Method and device to encapsulate tire tag

• US 20040050170A1
• Filed: 02/11/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Tomaszewski, Walter, Koch, Russell W., Wilson, Paul B., Weitzenhof, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,868,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/756
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0072 Attaching fasteners to tyres, e.g. patches, in order to connect devices to tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre

Abstract

A method for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire, wherein the monitoring device includes a threaded rod and a pressure sensor, includes the steps of positioning the monitoring device in an encapsulation chamber of an encapsulation device with a portion of the threaded rod extending from the encapsulation chamber; engaging the threaded rod against the encapsulation device to suspend the electronic monitoring device within the encapsulation chamber; and filling the encapsulation chamber with encapsulation material to encapsulate the monitoring device to form an encapsulated monitoring device. The encapsulated monitoring device may be mounted to a pneumatic tire with an attachment patch.

Claims

1. A method for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire wherein the monitoring device includes a threaded rod and a pressure sensor;

the method comprising the steps of;

positioning the monitoring device in an encapsulation chamber of an encapsulation device with a portion of the threaded rod extending from the encapsulation chamber;

positioning a damming element over the pressure sensor to prevent the pressure sensor from clogging; and

filling the encapsulation chamber with encapsulation material to encapsulate the monitoring device to form an encapsulated monitoring device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of supporting the monitoring device within the encapsulation chamber with the threaded rod.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of supporting the monitoring device within the encapsulation chamber with the damming element.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of supporting the monitoring device within the encapsulation chamber with an antenna extending from the monitoring device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding the encapsulation material to the encapsulation chamber through an opening that allows a portion of the threaded rod to extend from the encapsulation chamber.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a raised boss around the portion of the threaded rod that extends from the encapsulation chamber.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

providing an attachment patch having a threaded cavity with an opening and a gasket adjacent the opening; and

threading the threaded rod of the encapsulated monitoring device into the threaded cavity until the raised boss of the encapsulated monitoring device engages the gasket.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of compressing the gasket to create a locking force against the raised boss.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing an attachment patch having a threaded cavity with an opening and a gasket adjacent the opening; and

threading the threaded rod of the encapsulated monitoring device into the threaded cavity until the encapsulated monitoring device engages the gasket.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of compressing the gasket to create a locking force against the encapsulated monitoring device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of threading the damming element to the encapsulation device

12. A method for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire wherein the monitoring device includes a threaded rod and a pressure sensor;

the method comprising the steps of;

positioning the monitoring device in an encapsulation chamber of an encapsulation device with a portion of the threaded rod extending from the encapsulation chamber;

engaging the threaded rod against the encapsulation device to suspend the electronic monitoring device within the encapsulation chamber; and

filling the encapsulation chamber with encapsulation material to encapsulate the monitoring device to form an encapsulated monitoring device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of damming the pressure sensor to prevent the pressure sensor from clogging with encapsulation material.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of supporting the monitoring device within the encapsulation chamber with an antenna extending from the monitoring device.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of adding the encapsulation material to the encapsulation chamber through an opening that allows a portion of the threaded rod to extend from the encapsulation chamber.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of forming a raised boss around the portion of the threaded rod that extends from the encapsulation chamber.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

providing an attachment patch having a threaded cavity with a gasket adjacent the cavity; and

threading the threaded rod of the encapsulated monitoring device into the threaded cavity until the raised boss of the encapsulated monitoring device engages the gasket.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of compressing the gasket to create a locking force against the raised boss.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

providing an attachment patch having a threaded cavity with a gasket adjacent the cavity; and

threading the threaded rod of the encapsulated monitoring device into the threaded cavity until the encapsulated monitoring device engages the gasket.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of compressing the gasket to create a locking force against the encapsulated monitoring device.

21. In combination, an encapsulation device for encapsulating a monitoring device and a monitoring device;

the combination comprising;

an encapsulation device defining an encapsulation chamber;

a monitoring device having a threaded rod and a pressure sensor; and

the monitoring device being suspended in the encapsulation chamber through the engagement of the threaded rod with the encapsulation device.

22. The combination of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the threaded rod is disposed outside the encapsulation chamber.

23. The combination of claim 21, further comprising an outer O-ring disposed between said damming element and said encapsulation device.

24. The combination of claim 21, further comprising an inner O-ring seat formed in said damming element, an inner O-ring disposed in said seat, said inner O-ring adapted to engage the pressure sensor on the monitoring device when the monitoring device is disposed in said encapsulation chamber.

25. The combination of claim 24, wherein said damming element is a tube having a longitudinal passageway.

26. The combination of claim 25, further comprising a breathing tube disposed in said longitudinal passageway, said breathing tube adapted to engage the pressure sensor when the monitoring device is disposed in said encapsulation chamber.

27. The combination of claim 26, wherein the inner O-ring is disposed between the breathing tube and the damming element.

28. The combination of claim 21, further comprising a recess defined by the encapsulation device;

the recess being disposed adjacent the threaded rod and adapted to form a raised boss.

29. The combination of claim 21, further comprising a damming element;

the damming element disposed adjacent the pressure sensor to prevent the pressure sensor from being clogged with encapsulation material.

30. In combination, an encapsulation device for encapsulating a monitoring device and a monitoring device;

the combination comprising;

an encapsulation device defining an encapsulation chamber;

a monitoring device having a threaded sleeve and a pressure sensor; and

the monitoring device being suspended in the encapsulation chamber through the engagement of the threaded sleeve with the encapsulation device.