The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 28, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2001
Scott J. Coe, Akron, OH (US);
David A. Kienholz, Mountain View, CA (US);
Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC, Nashville, TN (US);
Abstract
A tire testing machine ( ) comprising a movable simulated road surface ( ), an axle ( ) including a bearing surface ( ) around which a tire/wheel assembly (T) can rotate; and a frame ( ) which supports the axle ( ) in a non-rotatable but vertically floatable manner relative to the simulated road surface ( ) whereby the tire/wheel assembly (T) can be loaded in rolling engagement against the simulated road surface ( ). The frame ( ) comprises tie members ( ) which extend from the axle ( ) to a stationary support ( ) in a geometrically sturdy (e.g., triangular) arrangement and non-damping piston members ( ) which are interposed between the tie members ( ) and the stationary support ( ). The geometrically sturdy arrangement of the tie members ( ) can be an isosceles triangular arrangement and the simulated road surface ( ) can comprise the outer circumferential surface of a road wheel ( ).