Inventors:
James A. Popio - Mogadore OH
John L. Turner - Akron OH
Richard J. Macioce - Massillon OH
Wayne A. Indorf - Canton OH
Fu-Min Chen - Tallmadge OH
Stanley J. Olesky - Akron OH
Vladimir Roth - Akron OH
Assignee:
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. - Akron OH
International Classification:
G01M 1702
Abstract:
An apparatus and related methods for capturing a digital foot print image of a tire and for extrapolating load-deflection curves of the tire is presented. A frame carries a test pod that is coupled to a tire to perform various tests. In one application, a loading plate couples the tire to a transparent plate on the test pod where a camera captures a digital gray-scale image of the tire foot print. A processor converts the gray-scale image into a pressure map wherein each pixel of the digital image is correlated to a pressure value. In another application, the loading plate couples the tire to a sliding cover plate on the test pod, wherein the loading plate is incremented through a plurality of load values at predetermined inflation pressures. By using two inflation pressures, the processor extrapolates further load-deflection curves for the tire at other inflation pressures. The apparatus also provides a unique way for imparting camber on the tire during the above tests.