Method of determining potential cause of tire failure by measuring the tire temperature achieved during operating conditions

• US 20030047264A1
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Yurjevich, Martin A., Reinhart, Andrew K., Kirby, James M., Spragg, Charles D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,769,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/450
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0498 for rim attachments B60C23/0494, B60C23/0496 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04985 using straps surrounding the rims
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10 Tires, resilient
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10495 Pneumatic tire or inner tube

Abstract

The invention provides a tire and a method for analyzing the temperature exposure to the tire. The tire and the method allow an investigator to determine the maximum temperature the tire experienced during its operation. This information offers a potential cause for the tire failure by allowing the investigator to determine a maximum temperature experienced by an area of the tire by reviewing a non-reversible, temperature-indicating label positioned at a location in the tire. The information may be used to identify a potential cause of a tire failure after the failure has occurred. The information may also be used to identify a damaged tire before the tire fails.

Claims

1. A pneumatic tire for a vehicle having an indicator that allows an investigator to identify the temperature experienced by the tire as a potential cause of a tire failure;

the tire comprising;

a body having an inner surface; and

an indicator carried by the body;

the indicator being a non-reversible temperature-indicating label having a first temperature-indicating area adapted to provide an indication when the area is exposed to a first minimum temperature and a second temperature-indicating area adapted to provide an indication when the area is exposed to a second minimum temperature.

2. The tire of claim 1, wherein each area provides a visual indication that the area has been exposed to its minimum temperature.

3. The tire of claim 1, wherein each minimum temperature is in a temperature range that will injure a tire.

4. The tire of claim 3, wherein the first minimum temperature is lower than the second minimum temperature.

5. The tire of claim 1, wherein the indicator is connected to the inner surface of the tire.

6. The tire of claim 1, wherein the indicator has at least three temperature-indicating areas.

7. In combination, a pneumatic tire, a tire rim, a tire-monitoring device, and an indicator;

the pneumatic tire having a body having an inner surface;

the tire being mounted to the tire rim to define a chamber;

the tire-monitoring device being carried by one of the tire and tire rim;

an indicator carried by one of the tire;

tire rim, and tire monitoring device;

the indicator being a non-reversible temperature-indicating label that allows an investigator to identify the temperature experienced by the tire as a potential cause of a tire failure by indicating if the label has been exposed to a minimum temperature.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the indicator has a first temperature-indicating area adapted to provide an indication when the area is exposed to a first minimum temperature and a second temperature-indicating area adapted to provide an indication when the area is exposed to a second minimum temperature.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the indicator has at least three temperature-indicating areas.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein each area provides a visual indication that the area has been exposed to its given temperature.

11. The combination of claim 7, wherein each given temperature is in a temperature range that will injure a tire.

12. The combination of claim 7, wherein the indicator is carried by the tire.

13. The combination of claim 7, wherein the indicator is carried by the tire rim.

14. The combination of claim 7, wherein the indicator is carried by the tire-monitoring device.

15. The combination of claim 7, wherein the tire rim includes a valve;

the indicator being carried by the valve.

16. The combination of claim 7, wherein the tire-monitoring device is connected to the tire rim with a strap.

17. A method of analyzing a pneumatic tire to determine if the tire has been harmed due to exposure to excessive heat;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) applying a non-reversible, temperature-indicating label to the pneumatic tire before the tire is placed into normal use;

(b) using the tire with the label until the tire fails;

(c) after the tire has failed, reading the label to determine the temperature of at least one component of the tire; and

(d) determining if the temperature of the component could have caused the tire to fail.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a) includes the step of applying a label having a first temperature-indicating area adapted to provide an indication when the area is exposed to a first minimum temperature and a second temperature-indicating area adapted to provide an indication when the area is exposed to a second minimum temperature.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a) includes the step of applying a label having at least three temperature-indicating areas.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

identifying the temperature of the tire area where the label is disposed; and

interpolating the temperature of the tire at the area of tire failure.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of applying a second non-reversible, temperature-indicating label to the pneumatic tire before the tire is placed into normal use.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of attaching a tire monitoring device to the tire before the tire is placed into use and attaching the non-reversible, temperature-indicating label to the tire monitoring device.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of mounting the tire to a tire rim.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of mounting the non-reversible, temperature-indicating label to the rim.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the rim includes a valve;

and further comprising the step of attaching the non-reversible, temperature-indicating label to the valve.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

attaching a tire monitoring device to the rim; and

attaching the non-reversible, temperature-indicating label to the tire monitoring device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of attaching the tire-monitoring device to the rim with a strap.

28. A method of analyzing a pneumatic tire to determine if the tire has been harmed due to exposure to excessive heat;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) applying a non-reversible, temperature-indicating label to the pneumatic tire before the tire is placed into normal use;

(b) using the tire with the label;

(c) reading the label to determine the temperature of at least one component of the tire; and

(d) determining if the temperature of the component is a temperature that could cause tire damage; and

(e) removing the tire from operation if the temperature on the label is a temperature that would cause tire damage.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein step (a) includes the step of applying a label having a first temperature-indicating area adapted to provide an indication when the area is exposed to a first minimum temperature and a second temperature-indicating area adapted to provide an indication when the area is exposed to a second minimum temperature.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein step (a) includes the step of applying a label having at least three temperature-indicating areas.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of applying a second non-reversible, temperature-indicating label to the pneumatic tire before the tire is placed into normal use.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of attaching a tire monitoring device to the tire before the tire is placed into use and attaching the non-reversible, temperature-indicating label to the tire monitoring device.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of mounting the tire to a tire rim.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of mounting the non-reversible, temperature-indicating label to the rim.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the rim includes a valve;

and further comprising the step of attaching the non-reversible, temperature-indicating label to the valve.