Patent ID: 6502454
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
A tire testing apparatus including a rotatable road wheel with an abrasive surface;a tire support mechanism for rotatably supporting a tire and moving a tread of the tire into contact with the abrasive surface of the road wheel; a powder dispenser for dispensing powder onto the abrasive surface of the road wheel; a first vacuum unit positioned adjacent an area of contact between the tire tread and the abrasive surface of the road wheel for conveying the powder and released tire particles away from said contact area to a remote location; a shroud having a plurality of walls forming a partially enclosed chamber for receiving the tire and first vacuum unit therein; means for moving the shroud toward the road wheel to receive the tire and first vacuum unit within the chamber to capture any of the powder and tire tread particles within the chamber and prevent their dispersion into the surrounding atmosphere prior to removal of the powder and particles by the first vacuum unit; and means communicating with the shroud for regulating the temperature within the chamber to control the temperature at the area of contact between the abrasive surface and the tire when the shroud is adjacent the road wheel.