Lug Stud and Lug Nut Monitoring System, Method, and Components Therefor

• US 20090207008A1
• Filed: 02/18/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TAG Blue, LLC
• Original Assignee: TAG Blue, LLC
• Inventors: Malis, Craig Steven, Calaman, Douglas James
• Granted Patent: US 7,994,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/16 by bolts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

A lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, method, and components for a vehicle may have a lug stud, a lug nut, at least one sensor, and an indicator. The lug stud has a shank. The lug nut is constructed to fasten on the shank. The sensor can be carried by the lug stud, by the lug nut, or by both the lug stud and the lug nut. The sensor takes at least one measurement. The indicator communicates with the sensor in order to determine a value based on the measurement, and to alert an operator of the vehicle if and when the value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value.

Claims

1. A vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, comprising:

a lug stud having a shank;

a lug nut constructed to fasten on the shank;

at least one sensor carried by at least one of the lug stud and the lug nut, the at least one sensor taking at least one measurement; and

an indicator communicating with the at least one sensor to determine a value based on the at least one measurement, and to alert an operator of the vehicle when the value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value.

2. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the shank defines a cavity, and a fluid is disposed in the cavity, and wherein the at least one sensor is a single sensor that is carried by the lug stud, and the at least one measurement is at least one force exerted by the fluid over a predetermined time.

3. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor measures a distance between the lug stud and the lug nut.

4. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the indicator includes a radio frequency transmitter that communicates with the at least one sensor in order to emit a signal in response to the at least one measurement.

5. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 4 wherein the indicator includes a radio frequency receiver in order to receive the signal from the radio frequency transmitter.

6. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 5 wherein the indicator includes a control module that communicates with the radio frequency receiver in order to determine when the value reaches the predetermined relationship to the reference value.

7. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the indicator includes a display on a vehicle instrument panel in order to alert the operator of the vehicle when the value reaches the predetermined relationship to the reference value.

8. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 4 including a power source in order to supply power to at least some components of the system.

9. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 8 wherein the power source includes a piezoelectric film that is electrically connected to the at least one sensor and to the radio frequency transmitter in order to supply power thereto.

10. A vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, comprising:

a lug stud having a shank defining a cavity, with a fluid disposed in the cavity;

a lug nut constructed to fasten on the shank;

a sensor carried by the lug stud to measure at least one force exerted by the fluid over a predetermined time; and

an indicator communicating with the sensor to determine a value that is based on the at least one force measurement, and to alert an operator of the vehicle when the value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value.

11. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 10 wherein the value is based on two measurements taken at different times, and the value is the difference of the two measurements.

12. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 11 wherein the reference value is a range of differences that represents a range of acceptable torque values between the lug stud and the lug nut and that has an upper limit and a lower limit, whereby the indicator alerts the operator when the value is above the upper limit or below the lower limit.

13. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 11 wherein the two measurements include a static force that represents a force exerted by the fluid when the lug nut is not tightened on the shank, and a working force that represents a force exerted by the fluid when the lug nut is tightened on the shank.

14. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 10 wherein the value is a current force measurement, and the reference value is a force value that represents a lower limit of acceptable torque values between the lug stud and the lug nut, whereby the indicator alerts the operator when the current force measurement is below the lower limit.

15. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 10 wherein the value is a current force measurement, and the reference value is a force value that represents an upper limit of acceptable torque values between the lug stud and the lug nut, whereby the indicator alerts the operator when the current force measurement is above the upper limit.

16. A vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, comprising:

a lug stud having a shank;

a lug nut constructed to fasten on the shank;

at least one sensor carried by at least one of the lug stud and the lug nut, the at least one sensor measuring a distance between the lug stud and the lug nut; and

an indicator communicating with the at least one sensor to determine a value based on the measured distance, and to alert an operator of the vehicle when the value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value.

17. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 16 wherein the at least one sensor includes a first sensor that is carried by the lug stud and a second sensor that is carried by the lug nut, and wherein the first sensor measures a distance between itself and the second sensor.

18. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 17 wherein the reference value is a range of distances that represents a range of acceptable torque values between the lug stud and the lug nut, the range of distances having an upper limit and a lower limit, whereby the indicator alerts the operator when the value is greater than the upper limit or less than the lower limit.

19. A method of monitoring a lug stud and a lug nut on a vehicle wheel, the method comprising:

taking at least one measurement resulting from a condition between the lug stud and the lug nut;

determining a value that is based on the at least one measurement; and

alerting an operator of the vehicle when the value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value.

20. The method of claim 19 including the step of providing the lug stud with a shank that defines a cavity and a fluid that is disposed in the cavity, and wherein the step of taking at least one measurement comprises measuring at least one force exerted by the fluid over a predetermined time.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of taking at least one measurement comprises measuring a distance between the lug stud and the lug nut.

22. A vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, comprising:

a lug stud having a head and an externally threaded shank;

a lug nut having internal threads to fasten on the shank;

at least one sensor carried by at least one of the lug stud and the lug nut, the at least one sensor taking at least one measurement;

a radio frequency transmitter communicating with the at least one sensor to emit a signal in response to the at least one measurement;

a radio frequency receiver to receive the signal from the radio frequency transmitter;

a control module communicating with the radio frequency receiver to determine a value that is based on the at least one measurement;

a display to alert an operator of the vehicle when the value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value; and

a power source to supply power to at least the at least one sensor and the radio frequency transmitter.

23. A lug stud for a vehicle monitoring system, the lug stud comprising:

a head;

an externally threaded shank extending from the head, the shank defining a cavity;

a fluid sealed in the cavity;

a sensor being in contact with the fluid in order to sense forces exerted by the fluid; and

a radio frequency transmitter being in communication with the sensor to emit a signal in response to the sensor.

24. A vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, comprising:

a lug stud having a shank;

a lug nut constructed to fasten on the shank;

a sensor carried by one of the lug stud and the lug nut;

a magnet carried by the other of the lug stud and the lug nut; and

an indicator communicating with the sensor and alerting an operator of the vehicle when the sensor does not detect a magnetic field generated by the magnet.

25. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 24 wherein the sensor is a Hall-effect sensor.