DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to processes of validation of tyres.
DEFINITIONS
Accelerated endurance test – The term ‘accelerated endurance test’ refers to a process of testing a product by subjecting it to conditions (stress, strain, temperatures, vibration rate, pressure etc.) in excess of its normal service parameters in an effort to uncover faults and potential modes of failure in a short amount of time.
Standard validation tests – The term ‘standard validation tests’ refer to independent procedures with standard parameters which are globally met, and that which are used together for checking that a product, service, or system meets requirements and specifications and that it fulfils its intended purpose.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
The conventional process for validation involves the following sequence of tests:
1. Vehicle-level hygienic DVP (design verification and planning)
2. Ride and handling test
3. ABS brake performance
4. On-road fuel efficiency test
5. CSFC (constant speed fuel consumption) test
6. Coast down test
7. Performance test
8. Steering DVP test
9. Tyre life evaluation
The terms DVP, CSFC and the like are well-known to a person skilled in the art of testing and validation of vehicles in general, and of tyres in particular.
In the aforementioned process, a newly proposed tyre for validation of its make undergoes tyre DVP tests, which require a period of 8-10 months. Through these tests, a lot of resources are consumed. A lot of risk is also involved, as the tests are performed and the evaluation is done on roads.
Many times, the proposed tyre construction gets rejected due to abnormal wear of the tyre, due to the tyre becoming victim of other systems. Ultimately, all the efforts go waste. A significant loss is incurred by the OEM, the supplier and the customer. It is likely that a good tyre construction gets rejected due to the shortcomings of the aforementioned process.
Thus, there is a need of a tyre validation process which ameliorates the aforementioned issues.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
A primary object of the present disclosure is to provide a process for validation of a tyre.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a process for validation of a tyre, which consumes minimum resources.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a process for validation of a tyre, which minimizes influence of undesirable factors on the life of tyres under test.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a process for validation of a tyre, which reduces the overall time for conducting the tests.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a process for validating tyres. The process comprises the following steps:
i. conducting an accelerated endurance test on a test rig on a first tyre which previously has been approved to have passed standard validation tests, as per defined cycles;
ii. conducting an accelerated endurance test on the test rig on a second tyre that needs to be validated as per defined cycles;
iii. comparing the results obtained of a selected set of parameters of the first tyre and the second tyre; and
iv. conducting a vehicle-level on-road comprehensive construction validation test for correlating the test results obtained in steps (i) and (ii) with those obtained by driving on the road a vehicle fitted with the second tyre for validating the second tyre.
In one embodiment, each step in the process is performed to obtained a minimum of four samples each.
In another embodiment, the test rig is configured to simulate various on-road driving conditions by facilitating variation of static and dynamic forces and torques exerted on the first and the second tyres during the test.
In yet another embodiment, a plurality of rig level parameters is obtained by varying the forces and torques exerted on the tyres. The selected set of parameters are selected from the group consisting of radial stiffness, lateral stiffness, torsional stiffness, tangential stiffness, rolling resistance, abrasion index, plunger test result and a combination thereof.
In still another embodiment, the vehicle-level on-road comprehensive construction validation test includes driving the vehicle for a constant speed fuel consumption rate, coasting down, braking, and different styles of driving and handling the vehicle.
In one embodiment, the test rig is an indoor test rig.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and “having” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component or section from another component or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
There is a need of a process for tyre validation, which is consumes minimum resources, minimizes influence of undesirable factors on the life of tyres under test and reduces the overall time for conducting the tests.
The present disclosure envisages a process for tyre validation.
The process involves the following steps:
i. conducting an accelerated endurance test on a test rig on a first tyre which previously has been approved to have passed the standard validation tests, as per defined cycles;
ii. conducting an accelerated endurance test on a test rig on a second tyre that needs to be validated as per defined cycles;
iii. comparing the results obtained of a selected set of parameters of the first tyre and the second tyre; and
iv. conducting a vehicle-level on-road comprehensive construction validation test for correlating the test results obtained in steps (i) and (ii) with those obtained by driving on the road a vehicle fitted with the second tyre for validating the second tyre.
