Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC

Bridgestone Corporation

Bridgestone/firestone, Inc.

David O Stalnaker

John L Turner

Erik F Knuth

Richard J Macioce, Jr

Craig K McClung

Paul M Neugebauer

Ke Jun Xie

Takayuki Kurata

James D Ulmer

Stephen M Vossberg

Martin A Yurjevich

Jacob R Kidney

Stanley J Olesky

Vladimir Roth

Sergio A Botello

Andrew Karl Reinhardt

Alleva Lorenzo

Kurata Takayuki

Yukitake Kosuke

Hiroshi Egami

Daniel M Francis, Jr

Alberto Del Grosso

Juan C Dehoyos

Cameron C Martinez

Robert Palmer

Gregory A Rasor

Kirk S Rutherford

Matthew J Reda

Daniel Hentosz, Sr

Craig Mcclung

James Ulmer

A real time tire pressure sensing system includes sensors to collectively generate signals corresponding to a contained tire air temperature, a contained inflation pressure, and an ambient temperature associated with a tire mounted on a vehicle. A processor determines an effective tire inflation pressure based on the generated signals and further at least on a calculated moving average of the ambient temperature (e.g., over a defined time period such as 24 hours) and generates real time notifications associated with the determined effective tire inflation pressure to specified user interfaces. At least one sensor may be an inflation pressure sensor configured to generate event-based signals corresponding to detected changes per unit pressure. The processor may further generate real time feedback control signals to an automatic tire inflation device, based on the determined effective tire inflation pressure, or enable and prompt manual control of the tire inflation device via the user interface.

Effective tire pressure sensing system and method

A method of testing a tire is employed in an enclosed system having a drum enclosure connected to a tire enclosure by flexible bellows, the enclosed system configured such that a tire inside the tire enclosure abuts a drum inside the drum enclosure. The method includes rotating the drum at a first angular velocity, thereby causing the tire to rotate at the first angular velocity. The method further includes measuring a temperature at a first location adjacent the tire and blowing cool air into the tire enclosure when the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold. The method also includes measuring a humidity level at a second location and adding moisture in the tire enclosure when the measured humidity level falls below a predetermined humidity threshold.

Enclosure system for indoor tire testing

A method includes obtaining simulated tire data for a simulated tire, simulated vehicle data for a simulated vehicle, and simulated test course data. The simulated tire data includes data to build a basic tire model. The simulated vehicle data includes data to build a basic vehicle model. The simulated test course data includes position-based course data in a horizontal plane and position-based course data in a vertical direction. The method further includes generating a tire load history from the basic tire model, the basic vehicle model, and the simulated test course data.

Method of generating tire load histories and testing tires

Various embodiments relate to methods, systems, devices, and non-transitory media for increasing repeatability and reliability of tire testing trials including one or more of the following: capturing position data from a position sensor, wherein the capture of the position data is indicative of alignment with the desired testing area along the first axis; determining whether the position data indicates that the testing wheel is aligned with the desired testing area along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and when the position data indicates that the testing wheel is aligned with the desired testing area along a second axis, effecting initiation of a testing event.

Dual-axis trigger for tire testing

A method for reducing vehicle bias when testing a tire for use with a market segment of vehicles by creating a vehicle model that is scalable by vehicle weight. A market segment of vehicles is defined, at least one of a vehicle model parameter is defined, data is collected for the at least one vehicle model parameter from at least one vehicle in the market segment, the at least one vehicle model parameter is characterized through regression analysis as a function of total weight of a scalable vehicle model, the scalable vehicle model parameter is applied to a multibody vehicle dynamics simulation, at least one maneuver is applied to the scalable vehicle model, and the tire load histories generated by the multibody vehicle dynamics simulation are provided to a tire test machine to obtain tire wear data representative of the vehicles in the market segment.

Scalable vehicle models for indoor tire testing

A method of fabricating a substantially rigid hardened wear surface for a tire tread wear testing apparatus is provided, the method comprising making a cast of a road surface on which tread wear of the tire is to be tested, providing a layer of adhesive mixed with at least one aggregate and configured for hardening to create the substantially rigid hardened wear surface, while the layer of adhesive is unhardened: (a) coating the layer of adhesive onto a road wheel of the tire tread wear testing apparatus, and (b) stamping an impression of the cast into the layer of epoxy adhesive for producing the wear surface adapted for emulating one or more surface roughness characteristics of the road surface.

Engineered surfaces for laboratory tread wear testing of tires

A tire testing apparatus that includes a test drum and at least one tire station. The test drum has an outer radial surface and a plurality of sectioned plates having outer radial test surfaces, wherein the plurality of sectioned plates mount on the outer radial surface of the test drum. The tire testing apparatus further includes at least one tire station having a selected tire with a tread, wherein the tread of the selected tire presses against the outer radial test surface of the plurality of sectional plates, and wherein the at least one tire station applies a force against the tread of the selected tire. Further, a tire testing method includes providing a selected tire having a circumferential tread and moving the selected tire against a rotating test drum having a plurality of sectional plates having a test surface. Further, the method includes maintaining contact between the selected tire and the plurality of sectional plates for a selected period of time, moving the selected tire away from the test drum, and evaluating the tread for wear.

