Mounting Structure

• US 20120160409A1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Becker, Dan J., Townsend, Gene A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,016,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/281
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre

Abstract

A mounting structure for an electrical device includes a mounting portion and a containing portion. The mounting portion has a mounting surface and an outer surface. The containing portion has an inner surface with protrusions forming an indent, an outer surface, an insertion aperture, and a flow aperture.

Claims

1. A mounting structure for an electrical device, comprising:

a mounting portion having a mounting surface and an outer surface,

a containing portion having an inner surface with protrusions forming an indent, an outer surface, and an insertion aperture.

2. The mounting structure of claim 1, further comprising a flow aperture.

3. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein;

the containing portion includes a first half and a second half,

the protrusions forming at least one indent on the first half and the second half, and,

the at least one indent on the first half is a mirror of the at least one indent on the second half.

4. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein;

the containing portion includes a first half and a second half, and

the first half includes the insertion aperture.

5. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein;

the containing portion includes a first half and a second half, and

the insertion aperture is substantially symmetrical with respect to the first half and the second half.

6. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein the containing portion includes a first side having a flow aperture and a second side having a flow aperture.

7. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein;

the containing portion includes a first half having a flow aperture and a second half having a flow aperture, and

the flow aperture on the first half is a mirror of the flow aperture on the second half.

8. The mounting structure of claim 1, further comprising a flexible material.

9. The mounting structure of claim 1, further comprising butyl rubber or isoprene rubber.

10. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure is formed through a molding process, and cutting process to form the insertion aperture and the flow aperture.

11. A mounting assembly for mounting an electrical device to the inside of a tire, comprising:

a patch including an adhesive surface, and an outer surface having a mounting area and a containing area, and

a mounting structure including,

a mounting portion having a mounting surface fixedly attached to the mounting area, and an outer surface, and

a containing portion having an inner surface with protrusions forming an indent, an outer surface, an insertion aperture, and a flow aperture,

an electrical device at least partially enclosed by the containing portion and containing area, the electrical device having a protection protrusion in the indent.

12. The mounting assembly of claim 11, wherein the electrical device includes a temperature sensor.

13. The mounting assembly of claim 11, wherein the electrical device includes an air pressure sensor.

14. The mounting assembly of claim 11 wherein the electrical device includes a housing with an air vent substantially impervious to liquids.

15. The mounting assembly of claim 14, wherein the protection protrusion is configured to prevent damage to the air vent.

16. The mounting assembly of claim 14, wherein the electrical device is configured for wireless communication.

17. A method of mounting an electrical device to the inside of a tire, comprising:

fixedly attaching the mounting surface of a mounting structure to a mounting area of a patch outer surface to form a pocket from a containing area of the patch outer surface and an inner surface of a containing portion of the mounting structure,

fixedly attaching a patch adhesive surface to an inside surface of a tire,

inserting the electrical device into the pocket through an insertion aperture, and

positioning the electrical device in the pocket such that a protection protrusion on the electrical device is at least partially enclosed by an indent formed by protrusions on the inner surface of the containing portion, and the electrical device is in fluidic contact with the interior of the tire through the insertion aperture and a flow aperture.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein attaching the mounting surface to the mounting area includes vulcanization.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein attaching the mounting surface to the mounting area includes using an adhesive.