TIRE PRESSURE SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF

• US 20150013444A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tirecheck GmbH
• Original Assignee: Alligator Ventilfabrik GmbH (Familie Steiff mit CA. 50 Gesellschaftern)
• Inventors: Markert, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 10,429,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/146.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0498 for rim attachments B60C23/0494, B60C23/0496 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring tyre pressure or the pressure in other inflated bodies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The invention relates to a tire pressure sensing device for detecting the tire pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising a pressure sensor (6) in a housing (1); a tire valve (11) or another retainer to be fastened to the rim, which bears the housing; a spring element (2), which is connected to the tire valve or the other retainer at one end and to the housing (1) at the other end, wherein the spring element is partially embedded in the housing and the housing has at least one opening (4, 5) in the area in which the spring element is embedded, said opening being partially or completely opened up by a soft component (13), which partially surrounds the spring element.

Claims

1. A tyre pressure sensing device for detecting the tyre pressure in a pneumatic tyre

with a housing (1), comprising at least a contact surface for setting on a rim (12) carrying the pneumatic tyre and containing a pressure sensor (6);

with a tyre valve (11) or another retainer to be fastened to the rim (12), carrying the housing (1);

with a spring element (2), which is connected on the one hand to the tyre valve (11) or to the retainer to be fastened to the rim (12) and is connected on the other hand to the housing (1);

characterised in that

the spring element (2) is embedded partially into the housing (1) and the housing in the area in which the spring element (2) is embedded, comprises at least one opening (4, 5) partially or completely sealed by a soft component (13), which surrounds the spring element (2) partially.

2. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring element (2) is connected to the housing (1) in a non-detachable way.

3. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 2, characterised in that the spring element (2) is linked to the housing (1), in a firmly bonded manner or in a positively locking manner.

4. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 2, characterised in that the spring element (2) is traversed by the material of the housing (1).

5. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 4, characterised in that the housing (1) is cast of synthetic material, in particular injection moulded and the spring element (2) is poured into the housing (1).

6. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring element (2) is designed as a leaf spring, in particular an even leaf spring in non-tensioned condition or a substantially even leaf spring, or as a leaf spring comprising one or several angles of bend.

7. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring element (2) has a through-bore (10) at one of its axial ends, in particular a through-bore (10) closed over the circumference, through which the tyre valve (11) is inserted.

8. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring element (2) is made of metal and/or carbon and is coated on its surface outside the housing (1) partially or completely with the soft component (13), in particular made of rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.

9. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing (1) is coated at least partially or exclusively partially with a soft component (13), in particular the same soft component (13) as the spring element (2).

10. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 9, characterised in that the soft pressure component (13) seals up the pressure sensor (6) against the housing (1) and/or the soft component (13) closes an assembly opening (4) in the housing (1) intended for holding the spring element (2) when producing the housing (1).

11. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing (1) contains a signal transmitting device (9), which is connected to the pressure sensor (6), in order to send signals describing pressure values detected by the pressure sensor (6) to a receiving device provided outside the tyre pressure sensing device, and the spring element (2) is connected, acting as an aerial (16) or as a signal-carrying connection to an aerial at the signal transmitting device (9).

12. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing (1) contains a signal transmitting device (9), which is connected to the pressure sensor (6), in order to send signals describing pressure values detected by the pressure sensor (6) to a receiving device provided outside the tyre pressure sensing device, and the spring element (2) is insulated by the soft component (13) with respect to an aerial (16) of the signal transmitting device (9).

13. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 11, characterised in that the spring element (2) is in conductive contact with the tyre valve (11) or with the other retainer to be fastened to the rim, in order to transfer signals to the signal transmitting device (9) to the tyre valve (11) acting as an aerial or to the other retainer acting as an aerial.

14. A tyre pressure sensing device according to claim 11, characterised in that the spring element (2) is electrically insulated by the soft component (13) with respect to the tyre valve (11) or the other retainer to be fastened to the tyre.

15. A method of producing a tyre pressure sensing device which is built according to claim 12, characterised in that the spring element (2) is built as a single piece with the aerial (16) on the signal transmitting device (9) and is positioned in the housing (1) and subsequently the spring element (2) and the aerial (16) are separated from each other and said at least one dividing point is filled with the soft component (13) for insulating the spring element (2) with respect to the aerial (16).

16. A method according to claim 14, characterised in that the spring element (2) and the aerial (16) are insert cast and insert moulded partially with the material of the housing (1), before being separated from each other.

17. A tire pressure sensing device according to claim 3, characterised in that the spring element is traversed by the material of the housing.

18. A tire pressure sensing device according to claim 2, characterised in that the spring element is designed as a leaf spring, in particular an even leaf spring in non-tensioned condition or a substantially even leaf spring, or as a leaf spring comprising one or several angles of bend.

19. A tire pressure sensing device according to claim 3, characterised in that the spring element is designed as a leaf spring, in particular an even leaf spring in non-tensioned condition or a substantially even leaf spring, or as a leaf spring comprising one or several angles of bend.

20. A tire pressure sensing device according to claim 4, characterised in that the spring element is designed as a leaf spring, in particular an even leaf spring in non-tensioned condition or a substantially even leaf spring, or as a leaf spring comprising one or several angles of bend.