Abstract: A method for recording operating information of a railroad train (10) comprising a lead locomotive (14), a remote locomotive (12A), and a trailing locomotive (15). The method comprises recording the operating information of at least one of the railroad train (10) and/or a distributed power communications system onboard the railroad train (10), determining a location of the lead locomotive (14), and including the location in a record of the operating information.

Abstract: A tire changer which comprises a mounting device (18) for receiving at least a wheel rim of a wheel/tire assembly, wherein the mounting device (18) has an axis (S), a roller (26) which is able to contact a peripheral surface of the wheel/tire assembly (14) and to apply a predetermined force to the peripheral surface of the wheel/tire assembly (14), a control device (32) for controlling the predetermined force applied by the during a rotation of the wheel/tire assembly about the axis (S) of the mounting device and a sensor device (30) for measuring force variations acting between the peripheral surface of the wheel/tire assembly and the roller (26), wherein supports (20, 22) of the roller (26) and of the mounting device (18) are designed for a relative movement of the roller (26) and of the mounting device (18) towards each other along a straight line to apply the predetermined force to the peripheral surface of the wheel/tire assembly (14).

Abstract: In order to conduct a visual inspection correctly for a tire having deflection, contour deformation caused by the deflection of the tire is corrected with respect to tire contour measurement data. A tire contour measurement data correction method includes a step of obtaining a sidewall image in a tire radial direction at each certain rotation angle by a sensor portion while rotating a tire T to be inspected by a tire rotation portion, a step of dividing the sidewall image by a predetermined ratio by an image processing portion and approximating the sidewall image of each divided section by a straight line, a step of calculating an inclination angle in a horizontal direction of the approximate straight line, and a step of rotating the sidewall image of each divided section so that the inclination angle of the approximate straight line agrees with a predetermined angle determined for each divided section.

Abstract: Boundary lines which are contours of uneven marks are detected in a sample original image of the sidewall surface of a sample tire, and a mask image showing the position of the boundary lines is generated. Thereupon, a height offset image which shows a height of the uneven marks is generated by, in use of a plurality of discrete height threshold values, classifying the height of regions in the sample original image which remain after excluding regions corresponding to the positions of the boundary lines shown in the mask image. An unevenness-excluded image is generated by excluding the uneven marks from an inspection image of a sidewall surface of a tire under inspection, by subtracting the height offset image from the inspection image. A shape defect in the sidewall surface of the tire under inspection is inspected on the basis of the unevenness-excluded image.

Abstract: In a method for predicting a rolling noise B of a tire on a pavement, a real profile of the pavement is charted, at least one value of at least one descriptor of the pavement is determined based on the real profile, and use is made of a law for predicting rolling noise B of a tire. The law is of a type given by B=g(V1, . . . , Vn), where V1, . . . , Vn are values of descriptors D1, . . . , Dn of the pavement, where 1?n?2, where D1 is a characteristic number of indenters of the pavement, and where D2 is a characteristic dimension of the indenters of the pavement.

Abstract: A plurality of conveyors including a center conveyor are appropriately disposed without any gap or step and any interference between driving units.

Abstract: High speed height control of a surface of a substrate within a wafer inspection system includes positioning a substrate on a substrate stage of a dynamically adjustable substrate stage assembly, actuating the substrate perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, measuring a height error value of the surface of the substrate at a position of inspection of the surface, measuring a displacement value perpendicular to the surface of the substrate at the location of the substrate stage assembly, generating a displacement target from the height error value and the displacement value, and adjusting an actuation state of the actuator using the measured height error value and the generated displacement target in order to maintain the substrate surface at an imaging plane of a detector of the inspection system or a focus of illumination of the inspection system.

