Abradeable sensor system for tire wear monitoring

摘要

A tread wear indicator is affixed to a respective tire tread element. The indicator is constructed as a plurality of radially stacked sensor elements operatively configured and located to sequentially sacrificially abrade and change in electrical resistance responsive to a progressive tread wear of the respective tread element. The sensor elements are connected by circuitry that communicates a data signal from the sensor elements to a data processor indicative of a change in cumulative resistivity of the sensor elements. The data processor receives the data signal from the sensor elements and determines a radial wear level of the tread element based on the data signal. Multiple tread wear indicators may be mounted to respective tread lugs across the tread to derive a tread wear status based upon the tread wear profiles of the respective lugs.

主权项

1. A vehicle tire and tread wear device assembly comprising:
a tire having a radially outward plurality of tread elements; at least one tread element projecting from the base of the tread and having a defined tread depth; a tread wear indicator comprising at least one sacrificial resistive sensor element affixed to the one tread element, the one sensor element operative to progressively wear from impact abrasion to thereby change in resistivity responsive to progressive tread wear on the one tread element; electrical resistivity measuring means connected to the one sensor element for generating data indicative of a measured change in resistivity in the one sensor element; data processing means for determining a tread wear status of the one tread element based on the measured change in resistivity of the one sensor element.