative to engage and establish electrical contact with the one resistive sensor element; measuring a change in resistivity in the one sensor element; determining tread wear status of the one selected tread element based on the measured change in resistivity of the one sensor element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of installing a tread wear sensor in a tire of the tire type comprising a tire carcass enclosing a tire cavity and a tire tread region on the a radially outward regions of the tire carcass, the tire further having a plurality of tread elements projecting from a base of the tire tread region, the method comprising:
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configuring a tread wear indicator to include a plurality of stacked resistive sensor elements, each having a known resistance value; dividing a one tread element into opposed tread element blocks by an axially extending incision; spreading the opposed tread element blocks apart; affixing the stack of resistive sensor elements to a channel-facing surface of a first tread element block in an orientation wherein each sensor element is parallel to a ground engaging surface of the tread element at a known sensor depth from the ground engaging surface; converging the tread element blocks together to substantially eliminate the channel; positioning a connector assembly within the tire carcass cavity radially opposite the stack of resistive tread elements; and inserting a needle projection of the connector assembly through the tire carcass radially outward from a tire cavity side, the needle projection extending to a position opposite the stack of resistive sensor elements, and the connector assembly further carrying conductive leads operative to engage and establish electrical contact with the stack of resistive sensor elements.
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10. A method of installing a tread wear sensor in a tire of the tire type comprising a tire carcass enclosing a tire cavity and a tire tread region on a radially outward region of the tire carcass, the tire further having a plurality of tread elements projecting from a base of the tire tread region, the method comprising:
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configuring a plurality of tread wear indicators to include respectively at least one sacrificial resistive sensor element having a known resistance value; affixing the at least one resistive sensor element of the plurality of tread wear indicators to respective selected tread elements positioned at dispersed axial locations across the tread region; placing each one resistive sensor element in an orientation wherein the sensor element is substantially parallel to a ground engaging surface of the respective tread element at a known sensor depth from the ground engaging surface;
the at least one sensor element operative to sacrificially abrade and change in resistance responsive to progressive tread wear on the respective tread element;positioning a plurality of connector assemblies within the tire carcass cavity radially opposite each of the selected tread elements; and inserting a plurality of needle projections from each of the connector assemblies radially outward through the tire carcass from a tire cavity side, the needle projections extending to positions opposite a respective one resistive sensor element, and each of the needle projections carrying conductive leads operative to engage and establish electrical contact with the respective one resistive sensor element; measuring a change in resistivity in the one sensor element of each of the plurality of tread wear indicators; determining a tread wear status profile based on the measured change in resistivity of the one sensor element of each of the plurality of tread wear indicators. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification