Patent ID: 6032522
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: G01L

Abstract:
Apparatus for inspecting inflation condition of and supported weight on an inflated vehicle tire, comprising:(a) a plate having opposite top and bottom sides and made of a substantially transparent yieldable resilient bendable material capable of transmitting a footprint of an inflated vehicle tire and undergoing a deflection in response to the supported weight on the inflated vehicle tire applied thereon;(b) a flexible bladder supported on said top side of said plate and having opposite upper and lower portions and an enclosed interior cavity, said upper portion of said bladder comprised of a substantially opaque material of a first color, said lower portion of said bladder comprised of a substantially transparent material;(c) a quantity of fluid contained within said cavity of said bladder of a second color different from said first color of said upper portion of said bladder, said fluid being displaceable within said bladder as said upper portion of said bladder is forced toward said lower portion thereof when the inflated vehicle tire is applied upon said upper portion of said bladder so as to create an image of the footprint of the inflated vehicle tire viewable on said bottom side of said plate by contrast between said second color of said fluid viewable where a tread of the inflated vehicle tire does not press said upper portion of said bladder against said lower portion thereof on said top side of said plate and said first color of said opaque material of said upper portion of said bladder viewable where the tread of the inflated vehicle tire does press said upper portion of said bladder against said lower portion thereof on said top side of said plate; and(d) first means for receiving and converting said image of the footprint of the inflated vehicle tire to a first measured quantity correlated to the inflation condition of the inflated vehicle tire;(e) transducer means attached to said bottom side of said plate for undergoing a deformation proportional to said deflection of said plate and for producing an electrical signal proportional to said deformation; and(f) second means for receiving and converting said electrical signal to a second measured quantity proportional to the supported weight applied by the inflated vehicle tire to said plate.