Abstract: A transformation matrix used for finding actual loads acting on a tire can be reliably calibrated. Using the calibrated transformation matrix, the translation and moment loads exerted on the tire can be calculated with a high degree of accuracy in a multi-component force measuring spindle unit including two multi-component force measuring sensors on locations spaced-apart from each other along the axis direction of a spindle shaft. The calibration method includes a step of measuring loads exerted on the spindle shaft, a calculation step using a measured load vector including the loads obtained in the measurement step and the transformation matrix applied to the measured load vector, to find an actual load vector including actual loads on the tire. Before the calculation step, a calibration step determines the measured load vector under a plurality of linearly independent test conditions and calibrates the transformation matrix based on the determined measured load vector.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire assembly includes a pneumatic tire having an inner cavity and an inner surface at least partially defining the inner cavity, a rigid structure for facilitating operation of the tire assembly, and a docking base for securing the rigid structure to the inner surface of the inner cavity. The docking base has been integrally bonded to the inner surface during curing of the pneumatic tire. The docking base has a shape formed by a mold attached to the inner surface of the inner cavity during curing of the pneumatic tire. The mold subsequently is removed thereby resulting in the docking base integrally secured to the inner surface.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the mileage of a tire, include measuring a first current mileage over a limited period a first time, measuring a second current mileage over a limited period a second time, providing a measurement-free rest period between the first measurement and the second measurement, and estimating the mileage during the rest period on the basis of the first current mileage and/or the second current mileage. In addition, the method is repeated, with the already performed second measurement replacing the first measurement. Since a supply of power is not needed or at least can be significantly reduced during the rest period, the power requirement for mileage determination during the life of the tire can be significantly reduced, which allows simplified supply of power for mileage determination.

Abstract: Provided is a method of testing rubber wear in which a wear phenomenon occurred in a tire can be precisely reproduced in a sample, and a method of calculating the rubber index of a tire using the method of testing rubber wear. Also provided is a test method for predicting the anti-wear properties of a tire by using a test piece of the same rubber as that of a tire tread, which is a method of testing rubber wear in which, while a disk-shaped sample 3 and a disk-shaped grinding wheel 1 are rotated at individually predetermined numbers of rotations, the sample 3 is pressed on the outer periphery of the grinding wheel 1. A pressing load is applied to the sample 3 such that a contact pressure when the sample is pressed on the outer periphery of the grinding wheel 1 and a contact pressure at a site related to the evaluation of rubber wear of tread are the same.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to tire monitoring systems for collecting measured tire parameter data during vehicle operation and, more particularly, to a system and method for estimating tire wear state based upon such measurements.

Abstract: To effectively suppress a shift of a rotating axis of an upper chuck with respect to a rotating axis of a lower chuck due to a separating force. A tire testing device (1) includes: vertical frames (30a, 30b) which are supported by a lower frame (20); a beam (40) which bridges between the vertical frames (30a, 30b) and is movable in the vertical direction; an upper chuck (45) which is attached to the center of the beam (40), the center corresponding to the center of the beam in the longitudinal direction; and a lower chuck (25) which is attached to the lower frame. When viewed from the vertical direction, a rotating axis of an upper rotating member (47) is positioned at the center of a straight line formed by connecting supporting points where each of the vertical frames (30a, 30b) support the beam (40).

Abstract: To provide a rim assembly to which even a small tire can be mounted, a tire testing machine, and a rim assembly replacement method. The rim assembly having an upper rim and a lower rim in a pair to which a tire to be tested is mounted, includes: a pin provided on the lower rim; a pin receiving portion that is provided on the upper rim and engageable with the pin; and a groove portion having a recessed groove with a recessed section that can house at least a part of a tip of the pin, formed in a surface of the upper rim on a side of the lower rim.

