CONTROL DEVICE FOR CIVIL-ENGINEERING VEHICLE TIRE AND CORRESPONDING CONTROL METHOD

Abstract

A device for inspecting tires of large dimensions, in particular for civil engineering vehicles, comprises: a rotationally driven tire support (10) designed to support a tire (20) to be inspected in position so that its axis of rotation is substantially horizontal, said support comprising means for rotating the supported tire; an ultrasound inspection device (1) provided with an inspection head (5) that is freely mounted radially and axially, a module (8) for retrieving and processing echo data retrieved during inspection phases, and a system for controlling the movement of the inspection head (5) inside the tire to be inspected, in particular along the inner wall of the crown area of said tire to be inspected.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A tire inspection device for inspecting tires of large dimensions comprising: a rotationally driven tire support configured to support a tire to be inspected in position so that the axis of rotation of the tire to be inspected is substantially horizontal, the rotationally driven tire support comprising means for rotating the tire to be inspected; and an ultrasound inspection module provided with: an inspection head that is freely mounted radially and axially, a module for retrieving and processing echo data retrieved during inspection phases, and a module for controlling movement of the inspection head inside the tire to be inspected.

12. The tire inspection device according to claim 11, wherein the tires of large dimensions are civil engineering vehicle tires.

13. The tire inspection device according to claim 11, wherein the movement of the inspection head inside the tire is movement along an inner wall of a crown area of the tire to be inspected.

14. The tire inspection device according to claim 11, wherein the module for retrieving and processing echo data comprises a signal processing sub-module allowing real-time display of the retrieved echo signals.

15. The tire inspection device according to claim 11, wherein the module for retrieving and processing echo data comprises a signal processing sub-module for recording the echo data.

16. The tire inspection device according to claim 11, further comprising a pump for ensuring the filling of carrier fluid, the draining of carrier fluid or both the filling and draining of carrier fluid in a lower area of a tire cavity.

17. The tire inspection device according to claim 11, wherein the rotationally driven tire support comprises a transverse arm supporting two roller bearings, on which the sidewalls of a tire to be inspected are placed during an inspection.

18. A method for inspecting tires of large dimensions comprising the following steps: placing a tire to be inspected on a rotationally driven tire support designed to support the tire to be inspected in position so that the axis of rotation of the tire to be inspected is substantially horizontal; filling a lower area of a tire cavity using an ultrasound fluid; positioning a movable inspection head inside the tire cavity, in the immersed area, in the immediate vicinity of the surface to be inspected; rotating the tire at a speed that is adapted to the applied waves using the rotationally driven tire support; and applying ultrasound waves and retrieving the generated echo signals using the movable inspection head.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the tires of large dimensions are civil engineering vehicle tires.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein, following passage of the movable inspection head on a first circumferential sector of the tire, the movable inspection head successively performs a plurality of axial movements to allow the movable inspection head to pass over a plurality of sectors to be inspected.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising a step of displaying echo data.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising a step of processing echo data.

23. The method according to claim 18, further comprising a step of recording echo data.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0028] All the embodiments are provided in the following description, accompanied by the single FIGURE, which description is provided solely for the purposes of non-limiting examples, and in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a tyre inspection device with a vertical tower, on which a tyre to be inspected is placed and mounted as a transverse section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasound inspection device comprises a rotary support 10 formed by a vertical tower 14, the height of which is advantageously designed to substantially correspond to that of the tyres 20 to be inspected. By way of a variation, a wall can act as a tower. In the upper portion of the tower, a substantially horizontal transverse arm 11 extends from the tower over a length substantially corresponding to the width of the tyres 20 to be inspected. This arm supports at least one stop 12, and preferably two stops, as shown in FIG. 1. The stops 12 guarantee the axial position of the tyre 20, particularly during its rotation. The stops 12 are arranged to press against each tyre bead from the tyre cavity. Between the seats of the tyre beads and the transverse arm 11, roller bearings 13 allow the tyre that is supported by the support 10 to be rotated. The motor and the transmission elements enabling the rotation of the roller bearings are of a type that is per se known and are not shown so as to avoid unnecessarily complicating the diagram. Handling means, which are also per se known, allow the tyres 20 to be installed on and removed from the support 10.

