WHEEL SENSOR WITH VALVE

• US 20080184786A1
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Beru F1 Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Beru F1 Systems Limited
• Inventors: Bailey, John Michael, Phillips, James Edward, Rice, Andrew Paul, Skipper, Gavin Mark, Shingleton, James Ravi
• Application Number:
  US11/775,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20080184786A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

A wheel sensor which is primarily located outside of a pneumatic tire includes a sensor for sensing one or more conditions within the pneumatic tire of a wheel and a connector configured to secure the sensor to the wheel rim; wherein the connector establishes a link between the medium inside the tire and the sensor; and includes a valve which seals when the sensor is removed from the rim and opens when the sensor is attached to the rim.

Claims

1. A wheel sensor which is primarily located outside of a pneumatic tire comprising sensing means for sensing at least one condition within the pneumatic tire of a wheel and an attachment means for securing said sensing means to the wheel rim;

wherein said attachment means establishes a link between the medium inside the tire and said sensing means; and

comprises a valve which seals when the sensing means is removed and opens when the sensing means is attached to the rim.

2. A wheel sensor according to claim 1, wherein said attachment means attaches to the rim substantially without any part projecting into the inside of the tire beyond said rim.

3. A wheel sensor according to claim 1, wherein said attachment means is a screw for traversing an aperture in a rim and for attaching to a corresponding recess in a sensor'"'"'s housing;

the screw head being shaped and configured to be retained by said rim within said aperture.

4. A wheel sensor according to claim 3, wherein said screw incorporates a channel through the screw which forms a conduit for linking the medium inside the tire to sensing means located in said housing.

5. A wheel sensor according to claim 1, wherein the wheel sensor housing is cylindrical with an end face for engaging the wheel rim;

and incorporates a truncated edge portion;

whereby when the housing is attached to the rim in close proximity to a bend in the rim profile, the housing is prevented from rotating in use as said edge portion abuts against the rim.

6. An outer and inner tire combined wheel, comprising a wheel sensor according to claim 1 located within the rim for establishing a link between the medium inside the outer tire and sensing means.

7. An outer and inner tire combined wheel according to claim 6, comprising a second wheel sensor configured to assess the medium of said inner tire.