Tire Internal Failure Detection via Radial Acceleration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting internal tire failures, such as separations, using temperature sensors and ferrite pieces are prone to inaccuracies and complexity, and can affect tire behavior, while methods involving sensitive ferrite pieces require numerous sensors along the tire circumference, making them impractical.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing an acceleration sensor installed on the inner surface of the tire in the tread center area to detect radial acceleration, calculate a band value within a specific frequency range (100 Hz to 400 Hz) containing the second lowest peak of the frequency spectrum, and compare it to a predetermined value to determine internal failures without affecting tire behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a temperature sensor is embedded in the shoulder area of the tire, then internal failures can be detected through temperature changes, but the sensor becomes a starting point for new cracks and adds measurement system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinternal failure detection capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the detection function from the shoulder area (where embedding sensors cause problems) and relocates it to the tread center area. By placing the acceleration sensor in the tread center rather than the shoulder area, the patent eliminates the risk of the sensor becoming a crack initiation point while maintaining internal failure detection capability through vibration analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the temperature-based detection method with a vibration-based detection method using an acceleration sensor. Instead of measuring temperature changes that require complex measurement systems, the patent uses mechanical vibration signals that are easier to process and analyze for detecting internal failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If multiple temperature-sensitive ferrite pieces are disposed along the tire circumference, then internal failures can be detected, but the number of sensors required makes the system impractical

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinternal failure detection capabilityVSAvoidnumber of ferrite pieces
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple detection points into a single detection location (tread center area). Instead of requiring multiple ferrite pieces distributed along the tire circumference, the patent uses one acceleration sensor that captures vibration signals representative of the entire tire structure, thereby detecting internal failures with fewer components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single acceleration sensor in the tread center area serves as a universal detection point that can identify internal failures throughout the tire. The vibration signals captured at this location provide information about the overall tire condition, making the sensor multi-functional for detecting separations, socketing, and other internal failures without requiring multiple specialized sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If the gap between sensitive ferrite and yoke changes due to tire revolution speed, then electromotive force detection becomes unstable, but tire rotation is necessary for operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromotive force detection stabilityVSAvoidtire revolution speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of measuring electromagnetic induction effects that are sensitive to gap changes, the invention inverts the approach by directly measuring mechanical vibration acceleration. This inversion from electromagnetic measurement to mechanical measurement eliminates the instability caused by varying gaps while maintaining the ability to detect internal failures during tire rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for accurate detection of internal tire failures without impacting tire performance, improving vehicular safety by reliably identifying separations through distinct vibration patterns.

Implementation Method 1

radial acceleration of a tire during vehicular travel is detected by an acceleration sensor installed on the inner surface of the tire in the tread center area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2586629B1Tire internal failure determination method
Publication Date: 2016.07.13 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP2586629B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2586629B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(B)
  • EP2586629B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5(b)

AI summary

A method for accurately determining internal failures, such as separations, of a tire without affecting tire behaviors. Radial acceleration signals of a tire during vehicular travel are detected by an acceleration sensor (11) attached to the inner surface of the tire at the axial center of the tread. A frequency analysis is performed on the radial acceleration signals to obtain a frequency spectrum. A band value Xab is calculated of a specific frequency band [fa, fb] within the range of 100 Hz - 400 Hz, which includes the frequency of the second lowest peak of the peaks appearing in the frequency spectrum. Then a check is made to see whether or not the difference between this band value Xab and a predetermined band value Yab of a normal tire exceeds a threshold value K. And when Yab - Xab > K, it is determined that an internal failure, such as a separation, is present in the tire.