Non-contact method and system for tire analysis

• US 7,269,997 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Dale, James L. Jr., Rogers, Frederick J., Zhou, Wen Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J.
• Application Number:
  US10/859,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20050268707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/462, 731/463, 731/464, 731/465, 731/468, 152/209, 152/154, 340/438
• US Class Current: 73/146
• 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 non-contact method and system for analyzing tire conditions. The system includes an emitter source for emitting radiation signals towards a tire having a treaded surface between two sidewalls. A detector is provided to receive signals reflected by the tire in response to the emitted radiation signals. A data processing system, coupled to the emitter source and the detector, obtains geometrical information, such as height, of a plurality points on the tire based on the signals received from the detector. The data processing system determines a condition of the tire by comparing geometrical information for a designated portion of the plurality points with other portion points on the tire. A color-coded surface profile showing a height distribution of the tire is also generated to assist diagnosis of the tire.

Claims

1. A method for determining a condition of a tire having a rotational axis and a treaded surface disposed between two sidewalls, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining height information of a plurality points on the tire, wherein the plurality of points are selected from the treaded surface;

comparing height information of a designated portion of the plurality of points, with height information of at least one other portion of the plurality of points;

determining a condition of the tire based on a result of the comparing step; and

generating a result indicating the condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of points are on a path extending in a direction from one of the sidewalls to the other.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the path is parallel to the rotational axis of the tire;

the designated portion of the plurality of points is selected from points located on one side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of tire;

the comparing step compares the height information for points on one side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire, with height information for points on the other side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire; and

the determining steps determines whether the tire has uneven wear based on a difference between the height information for points on one side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire, and height information for points on the other side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein

the path is parallel to the rotational axis of the tire;

the designated portion of the plurality of points is selected from points located in a region extending from a centerline of the circumferential surface of tire towards the sidewalls for a prescribed distance;

the comparing step compares the height information for points located in the region with height information for points outside the region; and

the determining steps determines whether the tire has been operated over-inflated or under-inflated based on a difference between the height information for points located in the region and height information for points outside the region.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the height information includes information related to tire wear; and

the determining step including the steps of;

responsive to tire wear of the designated region being more severe than tire wear outside the designated region, indicating that the tire has been operated over-inflated; and

responsive to tire wear outside the designated region being more severe than tire wear of the designated region, indicating the tire has been operated under-inflated.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the designated portion is selected as a first tread block of the treaded surface;

the comparing step compares height information of the first tread block with height information of a second tread block adjacent the first tread block; and

the determining step determines whether the tire has a sawtooth pattern based on a difference between the height information of the first tread block and the height information of a second tread block adjacent the first tread block.

7. The method of claim 6 further including the steps of:

determining a radius of a surface of one of the first and second tread blocks that has a lower height; and

determining an abuse status of the tire based on the length of the radius.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the height information is generated by comparing respective heights of the plurality of points, to those specified in a specification of the tire.

9. A system for analyzing a condition of a tire having a rotational axis and a treaded surface disposed between two sidewalls, the system comprising:

an emitter source for emitting radiation signals towards the tire;

a detector for receiving signals reflected from the tire in response to the emitted radiation signals;

a data processing system, coupled to the emitter source and the detector, for processing data, wherein the data processing system is configured to perform the steps of;

obtaining height information of a plurality points on the tire based on the signals received from the detector, wherein the plurality of points are selected from the treaded surface;

comparing height information of a designated portion of the plurality points on the tire with height information of at least one other portion of the plurality of points;

determining a condition of the tire based on a result of the comparing step; and

generating a result indicating the condition.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of points are on a path extending in a direction from one of the sidewalls to the other.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the path is parallel to the rotational axis of the tire;

the designated portion of the plurality of points is selected from points located on one side of a centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire;

the comparing step includes a step of comparing the height information for points on one side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire, with height information for points on the other side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire; and

the determining steps determines whether the tire has uneven wear based on a difference between the height information for points on one side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire, with height information for points on the other side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the path is parallel to the rotational axis of the tire;

the designated portion of the plurality of points is selected from points located in a region extending from a centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire to the sidewalls for a prescribed distance;

the comparing step includes a step of comparing the height information for points located in the region with height information for points outside the region; and

the determining steps determines whether the tire has been operated over-inflated or under-inflated based on a difference between the height information for points located in the region and height information for points outside the region.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the designated portion of the height information is selected as a first tread block of the treaded surface;

the comparing step compares height information of the first tread block with height information of a second tread block adjacent to the first tread block; and

the determining step determines whether the tire has a sawtooth pattern based on a difference between the height information of the first tread block and the height information of a second tread block adjacent the first tread block.

14. The system of claim 13 further including the steps of:

determining a radius of a surface of one of the first and second tread blocks that has lower height; and

determining an abuse status of the tire based on the length of the radius.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the data processing system generates the height information by comparing respective heights of the plurality of points, to respective heights corresponding to the plurality of points specified in a specification of the tire.

16. A system for analyzing a condition of a tire having a rotational axis and a treaded surface disposed between two sidewalls, the system comprising:

emitting means for emitting radiation signals towards the tire;

detecting means for receiving signals reflected from the tire in response to the emitted radiation signals;

data processing means, coupled to the emitting means and the detecting means, for processing data, wherein the data processing means is configured to perform the steps of;

obtaining height information of a plurality points on the tire based on the signals received from the detecting means, wherein the plurality of points are selected from the treaded surface;

comparing height information of a designated portion of the plurality points on the tire with height information of at least one other portion of the plurality of points;

determining a condition of the tire based on a result of the comparing step; and

generating a result indicating the condition.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of points are on a path extending in a direction from one of the sidewalls to the other.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the path is parallel to the rotational axis of the tire;

the designated portion of the plurality of points is selected from points located on one side of a centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire;

the comparing step includes a step of comparing the height information for points on one side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire, with height information for points on the other side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire; and

the determining steps determines whether the tire has uneven wear based on a difference between the height information for points on one side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire, with height information for points on the other side of the centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the path is parallel to the rotational axis of the tire;

the designated portion of the plurality of points is selected from points located in a region extending from a centerline of the circumferential surface of the tire to the sidewalls for a prescribed distance;

the comparing step includes a step of comparing the height information for points located in the region with height information for points outside the region; and

the determining steps determines whether the tire has been operated over-inflated or under-inflated based on a difference between the height information for points located in the region and height information for points outside the region.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the designated portion of the height information is selected as a first tread block of the treaded surface;

the comparing step compares height information of the first tread block with height information of a second tread block adjacent the first tread block; and

the determining step determines whether the tire has a sawtooth pattern based on a difference between the height information of the first tread block and the height information of a second tread block adjacent the first tread block.