Tire chip and tear test apparatus and method

A method of tire testing comprising applying a drive torque to a tire and a wheel assembly about an axis of rotation to drive the tire and wheel assembly and a rotatable drum with the tire in rolling contact with the rotatable drum; controlling a load pressure of the tire against the rotatable drum; and adjusting a lateral position of the tire across a surface of the rotatable drum.

Lateral position control for tire tread wear test machine

A method of developing a set of input forces used to analyze tire wear includes the steps of characterizing a wear course by driving a vehicle over the wear course and measuring data related to a plurality of forces experienced by the vehicle. A vehicle characterization model for a target vehicle having at least one tire is developed. The vehicle characterization model is used to calculate force data that represents the forces that would be experienced by at least one tire of the characterized vehicle if the characterized vehicle were driven over the characterized wear test course in the first vehicle configuration. The force data is then used to analyze tire wear using a computer prediction technique or by running an indoor wear test on the tire.

Tire wear analysis method

A method for indoor wear testing tires includes the steps of characterizing a vehicle and a wear test course and combining the characterized data to create input data for an indoor wear test machine. The input data allows the indoor wear test machine to accurately simulate an outdoor wear test course for the characterized vehicle. The method allows multiple wear test courses to be used with a single characterized vehicle and allows a single wear test course to be used with multiple characterized vehicles. The method allows tires to be wear tested in relatively short time periods in the controlled environment of the indoor laboratory. In addition, the method is relatively easy to set up and perform.

Method of wear testing a tire

A system ( ) for measuring the dynamic orientation of the plane of a wheel ( ) on a vehicle ( ). The system ( ) includes a test surface ( ) which rotates with the wheel ( ) and a orientation-determining device ( ) which is unattached to the vehicle ( ). The test surface ( ) is positioned in a plane corresponding to the plane of the wheel ( ) and the orientation-determining device ( ) determines the orientation of the plane of the test surface ( ) at a specific point of time while the vehicle is being driven. A processor ( ) receives output signals from the orientation-determining device ( ) and converts the output signals into data corresponding to the orientation of the wheel plane for the specific instant in time.

System for determining the dynamic orientation of a vehicle wheel plane

An indoor tire testing apparatus has a rotatable road wheel with an abrasive surface and a tire support mechanism for rotatably supporting and moving a tread of a tire into contact with the abrasive surface. A vacuum chamber having a pair of nozzles is located adjacent the area of contact between the abrasive surface and tire tread. A movably mounted shroud is formed by a plurality of metal panels and forms a chamber for receiving a tire therein during testing. Temperature and moisture is controlled within the shroud interior and vacuum chamber through a duct connected to the shroud. A plurality of brushes partially close open sides in the vacuum chamber and shroud to prevent the escape of powder and particles from within the chambers. The vacuum nozzles remove the powder and particles to a remote location to prevent their dispersion into the surrounding atmosphere.

Collection shroud for indoor tire test apparatus

A powder dispensing/collection device for indoor testing of pneumatic tires includes a first outer housing ( ) having an open end ( ) facing a road wheel ( ). First and second adjustable shrouds ( ), ( ) are disposed on an upper and lower portion of the outer housing respectfully. The shrouds are selectively moveable in a direction perpendicular to a width (w) of the outer housing. A second inner housing ( ) is partially enclosed by the outer housing and has an open end ( ) facing the road wheel which protrudes out from the outer housing a predetermined distance. At least one of the outer walls of the inner housing and the inner walls of the outer housing define a vacuum collection chamber ( ). The inner housing is manually moveable within the outer housing so that the distance between the open end of the inner housing and the road wheel can be adjusted. A hose ( ) extends through an aperture ( ) in the inner housing and into the dispensing chamber. A spray nozzle ( ) is connected to the free end of the hose. The position of the spray nozzle within the dispensing chamber is adjustable by manually moving the nozzle backward or forward within the inner housing. At least one vacuum duct ( ) is operatively connected to a rear wall ( ) of the outer housing for transferring a vacuum force to the vacuum collection chamber.

Powder dispensing/collection manifold for indoor wear testing

An apparatus for determining lateral tire tread stiffness includes a holding fixture that is coupled to a loading fixture. The holding fixture includes a frame on which is mounted a rotary table that carries the tire tread specimen to be tested. The loading fixture includes a loading plate that can apply a normal loading force and a lateral loading force to the tire tread specimen. A processor receives data from a monitoring device which provides an indication of the deformation of the tire tread specimen as a lateral load is applied thereto. The processor also receives data from a load cell which monitors the amount of force applied to the tread specimen and correlates this data with the displacement data to determine stiffness properties of the tread specimen. The processor also controls the angular position of the rotary table to further analyze the tread stiffness of particular tire tread geometry.

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Hartville, OH, United States of America

David O Stalnaker