SNAP-IN TIRE VALVE

• US 20100024539A1
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensata Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Uleski, Michael A., Hamm, Lawrence W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,047,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/146.500
• 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: B60C 23/0452 Antenna structure, control or arrangement vehicle tyre mounted antennas H01Q1/2241
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber

Abstract

A snap-in tire pressure monitoring system having a valve that deforms to form an annular sealing surface around an opening in a tire rim. A sensor housing having electronics components configured to sense conditions within the tire may be attached to the valve. Data collected by the components may be wireless transmitted for further processing.

Claims

1. A snap-in tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) comprising:

a valve having an inner portion and an outer portion, the outer portion being a resilient element having a annular sealing surface configured to snap-in an opening in a tire wheel rim, the inner portion being a rigid element defining an air passageway between an inboard end and an outboard end;

a housing having electronics configured to sense parameters within the tire wheel rim;

an electrical connection element extending inside the housing to electrical connect with the electronics and outside the housing to electrically connect with the inboard end; and

a fastener removable attached to the inboard end, the fastener providing a compressive force that compresses the electrical connection element against the inboard end.

2. The TPMS of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a threaded nut that threads to a threaded portion of the inboard end.

3. The TPMS of claim 2 wherein the threaded portion of the inboard end has a solid cross-section.

4. The TPMS of claim 3 wherein the threaded portion is comprised of a material different from the rest of the inner portion.

5. The TPMS of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a spring-clip that fits within grooves included on the inboard end.

6. The TPMS of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a connection region that extends around at least a portion of the inboard end and the fastener compresses the housing against the inboard end.

7. The TPMS of claim 6 wherein the connection region includes to at least to openings on opposite sides of the inner portion that are parallel to a longitudinal axis of the inner portion.

8. The TPMS of claim 6 wherein the electrical connection element is positioned between the fastener and the housing.

9. The TPMS of claim 1 wherein a portion of the inboard end has a solid cross-section and includes a cross-hole to the air passageway, the cross-hole being located between the solid cross-section and an end of the resilient element.

10. The TPMS of claim 9 wherein the inner portion includes flats to key the inner portion to a connection portion of the housing.

11. The TPMS of claim 10 wherein the flats are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cross-hole.

12. The TPMS of claim 1 wherein the inner portion includes a first cylindrical feature outboard of the annular sealing surface that extends outwardly from a body portion defining the air passageway, the first cylindrical feature providing an outwardly extending face against which a portion of the resilient material between the annual sealing surface and the first cylindrical feature engages to resist inboard movement.

13. The TPMS of claim 12 wherein the inner portion includes a second cylindrical feature inboard of the annular sealing surface that extends outwardly from the body portion, the second cylindrical feature providing an outwardly extending face against which a portion of the resilient material between the annual sealing surface and the second cylindrical feature engages to resist outboard movement.

14. The TPMS of claim 1 wherein the housing includes an open bottom side and a potting material that fills the housing to protect the electronics, wherein the housing further includes a channel along an outer perimeter that projects outwardly from the perimeter and extends from the bottom side to a top side above a battery, the channel being filled with the potting material.

15. The TPMS of claim 1 wherein:

the housing includes an upwardly extending connection portion through which the inner portion extends;

the connection element is u-shaped and fits over top of the connection portion, the connection element having a first side that extends down a first side of the connection portion and a second side that extends down a second side of the connection portion;

the inner portion include a shoulder on the second side of the connection portion; and

wherein the fastener compressively tightens the shoulder against the connection portion, causing the fastener to compress the first side of the connection element against the first side of the connection portion and to compress the second side of the connection element against the second side of the connection portion.

16. A snap-in tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a valve having an inner portion and an outer portion, the outer portion being a resilient element having a annular sealing surface configured to snap-in an opening in a tire wheel rim, the inner portion being a rigid element defining an air passageway between an inboard end and an outboard end, the inboard end having a fastener portion and a shoulder;

a housing having electronics configured to sense parameters within the tire wheel rim, the housing having an upwardly extending connection portion with an opening through which the inner portion extends, the fastener portion being positioned on a first side of the connection portion and the shoulder being positioned on an opposite, second side of the connection portion; and

a fastener that fastens to the fastener portion to secure the housing to the valve body.

17. The TPMS of claim 16 wherein the fastener is a threaded nut.

18. The TPMS of claim 16 further comprising a u-shaped electrical connector that wraps over top of connection portion down the first and second sides, the connector electrically connecting the electronics to the valve.

19. A snap-in tire valve comprising:

an inner portion and an outer portion, the outer portion being a resilient element having a annular sealing surface configured to snap-in an opening in a tire wheel rim, the inner portion being a rigid element defining an air passageway between an inboard end and an outboard end, the inner portion having a first cylindrical feature outboard of the annular sealing surface that extends outwardly from the air passageway, the first cylindrical feature providing an outwardly extending face against which a portion of the resilient material between the annual sealing surface and the first cylindrical feature engages to resist inboard movement.

20. The valve of claim 19 wherein the inner portion includes a second cylindrical feature inboard of the annular sealing surface that extends outwardly from the body portion, the second cylindrical feature providing an outwardly extending face against which a portion of the resilient material between the annual sealing surface and the second cylindrical feature engages to resist outboard movement.