Method and apparatus for reducing shoulder wear on testing wheel
a technology of shoulder wear and tire treads, applied in the direction of vehicle testing, structural/machine measurement, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of tire tread shoulders that are commonly worn on the shoulders of tires tested on these cylindrical surfaces, and do not represent real-world situations,
Inactive Publication Date: 2014-12-25
MICHELIN & CO CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN +1
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Benefits of technology
This patent describes methods and devices for testing tire performance using a wheel with a specially-designed tire operating surface. The wheel has a contoured surface that matches the shape of the tire during operation. The method involves putting the tire on the wheel and spinning it while the tire is in contact with the operating surface. This allows for a thorough evaluation of the tire's performance. The invention has several advantages, including the ability to measure tire performance objectives such as grip, pneumatic efficiency, and tire wear. A machine is also described that includes a wheel with a special surface designed to mimic the tire's behavior during use. This machine has a drive system that rotates the wheel and a tire mount that keeps the tire in place during the test. Overall, the invention provides a more precise and accurate way to evaluate tire performance.
Problems solved by technology
Unfortunately, these cylindrical outer tire operating surfaces do not represent real-world conditions since it has been observed that tires tested on these cylindrical surfaces commonly exhibit notably higher wear on the shoulders of the tire treads than those tires tested on a generally flat surface.
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[0024]As suggested above, there is a need to provide an improved road wheel for performing tire testing operations. With reference to FIG. 3, tire road or testing wheels 118 employed in the prior art have an outer tire operating surface 120ocomprising right circular cylindrical surfaces, whereby the outer tire operating surface is laterally flat. In other words, the flat outer tire operating surface 120o generally extends laterally across the surface width by being located a constant distance Ro from a rotational axis Aw-Aw of the wheel such that the lateral extension of the outer surface 120o is parallel to the rotational axis Aw-Aw (i.e., not inclined relative to the rotational axis). The outer tire operating surface may include texture 122, which may form a layer of particulate or other desirous material. However, when tires are tested on these right circular cylindrical operating surfaces, the tire treads experience higher wear rates on the tread shoulders when compared to tires...
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The present invention includes methods and apparatus for testing tire performance using a laterally-contoured road wheel. Accordingly, particular embodiments of the machine include a wheel configured to rotate, the wheel having a tire operating surface configured to engage a tire during operation, the outer tire operating surface arranged along an annular side of the wheel and having a width extending laterally relative a circumferential direction of the wheel along a contoured path. The machine may further include a drive source configured to rotate the wheel and a tire mount configured to rotatably maintain a tire. The present invention also includes methods of forming a laterally-contoured tire operating surface for a road wheel.
Description
[0001]This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, International Patent Application No. PCT / US2011 / 067994, filed Dec. 29, 2011 with the United States Receiving Office, which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to road wheels for testing tires on tire testing machines and more specifically, to tire operating surfaces employed by road wheels in testing or evaluating tire performance.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003]Tires are often tested to determine any of a variety of characteristics. In particular instances, in lieu of testing tires on a vehicle, where conditions are difficult to control, tires are tested on a rotating road wheel to better control the test conditions. Such road wheels include an outer tire operating surface along which the tire contacts and operates. Such outer tire operating surface forms a radially outer surface of the wheel. It can also be said the outer tire operating surface is an...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): G01M17/02G01N3/56
CPCG01N3/56G01M17/022
Inventor MOUSSEAU, CEDRIC W.ADAMS, BROOKS M.AYGLON, VIRGILEHART, JR., SAMUEL E.HUTCHINSON DE STAERCKE, ANNRHYNE, TIMOTHY BRETT
Owner MICHELIN & CO CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN