초록 ▼

A method of optimizing the operation of a vehicle or a fleet of vehicles by gathering data, and utilizing a computer. The data includes the number and type of tire positions per vehicle, the types of tires at each position and the cost of such types of tires. The computer is used to optimize the ope

A method of optimizing the operation of a vehicle or a fleet of vehicles by gathering data, and utilizing a computer. The data includes the number and type of tire positions per vehicle, the types of tires at each position and the cost of such types of tires. The computer is used to optimize the operation by determining at least one of the following: the type of tire to be used at each position, the suitable tread depths for removal of tires from one tire position to another, a tire rotation sequence for the transfer of tires. This method further provides for gathering data by surveying a fleet of vehicles through the use of a portable hand held computer.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for servicing the tires used by a vehicle or a fleet of vehicles comprising the steps of: (a) entering on a portable hand held computer means for each vehicle, vehicle data including type of vehicle, number of tires and recommended tire inflation pressure; (b) inputting tire data into said

A method for servicing the tires used by a vehicle or a fleet of vehicles comprising the steps of: (a) entering on a portable hand held computer means for each vehicle, vehicle data including type of vehicle, number of tires and recommended tire inflation pressure; (b) inputting tire data into said portable hand held computer means, including the actual measured inflation pressure, tread depth, type and size of tires for each tire at each tire position of said vehicle in a predetermined sequence, said sequence being determined by the hand held computer means based upon the number of tires and the vehicle type; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for each vehicle type; (d) accumulating for each vehicle type the cost of different types of tires, such as new and recapped and used tire carcasses; (e) accumulating for each vehicle type any of the following data: fuel costs, number of and cost of repairing flats, cost of changing tires, the average distance traveled, tread depths of such new and recapped tires, wear rates of such tires, number of vehicles for each type, current tread depth for removal of tires from each said tire position, current rotation sequence used for the transfer of said tires; (f) inputting the data accumulated in steps (a) through (e) into another computer; (g) determining with the aid of said other computer based upon the data accumulated in steps (a) through (e) above at least one of the following: (1) type of tire to be installed at each said tire positions for a vehicle type, (2) suitable tread depths for a vehicle type for removal of new and recapped tires from each said tire position, (3) a tire rotation sequence for the transfer of tires for a vehicle type including at least one of the following, the transfer of tires from one vehicle position to another, the removal of tires for recapping and reinstalling in another said tire position, and the removal of tires for scrapping; (h) actuating said other computer to tabulate and summarize the actual measured inflation pressures of said tires; and (i) determining with the other computer a service schedule for each vehicle type including at least one of the following: replacing, transferring, recapping, inflating and scrapping such tires, said determination being performed by using the relationships between the data obtained in steps (a) through (e) above and the determinations of step (g).