Patents by Inventor David Andrew Judd
David Andrew Judd 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: 9442093Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for detecting anomalies in cables within a tire structure. A plurality of magnetic field sensitive sensors are aligned within a magnetic field provided by a magnet. The alignment of sensors and magnet is such that flux lines from the magnet are generally parallel to the plane occupied by the magnetic sensors. A tire cable anomaly present between the magnetic field sensitive sensors produces a detectable difference in signals produced by the magnetic field sensitive sensors as a result of the formation of perpendicular flux patterns produced by the anomaly. A signal processing circuit receiving input signals from the sensors evaluates differences between the signals from each of the plurality of sensors by pairing the output signal from each sensor with the output signal from each of the others of the plurality of sensors and produces an output signal upon the differences meeting selected criteria.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignees: MICHELIN RECHERCHE et TECHNIQUES S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELINInventors: Lee Brandon, Gene Edward DeAmicis, Frank E. Gramling, David Andrew Judd
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Patent number: 9157834Abstract: A tire testing apparatus and method for detecting anomalies in the surface of a tire is disclosed. A high voltage probe having a conductive spring electrode is placed adjacent a portion of a tire surface such that the conductive spring electrode is compressed against the surface of the tire. Relative motion is imparted between the high voltage probe and the surface of the tire. An electrical discharge occurs between the high voltage probe and a reference electrode at the location of an anomaly on the surface of the tire. The apparatus and method are configured to determine a precise azimuthal and radial position on the tire of the electrostatic discharge. The conductive spring electrode can have a length sufficient to ensure contact with a given point on the tire surface during a charge cycle for the high voltage probe at increased tire surface speeds.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2010Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignees: MICHENLIN RECHERCHE et TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERAL DES ETABLISSEMENT MICHELINInventors: Christian Albert Beccavin, Frank E. Gramling, David Andrew Judd, Bradley D. Schober
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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: 8910511Abstract: An apparatus and method for high voltage discharge testing of a tire is disclosed. In particular embodiments, a high voltage probe is maintained against the surface of a tire. The high voltage probe is energized and relative motion is provided between the surface of the tire and the high voltage probe. At the presence of an anomaly that penetrates the insulating material of the tire surface, an electrical discharge will occur between the conductive spring electrode and a reference electrode. The reference electrode is positioned adjacent the bead portion of the tire such that the electrical discharge will travel from the high voltage probe through the anomaly in the surface of the tire to one or more carcass plies in the tire. The carcass plies will carry the electrical discharge to the bead portion of the tire, where the electrical discharge will pass to the reference electrode.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2010Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale des Etablissements MichelinInventors: Christian Albert Beccavin, Frank E. Gramling, David Andrew Judd, Bradley D. Schober
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Publication number: 20130174657Abstract: An apparatus and method for high voltage discharge testing of a tire is disclosed. In particular embodiments, a high voltage probe is maintained against the surface of a tire. The high voltage probe is energized and relative motion is provided between the surface of the tire and the high voltage probe. At the presence of an anomaly that penetrates the insulating material of the tire surface, an electrical discharge will occur between the conductive spring electrode and a reference electrode. The reference electrode is positioned adjacent the bead portion of the tire such that the electrical discharge will travel from the high voltage probe through the anomaly in the surface of the tire to one or more carcass plies in the tire. The carcass plies will carry the electrical discharge to the bead portion of the tire, where the electrical discharge will pass to the reference electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: July 11, 2013Inventors: Christian Albert Beccavin, Frank E. Gramling, David Andrew Judd, Bradley D. Schober
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Publication number: 20130162265Abstract: A tire testing apparatus and method for detecting anomalies in the surface of a tire is disclosed. A high voltage probe having a conductive spring electrode is placed adjacent a portion of a tire surface such that the conductive spring electrode is compressed against the surface of the tire. Relative motion is imparted between the high voltage probe and the surface of the tire. An electrical discharge occurs between the high voltage probe and a reference electrode at the location of an anomaly on the surface of the tire. The apparatus and method are configured to determine a precise azimuthal and radial position on the tire of the electrostatic discharge. The conductive spring electrode can have a length sufficient to ensure contact with a given point on the tire surface during a charge cycle for the high voltage probe at increased tire surface speeds.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicants: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin, Societe De Technologie MichelinInventors: Christian Albert Beccavin, Frank E. Gramling, David Andrew Judd, Bradley D. Schober
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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: 20120038357Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for detecting anomalies in cables within a tire structure. A plurality of magnetic field sensitive sensors are aligned within a magnetic field provided by a magnet. The alignment of sensors and magnet is such that flux lines from the magnet are generally parallel to the plane occupied by the magnetic sensors. A tire cable anomaly present between the magnetic field sensitive sensors produces a detectable difference in signals produced by the magnetic field sensitive sensors as a result of the formation of perpendicular flux patterns produced by the anomaly. A signal processing circuit receiving input signals from the sensors evaluates differences between the signals from each of the plurality of sensors by pairing the output signal from each sensor with the output signal from each of the others of the plurality of sensors and produces an output signal upon the differences meeting selected criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicants: SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.Inventors: Lee Brandon, Gene Edward Deamicis, Frank E. Gramling, David Andrew Judd, Lee Brandon, Gene Edward Deamicis