DEVICE FOR MONITORING A VEHICLE WHEEL

• US 20120235809A1
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eltek SpA
• Original Assignee: Eltek SpA
• Inventors: Colombo, Paolo, Cantarelli, Domenico
• Granted Patent: US 8,988,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/445
• 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 monitoring device (20) of a vehicle wheel (11) is configured for detecting and transmitting, by a wireless connection, information relating to at least one characteristic quantity of the status of the wheel (11), such as the inflating pressure of a tyre thereof. The device (20) has a casing (21-22) housing a circuit (30) adapted to transmit said information, the casing (21-22) being designed for coupling to an end portion (3a) of electrically conductive body (3) of a tyre valve (2) of the wheel (11). The casing (21-22) includes a casing body (21) integrating interconnection means (28, 29, 40) prearranged to obtain both an electric connection of the circuit (30) to the end portion (3a) of the electrically conductive body (3) of the valve (2; 2; 2″), and a mechanical coupling of the casing (21-22) to the end portion (3a) of the electrically conductive body (3) of the valve (2; 2′; 2″).

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a vehicle wheel, configured for detecting and transmitting, by a wireless connection, information relating to at least one characteristic quantity of the status of the wheel, such as the inflating pressure of a tyre thereof, the device having a casing housing a circuit adapted to transmit said information, the casing being designed for coupling to an end portion of body made of electrically conductive material of a tyre valve of the wheel, wherein, in an installed condition of the valve and of the device, the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel and the casing of the device is secured to said end portion, characterized in that the casing includes a casing body integrating interconnection means prearranged to obtain both an electric connection of the circuit to the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve and a mechanical coupling of the casing to the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the casing body is made of electrically insulating material and the interconnection means comprise an electrically conductive insert, integrated in the casing body and configured to obtain at least in part the said mechanical coupling and the said electrical connection.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the insert is partially surrounded by, or embedded within, electrically insulating material of the casing body, the electrically insulating material being preferably a mouldable plastic material and the casing body being preferably over-moulded to, or co-moulded with, the insert.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the insert defines mechanical coupling means and electrical connection means protruding from, or facing out of, the electrically insulating material of the casing body.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the mechanical coupling means are configured to be at least partially hooked or push-coupled or screwed within one cavity or seat of the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the mechanical coupling means comprise one of

one or more hooking elements which are elastically deformable for the purposes of coupling with the electrically conductive body of the valve,

a threaded coupling element adapted to be coupled by screwing to a corresponding threaded part of the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve;

a joint adapted to be coupled by push-coupling to a corresponding seat defined in the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interconnection means comprise one or more further hooking elements defined by electrically insulating material of the casing body, the further hooking elements being elastically deformable for the purposes of coupling with the electrically conductive body of the valve.

8. The device according to claim 4, wherein the electrical connection means include at least one portion of the insert having a respective end protruding from the electrically insulating material, within a cavity of the casing wherein the circuit is housed, said end being configured for electrical coupling with the circuit.

9. The device according to claim 2, wherein the insert has a body portion traversed by a passage.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interconnection means are also prearranged to obtain at least in part a fluidic connection between the casing body and an inner conduit of the valve opening at the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein

the insert has a body portion traversed by a passage;

within said passage part of the electrically insulating material of the casing body is present;

the said body portion of the insert is substantially cylindrical and externally provided with a thread, and

the part of the electrically insulating material which is present within the above said passage is traversed by a channel designed to be placed in fluid communication with the inner conduit of the valve.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein

the insert has a body portion traversed by a passage, and

a region of the casing body from which the mechanical coupling means project is provided with at least one conduit or surface notch designed to be placed in fluid communication with the inner conduit of the valve.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of

the insert has at least one hooking element having a cross-section substantially circumference arc-shaped and/or a plurality of hooking elements arranged substantially according to a circumference;

the insert is at least partly formed of an electrically conductive synthetic material, in particular a mouldable synthetic material;

at least one portion of the insert defines, together with plastic material of the casing body, a cylindrical joint designed for coupling with the electrically conductive body of the valve.

14. Use of a monitoring device according to claim 1 in combination with a tyre valve having an electrically conductive body, wherein, in an installed condition of the valve and of the device, an end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel and the casing of the device is secured to said end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve through said casing body.

15. A tyre valve for use in combination with a monitoring device according to claim 1, the valve comprising an electrically conductive body with an end portion which, in an installed condition of the valve and of the device, extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel, the end portion of the electrically conductive body being configured for mechanical and electrical coupling with at least one of said casing body and the said insert.

16. The valve according to claim 15, wherein

in the said end portion of the electrically conductive body a hooking seat is defined for one or more elastically deformable hooking elements belonging to said casing body, or

the electrically conductive body has an inner conduit opening at said end portion and defining one of

a hooking seat for one or more hooking elements belonging to said casing body, and

a female thread for screwing a threaded coupling element belonging to said casing body.

18. The device according to claim 1, comprising a tyre valve having an electrically conductive body, wherein, in an installed condition, an end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel and the casing of the device is secured to said end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve through said casing body.

19. The device according to claim 1, comprising a tyre valve having an electrically conductive body with an end portion which, in an installed condition, extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel, the end portion of the electrically conductive body being configured for mechanical and electrical coupling with at least one of said casing body and the said insert.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein in the said end portion of the electrically conductive body a hooking seat is defined for one or more elastically deformable hooking elements belonging to said casing body.

21. The device according to claim 19, wherein the electrically conductive body has an inner conduit opening at said end portion and defining one of

a hooking seat for at least one hooking element belonging to said casing body, and

a female thread for screwing a threaded coupling element belonging to said casing body.

17. (canceled)