Air pressure gauge assembly for continuous monitoring of tire inflation pressure

• US 20030226400A1
• Filed: 06/05/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tiro Technologies, Llc
• Original Assignee: Creative Auto Resources, Inc.
• Inventors: Rutherford, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,843,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber

Abstract

An air pressure gauge assembly mounted to the valve stem of a tire for continuous monitoring of the tire inflation pressure without interfering with the common function of a valve stem, and an air pressure gauge assembly permanently mounted to the rim of a wheel for continuous monitoring of the tire inflation pressure. The valve stem mountable, flow-through air pressure gauge assembly offers the convenience of being mounted to an existing valve stem and still allowing inflation or deflation of the tire therethrough while continuously displaying the air pressure. The air pressure gauge assembly mountable through the wheel rim of an inflatable tire allows the continuous monitoring of the air pressure without interfering with the operation of a tire valve stem and replacement of a tire or a valve stem. Both types of air pressure gauge assemblies are designed to withstand substantial impact and to seal the tire in case the gauge body is accidentally broken off or fractured. Both types of air pressure gauge assemblies include several variations of easy to read dial faces. Furthermore, both types of air pressure gauge assemblies are of compact design and relatively inexpensive, reliable, and of little or no maintenance.

Claims

1. A valve stem mountable, flow-through air pressure gauge assembly for continuous monitoring of tire inflation pressure comprising, in combination:

a gauge body of compact design;

a sensing element being disposed in an airtight chamber inside said gauge body;

means for mounting said gauge body to an existing valve stem of an inflatable tire with an airtight connection including means for depressing the valve core of said valve stem to allow air from a tire to flow into said sensing element;

a dial face;

a pressure indicator being connected to said sensing element;

a display light having an on/off switch;

a power source;

a lens cover; and

an air exhaust check valve including a plunger, an air exhaust compressing spring, a check-valve o-ring, and an air intake manifold cover for inflating and deflating said tire through said gauge body.

2. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said dial face further comprises a warning light.

3. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensing element comprises a Bourdon tube.

4. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensing element comprises a helix-coil.

5. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensing element comprises a c-tube.

6. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensing element comprises a diaphragm.

7. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said airtight chamber is non-liquid filled.

8. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said airtight chamber is liquid filled.

9. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said pressure indicator comprises a pointer directly connected to said sensing element.

10. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said pressure indicator comprises a pointer having a geared connection with said sensing element.

11. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said dial face comprises an analog display having indicia and dial scale thereon for indicating the air pressure detected by said sensing element.

12. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said dial face comprises a digital display.

13. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said warning light is connected to said sensing element using a sensor to indicate an adjustable, certain air pressure decrease.

14. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said warning light is connected to said sensing element using a pressure switch to indicate an adjustable, certain air pressure decrease.

15. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said warning light is a steady light.

16. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said warning light is a flashing light.

17. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said warning light comprises a LCD/LED.

18. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said display light comprises an INDIGLO nightlight.

19. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said display light comprises a LCD/LED.

20. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said power source is integrated into said gauge body allowing access from the outside thereof.

21. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said power source is located outside of said gauge body.

22. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said lens cover comprises a non-magnifying lens.

23. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said lens cover comprises a magnifying lens.

24. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 23, wherein said pressure indicator is a pointer bent upwards to be visible from the side as well as from the top.

25. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 1, wherein said gauge body further comprises a right angle from said air exhaust check valve to said valve stem.

26. An air pressure gauge assembly mountable through the wheel rim of an inflatable tire for continuous monitoring of tire inflation pressure comprising, in combination:

a gauge body of compact design;

a sensing element being disposed in an airtight chamber inside said gauge body;

means for mounting said gauge body in an airtight connection through a aperture in the wheel rim of an inflatable tire including an outer rim seal, an inner rim seal, and means for fastening;

means for allowing air to flow from said tire into said sensing element;

means for sealing said aperture in said wheel rim airtight in case said gauge body is accidentally broken off above said wheel rim or fractured;

a pressure indicator being connected to said sensing element;

a dial face;

a display light having an on/off switch;

a power source providing power for said warning light and said display light; and

a lens cover.

27. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said dial face further comprises a warning light.

28. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said sensing element comprises a Bourdon tube.

29. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said sensing element comprises a helix-coil.

30. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said sensing element comprises a c-tube.

31. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said sensing element comprises a diaphragm.

32. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said airtight chamber is non-liquid filled.

33. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said airtight chamber is liquid filled.

34. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said pressure indicator comprises a pointer directly connected to said sensing element.

35. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said pressure indicator comprises a pointer having a geared connection with said sensing element.

36. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said a dial face comprises an analog display having indicia and dial scale thereon for indicating the air pressure detected by said sensing element.

37. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said dial face comprises a digital display.

38. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said warning light is connected to said sensing element using a sensor to indicate an adjustable certain air pressure decrease.

39. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said warning light is connected to said sensing element using a pressure switch to indicate an adjustable certain air pressure decrease.

40. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said warning light is a steady light.

41. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said warning light is a flashing light.

42. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said warning light comprises a LCD/LED.

43. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said display light comprises an INDIGLO night light.

44. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said display light comprises a LCD/LED.

45. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said power source is integrated into said gauge body allowing access from the outside thereof.

46. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said power source is located outside of said gauge body.

47. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said lens cover comprises a non-magnifying lens.

48. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 26, wherein said lens cover comprises a magnifying lens.

49. The air pressure gauge assembly of claim 48, wherein said pressure indicator is a pointer bent upwards to be visible from the side as well as from the top.