Wheel Assembly Sensor Monitoring for Tire Wear and Shock Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel assemblies, particularly those with non-pneumatic tires, face challenges in monitoring and optimizing their performance, wear, and maintenance due to varying usage conditions, leading to suboptimal tire selection and maintenance issues.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring system for wheel assemblies that includes a wheel assembly sensor and a tag, which collect data on tire performance, wear, and environmental conditions, transmitting this information to a processing apparatus for analysis and control, enabling improved maintenance and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-pneumatic tires are used in wheel assemblies, then flat-proof reliability is improved, but real-time monitoring capability of tire performance and wear deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical monitoring systems with sensor-based electronic monitoring. Sensors (including pressure sensors, temperature sensors, and wear sensors) are integrated into the wheel assembly to detect and transmit real-time data about tire performance, eliminating the need for complex mechanical measurement systems while maintaining continuous monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly performs self-monitoring through integrated sensors that automatically detect pressure, temperature, and wear conditions. The system self-diagnoses its own state and transmits this information wirelessly, eliminating the need for external manual inspection and enabling the tire to monitor its own performance continuously.
2Loss of information
If comprehensive sensor monitoring systems are implemented in wheel assemblies, then real-time data collection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions (pressure sensing, temperature sensing, wear detection) into a single integrated sensor unit or module. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components, simplifies installation, and decreases overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed with multi-functionality, where a single sensor unit can detect multiple parameters (pressure, temperature, wear) simultaneously. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensors for each parameter, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving comprehensive real-time monitoring.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated in the wheel assembly, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensor system into modular segments or independent sensing units that can be manufactured separately and then assembled into the wheel assembly. This segmentation allows each sensor component to be produced using standard manufacturing processes, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining the precision benefits of multiple sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs sensors that detect multiple physical parameters (pressure, temperature, wear depth) simultaneously or in sequence. By monitoring multiple parameters, the system achieves higher overall measurement precision for tire condition assessment without requiring an proportional increase in manufacturing complexity, as the same sensor platform can measure different parameters.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wheel assembly of a vehicle (e.g., a forklift or another material-handling vehicle) is monitored to obtain information regarding the vehicle, including information regarding the wheel assembly, which may be indicative of how the vehicle including the wheel assembly is used (e.g., a duty cycle of the vehicle and/or the wheel assembly), a state (e.g., a degree of wear) of the wheel assembly, loading and shocks on the wheel assembly, and/or a state of an environment (e.g., environmental temperature, a profile, compliance, or other condition of an underlying surface beneath the wheel assembly), and which may be, for example, conveyed to a user (e.g., an operator of the vehicle), transmitted to a remote party (e.g., a provider), and/or used to control the vehicle (e.g., a speed of the vehicle). This may improve use, maintenance, safety and/or other aspects of the vehicle, including the wheel assembly.