Method and apparatus for non-destructive inspection of tires

Claim 2

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus of the type which employs an ultrasonic acoustic transmitter inside a tire and an ultrasonic acoustic receiver outside the tire which transmitter and receiver are (a) fixed relative to one another and relative to the environment of said apparatus during a measurement cycle, and (b) disposed on opposite sides of a tire wall which is mounted to rotate relatively thereto, said apparatus comprising: opposing circular rings adapted to sealingly engage the corresponding rims of said tire when placed therebetween, tire inflation means for inflating said tire to at least 5 psi after engagement by said rings, and adjustable transmitter mounting means mechanically mounted between said rings for retracting said transmitter radially toward the center of the circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between said rings and for extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward but not in contact with the inner tire wall to a fixed active position during a measurement cycle.

Claim 3

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: adjustable receiver mounting means disposed for retraction of said receiver radially away from said circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between the rings and for extending said receiver radially toward said circular rings during a measurement cycle.

Claim 4

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus as in claim 1 or 2 wherein, during a measurement cycle said transmitter is disposed at approximately 2±1 inches from the inside tire wall surface and said receiver is disposed at approximately 4.5 to 8.5 inches from said transmitter.

Claim 5

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus comprising: opposing circular rings adapted to sealingly engage the corresponding rims of said tire when placed therebetween, tire inflation means for inflating said tire after engagement by said rings, at least one ultrasonic acoustic receiver disposed for operation outside said tire, at least one ultransonic acoustic transmitter disposed for operation inside said tire, and adjustable transmitter mounting means mechanically mounted between said rings for retracting said transmitter radially toward the center of the circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between said rings and for extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall to a fixed active position during a testing cycle said receiver and transmitter being fixed with respect to one another and relative to the environment of said apparatus during said testing cycle.

Claim 6

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus comprising: opposing circular rings adapted to sealingly engage the corresponding rims of said tire when placed therebetween, tire inflation means for inflating said tire after engagement by said rings, at least one ultrasonic acoustic receiver disposed for operation outside said tire, at least one ultransonic acoustic transmitter disposed for operation inside said tire, and adjustable transmitter mounting means mechanically mounted between said rings for retracting said transmitter radially toward the center of the circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between said rings and for extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall to a fixed active position during a testing cycle said receiver and transmitter being fixed with respect to one another and relative to the environment of said apparatus during said testing cycle.

Claim 7

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising: a plurality of ultrasonic acoustic receivers relatively disposed in an array generally conforming to the outside cross-sectional shape of said tire, and adjustable receiver mounting means disposed for retraction of said receivers radially away from said circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between the rings and for extending said receivers radially toward said circular rings during a measurement cycle.

Claim 8

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus as in claim 5 wherein during testing, said transmitter is disposed at approximately 2±1 inches from the inside tire wall surface and said receivers are disposed at approximately 4.5 to 8.5 inches from said transmitter.

Claim 9

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus as in any claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein said tire inflation means inflates said tire to a pressure of approximately 15 to 18 psi.

Claim 10

A nondestructive tire testing method of the type which employs an ultransonic acoustic transmitter and an ultransonic scoustic receiver disposed on opposite sides of tire wall moving relatively thereto, said method comprising: sealingly engaging the rims of said tire between opposing circular rings, inflating said tire to at least 5 psi after engagement by said rings, nondestructively testing the inflated tire using said ultrasonic acoustic transmitter and receiver, and retracting said transmitter radially toward the ceter of the circular rings while mounting and demounting the tire from between said rings and extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall to a fixed active position during a measurement cycle said receiver and transmitter being fixed with respect to one another and relative to the environment of said apparatus during said measurement cycle.

Claim 11

A nondestructive tire testing method of the type which employs an ultransonic acoustic transmitter and an ultransonic scoustic receiver disposed on opposite sides of tire wall moving relatively thereto, said method comprising: sealingly engaging the rims of said tire between opposing circular rings, inflating said tire to at least 5 psi after engagement by said rings, nondestructively testing the inflated tire using said ultrasonic acoustic transmitter and receiver, and retracting said transmitter radially toward the ceter of the circular rings while mounting and demounting the tire from between said rings and extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall to a fixed active position during a measurement cycle said receiver and transmitter being fixed with respect to one another and relative to the environment of said apparatus during said measurement cycle.

Claim 12

A method as in claim 8 further comprising: retracting said receiver radially away from said circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between the rings and extending said receiver radially toward said circular rings during a measurement cycle.

Claim 13

A method as in claim 9 wherein, during a measurement cycle said transmitter is disposed at approximately 2±1 inches from the inside tire wall surface and said receiver is disposed at approximately 4.5 to 8.5 inches from said transmitter.

Claim 16

A method as in claim 11 wherein said transmitter, when in its radially retracted position, is also moved axially with respect to at least one of said rings so as to facilitate the tire mounting operation without damage to said transmitter.

