Donald K Burgett

Title: Donald K. Burgett and Tire Force-Variation Testing.

Introduction

Donald K. Burgett is an inventor associated with Tallmadge, Ohio, and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. His patent work addresses the measurement of forces generated by a tire during loaded rotation.

Latest Patents

Burgett’s listed patent, “Force Variation Testing of Tires,” describes equipment for rotating a tire against a freely rotating load wheel. A motor-driven spindle is supported by a hydrostatic fluid-film bearing designed to remain stiff in both radial and axial directions. The apparatus can test tires at selected speeds, including speeds corresponding to road travel above 100 miles per hour.

The invention also provides for measuring radial, tangential, and axial forces and force variations. Strain-gauge-equipped measurement frames or load cells detect these forces as they pass from the spindle through the bearing’s fluid film. Burgett is credited with 1 patent.

Career Highlights

Burgett’s documented patent work connects him with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and focuses on tire testing technology. The described system supports high-speed testing under load while enabling measurements of forces in multiple directions.

Collaborations

James E. Rice and John W. Touchette are identified as Burgett’s coworkers. Their shared association with the company provides context for his professional environment, though the supplied information does not specify their roles in this patent.

Conclusion

Donald K. Burgett’s patent describes a hydrostatic-bearing test system for measuring tire forces during high-speed, loaded rotation, reflecting his contribution to tire-testing innovation.