A computer-implemented method, an apparatus and a computer-program product for determining a quality of a tire. The apparatus includes a sensor array configured to obtain a footprint of the tire, and a processor. The processor determines an intensity profile of the footprint, locates an edge of a tread rib of the tire from the change in intensity, and determines from the location of the tread rib edge a relative quality of the tire.

A vehicle monitoring system monitors a vehicle characteristic and, from the monitoring, determines the state of a vehicle component. The system may set an alert and may communicate that alert to a user or supervisory authority. The state of the vehicle component may relate to a vehicle tire and to the potential delamination of a tire.

A heavy goods vehicle tire has a radial carcass reinforcement, made up of a single layer of metal reinforcing elements anchored in each of the beads by a turn-up around a bead wire. The turn-up of the carcass reinforcement layer and the main part of the carcass reinforcement layer are coupled, and a passive radiofrequency communication module is placed facing the coupling region at the interface between two layers of rubber compounds.

Devices are taught for filling a tire with air, gas or a liquid and repairing the tire. In one embodiment, the tire repair tool discloses an transmittal control section, with the transmittal control section comprising a proximal end, the proximal end having an opening, a distal end, with the distal end having a centralized opening to align with a puncturable seal at a proximal end of a gas cartridge; a passageway positioned between the proximal end of the gas cartridge and the distal end; and a puncture tool which can puncture the puncturable seal of the gas cartridge. The puncture tool is positioned at the distal end of the transmittal control section along the air passage way. An insertion tube comprises an air inlet at a distal end of the insertion tube which is connected to the opening of the proximal end of the transmittal control section. A gas outlet passes air from a gas cartridge through the air passage way through the transmittal control section into the air inlet of the insertion tube and through the gas outlet.

A rim exchanger includes a rim stocker. The rim stocker has an upper rim support portion that supports an upper rim, and a lower rim support portion that supports a lower rim. The upper rim support portion and the lower rim support portion have a pair of support arms separated from each other. A portion between an end of one support arm and an end of the other support arm forms an open end where a rim body enters a portion between the pair of support arms. An upper surface of one support arm forms a protrusion portion support surface which supports a protrusion portion of a rim from below.

Devices are taught for filling a tire with air, gas or a liquid and repairing the tire. In one embodiment, the tire repair tool discloses an transmittal control section, with the transmittal control section comprising a proximal end, the proximal end having an opening a distal end, with the distal end having a centralized opening to align with a punctureable seal at a proximal end of a gas cartridge; a passageway positioned between the proximal end of the gas cartridge and the distal end; and a puncture tool which can puncture the punctureable seal of the gas cartridge. The puncture tool is positioned at the distal end of the transmittal control section along the air passage way. An insertion tube comprises an air inlet at a distal end of the insertion tube which is connected to the opening of the proximal end of the transmittal control section. A gas outlet passes air from a gas cartridge through the air passage way through the transmittal control section into the air inlet of the insertion tube and through the gas outlet.

Disclosed is a wheel airtight rubber ring press-fitting device, consisting of a frame, first servo motors, ball screw pairs, first guide rails, a first cylinder and the like. The device may be used for automatic continuous production. The central axis of an airtight rubber ring coincides with the central axis of the outer rim of a wheel, so that the positioning precision is improved, and high-precision press-fitting is realized. Through cyclic switching of double manipulators, the press-fitting feeding time is nested, the press-fitting cycle is shortened, and the working efficiency is improved.

Disclosed is a wheel airtight rubber ring press-fitting device, consisting of a frame, first servo motors, ball screw pairs, first guide rails, a first cylinder and the like. The device may be used for automatic continuous production. The central axis of an airtight rubber ring coincides with the central axis of the outer rim of a wheel, so that the positioning precision is improved, and high-precision press-fitting is realized. Through cyclic switching of double manipulators, the press-fitting feeding time is nested, the press-fitting cycle is shortened, and the working efficiency is improved.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a thin, light, and portable system for measuring one or more parameters of a contact patch between a tire and a surface. The system may be configured with an array of sensors capable of being removable fixed to the surface. The array of sensors may measure the one or more parameters of the contact patch between the tire and the surface. Moreover, the system may include a scanner configured to interpret the measurements from the array of sensors as data and store the data.

A method of measuring thickness of a material generally includes applying an oscillating signal to a first electrode at a fixed frequency, passing the signal through the material to a second electrode, and measuring the magnitude of the signal reflected back to the first electrode. The thickness of the material is determined based on the measured magnitude of the reflected signal by: 1) comparing the determined magnitude to a predetermined baseline to establish a difference; and 2) identifying the thickness based on the difference. Related apparatuses are also disclosed. The material may be a vehicle tire.