Patents by Inventor Anton Felipe Thomas
Anton Felipe Thomas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9823153Abstract: Systems and methods for improving tire uniformity using estimates of process harmonic magnitude(s) from static balance measurements for a set of tires are provided. In particular, a sequence of observed magnitudes of static balance can be obtained for a set of tires. The sequence of observed magnitudes can be analyzed in conjunction with a baseline magnitude pattern associated with the process harmonic to derive a magnitude of the process harmonic. The magnitude of the process harmonic can be used to improve the uniformity of tires.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELINInventors: William David Mawby, Steve Simons, James Michael Traylor, Anton Felipe Thomas, Jonathan Sauls
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Patent number: 9778032Abstract: Improved and more easily implemented methods for predicting uniformity parameters such as uneven mass distribution, radial run out and high speed radial force variation utilize other measurements such as the tire crown thickness variation. When high speed radial force variation is calculated, low speed radial force variation is also measured. Tire crown thickness variation can be measured in different fashions depending on the particular tire manufacturing process employed. By electronically determining resultant uniformity parameters, tires can be improved by rectification to address the uniformity levels. In addition, tire manufacturing can be improved by altering the resultant location of tire crown thickness variation relative to other aspects of the tire and/or tire manufacturing process.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2010Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELINInventors: Julien Matthieu Flament, Verner Steve Nicholson, Anton Felipe Thomas, James Michael Traylor
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Patent number: 9569563Abstract: Improved and more easily implemented methods for predicting high speed radial force variation and uneven mass distribution utilize other measurements such as radial nm out and other parameters. The prediction model for high speed radial force variation uses a speed-dependent calibration term for predicting higher harmonic components, while the same or other models can be used for the first harmonic. The uneven mass distribution prediction model accounts for deformation of the tire along multiple tracks, thus employing a more realistic model of crown deformation that accounts for changing tire stiffness levels across different harmonic components of the measured and predicted parameters.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignees: MICHELIN RECHERCHE et TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELINInventors: Patrice R. Estor, Julien Matthieu Flament, Verner Steve Nicholson, Anton Felipe Thomas
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Publication number: 20160116363Abstract: Systems and methods for improving tire uniformity using estimates of process harmonic magnitude(s) from static balance measurements for a set of tires are provided. In particular, a sequence of observed magnitudes of static balance can be obtained for a set of tires. The sequence of observed magnitudes can be analyzed in conjunction with a baseline magnitude pattern associated with the process harmonic to derive a magnitude of the process harmonic. The magnitude of the process harmonic can be used to improve the uniformity of tires.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2013Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: William David Mawby, Steve Simons, James Michael Traylor, Anton Felipe Thomas, Jonathan Sauls
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Patent number: 9029779Abstract: A tire surface anomaly detection system and method are disclosed. The system and method are generally based on the principle that a tire surface anomaly will have a different heat transfer rate than that of the uniform mass surrounding the tire surface anomaly. Embodiments of the present disclosure apply thermal energy to the surface of a tire and monitor the infrared energy at the surface of the tire to generate one or more infrared images of the surface of the tire. The infrared images are analyzed by an image processing system to determine and locate thermal gradients on the surface of the tire. The presence of a thermal gradient in the infrared images generally indicates the presence of an anomaly in the surface of the tire. In this manner, the present disclosure provides an objective technique for identifying, locating, and classifying tire surface anomalies.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale des Etablissements MichelinInventors: Patrice R. Estor, Julien Matthieu Flament, Verner Steve Nicholson, Anton Felipe Thomas, Gene Edward De Amicis, Frank E. Gramling, David Andrew Judd, Bradley D. Schober
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Patent number: 8712720Abstract: A tire measurement system includes a computer with various memory/media elements for storing raw and transformed tire measurement data (e.g., a data set of measured radial or lateral run-out values) as well as software in the form of computer-executable instructions, which are executed by a processor to filter selected run-out values within the obtained data set that spike above adjacent measurements, identify selected ones of the filtered run-out values that lie on a convex hull surrounding the entire set of values, and perform interpolation of the identified selected ones of the run-out values that lie on the convex hull to obtain a final data set of filtered run-out measurements. Similar steps can be performed on an inverted data set to better detect sidewall deformation features such as sidewall depressions.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignees: Michelin Recherche at Technigue S.A., Societe de Technologie MichelinInventors: Verner Steve Nicholson, Anton Felipe Thomas
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Publication number: 20130253686Abstract: Improved and more easily implemented methods for predicting uniformity parameters such as uneven mass distribution, radial run out and high speed radial force variation utilize other measurements such as the tire crown thickness variation. When high speed radial force variation is calculated, low speed radial force variation is also measured. Tire crown thickness variation can be measured in different fashions depending on the particular tire manufacturing process employed. By electronically determining resultant uniformity parameters, tires can be improved by rectification to address the uniformity levels. In addition, tire manufacturing can be improved by altering the resultant location of tire crown thickness variation relative to other aspects of the tire and/or tire manufacturing process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2010Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELINInventors: Julien Matthieu Flament, Verner Steve Nicholson, Anton Felipe Thomas, James Michael Traylor
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Publication number: 20130099123Abstract: A tire surface anomaly detection system and method are disclosed. The system and method are generally based on the principle that a tire surface anomaly will have a different heat transfer rate than that of the uniform mass surrounding the tire surface anomaly. Embodiments of the present disclosure apply thermal energy to the surface of a tire and monitor the infrared energy at the surface of the tire to generate one or more infrared images of the surface of the tire. The infrared images are analyzed by an image processing system to determine and locate thermal gradients on the surface of the tire. The presence of a thermal gradient in the infrared images generally indicates the presence of an anomaly in the surface of the tire. In this manner, the present disclosure provides an objective technique for identifying, locating, and classifying tire surface anomalies.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2010Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicants: SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE, S.A.Inventors: Gene Edward De Amicis, Frank E. Gramling, David Andrew Judd, Bradley D. Schober, Patrice R. Estor, Julien Mattieu Flamont, Verner Steve Nicholson, Anton Felipe Thomas
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Publication number: 20130090879Abstract: Improved and more easily implemented methods for predicting high speed radial force variation and uneven mass distribution utilize other measurements such as radial nm out and other parameters. The prediction model for high speed radial force variation uses a speed-dependent calibration term for predicting higher harmonic components, while the same or other models can be used for the first harmonic. The uneven mass distribution prediction model accounts for deformation of the tire along multiple tracks, thus employing a more realistic model of crown deformation that accounts for changing tire stiffness levels across different harmonic components of the measured and predicted parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2010Publication date: April 11, 2013Inventors: Patrice R. Estor, Julien Matthieu Flament, Verner Steve Nicholson, Anton Felipe Thomas
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Publication number: 20110246128Abstract: A tire measurement system includes a computer with various memory/media elements for storing raw and transformed tire measurement data (e.g., a data set of measured radial or lateral run-out values) as well as software in the form of computer-executable instructions, which are executed by a processor to filter selected run-out values within the obtained data set that spike above adjacent measurements, identify selected ones of the filtered run-out values that lie on a convex hull surrounding the entire set of values, and perform interpolation of the identified selected ones of the run-out values that lie on the convex hull to obtain a final data set of filtered run-out measurements. Similar steps can be performed on an inverted data set to better detect sidewall deformation features such as sidewall depressions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2009Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventors: Verner Steve Nicholson, Anton Felipe Thomas