Method and apparatus for reducing shoulder wear on testing wheel

Abstract

The present invention includes methods and apparatus for testing tire performance using a laterally-contoured road wheel. Accordingly, particular embodiments of the machine include a wheel configured to rotate, the wheel having a tire operating surface configured to engage a tire during operation, the outer tire operating surface arranged along an annular side of the wheel and having a width extending laterally relative a circumferential direction of the wheel along a contoured path. The machine may further include a drive source configured to rotate the wheel and a tire mount configured to rotatably maintain a tire. The present invention also includes methods of forming a laterally-contoured tire operating surface for a road wheel.

1 . A method of testing tire performance using a wheel, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a wheel configured to rotate, the wheel having a tire operating surface arranged along an annular side of the wheel and configured to engage a tire during operation, the tire operating surface having a width extending laterally relative a circumferential direction of the wheel along a contoured path;   engaging forcefully a tread of a tire against the tire operating surface of the wheel; and,   rotating the tire and the wheel while engaged according to the prior step for a sufficient duration to evaluate the tire.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where the tire operating surface tapers radially inward toward the rotational axis of the wheel as the surface extends laterally outward relative a centerline of the tire operating surface, the centerline extending circumferentially around the tire operating surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , where the width of the tire operating surface extends laterally along a convex path to form a laterally convex tire operating surface. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , where the contoured path is defined by a constant radius of curvature. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , where the convex path is defined by a constant radius of curvature and the radius of curvature has an origin located
 at the intersection of the plane and the rotational axis of the wheel.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , where the convex path is defined by a constant radius of curvature and the radius of curvature has an origin located along the plane and between the rotational axis of the wheel and the tire operating surface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , where the convex path is defined by a constant radius of curvature and the radius of curvature has an origin located along the plane such that the rotational axis of the wheel is located between the tire operating surface and the origin. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , where the contoured path is defined by two or more different radii of curvatures. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , where the contour path provides a contoured portion arranged between a pair of cylindrical portions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , where the contoured path defines a convex, central portion arranged between a pair of counter-curvature portions in an axial direction of the wheel, the pair of counter-curvature portions forming a concave side of the wheel. 
     
     
         12 . A machine for testing tire performance, the machine comprising:
 a wheel configured to rotate, the wheel having a tire operating surface arranged along an annular side of the wheel and configured to engage a tire during operation, the tire operating surface having a width extending laterally relative a circumferential direction of the wheel along a contoured path   a drive source configured to rotate the wheel;   a tire mount configured to rotatably maintain a tire and forcefully maintain the tire against the wheel.   
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 12 , where the tire operating surface tapers radially inward toward the rotational axis of the wheel as the surface extends laterally outward relative a centerline of the tire operating surface, the centerline extending circumferentially around the tire operating surface. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 13 , where at least a portion of the width of the tire operating surface extends laterally along a convex path to form a laterally convex tire operating surface. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 12 , where at least a portion of the contoured path is defined by a constant radius of curvature. 
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 14 , where the convex path is defined by a constant radius of curvature and the radius of curvature has an origin located at the intersection of the plane and the rotational axis of the wheel. 
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 14 , where the convex path is defined by a constant radius of curvature and the radius of curvature has an origin located along the plane and between the rotational axis of the wheel and the tire operating surface. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 14 , where the convex path is defined by a constant radius of curvature and the radius of curvature has an origin located along the plane such that the rotational axis of the wheel is located between the tire operating surface and the origin. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 12 , where the contoured path is defined by two or more different radii of curvatures. 
     
     
         21 . The machine of  claim 12 , where the contoured path provides a contoured portion arranged between a pair of cylindrical portions. 
     
     
         22 . The machine of  claim 12 , where the contoured path defines a convex, central portion arranged between a pair of counter-curvature portions in an axial direction of the wheel, the pair of counter-curvature portions forming a concave side of the wheel.