Tire testing apparatus and method
US6330822A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01M3/3281
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tire testing apparatus and method for detecting leaks in tires used on lawn mowers. The tire testing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a roughing pump, a hi-vac pump, an airtight seal, and a spectrometer. The roughing pump and hi-vac pump evacuate the air from the vacuum chamber, creating a vacuum. The pressure sensor detects the level of vacuum in the vacuum chamber and reports this information to the PLC. A method of detecting leaks in tires using the tire testing apparatus is also provided. The method includes the steps of inflating the tire with a mixture of air and 10% helium by volume, placing the tire in the vacuum chamber, sealing the vacuum chamber and removing the air creating a vacuum, then detecting the amount of helium in the chamber, and removing the tire from the chamber and placing it either in the rejected conveyor, or the acceptable conveyor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.