Wheel bolt torque monitoring system for vehicle

• US 10,147,246 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Krapf, Arno, Boegel, Ruediger
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri L
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, THANG DUC
• Application Number:
  US15/614,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20170358155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 34087009
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/3312 during regular use
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/3316 by indicating wear, failure or loss
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/16 by bolts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/307 Torque sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction

Abstract

A wheel bolt torque monitoring system for a vehicle includes a torque sensor disposed at each bolt that is used to mount a wheel at a wheel mount of a vehicle. A transmitting device is disposed at the wheel mount of the vehicle, and the transmitting device receives data from the torque sensors at the wheel mounted at the wheel mount. The transmitting device transmits data to a control unit, which processes data received from the transmitting device to determine when a torque at a bolt is below a threshold torque level. Responsive to the control unit determining that a torque at a bolt is below the threshold torque level, the control unit generates an alert.

Claims

1. A wheel bolt torque monitoring system for a vehicle, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system comprising:

a torque sensor disposed at each bolt of a plurality of bolts that are used to mount a wheel at a wheel mount of a vehicle;

a transmitting device disposed at the wheel mount of the vehicle, wherein said transmitting device receives data from said torque sensors at the wheel mounted at the wheel mount;

a control unit;

wherein said transmitting device transmits data to said control unit;

wherein said control unit processes data received from said transmitting device to determine when a torque at a bolt of the plurality of bolts is below a threshold torque level;

wherein said control unit processes data received from said transmitting device to determine when the torque at the bolt of the plurality of bolts is decreasing at a rate greater than a threshold rate;

wherein, responsive to said control unit determining that the torque at the bolt is below the threshold torque level, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system generates a first alert; and

wherein, responsive to said control unit determining that the torque at the bolt is decreasing at a rate greater than the threshold rate, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system generates a second alert.

2. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said torque sensor is at the end of the bolt opposite a head of the bolt.

3. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said transmitting device wirelessly transmits data to said control unit.

4. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 1, wherein one of said torque sensors is disposed at each of the plurality of bolts used to mount each of a plurality of wheels at respective wheel mounts of the vehicle.

5. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 4, wherein each wheel is mounted at the respective wheel mount via at least four bolts.

6. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said control unit generates the first alert responsive to determination that the torque at the bolt is below a first threshold torque level, and wherein said control unit generates a third alert responsive to determination that the torque at the bolt is below a second threshold torque level.

7. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the second threshold torque level is below the first threshold torque level and wherein the third alert is more urgent than the first alert.

8. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to said control unit determining that a torque at a bolt is decreasing at a rate greater than a second threshold rate that is greater than the first threshold rate, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system generates a third alert, and wherein the second threshold rate is indicative of the torque decreasing toward a dangerously low torque level, and wherein the third alert comprises an instruction to stop the vehicle.

9. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the second alert comprises an instruction to drive to a repair facility.

10. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 9, wherein said system provides driving instructions to the nearest repair facility via a navigation system of the vehicle.

11. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises a vehicle-based control unit of the vehicle.

12. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises a mobile device of an occupant of the vehicle.

13. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises a receiver of the vehicle that receives data from said transmitting device, and wherein a mobile device of an occupant of the vehicle communicates with said receiver and processes the received data to determine when the torque at the bolt is below the threshold torque level and to determine when the torque at the bolt is decreasing at a rate greater than the threshold rate.

14. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the mobile device generates the first and second alerts.

15. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to the torque at the bolt being below the threshold torque level, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system provides an output to an emergency handling system of the vehicle.

16. A wheel bolt torque monitoring system for a vehicle, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system comprising:

a torque sensor disposed at each bolt of a plurality of bolts that are used to mount each wheel of a plurality of wheels at a respective wheel mount of a vehicle;

a transmitting device disposed at each wheel mount of the vehicle, wherein said transmitting device receives data from said torque sensors at the wheel mounted at the respective wheel mount;

a control unit;

wherein said transmitting device transmits data to said control unit;

wherein said control unit processes data received from said transmitting device to determine when a torque at a bolt is below a threshold torque level;

wherein said control unit processes data received from said transmitting device to determine when the torque at the bolt of the plurality of bolts is decreasing at a rate greater than a threshold rate;

wherein, responsive to said control unit determining that the torque at the bolt is below the threshold torque level, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system generates an alert;

wherein, responsive to said control unit determining that the torque at the bolt is decreasing at a rate greater than the threshold rate, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system generates a second alert; and

wherein, responsive to determination that (i) the torque at the bolt is below the threshold torque level and (ii) the torque at the bolt is decreasing at a rate greater than the threshold rate, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system provides an output to an emergency handling system of the vehicle.

17. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 16, wherein said control unit communicates with a mobile device of an occupant of the vehicle.

18. A wheel bolt torque monitoring system for a vehicle, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system comprising:

a torque sensor disposed at each bolt of a plurality of bolts that are used to mount each wheel of a plurality of wheels at a respective wheel mount of a vehicle;

a transmitting device disposed at each wheel mount of the vehicle, wherein said transmitting device receives data from said torque sensors at the wheel mounted at the respective wheel mount;

a control unit;

wherein said transmitting device transmits data to said control unit;

wherein said control unit processes data received from said transmitting device to determine when a torque at a bolt is below a threshold torque level;

wherein said control unit processes data received from said transmitting device to determine when the torque at the bolt of the plurality of bolts is decreasing at a rate greater than a threshold rate;

wherein, responsive to said control unit determining that a torque at a bolt is below a first threshold torque level, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system generates a first alert;

wherein, responsive to said control unit determining that the torque at the bolt is below a second threshold torque level, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system generates a second alert;

wherein the second threshold torque level is a lower torque than the first threshold torque level and wherein the second alert is more urgent than the first alert; and

wherein, responsive to said control unit determining that the torque at the bolt is below a second threshold torque level and that the torque at the bolt is decreasing at a rate greater than a threshold rate, said wheel bolt torque monitoring system generates a third alert, and wherein the third alert is more urgent than the second alert.

19. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the threshold rate is indicative of the torque decreasing toward a dangerously low torque level, and wherein the third alert comprises an instruction to stop the vehicle.

20. The wheel bolt torque monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the second threshold torque level is at a lower torque level than the first threshold torque level, and wherein the second alert comprises an instruction to drive to a repair facility.