Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of inspecting polymeric material that includes one or more elongated ferrous reinforcements. The method includes applying a magnetic field to any one or more reinforcements. The method further includes positioning an array of magnetic flux sensors near the one or more reinforcements, and detecting the presence of magnetic flux leakage along any of the one or more reinforcements. It is then determined whether the magnetic flux leakage occurs at a damaged location along the one or more reinforcements or at a reinforcement joint.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of inspecting polymeric material that includes one or more elongated ferrous reinforcements. The method includes applying a magnetic field to any one or more reinforcements. The method further includes positioning an array of magnetic flux sensors near the one or more reinforcements, and detecting the presence of magnetic flux leakage along any of the one or more reinforcements. It is then determined whether the magnetic flux leakage occurs at a damaged location along the one or more reinforcements or at a reinforcement joint.

Abstract: A sensor device is provided for use in tire inspection. The sensor device is configured for removable placement along the inner surface of the tire. The sensor device includes multiple rows of sensors, which are used to provide signals that can compensate for the effect of vibrations or mechanical agitation as the sensors are passed over the inner surface of the tire. The sensor device may have a profile that allows for placement of the multiple rows of sensors in close proximity to the inner surface of the tire.

Abstract: A method of using a sensor device for tire inspection is provided. Signals are received from multiples rows of sensors separated by a predetermined distance. The sensors are positioned next to the inner surface of the tire for inspection. Signals from the different rows of sensors are used to identify e.g., breaks in the reinforcements of the tire and also used to identify undesirable signals generated from vibration or jarring of the sensor device.

Abstract: A sensor device is provided for use in tire inspection. The sensor device is configured for removable placement along the inner surface of a tire. The sensor device has a profile that allows placement of one or more sensors in close proximity to the inner surface of the tire. The profile allows the sensor device to be used with a variety of tire sizes and shapes.

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.

Abstract: A sensor device is provided for use in tire inspection. The sensor device is configured for removable placement along the inner surface of the tire. The sensor device includes multiple rows of sensors, which are used to provide signals that can compensate for the effect of vibrations or mechanical agitation as the sensors are passed over the inner surface of the tire. The sensor device may have a profile that allows for placement of the multiple rows of sensors in close proximity to the inner surface of the tire.

Abstract: A method of using a sensor device for tire inspection is provided. Signals are received from multiples rows of sensors separated by a predetermined distance. The sensors are positioned next to the inner surface of the tire for inspection. Signals from the different rows of sensors are used to identify e.g., breaks in the reinforcements of the tire and also used to identify undesirable signals generated from vibration or jarring of the sensor device.

Abstract: A flux leakage detection system and a method for providing a quality indicator for a flux leakage detection system are provided.

Abstract: A sensor support is provided for tire inspection or testing that can be used over a range of tire profiles and widths to place one or more sensors at a surface of the tire. The shape or profile of the sensor support is adjustable to accommodate tire surfaces of different shapes or profiles. A locking feature can be provided to maintain the shape of the sensor support during use.

Abstract: A sensor device is provided for use in tire inspection. The sensor device is configured for removable placement along the inner surface of a tire. The sensor device has a profile that allows placement of one or more sensors in close proximity to the inner surface of the tire. The profile allows the sensor device to be used with a variety of tire sizes and shapes.

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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A sensor support is provided for tire inspection or testing that can be used over a range of tire profiles and widths to place one or more sensors at a surface of the tire. The shape or profile of the sensor support is adjustable to accommodate tire surfaces of different shapes or profiles. A locking feature can be provided to maintain the shape of the sensor support during use.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.