Hand-Held Tire Scanner for 3D Tread Wear Profiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inspecting tire tread depth and surface profile are inadequate for ensuring safety limits and assessing wear under varying conditions, particularly in wet conditions and different wheel alignments.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held device with a light source, detector, and guide wheels linked by gears, which projects an elongate light pattern onto the tire and uses a rotary encoder to generate a three-dimensional topological surface profile, allowing for accurate measurement of tread depth and surface wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional tread depth measurement methods are used, then the inspection process is simple, but the measurement precision and reliability are insufficient for ensuring safety limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical contact-based tread depth measurement methods with an optical projection and imaging system. A light source projects a pattern onto the tire surface, and a detector captures the reflected light to generate three-dimensional surface profile data, eliminating the need for physical contact with the tire and providing more precise measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional two-dimensional tread depth measurements to three-dimensional surface profile mapping. By projecting a light pattern and analyzing its reflection from multiple angles, the system captures elevation data across the entire tire surface, enabling comprehensive wear assessment and alignment evaluation
2Reliability
If comprehensive surface profile inspection is performed, then wear assessment accuracy improves, but the inspection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously projects the light pattern and captures images as the tire rotates or the device moves along the tire surface. The rotary encoder maintains continuous tracking of position and rotation, allowing uninterrupted data collection across the entire tire circumference without stopping the inspection process
Solution Approach 2:
The optical measurement system creates a non-contact measurement environment that is insensitive to environmental factors such as dust, oil, and moisture on the tire surface. The light-based measurement method operates reliably regardless of these contaminants, maintaining consistent measurement quality throughout the inspection
3Adaptability or versatility
If three-dimensional surface profiling is implemented, then wheel alignment assessment capability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical projection and imaging system serves multiple functions: it measures tread depth, maps surface wear patterns, and assesses wheel alignment. The same light source, detector, and processing system that generate three-dimensional surface profiles also provide the data needed for alignment evaluation, eliminating the need for separate alignment measurement devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rotary encoder as an intermediary component that tracks the rotation and position of the tire or measurement device. This encoder provides reference data that links the optical surface profile measurements to specific locations on the tire, enabling accurate alignment assessment without adding complex mechanical alignment tools
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
Enables reliable and accurate measurement of tire tread depth and surface wear, ensuring safety limits are met and providing data for wheel alignment and tire inflation optimization, thereby improving traction and safety.
Implementation Method 1
Projecting an elongate pattern of light onto a rolling surface of the tire and imaging a region of said surface enables the surface topology of the tire (e.g. the depth/height profile of the tire) in that region to be measured. More particularly, projecting an elongate pattern of light onto a rolling surface of the tire and imaging at least of portion of the projected pattern reflected from the rolling surface of the tire enables the surface topology of the tire
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held device for obtaining a three-dimensional topological surface profile of a tire, the device comprising: a base comprising an aperture; a light source arranged in use to generate an elongate pattern of light, and to project said pattern through the aperture onto a rolling surface of the tire; a detector arranged to image a region of the rolling surface of the tire; a plurality of pairs of guide wheels mounted on respective axles mounted on the base, wherein the guide wheels on adjacent axles are linked by gears; and a rotary encoder arranged to generate a signal corresponding to rotation of an axle.