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US3852600A
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X-ray method and apparatus for detecting mislocation of steel reinforcements in green tires
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1973-02-21
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of X-ray detectors at precise locations relative to the centerline of the tread-stock region of a green tire, operate to sense location of certain X-ray intensities in the axialwise direction of the tire to detect sidewise mislocation of steel reinforcements such as belts, chafer strips, bead bundles, etc., embedded within the uncured rubber layers of such tire while being subjected to penetrative X-ray irradiation and while being turned about its central axis. A horizontal rotating inspection drum on which such green tire is loosely fit, serves to effect such tire turning, and by use of a stripe marking the threadstock centerline and a stripe-tracking servo mechanism, certain desired centerline-oriented locations of the detectors are preserved automatically in the presence of any widthwise wander of the tire on the rotating inspection drum.
Inventors
- 👤 J Faulkner
- 👤 J Hansen
- 👤 E Vaerewyck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/18; G01N23/185; G01N23/083; G01N23/16; G01N2223/00; G01N2223/60; G01N2223/627
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of inspecting a green tire for misalignment of metal reinforcing elements embedded therein, comprising the steps of: marking a reference stripe at a particular widthwise location around the circumference of the green tire while yet remaining on the collapsible forming drum on which it was fabricated, placing the stripe-marked tire on rotary means for turning it about its central axis, directing penetrative radiation radially through a peripheral portion thereof while disposed on said rotary means, detecting the intensities of such radiation transmitted through the tire discretely at a plurality of select widthwise detector locations of such tire relative to said stripe, comparing the intensities so detected to give information with respect to location of the aforesaid metal reinforcing elements, and tracking the reference stripe on the tire during its rotation to automatically maintain the positional relationship between stripe and detector locations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of inspecting a green tire for misalignment of metal reinforcing elements embedded therein, comprising the steps of: marking a reference stripe at a particular widthwise location around the circumference of the green tire while yet remaining on the collapsible forming drum on which it was fabricated, placing the stripe-marked tire on rotary means for turning it about its central axis, directing penetrative radiation radially through a peripheral portion thereof while disposed on said rotary means, detecting the intensities of such radiation transmitted through the tire discretely at a plurality of select widthwise detector locations of such tire relative to said stripe, comparing the intensities so detected to give information with respect to location of the aforesaid metal reinforcing elements, and tracking the reference stripe on the tire during its rotation to automatically maintain the positional relationship between stripe and detector locations.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of inspecting a green tire for misalignment of reinforcing element embedded therein comprising the steps of: placing the tire on rotary means for turning it about its central axis, directing penetrative radiation radially through a peripheral portion thereof while on said rotary means, detecting intensities of such radiation passing through the tire at a plurality of detector locations at opposite sides of a widthwise centerline of the tire, sensing simultaneous differences in localized intensity information so detected to give sidewise position information respecting the aforesaid reinforcing elements, and maintaining a fixed relationship between detector locations and said centerline while said tire is turning on said rotary means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of inspecting a green tire for misalignment of reinforcing element embedded therein comprising the steps of: placing the tire on rotary means for turning it about its central axis, directing penetrative radiation radially through a peripheral portion thereof while on said rotary means, detecting intensities of such radiation passing through the tire at a plurality of detector locations at opposite sides of a widthwise centerline of the tire, sensing simultaneous differences in localized intensity information so detected to give sidewise position information respecting the aforesaid reinforcing elements, and maintaining a fixed relationship between detector locations and said centerline while said tire is turning on said rotary means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of inspecting a green metal-reinforced tire as set forth in claim 2, wherein the aforesaid rotary means is in the form of a hollow horizontal turning drum rotatable about its central axis and the tire undergoing inspection rests loosely on such drum and turned by rolling cooperation therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of inspecting green metal-reinforced tires as set forth in claim 3, wherein said turning drum may be introduced to and removed from a particular inspection station wherein the inspection is performed, and the method further includes the step of placing the tire to undergo inspection onto the turning drum prior to introducing such drum to the inspection station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for inspecting reinforcement-containing green tires, comprising, rotary means for turning the tire about its axis, an X-ray tube for directing X-rays radially through the tire while on said rotary means, a plurality of dEtectors at opposite sides of a widthwise centerline of the tire for detecting intensities of X-rays passing through the tire corresponding to sidewise location of reinforcements in such tire, positioning means for maintaining the location of said detectors fixed relative to said centerline, and logic circuit means accepting the simultaneous intensity information from such detectors and differentiating same to determine anomolies with respect to the position of side edges of such reinforcements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for inspecting reinforcement-containing green tires, comprising, rotary means for turning the tire about its axis, an X-ray tube for directing X-rays radially through the tire while on said rotary means, a plurality of dEtectors at opposite sides of a widthwise centerline of the tire for detecting intensities of X-rays passing through the tire corresponding to sidewise location of reinforcements in such tire, positioning means for maintaining the location of said detectors fixed relative to said centerline, and logic circuit means accepting the simultaneous intensity information from such detectors and differentiating same to determine anomolies with respect to the position of side edges of such reinforcements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said positioning means includes means for following sidewise deviation of the green tire during said turning to automatically adjust the positions of said detectors widthwise of said tire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus for inspecting tires as set forth in claim 5, wherein said detectors comprise photomultiplier tubes viewing respective scintillation elements disposed on opposite sides of a narrow light barrier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |