Wheel with plastic rim and integral sensor
First Claim
1. A vehicle wheel comprising:
- a rim formed from a non-metallic material;
a tire having a pair of beads secured to said rim, and defining an enclosed chamber between said beads and said rim; and
a sensor for sensing a pressure in said enclosed chamber, said sensor communicating with air in said enclosed chamber, and said sensor being capable of transmitting a pressure signal outwardly of said vehicle wheel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle wheel is formed of a plastic rim that receives a tire. The tire is preferably welded at each of its two beads to portions of the rim. The plastic rim is preferably formed of both a disc and an internal part. A sensor for sensing pressures within the tire is incorporated into the disc piece. It is imagined that the entire vehicle wheel could be secured together for the life of the wheel. That is, the tire cannot be replaced. Since a plastic rim is utilized, the sensor could utilize LF (or other wireless means) to communicate a signal indicative of pressure, acceleration (which is translated into wheel speed), temperature and other information that may be deemed as important for safety and convenience from the tire to a receiver on the vehicle. Since the rim will not be separated from the tire, the sensor can also store incoming information providing a complete record of the entire life of the vehicle wheel. The sensor, or the vehicle receiver, is able to store information with regard to pressure, speed of operation, hours of operation, and other information which may be deemed as important for safety and convenience for the specific wheel, or wheels which are, or have been, mounted to the vehicle.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A vehicle wheel comprising:
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a rim formed from a non-metallic material;
a tire having a pair of beads secured to said rim, and defining an enclosed chamber between said beads and said rim; and
a sensor for sensing a pressure in said enclosed chamber, said sensor communicating with air in said enclosed chamber, and said sensor being capable of transmitting a pressure signal outwardly of said vehicle wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14)
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13. A vehicle wheel comprising:
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a rim molded from a plastic material;
a tire having a pair of beads secured to said rim, and defining an enclosed chamber between said beads and said rim;
said rim formed of two pieces, with a disc secured to a first bead of said tire and a second internal rim part secured to said disc and secured to a second bead of said tire; and
a sensor for sensing a pressure in said enclosed chamber, said sensor communicating with air in said enclosed chamber, and said sensor being capable of transmitting a pressure signal outwardly of said vehicle wheel, said sensor mounted in a housing molded to said disc, and an air communication hole formed through said disc to communicate air to said sensor from said enclosed chamber.
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Specification