Abstract: A method of determining crack condition on a sidewall of a tire uses a crack detection tool having a lens on a housing, and a transparent reticle on the housing at the focal plane of the lens. A plurality of spaced lines are provided on the reticle, with the spacing of each pair of indicia conforming to a degree of crack condition of the sidewall of a desired tire. The method includes viewing the sidewall of the desired tire through the lens and the reticle, selecting a crack on the tire sidewall and positioning the reticle over the selected crack so that the sides of the crack are approximately symmetrically located within, on or outside of the pairs of lines. Using the pairs of indicia on the reticle, the tire sidewall condition may be determined based on the degree of crack width.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of setting valid output sections of a 3-axis acceleration sensor mounted within a tire of a vehicle, including setting an output signal of the 3-axis acceleration sensor in the z-axis direction as a reference signal, setting a specific section of the output signal in the z-axis direction as a valid section where a part of the tire where the 3-axis acceleration sensor is mounted contacts a road surface, and setting sections of output signals of the 3-axis acceleration sensor in the x-axis and y-axis directions corresponding to the valid section in the z-axis direction as valid sections in the x-axis and y-axis directions. The method sets precise valid sections applied to detect information between the tire and a ground surface so as to minimize a component of a noise section by connecting output signals in the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis directions.

Abstract: A manipulator assembly for moving and displacing a tire undergoing tire testing, including: a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local vertical z-axis; a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local lateral y-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis; a rotary actuator for cambering the tire within a local coordinate system partially defined by the local vertical z-axis and the local lateral y-axis; and a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a global lateral y-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis such that the local coordinate system is moved and displaced along the global lateral y-axis. Specifically, the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces an origin of the local coordinate system along the global lateral y-axis.

Abstract: A tire (T) for measurement, having applied thereto a required camber angle (CA) and slip angle (SA), is contacted against a rotatably driven rotating drum (1) having embedded therein a three-component force sensor (measurement unit 3) capable of measuring ground contact pressure (P), width direction shear stress (?x), and circumferential shear stress (?y) (properties) of the tire (T). The rotating drum (1) and tire (T) are rotated and the tire (T) is passed over the three-component force sensor (3) multiple times. The tire (T) properties are measured multiple times, and the tire circumferential direction position of each measurement point is identified. A ground contact pressure distribution, width direction shear stress distribution, and circumferential shear stress distribution in a contact region of the tire (T) with the rotating drum (1) are obtained by repeating measurement and identification while displacing the tire (T) along the rotation axis of the rotating drum (1).

Abstract: A vehicle wheel service apparatus, in particular a wheel balancer or a tire changer, comprising a load means for applying a predetermined load onto a peripheral surface of a wheel/tire assembly, a sensor device arranged to determine forces acting between the peripheral surface of the wheel/tire assembly and the load means, wherein the forces comprise at least a first force acting in a radial direction of the wheel/tire assembly and a second force acting in a circumferential direction of the wheel/tire assembly, and an evaluation device arranged to determine a rolling resistance coefficient of the tire on the basis of the first and second forces.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for determining pitches of cooling pins for a pneumatic tire so that the heat dissipation performance of the sidewall may be improved and an airflow noise generated by a high speed air may be decreased, and a pneumatic tire including the cooling pins arranged by the same. The method for determining pitches of cooling pins for a pneumatic tire, including: selecting a total number of cooling fins, the number of pitch-types, and a size of each pitch; generating a random number and arranging each type of pitch sequentially by the generated random number to produce a random pitch arrangement; Fourier transforming the obtained pitch arrangement to calculate a result value (FT); and repeatedly performing the steps of producing a random pitch arrangement and calculating the FT to determine a pitch arrangement when a change in amplitude of the FT is smallest.

Abstract: A calibrating apparatus of a tire testing machine of the present invention calibrates force components along a lateral direction of a load cell on a tire testing machine provided with a rotary drum and the load cell mounted to a shaft portion of the rotary drum and capable of measuring force applied to the rotary drum, and has a hook member hooked on an outer peripheral edge of the rotary drum, a linear body, one end side of which is connected to the hook member, a load applying member connected to the other end side of the linear body and capable of generating a reference load toward a downward direction, and a pulley device around which the linear body is wound to convert the downward force by the load applying member into an upward force on one end side of the linear body.