The parameters of the first tyre and the second test which are compared, involve a plurality of rig level parameters are obtained by varying the forces and torques exerted on the first and the second tyres during the test. The selected set of parameters of the tyres are selected from the group consisting of radial stiffness, lateral stiffness, torsional stiffness, tangential stiffness, rolling resistance, abrasion index, plunger depth or a combination thereof.
The test rig is configured to simulate various on-road driving conditions by facilitating variation of static and dynamic forces and torques exerted on the tyres under test. The test rig can be adapted for performing industry-standard tests, tests that are regulated by government standards as well as customized tests. The variety of tests that can be performed on the test rig of the present disclosure includes, but is not limited to, durability and endurance tests, rolling resistance, contact patch (footprint) measurements, tread wear tests, accelerated ageing, traction testing for various road constructions, braking tests including ABS brake performance testing, and so on.
In an embodiment, the test rig is an indoor test rig provided within the premises of a factory or a research and development facility. The indoor test rig is configured to simulate the on-road driving conditions such as wheel velocity, acceleration along with other wheel dynamics, terrain undulations and surface roughness, and the like.
The vehicle-level on-road comprehensive construction validation test includes driving the vehicle for a constant speed fuel consumption rate, coasting down, braking, and different styles of driving and handling of the vehicle.
The cycle of the accelerated endurance test of the process of the present disclosure is defined as per the vehicle type and application. A minimum of four samples are required to get consistency in data. The cycle is configured to simulate road failures as well. While the accelerated endurance test is completed within a time period of ten days, the overall cycle takes a period of around two months for validating the second tyre with respect to the first tyre.
Thus, the process of the present disclosure represents back-to-back performance testing of a tyre that needs to be validated with a tyre which has passed the standard tests. All parameters measured in the accelerated endurance test and compared during the process are controlled. The test rig can be configured to simultaneously test tyres of different makes for validation. Any concern related to the construction of the tyre can be captured during the test, and thereafter, a recommended action can also be taken after which the tyre can be revalidated. The test rig can be modified as per requirements of different vehicle segments. Since the tests are performed in labs, the concerned decision-making authorities can witness the tests, thus allowing expedition of decision-making. A single vehicle is sufficient for the step (iv) involving correlation of results.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a process for validating tyres, that:
• consumes minimum resources such as vehicle, fuel, tyres;
• minimizes influence of undesirable factors on the life of tyres under test by allowing control of all the test parameters;
• reduces the overall time for conducting the tests from 10 months to 2 months;
• increases speed of decision-making; and
• allows customization as per vehicle segment.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM
1. A process for validating tyres, said process comprising the following steps:
i. conducting an accelerated endurance test on a test rig on a first tyre which previously has been approved to have passed standard validation tests as per defined cycles;
ii. conducting an accelerated endurance test on the test rig on a second tyre that needs to be validated as per defined cycles;
iii. comparing the results obtained of a selected set of parameters of the first tyre and the second tyre; and
iv. conducting a vehicle-level on-road comprehensive construction validation test for correlating the test results obtained in steps (i) and (ii) with those obtained by driving on the road a vehicle fitted with said second tyre for validating said second tyre.
2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein each step in said process is performed to obtained a minimum of four samples each.
3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said test rig is configured to simulate various on-road driving conditions by facilitating variation of static and dynamic forces and torques exerted on the first and second tyres during the test.
4. The process as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plurality of rig level parameters is obtained by varying said forces and torques exerted on the tyres, the selected set of parameters being selected from the group consisting of radial stiffness, lateral stiffness, torsional stiffness, tangential stiffness, rolling resistance, abrasion index, plunger depth or a combination thereof.
5. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle-level on-road comprehensive construction validation test includes driving the vehicle for a constant speed fuel consumption rate, coasting down, braking, and different styles of driving and handling the vehicle.
6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said test rig is an indoor test rig.