Uniformity correction by ablation at different track locations along a tire bead

• US 8,972,035 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2010
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin
• Original Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Hair, Clarence Vernon Jr., Stone, James Edward, Nicholsen, Verner Steve, Rousseau, Jean-Baptiste
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Yuhui R
• Application Number:
  US13/378,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20120095587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 700/110, 731/46, 425/58.1
• US Class Current: 700/110
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/03 Observing, e.g. monitoring, the workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/361 for deburring or mechanical trimming B23K26/351 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0635 Measuring and calculating tyre uniformity, e.g. using mathematical methods
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0638 Correcting by removing material, e.g. by grinding
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0061 Accessories, details or auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0633 After-treatment specially adapted for vulcanising tyres
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/34 by removing material from the body to be tested, e.g. from the tread of tyres
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/024 combined with tyre surface correcting or marking means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41875 characterised by quality surveillance of production
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32177 Computer assisted quality surveyance, caq
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working

Abstract

A system and method for reducing the magnitude of one or more harmonics of one or more uniformity parameters in a cured tire involves selective removal of tire material at one or more track/area locations along first and second bead profiles. Selective removal may occur via ablation at the bead seat, low flange and/or high flange zones to correct for a selected number of harmonics of such parameters as radial, lateral and tangential force variation. Ablation patterns are calculated and implemented on first and second tire beads to achieve desired levels of force reduction at selected angular locations (within the expanse from 0-360 degrees along each tire bead). Ablation patterns may be calculated for implementation at fixed or varied tire rotational speeds and/or fixed or varied levels of laser power.

Claims

1. A method for reducing a magnitude of one or more harmonics of one or more uniformity parameters in a cured tire, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying one or more uniformity parameters and a selected number of harmonics for each parameter for which correction is desired;

determining a plurality of different track locations for ablation defined along the profile of each tire bead, the plurality of different track locations including two or more of a bead seat, a low flange zone, and a high flange zone, the plurality of different track locations being determined based at least in part on a sensitivity associated with the bead seat, the low flange zone, and the high flange zone;

calculating a plurality of ablation patterns for each tire bead to correct for the selected number of harmonics for each identified uniformity parameter, each pattern in the plurality of ablation patterns being designed for ablation at one of the plurality of different track locations defined along the profile of a tire bead in two or more of the bead seat, the low flange zone and the high flange zone; and

selectively removing tire material along a first and second tire beads according to the plurality of ablation patterns calculated for each tire bead.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each ablation pattern is calculated in accordance with the formula:

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the harmonic phase φ

_h is adjusted by 180 degrees for applicable portions of the ablation pattern on one or both of the first and second tire beads when the at least one uniformity parameter identified for correction comprises lateral force variation or if the track location for ablation comprises the low flange zone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one uniformity parameter that is identified for correction comprises one or more of low and high speed radial force variation, lateral force variation, tangential force variation, radial run out, lateral run out, mass variance, conicity and ply steer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected number of harmonics comprises a plurality of harmonics.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of selectively removing tire material comprises employing ablation at a fixed power level, while selectively rotating the cured tire with varied rotational speed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of selectively removing tire material comprises employing ablation at varied power levels, while rotating the cured tire at a fixed rotational speed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of calculating a plurality of ablation patterns more particularly comprises determining scaling factors to weight a desired level of correction for each uniformity parameter and track location for ablation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of selectively removing tire material comprises removing material along a selected angular portion of each tire bead, wherein the selected angular portion is less than an entire tire expanse of 360 degrees.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of calculating a plurality of ablation patterns comprises adjusting the ablation pattern to account for nonlinearities in an actual ablation implementation.