Sensor Mount With Self-Tightening Device

• US 20100238011A1
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Starkey, Carl, Carr, William L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,937,998 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: B60C 23/04985 using straps surrounding the rims

Abstract

A wheel assembly comprises a wheel, a tire mounted to the wheel, a tire condition sensor unit, and a sensor mount. The sensor mount mounts the sensor unit to an outside diameter surface of a rim of the wheel in a desired circumferential mounting location relative to the wheel, and comprises an endless loop self-tightening device positioned around the wheel.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly, comprising:

a wheel,

a tire mounted to the wheel,

a tire condition sensor unit, and

a sensor mount mounting the sensor unit to an outside diameter surface of a rim of the wheel in a desired circumferential mounting location relative to the wheel, the sensor mount comprising an endless loop self-tightening device positioned around the wheel.

2. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-tightening device is stretchable.

3. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-tightening device is an elastic band.

4. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-tightening device comprises rubber.

5. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor mount comprises adhesive.

6. The wheel assembly of claim 5, wherein the sensor mount comprises a carrier carrying the sensor unit and a double-coated adhesive tape adhered to the rim and the carrier.

7. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-tightening device extends radially over the sensor unit.

8. The wheel assembly of claim 7, wherein there is a radial air gap defined between the sensor unit and the self-tightening device.

9. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor mount comprises a carrier carrying the sensor unit, and the carrier comprises a base and a retainer detachably secured to the base and cooperating with the base to capture the sensor unit therebetween.

10. The wheel assembly of claim 9, wherein the base comprises two ramps and a recessed portion defined between the two ramps, and the retainer and the sensor unit are positioned at least partially within the recessed portion between the ramps.

11. The wheel assembly of claim 9, wherein, at each end of the retainer, the retainer comprises two tabs opposed to and spaced apart from one another and a shelf positioned radially inwardly from the two tabs so as to cooperate with the two tabs to define a channel receiving the self-tightening device.

12. The wheel assembly of claim 9, wherein the sensor mount comprises a double-coated adhesive tape adhered to the rim and a radial bottom of the base, the self-tightening device is an elastic band, the base comprises two ramps and a recessed portion defined between the two ramps, the retainer comprises a cover and a quick connector, the cover partially covers the sensor unit such that the cover defines an opening exposing the sensor unit, the cover and the sensor unit are positioned at least partially within the recessed portion between the ramps, the quick connector comprises two latch fingers cantilevered to opposite sides of the cover, each latch finger comprises a barb received within a barb-receiving portion formed in the radial bottom of the base, each ramp comprises a ramp channel, at each end of the cover the cover comprises two tabs opposed to and spaced apart from one another and a shelf positioned radially inwardly from the two tabs so as to cooperate with the two tabs to define a cover channel, and each ramp channel and each cover channel receives the self-tightening device.

13. A sensor mount for use with a wheel assembly, the wheel assembly comprising a wheel, a tire mounted to the wheel, and a tire condition sensor unit, the sensor mount adapted to mount the sensor unit to an outside diameter surface of a rim of the wheel in a desired circumferential mounting location relative to the wheel, the sensor mount comprising an endless loop self-tightening device adapted to be positioned around the wheel.

14. The sensor mount of claim 13, wherein the self-tightening device is stretchable.

15. The sensor mount of claim 13, wherein the self-tightening device is an elastic band.

16. The sensor mount of claim 13, comprising adhesive.

17. The sensor mount of claim 13, comprising a carrier adapted to carry the sensor unit and a double-coated adhesive tape adhering to the carrier.

18. The sensor mount of claim 13, comprising a carrier adapted to carry the sensor unit, wherein the carrier comprises a base and a retainer detachably secured to the base and adapted to cooperate with the base to capture the sensor unit therebetween.

19. The sensor mount of claim 18, comprising a double-coated adhesive tape adhered to the rim and a radial bottom of the base, wherein the self-tightening device is an elastic band, the base comprises two ramps and a recessed portion defined between the two ramps, the recessed portion is adapted to receive the sensor unit, the retainer comprises a cover and a quick connector, the cover is positioned at least partially within the recessed portion between the ramps to partially cover the sensor unit such that the cover defines an opening to expose the sensor unit, the quick connector comprises two latch fingers cantilevered to opposite sides of the cover, each latch finger comprises a barb received within a barb-receiving portion formed in the radial bottom of the base, each ramp comprises a ramp channel, at each end of the cover the cover comprises two tabs opposed to and spaced apart from one another and a shelf positioned radially inwardly from the two tabs so as to cooperate with the two tabs to define a cover channel, and each ramp channel and each cover channel receives the self-tightening device.