US3914607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thickness measuring apparatus and method for tire ply and similar materials
Assignee: Industrial Nucleonics Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-12
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1993-12-12
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for measuring the thicknesses of material on opposite sides of the reinforcing cord disposed within a tire ply, the material of the reinforcing cords having a high effective atomic number relative to the atomic number of the material applied to the opposite sides of the cords. Sources of X-ray radiation on opposite sides of the tire ply are directed at the tire ply. Radiation detectors on opposite sides of the ply having optimum sensitivity to backscatter radiations, produce first and second signal outputs, each of which have components functionally related to the thicknesses of the material on both sides of the reinforcing cords. Processing circuits are provided which process the first and second signals so that the first and second signals each are related to the thicknesses of material on both sides of the ply. Solution networks combine the processed signals to obtain third and fourth signals, the third signal being representative of the thickness of material on one side of the cord and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on the opposite side of the cords, and the fourth signal being representative of the thickness of material on the opposite side of the reinforcing cord and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on the other side of the cords. Optional apparatus for summing, subtracting and taking the ratio of the third and fourth signals to indicate the combined thickness of material on both sides of the cord, the difference of the thickness of material on one side of the ply compared to the other, or balance, and the cord position within the ply are provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Boong Youn Cho
- 👤 Orval L Utt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/16; G01B; G01B15/00; G01B15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
A method for measuring the thicknesses of a first material applied to opposite sides of reinforcing cords of a second material, the material of the reinforcing cords having a high effective atomic number relative to the atomic number of the material applied to the opposite sides of the reinforcing cords, comprising the steps of directing X-ray radiations to both sides of the ply, said X-ray radiations and the ply producing backscattered radiation on each side of the ply that is a function of the thickness of the first material on both sides of the ply, sensing the backscattered radiation on each side of the ply and obtaining first and second signals, the first signal being obtained from one side of the ply and the second signal being obtained from the other side of the ply, both of said signals being functionally related to the thicknesses of the first material on both sides of the ply, combining the first and second signals to obtain a third signal that is representative of the thickness of rubber on one side of the cords and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on the opposite side of cords, and combining the first and second signals to obtain a fourth signal, said fourth signal being representative of the thickness of rubber on the opposite side of the cords and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on said one side of the cords.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
242 words
A method for measuring the thicknesses of a first material applied to opposite sides of reinforcing cords of a second material, the material of the reinforcing cords having a high effective atomic number relative to the atomic number of the material applied to the opposite sides of the reinforcing cords, comprising the steps of directing X-ray radiations to both sides of the ply, said X-ray radiations and the ply producing backscattered radiation on each side of the ply that is a function of the thickness of the first material on both sides of the ply, sensing the backscattered radiation on each side of the ply and obtaining first and second signals, the first signal being obtained from one side of the ply and the second signal being obtained from the other side of the ply, both of said signals being functionally related to the thicknesses of the first material on both sides of the ply, combining the first and second signals to obtain a third signal that is representative of the thickness of rubber on one side of the cords and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on the opposite side of cords, and combining the first and second signals to obtain a fourth signal, said fourth signal being representative of the thickness of rubber on the opposite side of the cords and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on said one side of the cords.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said X-ray radiations are of an energy level selected to minimize sensitivity of the first and second signals to composition changes in the rubber and to provide substantial absorption of said radiations by said cords.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said first and second signals are combined by combining the first signal with the second signal combined with the factor b/a to obtain said third signal, and combining the second signal with the first signal combined with said factor b/a to obtain said fourth signal, wherein b is a predetermined sensitivity factor relating the response of backscatter radiations from a layer of rubber on the side of the reinforcing cord opposite the backscatter radiation sensing and a is a predetermined sensitivity factor relating the response of backscatter radiations from the layer of rubber on the side of the cords where the backscatter radiatIon is sensed.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for measuring the thicknesses of rubber on opposite sides of a steel cord reinforced rubber ply, comprising directing X-ray radiations to both sides of the tire ply, said X-ray radiations and the ply producing backscattered radiation on each side of the play that is a function of the thickness of the first material on both sides of the ply, sensing the backscattered radiations on each side of the ply and obtaining first and second signals which are functionally related to the thicknesses of rubber on both sides of the steel cord, combining the first and second signals to obtain a third signal that is representative of the thickness of rubber on one side of the cords and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on the opposite side of the cords, and combining the first and second signals to obtain a fourth signal, said fourth signal being representative of the thickness of rubber on the opposite side of the cords and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on said one side of the cords.