Abstract: A warning strategy determines in a mutually separate manner the different effects that may occur in a tire and allows the increments and their priority in the display or indication for the driver to be evaluated in a mutually separate manner. This strategy occurs in connection with a sensor which can transmit at least the outside temperature and, preferably, also the barometric pressure to an evaluation device for detecting tire inflation pressure and tire temperature. As a result, in addition to an air loss monitoring function, the load capacity of the tire can also be evaluated at least as a function of the outside temperature. The evaluation device receives further input signals, such as the vehicle velocity, the tire contact area and/or the vehicle load, whereby also a dynamic tire stress can be taken into account as an indication or display for the driver.

Abstract: A receiver device is tuned to monitor for first transmissions at a first time according to a first criterion and to monitor for second transmissions at a second time according to a second criterion. When the receiver device initially recognizes one of the first transmissions being transmitted according to the first criterion or the second transmissions being transmitted according to the second criterion, the recognized transmission is verified as being valid. When the transmission is recognized as valid, a transmission apparatus is activated to transmit an indication to a receiver so that a localization process can be executed.

Abstract: A method is provided for real-time monitoring of tire pressure, wherein the pressure value determined by use of a pressure sensor in the tire is transmitted by an electronic wheel device, without the use of a trigger transmitter fixed on the vehicle, by radio, in short transmission intervals, to a monitoring device installed in the vehicle, only if, at least when the vehicle is not moving, the value is outside a prespecified normal range. When the vehicle is not moving, the electronic wheel device transmits a signal suitable for a system monitoring function, at certain time intervals and, using the same time frame or a whole-number fraction or multiple thereof, carries out a measurement of the tire pressure. The signal has a short transmission duration on the order of 25 ?s to 500 ?s.

Abstract: In a method for predicting at least one physical interaction effect between a tire and a pavement, a real profile of the pavement is charted, and the real profile is sectioned into several strata each corresponding to an altitude of the real profile. At least one law of variation of at least one pavement descriptor is determined based on the real profile, as a function of the altitude, and an interaction value of each pavement descriptor is determined at an interaction value of the altitude, for each law of variation. A value of a physical interaction effect is predicted based on an interaction value of at least one pavement descriptor.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents a wheel diameter variation-detecting device capable of properly detecting relative variation in diameter between a plurality of wheels of a vehicle. The wheel diameter variation-detecting device can detect variation in diameter between a plurality of wheels of a vehicle, can detect rotational speeds of the respective wheels, and can calculate a variation parameter indicative of variation in diameter between the wheels using one of the wheels as a reference wheel, based on a result of comparison between the rotational speed of the reference wheel and that of one of the wheels other than the reference wheel. Further, the wheel diameter variation-detecting device can learn the variation parameter based on a value obtained by averaging a plurality of values of the variation parameter obtained before the detected travelled distance reaches a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A retainer for accommodating an electronic component, in particular a sensor, including a main body or a main body element, which comes in contact with the electronic component, and is composed of a main body material. The retainer further includes a transition layer, which is connected to the main body and a thermoplastic connecting layer or a first connecting element, which is connected to the transition layer. The thermoplastic connecting layer is designed such that the thermoplastic connecting layer can be brought into a reversible mechanical/physical connection to a contact element or a second connecting element by a preceding partial melting process.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to tire characterization systems and methods for combining direct tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) and tire resonance analysis in indirect tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for the extraction of tire characteristics to characterize other tire parameters. In embodiments, iTPMS and methods that utilize anti-lock braking system (ABS) sensed signals coupled to an electronic control unit (ECU) that may comprise circuitry and/or controllers to process the sensed signals using a resonance frequency analysis (RFA) technique can be combined with direct tire pressure sensor measurements from direct TPMS systems. Because direct TPMS systems deliver a precise value of a tire characteristic (for example, tire pressure), one of the unknown parameters that influence the resonance effects can be removed.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a decrease in tire pressure based on a resonance frequency of a tire installed in a vehicle includes rotation information detection means for detecting rotation information of the tire, resonance frequency estimate means for estimating the resonance frequency of the tire from the rotation information of the tire, and judgment means for judging the decrease in the tire pressure by comparison between the resonance frequency estimated by the resonance frequency estimate means and a reference frequency preliminarily determined by learning at the time of initialization. An effective speed region when the reference frequency is determined at the time of the initialization is a first speed or less. The apparatus further includes effective speed region change means for extending an upper limit of the effective speed region to a second speed which is larger than the first speed at the time of shifting.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing the measurements obtained, over a given period, from a number of measurement acquisition means for acquiring measurements of characteristics associated with the stresses withstood by a tire fitted on a running vehicle. The measurement acquisition means are brought into operation independently of one another and at least one indexing at a given instant of the measurements from each of said means is created relative to a time-measuring reference means.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the pressure in a tire of a rolling vehicle includes determining the length of the tire contact patch of the tire in the driving direction and inferring the pressure in the tire from the length of the tire contact patch.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for accurately detecting shoulder edge wear without impairing the durability of a tire. The method includes extracting an acceleration waveform from output signals of an acceleration sensor (11) disposed on the inner surface of a tire tread by an acceleration waveform extracting means (12), extracting either a pre-leading-end region or a post-trailing-end region of the acceleration waveform by an acceleration waveform separating means (13), obtaining a frequency spectrum by analyzing the extracted acceleration waveform by a frequency analysis means (14), calculating a frequency band value, which is the magnitude of acceleration in a specific frequency band, from the frequency spectrum by a frequency band value calculating means (15), and detecting an uneven wear in the edge of the tire shoulder from the magnitude of the calculated frequency band value by a shoulder edge wear detecting means (17).

