Vehicle wheel assembly having improved monitoring capabilities for various vehicle conditions and monitoring device for accomplishing such monitoring

• US 10,598,541 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2016
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxion Wheels U.S.A. LLC (Iochpe-Maxion SA)
• Original Assignee: Maxion Wheels U.S.A. LLC (Iochpe-Maxion SA)
• Inventors: Bunner, John Evan, Wolf, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US15/759,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20190154491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1, 701 48
• 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: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/00 Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/12 having electrical weight-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/013 Wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A monitoring device includes a housing adhered to a drop well of a wheel inside of a vehicle tire. The housing rotates with the wheel. An electrical circuit disposed within the housing. The electrical circuit including a load sensing device disposed within the housing. The load sensing device sensing forces exerted on the wheel. A transceiver coupled to the electrical circuit. The transceiver communicates load data sensed by the load sensing device to components exterior of the wheel.

Claims

1. A monitoring device comprising:

a housing adhered to a drop well of a wheel inside of a vehicle tire, the housing rotating with the wheel;

an electrical circuit disposed within the housing, the electrical circuit including a load sensing device disposed within the housing, the load sensing device sensing forces exerted on the wheel;

a transceiver coupled to the electrical circuit, the transceiver communicating load data sensed by the load sensing device to components exterior of the wheel;

wherein the electrical circuit includes a power conditioning circuit, the power conditioning circuit including rechargeable power cells to power electrical components of the electrical circuit;

wherein the power conditioning circuit includes a plurality of piezo elements to generate electrical charges, wherein the power conditioning circuit further includes an AC-to-DC converter, the electrical charges generated by the piezo elements are converted to a direct charge by the AC-to-DC converter, and wherein the converted direct charge is stored in the rechargeable power cells; and

further comprising a plurality of excitation masses exciting the plurality of piezo elements, wherein a respective piezo element is paired with an associated excitation mass, wherein each associated excitation mass acts on the respective piezo element when the wheel is rotating to generate electrical charges in the plurality of piezo elements.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the load sensing device includes a strain-gauge device mounted to a bottom surface within the housing, the strain-gauge device sensing loads exerted on the vehicle wheel.

3. The monitoring device of claim 2 wherein the load sensing device senses loads during movement of the vehicle, the load sensing device capturing a sinusoidal signal representing loads exerted on the vehicle wheel when the wheel is rotating, wherein the load exerted on the wheel is determined as a function of a peak value of the sinusoidal signal.

4. The monitoring device of claim 2 further comprising an accelerometer disposed within the electrical circuit, the accelerometer detecting a rotational position of the wheel, wherein a rotational position of the wheel in cooperation with load data from the load sensing device is used to determine the load exerted on the wheel when the vehicle is at a static position.

5. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein each pair of the piezo elements and excitation masses vary in size from one another for capturing vibrations of different bandwidths.

6. The monitoring device of claim 5 wherein each pair of the piezo elements and associated excitation masses are disposed at various locations of the housing.

7. The monitoring device of claim 6 wherein the housing includes a chassis body and a cover, the cover including walls similarly shaped to the plurality of excitation masses, each respective wall being aligned with a respective excitation mass, each respective wall having a larger shape than an associated excitation mass, wherein a respective excitation mass contacts a respective wall to limit the displacement of the respective excitation mass to a predetermined distance in response to being displaced by movement of the wheel.

8. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein in the power conditioning circuit includes a power manager, wherein the power manager controls a flow and distribution of power to the rechargeable batteries and the electrical components of the electrical circuit.

9. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuit includes a processing circuit, wherein the processing circuit includes a processor for processing forces exerted on the wheel sensed by the load sensing device.

10. The monitoring device of claim 9 wherein the power conditioning circuit and the processing circuit are separate circuits boards coupled by a communication line.

11. The monitoring device of claim 9 wherein the power conditioning circuit and the processing circuit are integrated on a single circuit board.

12. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is in communication with at least one controller within the vehicle, the transceiver communicating load data to the controller, the controller autonomously enabling a vehicle operation in response to the determined load.

13. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the transceiver communicates load data to a controller for countering an improper load condition.

14. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the transceiver communicates load data to a driver awareness system to alert the driver of an improper load condition.

15. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the transceiver communicates load data to a vehicle communication system, wherein vehicle communication system communicates load data to a cloud service.

16. The monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the load data communicated from the vehicle to the cloud service includes impact load data relating to a condition of a vehicle road.

17. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the load data includes information relating to damage of a vehicle wheel.

18. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the load data includes information relating to camber of a vehicle wheel.

19. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein data sensed by the electrical circuit is provided to a braking system to counter vehicle instability via the braking system.

20. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein data sensed by the electrical circuit is provided to a traction control system to counter vehicle instability via the traction control system.

21. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein data sensed by the electrical circuit is provided to anti-roll stability system to counter vehicle instability via the anti-roll stability system.

22. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein data sensed by the electrical circuit is provided to a steering control system to counter vehicle instability via the steering control system.

23. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein data sensed by the electrical circuit is provided to a speed control system to counter vehicle instability via the speed control system.

24. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein data sensed by the electrical circuit is provided to an active suspension system to counter the improper loading condition.

25. A monitoring device comprising:

a housing adhered to a drop well of a wheel inside of a vehicle tire, the housing rotating with the wheel;

an electrical circuit disposed within the housing, the electrical circuit including a load sensing device disposed within the housing, the load sensing device sensing forces exerted on the wheel; and

a transceiver coupled to the electrical circuit, the transceiver communicating load data sensed by the load sensing device to components exterior of the wheel;

wherein the electrical circuit further includes a primary induction unit, wherein the primary induction unit energizes a secondary induction unit exposed exterior to the housing, wherein secondary induction unit powers a clamp load sensing device monitoring a clamp load of the wheel secured to a wheel hub, wherein the signals relating to the clamp load data as sensed by the clamp load sensing device is transmitted to the electrical circuit via the electromagnetic induction between the secondary induction unit and the primary induction unit.