A single-cell workstation for processing a tire-wheel assembly including a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The single-cell workstation includes a mounting and indexing sub-station including a first plurality of tire engaging portions including one or more first tire-engaging surfaces, and a second plurality of tire engaging portions including one or more second tire-engaging surfaces.

A method and associated apparatus for uniquely identifying tyres for wheels of vehicles as part of wheel maintenance processes. The method envisages that a vehicle wheel is mounted on a support of a wheel maintenance apparatus, said wheel comprising a rim and a tyre. Moreover, a digital code is created to uniquely identify the tyre. Finally, via a marking system, preferably of the optical type, at least one marking is created on the surface of one side wall of the tyre of said wheel, corresponding to the previously created digital code.

A tire sensing system of kinetic parameters is provided, including: at least one wave-emitting source configured to rotate with a tire, and emit at least one detection wave towards an internal surface of said tire; at least one wave sensor configured to rotate with said at least one wave-emitting source, and output a measurement signal according to a physical parameter of said at least one detection wave being reflected off said internal surface; and a processing unit configured to receive said measurement signal, record at least two instants in time during which said at least one detection wave sweeps across the footprint of said tire, and compute a kinetic parameter of said tire with said at least two instants.

A wheel service machine and a method for servicing a wheel, such as a tire changer or a wheel balancer for a vehicle wheel, comprises a rotary mounting including a shaft to which the wheel is mounted, a frame work for carrying at least the rotary mounting, and a sensing device mounted to the frame work, for determining geometrical dimensions of the wheel, or parts of the wheel. The sensing device comprises a carrier element and a first sensing unit for sensing the wheel and a computing device for determining the geometrical dimensions of the wheel based on the data received from the sensing device, the first sensing unit being mounted on the carrier element. The wheel service machine further comprises a drive element for enabling a pivotal movement of the sensing device, wherein the drive element is a micro stepper motor.

A tire testing device having a rotary drive unit that rotationally drives a tire; a load drum that has an outer peripheral surface that can come into contact with the tire being rotationally driven; a drum support mechanism that supports the load drum and relatively moves the load drum such that the tire and the outer peripheral surface of the load drum come into contact and separate; a shape sensor that detects a surface shape of the tire being rotationally driven; a drive control unit that controls the operation of the rotary drive unit, the drum support mechanism, and the shape sensor; a registration unit that stores information related to the tire test; and an input reception unit that receives, and registers, in the registration unit, information related to the tire test entered by a user prior to the tire test being conducted.

A tire sensing system of kinetic parameters is provided, including: at least one wave-emitting source configured to rotate with a tire, and emit at least one detection wave towards an internal surface of said tire; at least one wave sensor configured to rotate with said at least one wave-emitting source, and output a measurement signal according to a physical parameter of said at least one detection wave being reflected off said internal surface; and a processing unit configured to receive said measurement signal, record at least two instants in time during which said at least one detection wave sweeps across the footprint of said tire, and compute a kinetic parameter of said tire with said at least two instants.

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.

The invention is directed to a valve stem system (1) for tubeless wheels. The valve stem system (1) includes a valve stem body (2) with a first end (3) and a second end (4), wherein the second end (4) is located in a tire/rim-volume when mounted at the wheel. A first valve element (5) is arranged at the second end (4) of the valve stem body (2). The first valve element (5) is a self-sealing one-way valve. The invention further concerns a probe (30) for a valve stem system, a method to test the amount of sealant in a wheel and a refilling assembly (80) for a wheel.

The present invention relates to a wheel service machine and a method for servicing a wheel. The wheel service machine, like a tyre changer or a wheel balancer, for servicing a wheel (W), like a vehicle wheel, comprising a rotary mounting including a shaft (S) to which the wheel (W) is mounted, a frame work for carrying at least the rotary mounting and a sensing device mounted to the frame work, for determining geometrical dimensions of the wheel (W), or parts of the wheel (W), the sensing device comprises a carrier element and a first sensing unit for sensing the wheel (W) and computing means for determining the geometrical dimensions of the wheel (W) based on the data received from the sensing device, the first sensing unit being mounted on the carrier element, the wheel service machine further comprises a drive means for enabling a pivotal movement of the sensing device wherein the drive means is a micro stepper motor.

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.