Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy in a tire for a vehicle includes at least one piezoelectric element that generates electrical energy when deformed. The at least one piezoelectric element is associated with the tire and is elongate. The at least one piezoelectric element extends along at least a portion of the tire and is electrically connected to an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit is not in electrical communication with the vehicle. The tire is mounted on a rim of the vehicle. An associated tire is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for determining interaction between a tyre and a contact surface during movement of a motor vehicle includes at least one first sensor and processing means. The at least one first sensor includes one or more first elongated piezoelectric elements which extend along at least a first portion of the tyre. The at least one first sensor supplies a first signal to the processing means. The first signal is generated by rotation of the tyre and is generated cyclically with each revolution of the tyre. The processing means detects variations in time intervals between distinctive elements of the first signal. A tyre including the system, a kit for detecting behaviour of a tyre moving with respect to a contact surface, a method for monitoring events correlated with interactions between tyres of a moving vehicle and a contact surface, and related systems, tyres, methods, and vehicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for continuously measuring deformations in a tire mounted on a rim includes at least one emitter, at least one reflecting element, and at least one optical sensor of luminous intensity. The at least one emitter and the at least one optical sensor are disposed on the rim. The at least one reflecting element is disposed on a portion of an inner surface of the tire. The at least one emitter emits a light beam toward the at least one reflecting element, the at least one reflecting element reflects the light beam toward the at least one optical sensor, and the at least one optical sensor receives the reflected light beam, measures a prechosen physical parameter associated with the reflected light beam, and provides a signal representing a deformation of the tire on the portion of the inner surface of the tire.

Abstract: A system for determining interaction between a tire and a contact surface during movement of a motor vehicle includes at least one first sensor and processing means. The at least one first sensor includes one or more first elongated piezoelectric elements which extend along at least a first portion of the tire. The at least one first sensor supplies a first signal to the processing means. The first signal is generated by rotation of the tire and is generated cyclically with each revolution of the tire. The processing means detects variations in time intervals between distinctive elements of the first signal. A tire including the system, a kit for detecting behavior of a tire moving with respect to a contact surface, a method for monitoring events correlated with interactions between tires of a moving vehicle and a contact surface, and related systems, tires, methods, and vehicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for generating energy in a rolling wheel includes at least one part that can move with respect to a wheel rim. The at least one part is engaged with elastic means that keep it in contact with a predetermined bead portion of a tyre. The at least one part undergoes reciprocating outward and return motion against action of the elastic means, as a result of forces induced in the at least one part by contact pressure that varies cyclically during each tyre revolution and is exerted on the at least one part by the predetermined bead portion. Also disclosed is a method for generating energy in a rolling wheel that includes subjecting at least one part of the wheel to elastic force that keeps the at least one part in contact with the predetermined bead portion, and subjecting the at least one part to the cyclically-varying contact pressure.

Abstract: A system for determining interaction between a tyre and a contact surface during movement of a motor vehicle includes at least one first sensor and processing means. The at least one first sensor includes one or more first elongated piezoelectric elements which extend along at least a first portion of the tyre. The at least one first sensor supplies a first signal to the processing means. The first signal is generated by rotation of the tyre and is generated cyclically with each revolution of the tyre. The processing means detects variations in time intervals between distinctive elements of the first signal. A tyre including the system, a kit for detecting behaviour of a tyre moving with respect to a contact surface, a method for monitoring events correlated with interactions between tyres of a moving vehicle and a contact surface, and related systems, tyres, methods, and vehicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining preselected performance characteristics of a tire tread includes the steps of dividing the tread into a 3-D grid of cells; dividing a tread contact area into longitudinal and transversal strips; associating a longitudinal or transversal stiffness value with each strip using a linear relationship; assigning a preselected deformation state to each longitudinal and transversal strip; determining at least one single force, associated with each strip and acting in the longitudinal or transversal direction by means of the stiffness value and the deformation state; determining at least one total force associated with each contact area by summing all single forces, the total force representing at least one of the performance characteristics; determining a pattern of the total forces of all the contact areas; and analyzing the pattern of total forces to evaluate whether they assume values that optimize at least one preselected performance characteristic of the tread.

