Integrated sensor system and method for a farm tire

• US 20060145828A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Muller, Eric Michel Paul, Camarato, Gregory William, Logan, Brian Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,295,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1725 Using tyre sensors, e.g. Sidewall Torsion sensors [SWT] for tyre pressure and temperature detection B60C23/00

Abstract

An integrated tire monitoring system for an agricultural vehicle control system comprises at lease one sensor integrally coupled to at least one tire on a farm vehicle; an external reader for obtaining tire revolution speed data from the sensor during each revolution of the tire; input means for delivering the tire revolution speed data to a vehicle control unit, the vehicle control unit calculating vehicle speed based on the inputted tire revolution speed data and outputting at least one control signal. The reader may input tire pressure data from the sensor into the vehicle control unit for the calculation of pressure adjusted vehicle speed. The sensor may store tire specific identification data accessible by the external reader and one or more control signals from the vehicle ECU may be used to control speed between a plurality of vehicle wheels; engine speed; wheel slippage; and/or tire air pressure. The vehicle control unit may further evaluate work efficacy of the vehicle based upon the calculated vehicle speed and communicate display data of the results to an operator of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An integrated tire monitoring system for an agricultural vehicle control system comprising:

a sensor integrally coupled to at least one tire on a farm vehicle;

an external reader for obtaining tire revolution speed data from the sensor during each revolution of the tire;

input means for delivering the tire revolution speed data to a vehicle control unit, the vehicle control unit calculating vehicle speed based on the inputted tire revolution speed data and outputting at least one control signal.

2. An integrated tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the sensor measures pneumatic pressure within the vehicle tire;

3. An integrated tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 2 wherein the reader obtains tire pressure data from the sensor and inputs the tire pressure data into the vehicle control unit and wherein the vehicle control unit utilizes the inputted tire pressure data to calculate a pressure adjusted vehicle speed.

4. An integrated tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the sensor stores tire specific identification data accessible by the external reader.

5. An integrated tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the control signal is used to control a vehicle parameter selected from the group [adjustment of speed between a plurality of vehicle wheels;

engine speed;

wheel slippage;

tire air pressure].

6. An integrated tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle control unit evaluates work efficacy of the vehicle based upon the calculated vehicle speed and communicates results of the evaluation of work efficacy to an operator of the vehicle.

7. A method of integrating a tire monitoring system into a farm vehicle control system comprising the steps:

a. coupling a sensor integrally into at least one tire on a farm vehicle;

b. obtaining tire revolution speed data from the sensor by means of an external reader during each revolution of the tire;

c. inputting tire revolution speed data into a vehicle control unit;

d. calculating vehicle speed based on inputted tire revolution speed data;

e. outputting a control signal from the vehicle control unit based upon the calculated vehicle speed.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps:

measuring tire pressure with the sensor;

obtaining tire pressure data from the sensor by operation of the external reader;

inputting tire pressure data into the vehicle control unit; and

utilizing the inputted tire pressure data to calculate a pressure adjusted vehicle speed.

9. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps:

storing tire specific identification data in the sensor;

accessing the tire specific identification data by operation of the external reader.

10. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of utilizing the control signal to control a vehicle parameter selected from the group [adjustment of speed between a plurality of vehicle wheels;

engine speed;

wheel slippage;

tire air pressure].

11. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps:

evaluating work efficacy of the vehicle based upon the calculated vehicle speed;

and communicating results of the work efficacy evaluation to an operator of the vehicle.