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for measuring the thicknesses of rubber on opposite sides of a steel cord reinforced rubber ply, comprising directing X-ray radiations to both sides of the tire ply, said X-ray radiations and the ply producing backscattered radiation on each side of the play that is a function of the thickness of the first material on both sides of the ply, sensing the backscattered radiations on each side of the ply and obtaining first and second signals which are functionally related to the thicknesses of rubber on both sides of the steel cord, combining the first and second signals to obtain a third signal that is representative of the thickness of rubber on one side of the cords and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on the opposite side of the cords, and combining the first and second signals to obtain a fourth signal, said fourth signal being representative of the thickness of rubber on the opposite side of the cords and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on said one side of the cords.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein said X-ray radiations are of an energy level selected to minimize sensitivity of the first and second signals to composition changes in the rubber and to provide substantial absorption of said radiations by said cords.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein said first and second signals are combined by combining the first signal with the second signal combined with the factor b/a to obtain said third signal, and combining the second signal with the first signal combined with said factor b/a to obtain said fourth signal, where b is a predetermined sensitivity factor relating the response of backscatter radiations from a layer of rubber on the side of the reinforcing cord opposite the backscatter radiation sensing and is a predetermined sensitivity factor relating the response of backscatter radiations from the layer of rubber on the side of the cord where the backscatter radiation is sensed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
221 words
Apparatus for measuring the thicknesses of rubber on opposite sides of a cord reinforced rubber ply comprising a first means for applying X-ray radiations to one side of the ply, a second means for applying X-ray radiations to the opposite side of the ply, first detector means for sensing the backscatter radiations from said one side of the ply and producing a first signal which is functionally related to the thicknesses of rubber on both sides of the ply, second detector means for sensing the backscatter radiations from the opposite side of the ply and producing a second signal which is functionally related to the thicknesses of rubber on both sides of the ply, means responsive to said first and second signals to obtain third and fourth signals, said third signal being obtained from combining said first and second signals, and said fourth signal being obtained from combining said first and second signals, said third and fourth signals being representative of the thickness of rubber on the one side of the cord and sustantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on the opposite side of the cords and representative of the thickness of rubber on the other side of the cord and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on said one side of said cords, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
221 words
Apparatus for measuring the thicknesses of rubber on opposite sides of a cord reinforced rubber ply comprising a first means for applying X-ray radiations to one side of the ply, a second means for applying X-ray radiations to the opposite side of the ply, first detector means for sensing the backscatter radiations from said one side of the ply and producing a first signal which is functionally related to the thicknesses of rubber on both sides of the ply, second detector means for sensing the backscatter radiations from the opposite side of the ply and producing a second signal which is functionally related to the thicknesses of rubber on both sides of the ply, means responsive to said first and second signals to obtain third and fourth signals, said third signal being obtained from combining said first and second signals, and said fourth signal being obtained from combining said first and second signals, said third and fourth signals being representative of the thickness of rubber on the one side of the cord and sustantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on the opposite side of the cords and representative of the thickness of rubber on the other side of the cord and substantially independent of changes in the thickness of rubber on said one side of said cords, respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said combining means combines said first signal with said second signal and the factor b/a to obtain said third signal, and combines said second signal and said first signal and said factor b/a to obtain said fourth signal, wherein b is a predetermined sensitivity factor relating the response of one of said detectors to backscatter radiations from a layer of rubber on the side of the reinforcing cord opposite said one detector and a is a pretermined sensitivity factor relating the response of said one detector to backscatter radiations from the layer of rubber on the side of the cords adjacent saId one detector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said combining means comprises a solution network including means for offsetting from the processed first signal the processed second signal multiplied by the factor b/a to obtain said third signal, and means for offsetting from the processed second signal and processed first signal multiplied by said factor b/a to obtain said fourth signal, wherein b is a predetermined sensitivity factor relating the response of one of said detectors to backscatter radiations from a layer of rubber on the side of the reinforcing cord opposite said one detector and a is a predetermined sensitivity factor relating the response of said one detector to backscatter radiations from the layer of rubber on the side of the cords adjacent said one detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first means for applying X-ray radiations and said first detector means are housed in a first measuring head on one side of said ply, and said second means for applying X-ray radiations and said second detector means are housed in a second measuring head on the opposite side of said ply, together with traversing means for transversely scanning said ply.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second detector means are similar and comprise a closed ionization chamber having a pressurized ionizable gas and a detector electrode within said chamber, the ionizable gas and the pressure of said gas being selected for optimum sensitivity to the backscatter X-ray radiations from said ply.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 11 wherein said ionization chamber includes a window adjacent to said ply which is substantially transparent to backscatter radiations and nontransparent to fluorescent radiations from said ply.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second means for applying X-ray radiations include isotope sources of X-ray radiation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
