Tire Pressure Measuring Device

• US 20130073246A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Kenyon Sprague
• Original Assignee: James Kenyon Sprague
• Inventors: Sprague, James Kenyon
• Granted Patent: US 9,188,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/140
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/005 using a sensor contacting the exterior surface, e.g. for measuring deformation

Abstract

A tire pressure measuring device is disclosed. The device includes a data generating impact module for striking a pneumatic tire, generating data correlative to the force imparted to the tire as a function of time and transmitting the data to a data gathering module. A data gathering module receives the data from the data generating impact module and communicates the data to a data processing module. A data processing module receives the data from the data gathering module, processes the data to determine the pressure of the pneumatic tire and communicates the determined pressure of the pneumatic tire to a tire pressure display. A tire pressure output display receives the determined pressure of the pneumatic tire and displays the calculated pneumatic tire pressure.

Claims

1. A tire pressure measuring device comprising:

a data generating impact module constructed and arranged for striking a pneumatic tire, generating data correlative to the force imparted to the tire as a function of time and transmitting the data to a data gathering module;

a data gathering module constructed and arranged to receive the data from the data generating impact module and communicate the data to a data processing module;

a data processing module constructed and arranged to receive the data from the data gathering module, process the data to determine the pressure of the pneumatic tire and communicate the determined pressure of the pneumatic tire to a tire pressure display; and

a tire pressure output display being constructed and arranged to receive the determined pressure of the pneumatic tire and display the calculated pneumatic tire pressure.

2. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 1, wherein the data generating impact module comprises an instrumented hammer.

3. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 1, wherein the data processing module comprises a computer.

4. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 2, wherein the data processing module comprises a computer.

5. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 1, wherein the data processing module is in wired communication with the data generating impact module.

6. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 1, wherein the data processing module is in wireless communication with the data generating impact module.

7. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 1, wherein the tire pressure output display comprises a visual readout.

8. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 7, wherein the tire pressure output display comprises an LCD readout.

9. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 7, wherein the tire pressure output display comprises an LED readout.

10. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 1, wherein the tire pressure output display comprises an audible readout.

11. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 7, wherein the tire pressure output display comprises an analog gauge readout.

12. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 7, wherein the tire pressure output display comprises a digital readout.

13. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 2, the instrumented hammer further comprising:

a head configured to receive an acceleration sensor and having a striking face and a back end configured to receive a plurality of weights;

an acceleration sensor positioned within the head whose sensing axis is oriented parallel to an axis passing through the center of the striking face;

a handle configured to be held by a human hand; and

a neck connected to the head and to the handle and constructed and arranged to impart a force imparted by a human hand to the handle to the head.

14. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 2, the instrumented hammer further comprising:

a head configured to receive a force sensor and having a striking face and a back end configured to receive a plurality of weights;

a force sensor positioned and configured to sense the force transferred to the striking face as a function of time;

a handle configured to be held by a human hand; and

a neck connected to the head and to the handle and constructed and arranged to impart a force imparted by a human hand to the handle to the head.

15. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 4, the instrumented hammer further comprising:

a head configured to receive an acceleration sensor and having a striking face and a back end configured to receive a plurality of weights;

an acceleration sensor positioned within the head whose sensing axis is oriented parallel to an axis passing through the center of the striking face;

a handle configured to be held by a human hand;

a neck connected to the head and to the handle and constructed and arranged to impart a force imparted by a human hand to the handle to the head.

16. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 15, wherein the computer is configured to acquire data from the acceleration sensor and process the data to determine the tire pressure of the pneumatic tire.

17. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 4, the instrumented hammer further comprising:

A head having a striking face and a back end configured to receive a plurality of weights;

a force sensor positioned and configured to sense the force transferred to the striking face as a function of time;

a handle configured to be held by a human hand; and

a neck connected to the head and to the handle and constructed and arranged to impart a force imparted by a human hand to the handle to the head.

18. The tire pressure measuring device of claim 17, wherein the computer is configured to acquire data from the force sensor as a function of time and process the data to determine the tire pressure of the pneumatic tire.

19. A tire pressure measuring device comprising:

a data generating impact module constructed and arranged for striking a pneumatic tire, generating data correlative to time of contact with the tire and transmitting the data to a data gathering module;

a data gathering module constructed and arranged to receive the data from the data generating impact module and communicate the data to a data processing module;

a data processing module constructed and arranged to receive the data from the data gathering module, process the data to determine the pressure of the pneumatic tire and communicate the determined pressure of the pneumatic tire to a tire pressure display; and

a tire pressure output display constructed and arranged to receive the determined pressure of the pneumatic tire and display the calculated pneumatic tire pressure.

20. A tire pressure measuring device comprising:

an instrumented hammer constructed and arranged for striking a pneumatic tire, generating data correlative to the force imparted to the tire as a function of time and transmitting the data to a data gathering module;

the instrumented hammer further comprising a head configured to receive a force sensor and having a striking face and a back end configured to receive a plurality of weights;

a force sensor positioned in the head;

a handle configured to be held by a human hand and having a power source disposed therein configured to supply the force sensor with power; and

a neck connected to the head and to the handle and constructed and arranged to impart a force imparted by a human hand to the handle to the head and further configured to provide wired communication between the handle and the force sensor in the head;

a computer configured to acquire data from the force sensor and process the data to determine the tire pressure of the pneumatic tire and communicate the determined pressure of the pneumatic tire to a tire pressure display; and

a tire pressure output display constructed and arranged to receive the determined pressure of the pneumatic tire and provide a visual display of the calculated pneumatic tire pressure.