Abstract: A tread wear indicator is affixed to a respective tire tread element. The indicator is constructed as a plurality of radially stacked sensor elements operatively configured and located to sequentially sacrificially abrade and change in electrical resistance responsive to a progressive tread wear of the respective tread element. The sensor elements are connected by circuitry that communicates a data signal from the sensor elements to a data processor indicative of a change in cumulative resistivity of the sensor elements. The data processor receives the data signal from the sensor elements and determines a radial wear level of the tread element based on the data signal. Multiple tread wear indicators may be mounted to respective tread lugs across the tread to derive a tread wear status based upon the tread wear profiles of the respective lugs.

Abstract: A powered mobile test device for measuring loads supported by a running tire, said device being composed of a rigid frame carried by at least two carrying wheels to which a torque is applied, and having an axle which is fixed to the frame and which carries a test wheel for measuring the loads supported by said tire. The axle is connected to the frame by a loading actuator, a torque is applied to the test wheel, said torque applied to the test wheel is in the opposite direction to those applied to the carrying wheels, and a linkage system between the test wheel and the carrying wheels transmits at least some of the power developed by the braking torque applied to the test wheel or by the braking torques applied to the carrying wheels.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) wheel mounting bracket that is designed to attach a TPMS to an air flow tube having means for being attached to a vehicle wheel rim. The TPMS wheel mounting bracket includes a first end that terminates with a vertical section having a threaded bore, and a second end that terminates with a tube/bracket attachment bore. When a threaded bolt is inserted through a bracket attachment bore located on the TPMS and into the threaded bore on the vertical section, the TPMS is secured to the first end of the TPMS wheel mounting bracket. The tube/bracket attachment bore located on the second end is dimensioned to fit over the air inlet tube that is secured to the TPMS mounting bracket by means of a bolt.

Abstract: A monitoring device for tires for vehicle wheels includes: an electronic unit; a connecting member configured for constraining the electronic unit to a tire, the connecting member being of one piece construction and including: a first and a second base portion, mutually separated by a separation region, each of the base portions having a respective base surface associable with an inner surface of a tire; and a housing portion in cooperation with the base portions defining a cavity for the electronic unit. The connecting member is deformable between an insertion condition of the electronic unit into the cavity and a retaining condition of the electronic unit in the cavity. The connecting member in the insertion condition is configured for enabling insertion of the electronic unit in the cavity when the base portions are not fastened to the inner surface of the tire.

