Hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector

• US 10,352,723 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2017
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Controls Company (Truck-Lite Holdings 2 Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Controls Company (Truck-Lite Holdings 2 Corp.)
• Inventors: Stewart, Jr., James Edward Bryton, Aldape, John Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai L
• Application Number:
  US15/688,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20180058881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/11 Linear movements of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/144 Rearward ratio actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2800/20 Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/10 Retrofit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• 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: G01C 22/02 by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/025 Differential odometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/44 for measuring angular speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/4802 by using electronic circuits in general

Abstract

A hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector has an electromagnetic generator to convert rotational mechanical energy into electrical energy sufficient to recharge an internal rechargeable battery and power internal alarm and distance-tracking circuitry. The detector provides a combination of backup alarm and hubodometer functionality in a common device.

Claims

1. A hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector for determining a direction of rotation of a wheel, the hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector comprising:

a housing;

a polyphase electromagnetic generator mounted inside the housing to produce multiple phase-displaced electrical output signals in response to the rotation of the wheel, the multiple phase-displaced electrical output signals providing a first set of phase-displaced waveforms in response to clockwise rotation of the wheel and a second set of phase-displaced waveforms in response to counterclockwise rotation of the wheel, the second set of phase-displaced waveforms having a phase displacement that is different from that of the first set of phase-displaced waveforms;

a rechargeable battery mounted inside the housing and electrically coupled to the polyphase electromagnetic generator for receiving energy from one or more of the multiple phase-displaced electrical output signals supplying electrical charge to the rechargeable battery in response to the rotation of the wheel; and

wheel-rotation detector circuitry mounted in the housing and electrically coupled to receive power from the rechargeable battery, the wheel-rotation detector circuitry configured to determine the direction of the rotation of the wheel based on different phase displacements between the first and second sets of phase-displaced waveforms.

2. The hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector of claim 1, further comprising a backup alarm electrically coupled to wheel-rotation detector circuitry, the backup alarm configured to emit a perceptible warning in response to the wheel-rotation detector circuitry indicating the direction of rotation reverses the wheel.

3. The hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector of claim 2 in which the backup alarm includes a speaker that emits an audible sound as the perceptible warning.

4. The hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector of claim 2 in which the backup alarm includes a lighting device that emits visible light as the perceptible warning.

5. The hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector of claim 1, further comprising an odometer that tracks distance traveled based on a number of forward rotations of the wheel.

6. The hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for configuring one of the clockwise or counterclockwise rotational directions as a forward direction of travel.

7. The hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector of claim 1, further comprising a gear set mechanically coupled to the polyphase electromagnetic generator, the gear set configured to turn the polyphase electromagnetic generator multiple times per each rotation of the wheel.

8. The hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector of claim 7, in which the gear set includes a first gear and a second gear, the second gear meshing with the first gear and coupled to a rotor of the polyphase electromagnetic generator for turning the polyphase electromagnetic generator and thereby generating electricity in response to the rotation of the wheel.

9. The hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector of claim 1, further comprising signal conditioner circuitry to generate digital signals representing the multiple phase-displaced electrical output signals.

10. The hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer configured to wake the wheel-rotation detector circuitry from a low power consumption state when movement is sensed.