Disclosed herein are various embodiments relating to devices, systems and methods relating to the mounting and inflating of tires for use in automotive applications. There is a need in the art for improved devices, systems and methods for tire mounting and inflation, so as to allow a user to prepare racing tires without mounting on a rim.

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 method can include, by operation of a vehicle system, receiving tire profile data for each of a plurality of tires of the vehicle, calculating a target pressure for at least one tire using at least the tire profile data, establishing a wireless connection with a device separate from the vehicle system, and wirelessly transmitting the target pressure to the other device. Corresponding devices and systems are also disclosed.

A health monitoring system for a tire is provided. The health monitoring system includes a fiber optic strain sensor array. The fiber optic strain sensor array is configured to generate data indicative of a strain in the tire. The fiber optic strain sensor array is arranged and aligned within a fibrous reinforcement array of the tire to generate data which can be directly correlated to an interaction of the tire and a work surface on which the tire operates. The health monitoring system also includes a control module. The control module is configured to receive the data associated with the strain and the interaction of the tire. The control module is also configured to generate visual representation of the tire based on the received data of the strain in the tire and the interaction of the tire for indicating an effect of operating the tire on the work surface.

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 testing apparatus, in particular a tire testing apparatus, includes a testing chamber, a pressure loading unit for changing the pressure in the testing chamber and at least one measuring head for measuring a measurement object arranged in the testing chamber at different pressure values produced by the pressure loading unit. It is provided here that, for changing the pressure in the testing chamber, the pressure loading unit changes the volume of the testing chamber while excluding air from the surroundings.

An inspection device includes a shape recognition means for recognizing a shape of a tire from one or more images of the tire and detecting a defect candidate of the tire; and a tire information recognition means for extracting a character from the one or more images of the tire and recognizing tire information including a model number of the tire; a reference dimension setting means for acquiring information about a specification dimension of the tire based on the recognized model number of the tire; a dimension calculation means for calculating a dimension of the defect candidate based on the specification dimension of the tire and the shape of the tire; and a determination means for determining presence or absence of a defect of the tire based on the dimension of the defect candidate.

This invention relates to a tyre support device comprising an inclined structure with means for supporting and rotating a tyre at a controlled speed on its axis, avoiding vibrations and deformation thereof during rotation.