초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for measuring full-field contact force distribution of a tire. A transparent, elastically deformable contact member having an elasticity substantially less than the elasticity of the tire is supported by a transparent rigid support member. As the tire is pressed into the cont

An apparatus and method for measuring full-field contact force distribution of a tire. A transparent, elastically deformable contact member having an elasticity substantially less than the elasticity of the tire is supported by a transparent rigid support member. As the tire is pressed into the contact member, the contact member deforms. Laser light illuminates the tire-contact member interface and is reflected to an imaging device which measures the displacement of the tire-contact member interface using interferometry principles. Because the elasticity of the contact member is known, the contact force distribution of the tire may be calculated. The apparatus and method may also be used to measure three-dimensional as well as dynamic contact force displacement.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for measuring a full-field contact force distribution of a tire, comprising: a transparent, rigid, support member having an elasticity substantially greater than the elasticity of the tire; a transparent, elastically deformable, contact member having a substantially smooth first surface

An apparatus for measuring a full-field contact force distribution of a tire, comprising: a transparent, rigid, support member having an elasticity substantially greater than the elasticity of the tire; a transparent, elastically deformable, contact member having a substantially smooth first surface, said support member supporting said first surface of said contact member and said tire, said contact member having an elasticity substantially less than the elasticity of the tire; an excitation source coupled to the tire for pressing a tire surface against a second surface of said contact member opposite said first surface, thereby compressing said contact member between the tire surface and said support member so as to provide a tire-contact member interface; a laser light source positioned to illuminate said interface through said support member and said contact member; an imaging device positioned to receive reflected light from said interface, said imaging device measuring displacement of said tire-contact member interface when the tire surface is pressed against said second surface of said contact member; and, a controller for receiving displacement data from said imaging device, with said controller thereafter calculating contact force distribution of said tire throughout said tire-contact member interface from said received displacement data so as to provide said full-field contact force distribution.