Claim 17

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus of the type which employs an ultrasonic acoustic transmitter and an ultrasonic acoustic receiver disposed on opposite sides of a tire wall mounted to move relatively thereto, said apparatus comprising: opposing circular rings adapted to automatically and sealingly engage the corresponding rims of said tire when placed therebetween, tire inflation means for automatically inflating said tire to at least 5 psi after engagement by said rings, adjustable transmitter mounting means mechanically mounted between said rings for retracting said transmitter radially toward the center of the circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between said rings and for extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall during a measurement cycle, and means permitting relative transmitter movement with respect to at least one of said rings in a direction generally perpendicular thereto, wherein said adjustable transmitter mounting means is, when in its radially retracted position, also moved axially with respect to at least one of said rings so as to facilitate the tire mounting operation without damage to said transmitter.

Claim 18

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus of the type which employs an ultrasonic acoustic transmitter and an ultrasonic acoustic receiver disposed on opposite sides of a tire wall mounted to move relatively thereto, said apparatus comprising: opposing circular rings adapted to automatically and sealingly engage the corresponding rims of said tire when placed therebetween, tire inflation means for automatically inflating said tire to at least 5 psi after engagement by said rings, adjustable transmitter mounting means mechanically mounted between said rings for retracting said transmitter radially toward the center of the circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between said rings and for extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall during a measurement cycle, and means permitting relative transmitter movement with respect to at least one of said rings in a direction generally perpendicular thereto, wherein said adjustable transmitter mounting means is, when in its radially retracted position, also moved axially with respect to at least one of said rings so as to facilitate the tire mounting operation without damage to said transmitter.

Claim 19

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus comprising: opposing circular rings adapted to sealingly engage the corresponding rims of said tire when placed therebetween, tire inflation means for inflating said tire after engagement by said rings, at least one ultrasonic acoustic transmitter, adjustable transmitter mounting means mechanically mounted between said rings for retracting said transmitter radially toward the center of the circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between said rings and for extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall during testing, and means permitting relative transmitter movement with respect to at least one of said rings in a direction generally perpendicular thereto, wherein said adjustable transmitter mounting means is, when in its radially retracted position, also moved axially with respect to at least one of said rings so as to facilitate the tire mounting operation without damage to said transmitter.

Claim 20

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus comprising: opposing circular rings adapted to sealingly engage the corresponding rims of said tire when placed therebetween, tire inflation means for inflating said tire after engagement by said rings, at least one ultrasonic acoustic transmitter, adjustable transmitter mounting means mechanically mounted between said rings for retracting said transmitter radially toward the center of the circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between said rings and for extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall during testing, and means permitting relative transmitter movement with respect to at least one of said rings in a direction generally perpendicular thereto, wherein said adjustable transmitter mounting means is, when in its radially retracted position, also moved axially with respect to at least one of said rings so as to facilitate the tire mounting operation without damage to said transmitter.

Claim 21

A nondestructive tire testing method of the type which employs an ultrasonic acoustic transmitter and an ultrasonic acoustic receiver disposed on opposite sides of tire wall moving relatively thereto, said method comprising: sealingly engaging the rims of said tire between opposing circular rings, inflating said tire to at least 5 psi after engagement by said rings, and retracting said transmitter radially toward the center of the circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between said rings and extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall during a measurement cycle, moving said transmitter, when in its radially retracted position, axially with respect to at least one of said rings so as to facilitate the tire mounting operation without damage to said transmitter.

Claim 22

A nondestructive tire testing method of the type which employs an ultrasonic acoustic transmitter and an ultrasonic acoustic receiver disposed on opposite sides of tire wall moving relatively thereto, said method comprising: sealingly engaging the rims of said tire between opposing circular rings, inflating said tire to at least 5 psi after engagement by said rings, and retracting said transmitter radially toward the center of the circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between said rings and extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall during a measurement cycle, moving said transmitter, when in its radially retracted position, axially with respect to at least one of said rings so as to facilitate the tire mounting operation without damage to said transmitter.

Claim 23

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus of the type which employs an ultrasonic acoustic transmitter and an ultrasonic acoustic receiver disposed on opposite sides of a tire wall mounted to move relatively thereto, said apparatus comprising: opposing circular rings adapted to automatically and sealingly engage the corresponding rims of said tire when placed therebetween, tire inflation means for automatically inflating said tire to at least 5 psi after engagement by said rings, adjustable transmitter mounting means mechanically mounted between said rings for retracting said transmitter radially toward the center of the circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between said rings and for extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall during a measurement cycle, and means for retracting of said receiver radially away from said circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between the rings and extending said receiver radially toward said circular rings during a measurement cycle.

Claim 24

A nondestructive tire testing apparatus of the type which employs an ultrasonic acoustic transmitter and an ultrasonic acoustic receiver disposed on opposite sides of a tire wall mounted to move relatively thereto, said apparatus comprising: opposing circular rings adapted to automatically and sealingly engage the corresponding rims of said tire when placed therebetween, tire inflation means for automatically inflating said tire to at least 5 psi after engagement by said rings, adjustable transmitter mounting means mechanically mounted between said rings for retracting said transmitter radially toward the center of the circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between said rings and for extending said transmitter radially away from the center of the circular rings and toward the tire tread wall during a measurement cycle, and means for retracting of said receiver radially away from said circular rings while mounting and de-mounting the tire from between the rings and extending said receiver radially toward said circular rings during a measurement cycle.