Device for attachment to a wheel and wheel with such a device

• US 20060081049A1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AB SKF
• Original Assignee: AB SKF
• Inventors: Stubenrauch, Arno, Graf, Jens, Mol, Hendrik Anne, Bugden, Russell, Knoche, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 7,543,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/593
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis

Abstract

A device for attachment to a motor vehicle wheel includes an arrangement which, during movement or driving of the motor vehicle, detects vibrations which occur, evaluates the vibrations for an incipient fault state of a wheel bearing of the vehicle wheel, and delivers a signal when the monitoring or evaluation yields or indicates the incipient fault state.

Claims

1. A vehicle wheel of a motor vehicle to which is attached a device, the wheel comprising a wheel bearing, and the device comprising means for detecting vibrations which occur during driving of the motor vehicle, for evaluating the vibrations for an incipient fault state of the wheel bearing and for delivering a signal when the evaluation indicates the incipient fault state.

2. The vehicle wheel according to claim 1, wherein the means comprises an acceleration sensor which detects the vibrations.

3. The vehicle wheel according to claim 1, wherein the means comprises a microcontroller unit which evaluates the vibrations for the incipient fault state of the wheel bearing.

4. The vehicle wheel according to claim 1, wherein the means comprises a light emitting diode which delivers the signal when the evaluation indicates the incipient fault state of the wheel bearing.

5. A device adapted to be attached to a wheel of a motor vehicle which comprises a wheel bearing, the device comprising means for detecting vibrations which occur during driving of the motor vehicle, evaluating the vibrations for an incipient fault state of the wheel bearing and delivering a signal when the evaluation indicates the incipient fault state.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the device is adapted to be attached to a rim of the wheel.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the device is configured for attachment between two adjacent wheel lugs or tire bolts of the vehicle wheel.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the device comprises two holes which are made and arranged such that the two tire bolts or the two threaded bolts which belong to the wheel lugs pass through the holes.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein the device for attachment to the wheel comprises a support on which is mounted said means.

10. The device according to claim 5, wherein the means for delivering the signal is visible from exterior of the motor vehicle.

11. The device according to claim 5, wherein the means for delivering the signal delivers an optical signal.

12. The device according to claim 5, wherein the means for delivering the signal comprises a light emitting diode.

13. The device according to claim 5, wherein the means for detecting vibrations comprise an acceleration sensor.

14. The device according to claim 5, wherein the means for evaluating comprises a filter-amplifier unit.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein an output signal of the means for detecting vibrations is sent to the filter-amplifier unit.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the filter-amplifier unit comprises a first stage and a second stage connected downstream of the first stage.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the first stage is made as a bandpass filter for reducing noise and filtering out DC voltage offset.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the second stage comprises a series connection of a highpass filter, an amplifier and a lowpass filter.

19. The device according to claim 14, wherein the means for evaluating comprises a microcontroller unit.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein an output signal of the filter-amplifier unit is supplied to the microcontroller unit as an input signal.

21. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a battery.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the battery is a lithium battery.

23. The device according to claim 21, wherein the means for evaluating comprises a microcontroller unit, and the battery is permanently connected to the microcontroller unit for supplying the microcontroller unit with electricity.

24. The device according to claim 5, wherein the means for detecting vibrations comprises an acceleration sensor and the means for evaluating comprises a filter-amplifier unit, and wherein at least one of the acceleration sensor and the filter-amplifier unit is switchably connected to the battery via a switching unit to be supplied with electricity.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the switching unit is connected to the microcontroller unit such that switching is controlled by the microcontroller unit.

26. A method of monitoring a wheel bearing of a motor vehicle wheel comprising:

detecting vibrations of the wheel occurring during driving of the motor vehicle;

evaluating the vibrations for an incipient fault state of the wheel bearing; and

providing a signal when the evaluation indicates the incipient fault state of the wheel bearing.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the vibrations are detected by way of an acceleration sensor mounted on a support which is secured to the vehicle wheel.