151 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second means for applying X-ray radiations each includes a regulted X-ray tube source, and a closed reference ionization chamber interposed between said source and said ply, said reference ionization chamber having windows which are substantially transparent to the radiations from said source and containing an ionizable gas and a reference signal detection anode responsive to the ionization of said gas within said reference chamber resulting from the X-ray radiation from said source, said first and second detector means each including a closed measuring ionization chamber surrounding and coaxial with a reference chamber on the same side of said ply, each measuring ionization chamber containing a pressurized ionizable gas and a measurement signal detection electrode, the ionizable gas and the pressure of said gas within said measuring ionization chamber being selected for optimum sensitivity to backscatter X-ray radiations from said ply.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first means for applying X-ray radiations and said first detector means are housed in a first measuring head on one side of said ply, and said second means for applying X-ray radiations and said second detector means are housed in a second measuring head on the opposite side of said ply, together with traversing means for transversely scanning said ply, said ply being a continuously moving strip proceeding from a forming apparatus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the cords of said ply extend longitudinally with respect to said strip and said radiation applying means and said first and second detector means are reciprocated transversely with respect to said cords, each of said first and second detector means comprising a window shaped so that the X-ray beam passing through a window has a smaller width in the longitudinal direction of said ply through the center of said beam, and a greater width at the leading and trailing edges of said beam iN the direction of scan in order to minimize sensitivity of each of said detector means to the dimensions of said cords.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said windows are circular.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the first means for applying X-ray radiations and said first detector means are offset from the second means for applying X-ray radiations and said second detector means in the longitudinal direction of said ply so that the X-ray beams applied to one side of said ply will not be sensed by the detector means on the other side of said ply.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
104 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 together with means for processing said first signal including means for stabilizing said first signal against fluctuations in the intensity of X-rays from said first means for applying X-ray radiations, means for standardizing the stabilized first signal to make the stabilized first signal repeatable for selected standard samples, and means for offsetting and linearizing said first signal after it has been stabilized and standardized, means for processing said second signal in the same manner as said means for processing said first signal and including similar stabilizing means, standardizing means and offsetting and linearizing means for said second signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
96 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said offsetting and linearizing means comprises a summing means for offsetting a selected offset voltage representative of the target thickness of the layer of rubber covering the reinforcing cord on the detector side of the ply from the standardized signal from said detector, offset selecting means for selecting said offset voltage for different grades of ply, a variable gain amplifier means for amplifying the offset signal by a preselected gain factor, and gain select means for adjusting the gain of said variable gain amplifier for different grades of ply.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
126 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said combining means comprises a solution network includes means for offsetting from the processed first signal the processed second signal multiplied by the factor b/a to obtain said third signal, and means for offsetting from the processed second signal the processed first signal multiplied by said factor b/a to obtain said fourth signal, wherein b is a predetermined sensitivity factor relating the response of one of said detectors to backscatter radiations from a layer of rubber on the side of the reinforcing cord opposite said one detector and a is a predetermined sensitivity factor relating the response of said one detector to backscatter radiations from the layer of rubber on the side of the cords acjacent said one detector.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 together with a multiposition grade switch means in which information is stored relative to a different grade of ply for each position of said grade switch, said information including the offset factors representative of the target thickness for the rubber layers on each side of the reinforcing cord, the gain factor for said variable gain amplifiers in each of said processing means, and the factor b/a.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 together with means for selecting grade information on each ply, said grade selecting means storing information for said signal combining means that are selected for each grade of ply measured.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said combining means provides a signal that is produced by the comparison of said third and fourth signals that is responsive to the position of the cords in the ply.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said combining means provides a signal that is produced by the addition of said third and fourth signals that is responsive to the total thickness of rubber in said ply.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said combining means provides a fifth signal that is produced by the addition of said third signal, fourth signal, and a sixth signal that iS representative of the thickness of said cords, said fifth signal being responsive to the total ply thickness.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3405267A
Cited
US3742217A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |