Tire tread integrity monitoring system and method

• US 20030006890A1
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Straub, Albert M., DeZorzi, Timothy, Juzswik, David L., Magiawala, Kiran R., Dunbridge, Barry, McIver, George W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,741,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0488 Movement sensor, e.g. for sensing angular speed, acceleration or centripetal force
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/061 by monitoring wheel speed measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/066 by monitoring wheel-centre to ground distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres

Abstract

A tire monitoring method and apparatus is provided to predict tire tread separation for a tire on a wheel of a vehicle. This may involve monitoring a parameter of a tire of a vehicle over time and comparing information regarding the monitored parameter (over time) with a reference threshold value of the parameter (over time). The method may also include providing information to a driver based on the comparison. The parameter may be acceleration (axial, radial or longitudinal) along an axis of the tire. The parameter may also be tire imbalance, temperature inside the tire, speed of the tire, load and/or pressure, for example. Information regarding the comparison may be transmitted to a driver if the monitored parameter exceeds the reference threshold value for a predetermined amount of time.

Claims

1. A tire monitoring method comprising:

monitoring a parameter of a tire over time;

comparing said monitored parameter over time with a reference of said parameter over time; and

providing information based on said comparing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said information comprises tire tread separation information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said parameter comprises acceleration along an axis of said tire.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said axis comprises one of a radial axis, a longitudinal axis and a radial axis.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said parameter comprises tire imbalance.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said monitoring comprises:

obtaining data regarding acceleration of said tire;

calculating a harmonic frequency based on said obtained data regarding acceleration of said tire; and

storing information regarding the harmonic frequency in a time record.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said comparing comprises comparing said stored information with a stored baseline harmonic frequency.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said providing information comprises generating an alarm if said stored information is maintained above the stored baseline harmonic frequency.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said parameter comprises a temperature inside said tire.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said parameter comprises one of speed of said tire and a load.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said parameter comprises tire pressure.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information comprises transmitting information to a driver of said vehicle if said monitored parameter exceeds said reference of said parameter for a predetermined amount of time.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said parameter comprises a difference between a maximum deflection and a minimum deflection.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said indication relates to tire tread separation.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said parameter comprises acceleration along an axis of said tire.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said axis comprises one of a radial axis, a longitudinal axis and a radial axis.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said parameter comprises tire imbalance.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said parameter comprises a temperature inside said tire.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said parameter comprises one of speed of said tire and a load.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said parameter comprises tire pressure.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein providing said indication comprises transmitting information to a driver of said vehicle if said stored parameter in said time history exceeds said reference time history for a predetermined amount of time.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein said parameter comprises a difference between a maximum deflection value and a minimum deflection value.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a display device to display information regarding said tire.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said information relates to tire tread separation information.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said processing device further to transmit information to said display device based on said comparing.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein said sensor comprises one of a radial accelerometer to monitor radial acceleration, an axial accelerometer to monitor axial acceleration and a longitudinal accelerometer to monitor longitudinal acceleration.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein said sensor comprises a tire pressure sensor.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein said sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein said sensor comprises a speed sensor.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein said memory device further to store information regarding said reference threshold of said parameter over time.

14. A tire monitoring method comprising:

storing a time history of a parameter of a tire;

comparing said stored time history with a reference time history; and

providing an indication of said comparison.

24. A tire monitoring system comprising:

a sensor to monitor a parameter of a tire of a vehicle;

a memory device to receive signals from said sensor indicative of said parameter over time and to store said received signals; and

a processing device to couple to said memory device and to compare information regarding said parameter over time with a reference threshold of said parameter over time.

33. A tire monitoring system to monitor a parameter of said tire over time and to provide a tire separation warning if said parameter exceeds a threshold value for a predetermined amount of time.

34. The tire monitoring system of claim 33, wherein said tire monitoring system comprises a display device to display information regarding said tire.

35. The tire monitoring system of claim 33, wherein said tire monitoring system comprises one of a radial accelerometer to monitor radial acceleration, an axial accelerometer to monitor axial acceleration and a longitudinal accelerometer to monitor longitudinal acceleration.

36. The tire monitoring system of claim 33, wherein said tire monitoring system comprises a tire pressure sensor.

37. The tire monitoring system of claim 33, wherein said tire monitoring system comprises a temperature sensor.

38. The tire monitoring system of claim 33, wherein said tire monitoring system comprises a speed sensor.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said threshold comprises a value that changes over time.

39. A tire monitoring method comprising:

collecting information regarding acceleration of said tire;

storing data regarding said collected information; and

outputting a tire separation warning if said stored data exceeds a threshold for a predetermined amount of time.