Abstract: A system for determining the state of shear deformation of a crown portion of a tyre (1) during the running of a motor vehicle (7) comprises at least one sensor (11; 111; 211) and processing means (15) operatively associated with said sensor; the system further comprises at least one magnetic field generator (10; 110; 210) applied to the tyre (1); said sensor (11; 111; 211) is capable of detecting magnetic induction and is associated with said generator (10; 110; 210) to supply a signal indicating the electrical potential difference which is generated within said sensor in the presence of the magnetic field; this signal represents the variation with time of the shear deformation of the crown portion of the tyre (1).

Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy in a vehicle tyre (1) comprises at least one piezoelectric element (9, 109) associated to the tyre (1) which generates electrical energy whenever it is deformed, and this piezoelectric element (9, 109) is elongate, extends along at least a portion of the tyre (1) and is connected electrically to an electrical circuit that is applied to the said tyre (1) and is not in electrical communication with the vehicle. The piezoelectric element (9, 109) preferably comprises a coaxial cable (10) extending along a straight or undulated path of the tyre circumference.

Abstract: A device (20) for continuously measuring deformations in a tyre (1), which is mounted on a rim (5), comprises at least one first emitter (7) of a first direct light beam (8), at least one first optical sensor (9) of the luminous intensity and at least one first reflecting element (13; 113) applied to a first portion (21) of an inner surface (4) of the tyre (1); the first emitter (7) is mounted on the rim (5) and is capable of sending the first direct light beam (8) towards the first reflecting element (13; 113); the first optical sensor (9) is also mounted on the rim (5) and is capable of receiving a first reflected light beam from the first reflecting element (13; 113), measuring a first prechosen physical parameter associated with the first reflected light beam and providing a first signal representing the deformation affecting the tyre (1) along the first surface portion (21) during one revolution of the tyre (1).

Abstract: A method for monitoring the instantaneous behavior of a tire includes the steps of acquiring and storing at least one basic reference curve representing variation of a displacement of at least one specified point of the tire in at least one of three spatial directions as a function of a spatial position of the at least one specified point during at least one portion of a revolution of the tire, continuously acquiring first signals representing the spatial position of the at least one specified point, deriving from the spatial position signals of the at least one specified point at least one cyclic curve of current operating displacement in at least one spatial direction, continuously comparing the at least one cyclic curve of current operating displacement with the at least one basic reference curve, and emitting a second signal depending on results of the comparison. A related device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining preselected performance characteristics of a tread of a tire consists in dividing the tread in a grid of cells forming piles of cells which are full, empty or partially full; identifying a group of piles of cells in each contact area; determining longitudinal stiffness values cxj and transversal stiffness values cyj for each pile; identifying families of discrete areas and transversal strips in each contact area; determining, for each strip, forces per unit of length by means of cxj and cyj, longitudinal stiffness values per unit of length cpx and transversal stiffness values per unit of length cpy and by means of cpx and cpy and a preselected state of deformation; determining total forces associated with all contact areas by means of single forces associated with the discrete areas, and evaluating their pattern so as to establish whether the arrangement of full and empty cells optimizes the performance characteristics of the tread.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the instantaneous behavior of a tire includes the steps of acquiring and storing at least one basic reference curve representing variation of a displacement of at least one specified point of the tire in at least one of three spatial directions as a function of a spatial position of the at least one specified point during at least one portion of a revolution of the tire, continuously acquiring first signals representing the spatial position of the at least one specified point, deriving from the spatial position signals of the at least one specified point at least one cyclic curve of current operating displacement in at least one spatial direction, continuously comparing the at least one cyclic curve of current operating displacement with the at least one basic reference curve, and emitting a second signal depending on results of the comparison. A related device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a device for reducing the internal noise of a vehicle produced during the rolling of the tire are described The device comprises a plurality of elements made from open-cell expanded materials, for example expanded polyethylene, or from fibers of the mineral or textile type. These elements are introduced into the tire during its mounting on the corresponding rim and are placed in the absence of restraints in the annular cavity delimited between the tire and the rim. As a result of the rolling of the wheel, the various elements, under the action of the centrifugal force, are moved and pushed in a random way towards the inner surface of the tire, producing a ragged surface whose presence, in combination with the open cells of said elements, modifies and damps the acoustic waves generated inside the tire during the rolling of the tire.