Abstract: A modular, portable, drive-through tire tread wear and brake testing system including a tire tread wear analyzer and flat plate brake tester housed in an intermodal cargo shipping container. Doors open on opposing sides of the container to permit a vehicle to be driven through it and, as the vehicle passes over the floor of the modular container and the flat plate brake tester, its tires are scanned by a flush-mounted tire tread depth scanner. The scanned output, a digitized tread profile, is analyzed for tread depth, tire wear patterns from chronic under- or over-inflation, and wheel misalignment. Cameras trained on the vehicle entering the container that feed video to monitors visible to the driver plus structural components on the floor of the container help to guide the vehicle into position over the scanner. The tire and brake report is generated immediately and transmitted to the appropriate recipient.

Abstract: A system and related method for improving tire uniformity includes identifying at least one candidate process effect and a corresponding process harmonic number for each process effect. A given uniformity parameter, such as radial or lateral run-out, balance, mass variation, radial lateral or tangential force variation, is measured for each tire in a test set, such that the measurements contain tire harmonics as well as a process harmonics corresponding to each candidate process effect. Rectangular coordinate coefficients are electronically constructed for each said process harmonic, after which point the rectangular coordinates corresponding to each process harmonic are solved for (e.g., by using regression-based analysis). The magnitude of each said process harmonic is estimated, and a final magnitude estimate for each process harmonic can be determined by summarizing (e.g., by taking the average or median value) the respectively estimated magnitudes for each process harmonic across all test tires.

Abstract: A tire sorting apparatus for reliably reading information from a tire identifier, such as a barcode, formed on the surface of a tire without damaging the tire. Placed under a tire mounting table is a tire grip means which has three grip arms arranged circularly in a plane perpendicular to the tire center axis and link mechanisms for spreading the grip arms. Placed above the mounting table is a barcode reader rotating means for rotating a barcode reader held by a barcode reader holding means. The rotation axis of the barcode reader is aligned with the center of the circle formed by the grip arms of the tire grip means.

Abstract: In some example implementations, there is provided a method. The method may include generating, by an air-coupled transducer, a first ultrasonic guided wave to cause the generated ultrasonic guided wave to propagate into a rail being tested for one or more defects, wherein a frequency of the first ultrasonic guided wave is controlled by at least changing the frequency of a voltage sent to the air-coupled transducer generating the first ultrasonic guided wave; receiving, by a receiver, a second ultrasonic guided wave, wherein the second ultrasonic guided wave is received from the rail; and analyzing a signal representative of the received second ultrasonic guided wave to detect the one or more defects in the rail. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also provided.

Abstract: An external tire pressure gauge mounting structure includes a base and a cap; the base and cap are locked together to provide an internal mounting space; the mounting structure also includes a gear, a cushion ring and a locking member; the gear is fixed on the base and has teeth; a through hole is defined in the cushion ring and teeth is provided on a sidewall of the through hole; the gear is inserted into the cushion ring, and the teeth of the cushion ring and gear mesh each other; the locking member is pressed against the cushion ring and gear; the locking member, gear and base all have their threaded holes. Also disclosed is a handling tool used for above mounting structure. The invention makes improvements upon the mounting structure of the tire pressure gauge and provides a handling tool which is easy to use. As such, mounting and dismounting of the tire pressure gauge becomes convenient.

Abstract: A wrong operation detection device is disclosed for monitoring whether or not a calibration start for determining an initial deflation index is issued in a tire pressure unadjusted state after a deflation warning in a tire pressure monitoring system for detection of deflation of a tire. The device includes comparison means for comparing a first deflation index serving as a deflation index at any time point in a period from issue of the deflation warning to vehicle stop after the issue of the warning, with a second deflation index serving as a deflation index obtained after the calibration start; detection means for detection of wrong operation of a reset button based on a comparison result by the comparison means; and warning means for issuing a warning when the detection means detects the wrong operation.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the magnitude of one or more harmonics of one or more uniformity parameters in a cured tire involves selective removal of tire material at one or more track/area locations along first and second bead profiles. Selective removal may occur via ablation at the bead seat, low flange and/or high flange zones to correct for a selected number of harmonics of such parameters as radial, lateral and tangential force variation. Ablation patterns are calculated and implemented on first and second tire beads to achieve desired levels of force reduction at selected angular locations (within the expanse from 0-360 degrees along each tire bead). Ablation patterns may be calculated for implementation at fixed or varied tire rotational speeds and/or fixed or varied levels of laser power.

