Elastomeric tire having magnetized sidewall and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

The present invention provides a tire with a sidewall having a magnetized outer layer. The sidewall outer layer is peripherally divided into sections with radially extending ribs between each adjacent pair of sections. The ribs protrude above the sections. In the peripheral direction, the ribs are significantly narrower than the sections. The sections are magnetized in a peripheral direction, but with alternating polarity. The ribs close the circles of magnetic flux by allowing lines of magnetic flux to enter and exit the sidewall outer layer after moving through the surrounding air and the magnetized sections, respectively. The ribs focus the location of the entry and exit of the lines of magnetic flux into and out of the sidewall outer layer. This focused entry and exit is achieved by the accumulation of magnetized material in the ribs which causes the lines of magnetic flux moving through the ribs to point in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the tire sidewall. As a result of this focused entry and exit, sharp edges between the areas of opposite polarization are achieved which enables the precise measurement of the peripheral locations of the lines of magnetic flux. By enabling such a precise measurement, the present invention provides for a more accurate determination of information relating to the dynamic behavior of the tire.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An elastomeric tire with at least one magnetized surface area, wherein the at least one magnetized area comprises protrusions at locations where lines of magnetic flux enter or exit the surface area.  
     
     
         2 . A tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions consist of accumulations of magnetizable material.  
     
     
         3 . A tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions form one piece with the respective magnetized area.  
     
     
         4 . A tire according to  claim 1  with an intended rotary direction, wherein the protrusions are shaped as ribs extending perpendicularly to the rotary direction.  
     
     
         5 . A tire according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one tire sidewall comprises a magnetized area.  
     
     
         6 . A method of manufacturing an elastomeric tire with at least one magnetized area comprising the steps of: 
 applying a surface area of magnetizable material;    forming a plurality of protrusions on the surface area;    magnetizing the surface area in a pattern with lines of a magnetic flux entering and exiting the surface area at the locations of the protrusions.    
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  including the step of producing the magnetizable material by adding ferromagnetic particles to an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the ferromagnetic particles comprise strontium ferrite.  
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing an elastomeric tire with at least one magnetizable area comprising the steps of: 
 producing a magnetizable material by adding ferromagnetic particles to an elastomeric material;    applying a layer of magnetizable material as a surface area to an unvulcanized elastomeric tire; and    forming a plurality of protrusions on the surface area.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , comprising the step of: vulcanizing the tire.  
     
     
         11 . A tire, comprising: 
 a magnetized outer layer; 
 the magnetized outer layer being peripherally divided into sections of alternating polarity; and  
 the magnetized outer layer including radially extending ribs between each adjacent pair of sections, the ribs protruding above the sections.  
   
     
     
         12 . The tire of  claim 11 , wherein the magnetized outer layer is a part of a sidewall of the tire.  
     
     
         13 . The tire of  claim 12 , wherein the ribs extend over at least part of the radially outer area of the sidewall outer layer.  
     
     
         14 . The tire of  claim 11 , wherein the ribs are equidistant from one another in the peripheral direction.  
     
     
         15 . The tire of  claim 11 , wherein the ribs are significantly narrower than the sections in the peripheral direction.