Systems and methods for improving tire uniformity, for instance to reduce cavity noise and other effects caused by localized tire surface anomalies are provided. The localized tire surface anomaly can be manifested as a local peak of radial nm out or other uniformity parameter (e.g. radial force variation) for the tire. The local peak of radial run out can be within uniformity tolerances for radial run out, but can still contribute to cavity noise through the high harmonic effects caused by the local peak. According to aspects of the present disclosure, the location and/or other identifiable characteristics of a localized tire surface anomaly can be identified. An ablation device can be used on the tread of the tire to remove tire material at an azimuthal location associated with the localized tire surface anomaly to improve the uniformity of the tire.

A decal marker used with a marking station interchangeably carries a decal tape and a marking tape and transfers a decal from the decal tape to a surface to be marked. A marking assembly frame and at least one marker carried by the marking assembly frame which carries the decal tape or the marking tape are included. A tape sensor assembly is carried by the at least one marker and detects an edge of the decal so that the at least one marker properly positions the decal for transfer to the surface.

A method of modeling a tire includes providing a tire having a first tire design, rotating the tire under a vertical load, and measuring a plurality of forces at a plurality of selected conditions. The method further includes using a computer to plot the plurality of forces against the plurality of conditions, using the computer to plot a plurality of moments against the plurality of conditions, and using the computer to fit a first force curve to the plurality of plotted forces at the plurality of conditions, such that the first force curve is asymmetric. The method also includes using the computer to fit a first moment curve to the plurality of plotted moments at the plurality of conditions, evaluating the first force curve and the first moment curve, and making a second tire design based on the evaluation of the first force curve and the first moment curve.

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.

A uniformity waveform for a tire (T) and a rotational phase of a load drum (4) are measured with a load drum (4) pressed against the tire (T). In a waveform of the frequency domain acquired by frequency conversion of the uniformity waveform, the amplitude and phase for a component of an integer multiple of the rotational frequency of the load drum (4) are found and stored as a correction parameter. A corrected tire (T) uniformity waveform is calculated by subtracting from the uniformity waveform a correction waveform calculated on the basis of the correction parameter, the correction waveform being the one in the rotational phase range of the load drum (4) during tire measurement.

A wheel-force dynamometer (1) for the measurement of forces and torques acting upon a vehicle tire (2a) and a vehicle wheel (2) using force sensors (4, 24, 44). The vehicle wheel (2) is mounted and able to rotate on a wheel axle. The wheel-force dynamometer (1) has a wheel axle that is in the form of a hollow shaft (9, 29, 49) which is hydrostatically mounted on a rigid, fixed in position bearing journal (3, 23, 43).

Methods and systems for improving tire uniformity through identification of characteristics of one or more candidate process effects are provided. The magnitudes of process harmonics associated with one or more candidate process effects can be identified by combining uniformity measurements for a set of tires to achieve an enhanced resolution for a sampling of the process harmonic. The enhanced resolution approach can combine uniformity measurements for a set of a plurality of tires that are slightly offset from one another to generate a composite process harmonic sampling. In particular, the composite process harmonic sampling can be generated by aligning the uniformity measurements for each tire in the set of tires based on the azimuthal location of the maximum magnitude of the process harmonic on each tire. The magnitude of the process harmonic can then be determined using the composite process harmonic sampling.

A system and method for reducing the magnitude of one or more harmonica of one or more uniformity parameters in a cured tire involves selective removal of tire material at one or more track/area locations along first and second bead profiles. Selective removal may occur via ablation at the bead seat, low flange and/or high flange zones to correct for a selected number of harmonic of such parameters as radial, lateral and tangential force variation. Ablation pattern are calculated and implemented on first and second tire beads to achieve desired levels of force reduction at selected angular locations (within the expanse from 0-360 degrees along each tire bead). Ablation patterns may be calculated for implementation at fixed or varied tire rotational speeds and/or fixed or varied levels of laser power.

A tire comprises an inner surface defining and facing an inner hollow space, an outer surface pointing away from the inner hollow space. A method of processing the tire comprises identifying the position of a first feature on the outer surface and cleaning a surface portion of the inner surface of the tire, wherein the surface portion has a first predetermined position relative to the position of the first feature on the outer surface. A separate element is attached with its attachment surface to the surface portion, wherein a ratio of a size of the surface portion over a corresponding size of the attachment surface is smaller than 10.

The present invention includes methods and apparatus for controlling the abrasion of a tire surface. Particular embodiments provide an abrading tool for abrading a surface of a tire, the tool comprising means for rotating an abrading wheel, an abrading wheel rotatably attached to the means for rotating, and a depth guide secured to the means for rotating, wherein the depth guide includes a pair of freely rotatable, spaced apart guide wheels. Further embodiments include a depth guide configured for use with an abrading tool which includes a abrading wheel and a means for rotating the abrading wheel, the depth guide comprising a mounting member securable to the means for rotating and a pair of freely rotatable, spaced apart guide wheels rotatably attached to the mounting member. Particular embodiments further include a method for preparing a portion of a tire for repair.