Abstract: An arrangement of a tire pressure sensor unit on the inner wall of the tread of a vehicle tire in a retaining device for the sensor unit is provided. The retaining device is connected to the inner wall, wherein a sealing compound is applied to the inner wall, or in the case of a retaining device having a closed bottom section which is connected to the inner wall, the sealing compound is applied to the bottom section facing the sensor unit. In the event that a foreign object punctures the inner wall, or punctures the inner wall and the bottom section, the sealing compound prevents at least a short-term loss of pressure caused by the hole resulting therefrom in that the sealing compound at least almost tightly seals the hole.

Abstract: A compact, easy to use tire tread gauge has a window that displays an indication of the condition of an automobile tire and whether it needs to be replaced because of tread wear.

Abstract: Road grade is modeled over a region in which a vehicle is driven on roadways having a grade that varies over a plurality of predetermined grade ranges. A succession of grade values are generated while operating the vehicle at a predetermined rate, wherein each grade value identifies a respective grade range then being encountered. A Markov chain road-grade model is updated in response to the succession of grade values, wherein the model represents respective elements of probability in a matrix of transition events from each predetermined grade range to a respective next-in-succession grade range. Each element of the matrix has a value ?i,j representing a weighted frequency of transition events from a first respective grade value to a second respective grade value divided by a weighted frequency of transition events initiating from the first respective grade value, so that the matrix successively approximates the road grade of the region.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for testing an associated tire. The apparatus may comprise a substantially transparent test platform. The test platform may comprise a low friction test surface. The low friction test surface may comprise a layer of lubricant. The layer may be less than 3 millimeters thick The apparatus may further comprise an optic or acoustic data acquisition system or appliance. The optic or acoustic data acquisition system or appliance may comprise either a camera positioned to view the test surface through the substantially transparent test platform, or ultrasonic equipment positioned to acquire data regarding the test surface through the substantially transparent test platform.

Abstract: A system for locating and tracking an object is provided. The system includes a measuring device configured to determine a property of a paving-related material, a locating device configured to determine a location of the measuring device, a tracking system configured to store tracking information associated with the measuring device and one or more properties determined by the measuring device, and a communications system configured to transfer, to a remote device, the location of the measuring device and the tracking information associated with the measuring device.

Abstract: Provided is a loading device that is provided in a tire testing machine including a testing station (30) provided with a spindle (31) attached with a tire (50) to be tested and feeds the tire (50) from a predetermined standby position to a testing position where the center of the spindle matches the center of the tire (50) in the testing station (30). The loading device includes: conveyors (1, 2) that convey the tire (50) from the standby position toward the testing position in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the tire; and positioning devices (6B, 20) that position the tire to be tested to a position, in which a front end of the tire in the feeding direction matches a point separated from the spindle by a predetermined distance, as the standby position. Setting of the standby position based on the position of the front end of the tire (50) in the feeding direction shortens the feeding distance and the feeding time and hence shortens the testing cycle time.

Abstract: A tire testing machine includes a tire and wheel assembly having a sensor configured to measure a parameter related to the tire and wheel assembly as it rotates on a rotating element. A holder supports the tire and wheel assembly. A processor is configured to receive an input at least based on the output signal from the sensor, and provide an output signal indicative of a parameter of a contact patch between a tire of the tire and wheel assembly and the rotating element. Controlled element(s) are configured to vary a parameter related to the contact patch and/or friction.