Tire Tread Wear Sensor Using Sacrificial Resistive Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tread wear indicators, such as colored indicia or tie-bar type elements, fail to provide a reliable and easily monitorable measure of tire tread wear, making it difficult for operators to determine the level of wear until the tire is significantly worn.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle tire tread wear system featuring radially stacked sensor elements that change in electrical resistance as they sacrificially abrade with tread wear, connected by circuitry to communicate data to a processor for determining the radial wear level, with plug-in needle connectors establishing electrical contact through the tire carcass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If colored indicia or tie-bar type elements are used as tread wear indicators, then the tire structure remains simple, but the ability to reliably and easily monitor tread wear level deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/visual wear indicators (colored indicia, tie-bars) with an electrical sensing system. Resistive sensor elements embedded in the tread element provide electrical signals that change with wear, enabling precise monitoring without complex visual inspection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in electrical resistance parameters of sensor elements as the tread wears. The resistive sensors are positioned at different depths and their resistance values change predictably as tread material is removed, providing quantitative wear measurement through electrical parameter variation.
2Measurement precision
If multiple different marks are formed to provide continuous wear information, then measurement precision improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wear indication function into multiple resistive sensor elements positioned at different radial depths within the tread element. Each sensor element provides information about wear at its specific depth, and collectively they provide continuous wear information without requiring complex molding operations for multiple marks.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of forming multiple different physical marks in the tire tread during manufacturing, the patent uses electrical resistive sensors that can be embedded during tire construction. These sensors provide continuous wear information through electrical measurements rather than requiring multiple molded features.
3Reliability
If radially stacked sensor elements are used to sequentially abrade with tread wear, then tread wear monitoring reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resistive sensor elements serve multiple functions: they act as structural components within the tread element, provide electrical pathways for wear measurement, and serve as the sensing mechanism itself. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor elements are nested within the tread element structure at different radial depths. The sensors are embedded in the tire construction rather than added as separate external components, integrating the sensing function into the existing tire structure and minimizing additional complexity.
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 real-time monitoring of tire tread wear, allowing for timely replacement decisions and integrating with tire pressure monitoring systems for comprehensive vehicle health assessment.
Implementation Method 1
sensor elements operatively configured and located to sequentially sacrificially abrade and change in electrical resistance responsive to a progressive tread wear of the tread element
Implementation Method 2
sensor elements operatively configured and located to sequentially sacrificially abrade and change in electrical resistance responsive to a progressive tread wear
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A vehicle tire and tread wear device assembly (10) is disclosed comprising: a tire (12) having a radially outward plurality of tread elements (18); at least one tread element (18) projecting from the base of the tread and ha00ving a defined tread depth; a tread wear indicator comprising at least one sacrificial resistive sensor element (24, 26, 28) affixed to the one tread element (18), wherein the one sensor element is operative to progressively change in resistivity responsive to progressive tread wear of the one tread element; electrical resistivity measuring means connected to the one sensor element for generating data indicative of a measured change in resistivity in the one sensor element; and data processing means for determining a tread wear status of the one tread element based on the measured change in resistivity of the one sensor element. Also, a method of installing a tread wear sensor in a tire of the tire type comprising a tire carcass enclosing a tire cavity and a tire tread region on the a radially outward regions of the tire carcass, the tire having a plurality of tread elements projecting from a base of the tire tread region, is disclosed. The method comprises: configuring a tread wear indicator to include at least one sacrificial resistive sensor element having a known resistance value; affixing the at least one resistive sensor element of the tread wear indicator to a selected tread element in a sensor element orientation placing the sensor element substantially parallel to a ground engaging surface of the tread element at a known sensor depth from the ground engaging surface; the at least one sensor element operative to sacrificially abrade and change in resistance responsive to progressive tread wear on the one tread element to the sensor depth; measuring a change in resistivity in the one sensor element; determining tread wear status of the one selected tread element based on the measured change in resistivity of the one sensor element.