Tire Uniformity Correction via Measurement Harmonic Subtraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tire uniformity measurement systems struggle to accurately distinguish between tire harmonics and process harmonics, leading to incorrect uniformity measurements due to factors like non-uniform road wheels, which affect ride comfort and tire performance.

Innovation Solution

A method to identify and correct uniformity measurements by analyzing multiple tire revolutions, estimating parameters of measurement process harmonics, and subtracting their effects to provide accurate tire uniformity data, thereby improving tire manufacturing processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional uniformity measurement systems are used, then measurement process is simple, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to distinguish tire harmonics from process harmonics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement system segments the total uniformity measurement into two distinct components: tire harmonics and process harmonics. By analyzing multiple tire revolutions and identifying periodic patterns, the system separates the measurement signal into tire-specific characteristics and machine-induced characteristics, allowing accurate distinction between actual tire uniformity issues and measurement artifacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by using the identified process harmonics to correct subsequent uniformity measurements. The measured process harmonic patterns are stored and used to compensate for machine contributions in production tire measurements, continuously improving measurement accuracy by eliminating known measurement errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If process harmonics are not corrected, then measurement process is straightforward, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to incorrect uniformity measurements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire uniformityVSAvoidmeasurement and correction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary characterization of process harmonics using test tires before production measurement. By identifying and storing the machine's harmonic patterns in advance, the system prepares correction data that can be applied to all subsequent production measurements, improving tire uniformity assessment without adding complexity during actual production testing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts the process harmonic components from the total measurement signal and removes them to reveal the true tire uniformity characteristics. By isolating and eliminating the machine-induced periodic variations, the system provides corrected measurements that reflect only actual tire conditions, improving manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If multiple tire revolutions are analyzed, then measurement precision improves through harmonic identification, but loss of time increases due to extended measurement process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharmonic parameter estimation accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a limited number of tire revolutions (excessive but not excessive) to identify process harmonics with sufficient accuracy. By analyzing just enough revolutions to capture the periodic patterns, the system achieves adequate harmonic parameter estimation without unnecessarily extending measurement time, balancing precision improvement with time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3175213B1Tire uniformity improvement using measurement process harmonics
Publication Date: 2020.03.04 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP3175213B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3175213B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3175213B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Methods and systems for improving the uniformity of a tire are provided. More particularly, one or more parameters of a measurement process harmonic contributing to uniformity measurements performed for a tire can be identified. The measurement process harmonic can be a process harmonic effect associated with the acquisition of uniformity measurements of a tire, such as a process harmonic effect associated out-of-roundness of a road wheel used to load a tire during uniformity measurement in a uniformity measurement machine. The measurement process harmonic can result solely from the acquisition of uniformity measurements and may not contribute to actual tire non-uniformity. Once identified, the one or more parameters associated with the measurement process harmonic can be used to correct the uniformity measurements of the tire to account for the measurement process harmonic. Tire manufacture can then be modified to improve tire uniformity based on the corrected measurements.