[0031] An ultrasound inspection module 1 forms the part intended for implementing ultrasound and for retrieving corresponding echo data.

[0032] An inspection head 5 that is freely mounted axially (for movements over the width of the tyre) and radially (for providing a path between an insertion position above the sidewall and an inspection position, with the head 5 lowered against the inner wall to be inspected). This latter position is shown in FIG. 1. Various types of inspection head can be used, which can be formed by one or more linearly arranged transceiver element(s). For example, a head is used that is provided with three multi-element ultrasound probes with thirty-two elements, controlled by a multiplexer connected to the management module 8.

[0033] The positioning and the movement of the inspection head 5 can be provided in many ways, such as, for example, using telescopic, or slidably mounted, arms 3 and 4, as in the example of FIG. 1. The arrows R-R and A-A of FIG. 1 respectively show the movements in the radial and axial directions. A movement control module 2 supports the axial arm 3 and provides the kinematic chain up to the inspection head 5. A management module 8, which is provided, for example, in the movement control module 2, allows management of the generation of the waves and the echo data that is received in return.

[0034] To ensure the transmissibility of the waves from the head to the surface to be inspected, and vice versa, an ultrasound transmission fluid is used. The substantially vertical position of the tyre allows the lower area of the tyre cavity to be filled with a sufficient amount of fluid to allow the head to move without any fluid escaping. The line E-E indicates the desired filling limit to avoid any overflowing of fluid. This upper limit is provided to avoid any fluid from overflowing out of the cavity during inspection phases. By virtue of the ultrasound transmission fluid, the head 5 is immersed in order to complete the inspection phases.

[0035] In the example of FIG. 1, the movement control module 2 and the management module 8 are arranged in an inspection tower 6, on which an operator 7 can be located in order to provide better final management of the operations. An inspection screen 9 is advantageously provided to allow the operator 7 to view the echoes originating from the inspection head and to assess the conformity of the tyre.

[0036] The system operates as follows: the tyre to be inspected is placed on the transverse arm 11 using a forklift truck or other handling means. The coupling fluid is placed in the area to be measured, for example, using a pump (not shown). The coupling fluid advantageously is water.

[0037] The inspection head 5 is placed in the immersed inspection area, against the surface to be inspected. The tyre is rotated. The rotation speed is such that it complies with the spatial resolution compatible with the dimension and the spacing of the cords forming the tyre casing. The speed is also such that the sound wave has enough time to perform a round trip in the fluid.

[0038] The sensors are controlled so that the operator is able to reconstitute an image representing a fraction of the carcass ply. The display allows an experienced operator to determine the conformity of the carcass ply. The data still can be processed in real-time or retrospectively by signal processing software. An encoder advantageously can be used in order to transition from the time domain to the space domain.

[0039] In order to optimize the transmissibility of the waves, sensors measure the position of the inspection head and an adjustment means, for example, a mechanical suspension system (tyre), keeps the head perpendicular relative to the surface of the tyre.

[0040] The system and the method according to the invention advantageously allow two types of inspection: an inspection producing images of sections of the products forming the tyre, or an inspection producing images of circumferential tracks at a given depth.

[0041] The proposed device allows inspection of casings carcasses of heavy tyres with large dimensions, in particular for civil engineering vehicles, typically with dimensions of 58 inches to 63 inches, without these dimensions being considered in a limiting manner.

REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN THE FIGURES

[0042] 1 Inspection module [0043] 2 Control module [0044] 3 Axial arm [0045] 4 Radial arm [0046] 5 Inspection head [0047] 6 Inspection tower [0048] 7 Operator [0049] 8 Management module [0050] 9 Screen [0051] 10 Rotary support [0052] 11 Transverse arm [0053] 12 Stops [0054] 13 Roller bearings [0055] 14 Support tower [0056] 20 Tyre [0057] 21 Inspection area