A tire defect detection system for detecting defects in a tire. The system includes at least one infrared camera, a pneumatic source and a computing device. The pneumatic source inflates the tire to a predetermined pressure. After inflation, the infrared camera captures a reference frame of a section of the tire. A period of time after capturing the reference frame, the infrared camera captures a subsequent frame. The subsequent frame is compared to the reference frame to detect a portion of the section of the tire that has a lower temperature. The lower temperature is caused by an escape of air from the tire through a defect. The escaping air cools the area of the tire around the defect, so a decrease in temperature indicates the defect.

A tire uniformity testing machine that includes a base, a pair of vertical spaced apart columns supporting an upper cross frame member. The base carries a load wheel carriage movable towards and away from a testing station. The vertical uprights establish a peripheral footprint plane that does not extend beyond a plane that is tangent to an outer rolling surface of the load wheel when it is redirected. The upper frame member includes clearance spaces and cutouts that enable at least a portion of an upper chuck to move into the upper frame member and a super structure mounted to a top of the cross member that mounts at least a portion of an actuator for translating the upper chuck. The configuration establishes a machine height that enables the machine to be loaded into a standard shipping container and reduces the overall footprint of the tire uniformity machine without compromising its ability to precisely sense tire uniformity parameters.

A tire testing device includes a road surface, and a carriage configured to rotatably hold a test wheel and traveling along the road surface. The carriage includes an alignment part configured to adjust wheel alignment of the test wheel. The alignment part includes a load adjusting part configured to adjust load acting on the test wheel. The load adjusting part includes a first movable frame movable up and down, a linear guide that guides the movement of the first movable frame, and a first driver that drives the first movable frame up and down. One of a rail and a traveling part of the linear guide is fixed to the first movable frame. The carriage includes a main frame having an alignment mechanism support part that accommodates the alignment part. The other of the rail and the traveling part is fixed to the alignment mechanism support part.

A tire testing device includes a road surface, and a carriage configured to rotatably hold a test wheel and traveling along the road surface. The carriage includes an alignment part configured to adjust wheel alignment of the test wheel. The alignment part includes a load adjusting part configured to adjust load acting on the test wheel. The load adjusting part includes a first movable frame movable up and down, a linear guide that guides the movement of the first movable frame, and a first driver that drives the first movable frame up and down. One of a rail and a traveling part of the linear guide is fixed to the first movable frame. The carriage includes a main frame having an alignment mechanism support part that accommodates the alignment part. The other of the rail and the traveling part is fixed to the alignment mechanism support part.

A tire wear state estimation system includes a tire that supports a vehicle. A sensor unit is mounted on the tire and includes a footprint centerline length measurement sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and electronic memory capacity for storing identification information for the tire. A processor is in electronic communication with the sensor unit and receives the measured centerline length, the measured pressure, the measured temperature and the identification information. A tire construction database stores tire construction data and is in electronic communication with the processor. The identification information is correlated to the tire construction data. An analysis module is stored on the processor and receives the measured centerline length, the measure pressure, the measured temperature, the identification information, and the tire construction data as inputs. The analysis module includes a prediction model that generates an estimated wear state for the tire from the inputs.

A tire wear state estimation system includes a tire that supports a vehicle. A sensor unit is mounted on the tire and includes a footprint centerline length measurement sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and electronic memory capacity for storing identification information for the tire. A processor is in electronic communication with the sensor unit and receives the measured centerline length, the measured pressure, the measured temperature and the identification information. A tire construction database stores tire construction data and is in electronic communication with the processor. The identification information is correlated to the tire construction data. An analysis module is stored on the processor and receives the measured centerline length, the measure pressure, the measured temperature, the identification information, and the tire construction data as inputs. The analysis module includes a prediction model that generates an estimated wear state for the tire from the inputs.

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.

Embodiments included herein are directed towards a method for estimating tire load. Embodiments may include determining a tire pressure associated with a tire and determining a tire angular velocity associated with the tire. Embodiments may further include obtaining one or more tire stiffness coefficients and determining a tire radial deformation based upon, at least in part, a length of a tire ground contact patch or a contact patch angle.

Embodiments included herein are directed towards a method for estimating tire load. Embodiments may include determining a tire pressure associated with a tire and determining a tire angular velocity associated with the tire. Embodiments may further include obtaining one or more tire stiffness coefficients and determining a tire radial deformation based upon, at least in part, a length of a tire ground contact patch or a contact patch angle.

The invention concerns a system for evaluating the surface of a tyre (10), comprising: a region (21) for entry of the tyre into the system, a capture region, and an exit region (22), distinct from the entry region, means for moving (23) and for holding a tyre in position, means for illuminating the tyre allowing the illumination of a sidewall of the tyre and of the crown of a tyre in the capture region, means for acquiring a visual image of the tyre in the capture region, means for processing the acquired image, at least one acquisition means being installed on a shaft that is movable with respect to the tyre installed in the capture region.