Method and apparatus for non-destructive inspection of tires

摘要

A pulsed through-transmission ultrasonic non-destructive inspection of the internal structure in a tire wall is effected. The ultrasonic inspection is preferably carried out through the walls of a rotating inflated tire with the ultrasonic transducers being automatically moved toward the inner and outer tire wall surfaces to optimum relative distances of separation during an inspection cycle. The transducers disposed inside the inflated tire are preferably mounted for automatic retraction into a protected space during tire mounting and demounting operations. Such ultrasonic inspection techniques may be combined with conventional tire buffing methods and apparatus as practiced in tire retreading operations.