tire

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a tire that can accurately measure the force between the tire surface and the road surface, even on soft road surfaces. [Solution] The tire of the present invention has a force sensor embedded in its surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire.

[0002] Conventionally, as a method for measuring the force between the tire surface and the road surface, a force sensor has often been embedded in the surface layer on the road surface side (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] However, although the road surface is fixed to the ground, etc., and is usually considerably rigid and hardly deformed compared to the tire, in the case of a soft road surface such as sand, the sensor cannot be fixed.

[0004] i Furthermore, in a soft road surface such as sand, when a force sensor is embedded in the surface layer of the soft road surface, the force between the tire surface and the road surface is measured at a small value due to the interposition of sand, etc. In addition, a force sensor, which is often considerably more rigid than a soft road surface, exists on the surface layer of the soft road surface as a foreign object. For these reasons, in the method of arranging a force sensor on the surface layer on the road surface side, in the case of a soft road surface such as sand, the force between the tire surface and the road surface may not be measured with sufficient accuracy.

[0005] On the other hand, although it is also conceivable to attach a force sensor to the tire surface, since it will protrude from the actual tire surface to some extent, there is a concern about deterioration in the measurement accuracy of the shear force (τx, τy) in particular. There was no force sensor thin enough not to affect the shear force.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Documents

[0007]

Non-Patent Document 1

[0008] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a tire that can accurately measure the force between the tire surface and the road surface, even when the road surface is soft. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The gist of the present invention is as follows: (1) A tire characterized by having a force sensor embedded in its surface.

[0010] (2) The tire according to (1), wherein the surface layer is made of metal or resin.

[0011] (3) The tire according to (2), wherein the metal is steel or stainless steel.

[0012] (4) The tire according to (1) or (2), wherein multiple force sensors are arranged such that measurements can be taken at multiple locations during one rotation of the tire. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tire that can accurately measure the force between the tire surface and the road surface, even when the road surface is soft. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] Perspective view of a tire according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Side view of a tire according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] Perspective view of a tire according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 4.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments in any way.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tire according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a tire according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tire (elastic wheel) 10 of the present embodiment includes an attachment body 21, an elastic deformation part 22, an annular member 23, and a grounding body 30 disposed radially outside the annular member 23.

[0018] The attachment body 21 is a part attached to the axle. In this example, the attachment body 21 is made of metal. As the metal, for example, it can be made of steel or stainless steel. As shown in the figure, the attachment body 21 is formed in a disc shape in side view.

[0019] The elastic deformation part 22 connects the attachment body 21 and the annular member 23. In this example, the elastic deformation part 22 is a curved plate-like member and has the function of a leaf spring due to its shape. The elastic deformation part 22 can also be made of metal. As the metal, for example, it can be made of steel or stainless steel.

[0020] The annular member 23 has an annular shape in a side view. In this example, the annular member 23 is made of metal or resin. Here, "resin" does not include rubber. The metal is preferably steel or stainless steel. Also, the resin is preferably a hard resin. The thickness of the annular member 23 is not particularly limited as long as it has a thickness capable of embedding the force sensor 40 described later.

[0021] The grounding body 30 is made of a non-woven fabric composed of metal fibers in this example. The metal fibers are preferably steel or stainless steel fibers. Although the thickness of the grounding body 30 is not particularly limited, it can be, for example, 5 to 10 mm.

[0022] Now, in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, a force sensor 40 is embedded in the surface layer. In this embodiment, the annular member 23 is the surface layer, and the force sensor 40 is embedded in the annular member 23. The force sensor 40 can be a known sensor. As an example, it is preferably a three-component force sensor capable of measuring the ground pressure, the shear stress in the width direction, and the shear stress in the circumferential direction of the tire 10.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, as an example, the force sensor 40 includes a main body portion 40a and a pressure receiving portion 40b. The metal plate 50 consists of two parts, and recesses for arranging the main body portion 40a are provided in each of them. As shown in the figure, the main body portion 40a is arranged between the two recesses, and the pressure receiving portion 40b is arranged between the two parts of the metal plate 50. The grounding body (non-woven fabric) 30 has a portion 30b covering the portion corresponding to the pressure receiving portion 40b arranged between the two other portions 30a. The main body portion 40a is fixed to the metal plate 50 by a fixture (bolt) 60. Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the tire 10 of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described.

[0024] In the tire 10 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the force sensor 40 is embedded in the surface layer of the tire 10. For example, if the force sensor 40 were placed on the outermost surface of the tire 10, the force sensor 40 would protrude from the surface, but in this embodiment, the surface shape of the tire 10 does not need to change. Furthermore, since the force sensor 40 is embedded in the surface layer (in this example, a hard material such as metal or resin), problems such as the force sensor 40 not being fixed in place or the presence of sand or other materials, which can occur when the force sensor 40 is placed on a soft road surface, do not occur. As described above, the tire 10 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 allows for accurate measurement of the force between the tire surface and the road surface, even on soft road surfaces. Furthermore, since the surface shape of tire 10 does not need to be changed, there is room to attach other materials to the tire surface.

