Sensor device with magnet and sensor array for tire inspection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10006835-B2
Application number	US-201415112718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2014
Priority date	Mar 13, 2014
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

A sensor device is provided for use in tire inspection along a bead portion of the tire. The sensor device includes a magnet array configured to provide the desired fields of magnet flux for a sensor array, which is used to detect damage to reinforcements of a body ply of the tire near the bead portion. The fields of magnetic flux are sufficient to provide for damage detection in the bead portion without overly saturating the sensor array. The sensor device also allows for positioning the sensor array proximate to the inner surface of the tire for improved detection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor device for tire inspection that is removably positionable along an inner surface of a tire, the tire having a bead portion and defining a radial direction and an axial direction, the sensor device comprising:
a body comprising an outermost inspection surface for placing at the inner surface near the bead portion;
a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors arranged in a linear manner and defining a longitudinal direction, the sensor array supported by the body and located proximate to the outermost inspection surface, the sensor array having opposing ends;
a magnet array arranged on the body so that the outer inspection surface and sensor array are located between at least a portion of the magnet array and the tire when the sensor device is positioned for tire inspection, the magnet array comprising
a plurality of magnets having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of magnets are arranged into an arc of a circle and configured to partially surround the bead portion of the tire, the arc of the circle having a central angle α, wherein 60 degrees≤α≤90 degrees; and
a terminal magnet having at least one end displaced along the longitudinal direction beyond one of the opposing ends of the sensor array.

2. The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the magnet array further comprises a supplemental magnet supported by the body and having a first end and a second end, wherein the supplemental magnet and the first end of the plurality of magnets are located radially inward of the bead portion when the sensor device is positioned for inspection of the tire, and wherein the first end of the supplement magnet and the first end of the plurality of magnets are of the same polarity.

3. The sensor device of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the plurality of magnets and the first end of the supplemental magnet are separated from each other by a predetermined distance.

4. The sensor device of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined distance separating the first ends of the supplemental magnet and the plurality of magnets is in the range of 5 mm to 15 mm.

5. The sensor device of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined distance separating the first ends of the supplemental magnet and the plurality of magnets is about 10 mm.

6. The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets are arranged sequentially with alternating polarity.

7. The sensor device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of magnets contact each other along the arc of the circle.

8. The sensor device of claim 1 , further comprising a connecting bar extending between the second end of the plurality of magnets and the terminal magnet, the connecting bar comprising a ferrous metal.

9. The sensor device of claim 8 , wherein the connecting bar has a cross-sectional area along an end that is substantially equal to a cross-sectional area of the second end of the plurality of magnets and an end of the terminal magnet.

10. The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the plurality of magnets is positioned adjacent to the terminal magnet and arranged sequentially in alternating polarity with the terminal magnet.

11. The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the outermost inspection surface defines an aperture surrounding the sensor array.

12. The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor array comprises a plurality of Hall Effect sensors.

13. The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets defines a central axis that lies in the same plane as the plurality of sensors of the sensor array.

14. The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the arc of the circle is defined by a radius with a center that is located in the bead portion of the tire when the sensor device is positioned for tire inspection.

15. A sensor device for tire inspection, the tire having a bead portion and defining a radial direction and an axial direction, the sensor device comprising:
a body comprising an outermost inspection surface for placing at the inner surface of the tire near the bead portion;
a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors defining a longitudinal direction, the sensor array supported by the body and located near the outermost inspection surface, the sensor array having opposing ends;
a magnet array supported on the body, the magnet array defining a central axis along its length that is positioned within the same plane as the longitudinal direction defined by the sensor array, the magnet array comprising
a plurality of magnets having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of magnets are arranged into an arc of a circle and configured for positioning at the bead portion of the tire, the arc of the circle having a central angle α, wherein 60 degrees≤α≤90 degrees; and
a terminal magnet having at least one end displaced along the longitudinal direction beyond one of the opposing ends of the sensor array.

16. The sensor device for tire inspection as in claim 15 , further comprising a supplemental magnet supported by the body and having a first end and a second end, wherein the supplemental magnet and the first end of the plurality of magnets are located radially inward of the bead portion when the sensor device is positioned for inspection of the tire, and wherein the first end of the supplement magnet and the first end of the plurality of magnets are of the same polarity.

17. The sensor device for tire inspection as in claim 16 , wherein the body further comprises:
a first arm portion on which the sensor array is positioned; and
a second arm portion on which the supplemental magnet is positioned;
wherein the first arm portion and second arm portion form an angle into which the bead portion of the tire is positioned during tire inspection.

Assignees

• Schober Bradley D
• Gramling Frank E
• Judd David A
• Michelin & Cie

Inventors

• Schober Bradley D
• Gramling Frank E
• Judd David A

Classifications

• B60C25/005

  inside surface · CPC title

• G01R33/072

  Constructional adaptation of the sensor to specific applications · CPC title

• B60C25/0548

  equipped with sensing means, e.g. for positioning, measuring or controlling · CPC title

• G01M17/02 Primary

  Tyres · CPC title

• G01M5/0091

  by using electromagnetic excitation or detection · CPC title