Abstract: A method for determining preselected characteristics of a tread of a tire comprises dividing the tread into a grid of cells forming piles of full, empty and partially full cells and grouped into strips of preselected dimensions; associating with each strip of piles of cells a stiffness value K which is linearly bound to the number n of consecutive piles of full cells by means of an angular coefficient m, which, in turn, is linearly bound to the total number i of empty cells contained in two piles of partially full or empty cells delimiting the consecutive piles of full cells; determining at least one single force F for each strip by means of the stiffness value K, a preselected deformation state and the total transversal and longitudinal forces Ft, associated with all contact areas to evaluate whether they assume values which optimize at least one preselected performance characteristic of the tread (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A tire for a vehicle, that is representable by a dynamic rigid-ring tire model with concentrated parameters, has construction features that are substantially equivalent to concentrated parameters that fall within the following intervals corresponding to preselected indices of comfort:rb=100-300 (Ns/m)rbt=2-40 (Nms/rad)rcz=100-350 (Ns/m)rct=10-90 (Nms/rad)Ckx=18,000-70,000 (N),where rb is a radial foundation dampening of said dynamic tire model; rbt is a torsional foundation dampening of said dynamic tire model; rcz is a residual radial dampening of said dynamic tire model; rct is a residual torsional dampening of said dynamic tire model; and Ckx is a slipping stiffness of a brush model of said tread.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a test wheel, provided with a tire and a rim, by passing the wheel over an obstacle. The apparatus including a road-wheel, a steering knuckle capable of rotatably supporting a hub and the test wheel, and two suspension arms supporting the steering knuckle. The apparatus also comprises a first, second, third and fourth leaf spring connected to the suspension arms and to a supporting frame, a fifth leaf spring connected to the steering knuckle and to the supporting frame, and a pneumatic spring in engagement with the steering knuckle and with the supporting frame. First and second acceleration transducers associated with the hub provide measurements of natural frequencies and dampenings of the tire in a radial and in a longitudinal direction. The apparatus can be used both in a movable-hub mode and in a fixed-hub mode.

Abstract: A method of control to determine the comfort level of a tire of a wheel for a vehicle is based on a dynamic tire model with a rigid ring having concentrated parameters that represent construction characteristics of the tire. Some concentrated parameters are measured, others are determined by parametric identification through a test of passing over an obstacle of the tire. From testing eight curves of natural frequencies and dampenings are obtained that are compared with as many calculated curves obtained from the model. By checking the coincidence between the eight calculated curves and the eight experimental curves, the values of the other concentrated parameters are determined that cause the calculated frequencies and dampenings to coincide with the experimental ones.

Abstract: A device for a braking and traction test of a wheel integral with a hub that is free to rotate, comprises a road-wheel, a crank integral with the hub and a connecting rod that causes the reciprocating movement of a piston sealingly sliding in a chamber of a cylinder containing air. The piston exerts on the wheel and on the tire a sinusoidal torque consisting in a braking torque during its compression stroke and in a traction torque during its expansion stroke. The device also comprises a first deformation transducer associated with the hub and a second and a third speed transducer associated with the hub and with the road-wheel, respectively.

Abstract: A torsional vibrator comprises a direct-current electric motor provided with induced windings supplied with direct current through inverter means capable of changing their polarity in an alternating manner with a preselected frequency. To a shaft of the electric motor a wheel is made integral that is formed by a rim and by a tire and acceleration transducers are associated with the rim and with the tire of the wheel. The shaft of the motor is driven to execute angular oscillations that torsionally excite said wheel and cause it to vibrate in rotational direction. The acceleration transducers detect rotational vibrations and provide measurements of acceleration of the rim and of the tire.