[0025] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tire (rigid wheel) according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, the tire (rigid wheel) 1 of this embodiment comprises an annular member 2 and a contact body 3 positioned radially outside the annular member 2. The portion partitioned radially inward by the annular member 2 is a hollow portion.

[0026] The annular member 2 has an annular shape when viewed from the side. In this example, the annular member 2 is made of metal or resin. Here, "resin" does not include rubber. The metal is preferably steel or stainless steel. Also, it is preferable to use a hard resin.

[0027] The thickness of the annular member 2 is not particularly limited, as long as it is thick enough to embed the force sensor 4 described later, but it can be, for example, 4.9 to 10 mm.

[0028] In this example, the grounding body 3 is made of a nonwoven fabric composed of metal fibers. The metal fibers are preferably steel or stainless steel fibers. The thickness of the grounding body 3 is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, 5 to 10 mm.

[0029] In this embodiment, a force sensor 4 is embedded in the surface layer. In this embodiment, the annular member 2 is the surface layer, and the force sensor 4 is embedded in the annular member 2. The force sensor 4 can be any known sensor, but as an example, it is preferably a three-component force sensor capable of measuring the ground pressure, widthwise shear stress, and circumferential shear stress of the tire 1.

[0030] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the BB in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 5, for example, the force sensor 4 consists of a main body 4a and a pressure receiving part 4b, and the tire 1 consists of two parts, each of which has a recess for positioning the main body 4a. As shown in the figure, the main body 4a is positioned between the two recesses, and the pressure receiving part 4b is positioned between the two parts of the tire 1. The contact body (nonwoven fabric) 3 has a part 3b that covers the part corresponding to the pressure receiving part 4b, positioned between the two other parts 3a. The main body 4a is fixed to the tire 1 by a fastener (bolt) 6. The following describes the effects and advantages of the tire 1 of this embodiment.

[0031] As described above, in the tire 1 of this embodiment, the force sensor 4 is embedded in the surface layer of the tire 1. For example, if the force sensor 4 were placed on the outermost surface of the tire 1, the force sensor 4 would protrude from the surface, but in this embodiment, the surface shape of the tire 1 does not need to change. Furthermore, since the force sensor 4 is embedded in the surface layer (in this example, a hard material such as metal or resin), problems such as the force sensor 4 not being fixed in place or the presence of sand or other materials, which occur when the force sensor 4 is placed on a soft road surface, do not occur. As described above, according to the tire 1 of this embodiment, the force between the tire surface and the road surface can be measured accurately even on soft road surfaces. Furthermore, since the surface shape of tire 1 does not need to be changed, there is room to attach other components to the tire surface.

[0032] In this disclosure, it is preferable that the material of the surface layer and the material of the surface layer of the force sensor 40(4) are the same. For example, if the material of the surface layer is a metal plate-like member, it is preferable that the surface layer of the force sensor 40(4) is also a metal plate-like member. This is because friction between the two can be reduced, thereby improving the measurement accuracy of the sensor.

[0033] In this disclosure, it is preferable that multiple force sensors 40(4) are arranged so that measurements can be taken at multiple locations during one rotation of the tire 10(1). Specifically, multiple force sensors 40(4) can be arranged in the tire width direction and / or in the tire circumferential direction (for example, at equal intervals along the circumference of the tire).

[0034] In this disclosure, the force sensor 40(4) is preferably battery-powered.

[0035] In this disclosure, it is preferable that the force sensor 40(4) has a storage unit (e.g., memory) and / or a communication unit. This is because the measured results can be stored in the storage unit and / or transmitted by the communication unit.

[0036] The tire 10(1) of this disclosure is suitably used as a tire for lunar or other planetary rovers. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 10: Tires (elastic wheels), 21: Mounting body, 22: Elastic deformation part, 23: Annular member, 30: Ground body, 40: Force sensor, 50: Metal plate, 60: Fixtures; 1: Tire (rigid wheel), 2: Annular member (surface layer), 3: Ground body, 4: Force sensor, 6: Fixtures

Claims

1. A tire characterized by having force sensors embedded in its surface.

2. The tire according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer is made of metal or resin.

3. The tire according to claim 2, wherein the metal is steel or stainless steel.

4. The tire according to claim 1 or 2, wherein multiple force sensors are arranged so that measurements can be taken at multiple locations during one rotation of the tire.

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