Device for Checking the Tire Profile Depth and Profile Type, and the Speed and Ground Clearance of Vehicles in Motion

• US 20080256815A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frank H. Schafer
• Original Assignee: Frank H. Schafer
• Inventors: Schafer, Frank H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/24 Wear-indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/22 for measuring depth
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/027 using light, e.g. infrared, ultraviolet or holographic techniques

Abstract

A device for detecting a profile depth and/or a profile type of a vehicle tire has a profile-measuring device, a camera system for detecting the vehicle, an evaluating unit, which couples the profile-measuring device and the camera system to one another; and further having at least one of the components: a speed-measuring device for detecting the vehicle speed; a direction of travel-measuring device for detecting the steering situation or movement direction of the vehicle, wherein the evaluating unit is designed to produce a measuring signal for the current acceleration of the vehicle and the control is designed to permit an evaluation only when the vehicle is situated in a preset frame at a relatively uniform speed; and wherein a measuring signal for the movement direction of the vehicle can be produced by the evaluating unit and the measuring signal is provided for control of the evaluation of the profile measurement and the control is designed to permit an evaluation only when the vehicle is situated in a preset frame when traveling in a straight line.

Claims

1-37. -37. (canceled)

38. Device for detecting a profile depth and/or a profile type of a profile of a vehicle tire on one vehicle of several vehicles moved to the device during travel, in particular in flowing traffic, said device having:

a profile-measuring device;

a camera system for detecting the vehicle;

an evaluating unit, which couples the profile-measuring device and the camera system to one another;

a speed-measuring device for detecting vehicle speed;

a direction of travel-measuring device for detecting a steering situation or movement direction of the vehicle, wherein the evaluating unit produces a measuring signal for a current acceleration of the vehicle and a control permits an evaluation for the one of several vehicles only when the vehicle is situated in a preset frame at a relatively uniform speed; and

a measuring signal for the movement direction of the vehicle being produced by the evaluating unit and the measuring signal and being provided for control of the evaluation of the profile measurement and the control being designed to permit an evaluation for the one of several vehicles only when the vehicle is situated in a preset frame when traveling in a straight line.

39. Device according to claim 38, wherein the camera system is designed to detect a number plate of the vehicle.

40. Device according to claim 38, wherein the device is designed for contact-free speed measurement of the vehicle.

41. Device according to claim 38, wherein the device is designed for speed measurement of the vehicle with contact.

42. Device according to claim 38, wherein the evaluating unit records a measuring signal produced by a sensor rail for speed detection.

43. Device according to claim 40, wherein the device is designed to activate detection of the profile depth only for vehicles which are moved in a preset speed range.

44. Device according to claim 38, further having a control device for controlling measuring sensors with regard to their operating status and/or with regard to their spatial arrangement and/or their measuring range.

45. Device according to claim 38, further having an evaluating device to evaluate measured values and/or for comparison of stored theoretical values and/or for comparison of the measured values.

46. Device according to claim 38, wherein detection can be activated only on a previously selected width of a vehicle tire.

47. Device according to claim 38, wherein said device is designed to render measurable a width of the vehicle tire and/or a width of a vehicle twin set of tires before profile-depth identification.

48. Device according to claim 38, wherein the control is designed to permit evaluation only when the vehicle is situated in a preset frame in non-accelerated, non-delayed, travel.

49. Device according to claim 38, wherein the measuring signal is produced via a sensor rail.

50. Device according to one of claim 38, wherein a module having evaluating software is provided by means of which dirt can be identified.

51. Device according to claim 38, wherein the evaluating unit is designed to render environmental conditions detectable via at least one sensor, which environmental conditions are selected from the group consisting of:

temperature, rain, atmospheric humidity, and dew.

52. Device according to claim 38, further comprising means for producing an automated recording of a controlled vehicle following a negatively running profile measurement.

53. Device according to claim 38, further comprising means for producing an automated recording of a controlled vehicle before a negatively running profile measurement.

54. Device according to claim 38, further having a number of sensor rails arranged one behind another.

55. Device according to claim 38, further having means for providing a speed measurement for traffic monitoring, and for producing a notice of payment due.

56. Device according to claim 38, wherein the device is a transportable device having a releasable connection for coupling to a foundation receiving the device.

57. Device according to claim 38, further having a display device to display measured values and/or to display information ascertained by the evaluating device.

58. Device according to claim 38, further having means for producing an acoustic signal when at least one measured value deviates to an undesirable extent from previously determined values.

59. Device according to claim 38, further having a printing device for printing results ascertained by the measuring device and/or the evaluating unit.

60. Device according to claim 38 further having a conducting device for guiding the vehicle to at least one measuring point.

61. Device according to claim 38, further having at least one protective device for protecting sensors and/or electronic components.

62. Device according to claim 61, wherein the protecting device has a defined standard to calibrate the sensors and/or the profile-measuring device.

63. Device according to claim 38, further having a sample database with tire profiles.

64. Device according to claim 38, wherein said device identifies the type of set of tires, identifies summer tires and/or identifies winter tires.

65. Device according to claim 38, further having means for issuing a notice of payment due if the set of tires does not correspond to a season and/or weather.

66. Device according to claim 38, further having means for issuing a warning and/or informing users when the vehicle has a set of tires which does not correspond to the season/weather.

67. Device according to claim 38, wherein the warning issuing, and/or informing means comprises at least one of an optical device and an acoustic device.

68. Device according to claim 38, further having a camera to record one side of the vehicle and to record a tire.

69. Device according to claim 38, wherein the profile-measuring device is a height profile-measuring device and/or profile type-measuring device.

70. Device according to claim 38, further having a control device for control of measuring sensors with regard to their operating status and/or with regard to their spatial arrangement and/or with regard to their measuring range.

71. Device according to claim 38, wherein a height profile of a vehicle base can be evaluated according to a minimum height.

72. Device according to claim 38, wherein the evaluating unit is designed to evaluate measured values and/or for comparison with stored theoretical values and/or for comparison of the measured values.

73. A system having a means for recording and/or for driving over with a vehicle and at least one profile-measuring device of the device according to claim 38 being integrated in the recording means or being arranged on the recording means.

74. The system according to claim 73, wherein the recording means is arranged vertically to a vehicle direction of travel.

75. The system according to claim 73, wherein the recording means is arranged at an angle to a vehicle direction of travel.