TIRE PRESSURE INDICATING APPARATUS

• US 3,717,030 A
• Filed: 01/04/1971
• Issued: 02/20/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clarence L. Mcghee, Dennis C. Enders
• Original Assignee: Clarence L. Mcghee, Dennis C. Enders
• Inventors: McGhee, Clarence L., Enders, Dennis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woodiel, Donald O.
• Application Number:
  US05/103,500
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146.3,146.4,146.5,146.8,419 137/227,228 340/58,224 152/429
• US Class Current: 73/146.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/007 having multiple wheels arranged side by side
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/02 Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0405 Mechanically generated visible signals, e.g. by using a gauge needle
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3662 With gauge or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 With common valve operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 Flow path with serial valves and/or closures

Abstract

For monitoring tire pressures on a vehicle such as a passenger automobile, truck or bus, individual hub units are mounted on each wheel unit, each hub unit including a radio transmitter, and a radio receiver is positioned leading to the vehicle operator. Each hub unit includes bellows means responsive to tire pressure to operate a visual pressure gauge on the hub unit which may be observed by the operator when the vehicle is stopped, and to energize the transmitter when the pressure decreases to a preselected value. For dual wheel units used on heavy duty vehicles, a common bellows means may respond to the lower pressure of the two tires to indicate the lower pressure on the gauge and transmit the fault signal. The dual wheel unit may include two bellows means for actuating separate visual gauges for the two tires, with the two bellows mechanisms energizing a common transmitter, or alternatively energizing respective separate transmitters. The hub unit may include valve means for equalizing tire pressures.

Claims

1. Pressure indicating apparatus for use with a vehicle pneumatic dual wheel unit comprising a hub unit adapted to be mounted on a wheel unit for rotation therewith;

a pressure responsive mechanism mounted in the hub unit;

conduit means and associated valve means for communicating said pressure responsive mechanism with at least the one tire of said dual wheel unit;

said conduit means and associated valve means including a first conduit and first associated check valve for controlling the flow of air into a first tire of a dual wheel unit, a second conduit and associated second check valve for controlling the flow of air into a second tire of a dual wheel unit, a common fill valve for both tires of the dual wheel unit, and a manifold communicating said fill valve with said first and second check valves ; and

pressure indicating means mounted in said hub unit and actuated by said pressure responsive mechanism.

2. Pressure indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manifold is defined by a housing having said fill valve and said first and second check valves mounted thereon;

said fill valve being disposed in a valve stem slidably mounted in said manifold housing;

said valve stem having integral actuator means for engaging said first and second valve , and being movable manually for opening simultaneously said first and second check valves to communicate the first and second tires through said manifold; and

spring means urging said fill valve stem out of engagement with said check valves.

3. Pressure indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manifold comprises a housing having said fill valve and said first and second check valves mounted thereon;

pressure responsive means disposed within said manifold for opening simultaneously said first and second check valves in response to a manifold pressure above a preselected level, whereby the tires of said dual wheel unit are communicated through said manifold;

wherein said manifold pressure responsive means comprises a linear bellows having a chamber communicating with the exterior of said manifold housing, and including means extending the bellows into the manifold chamber; and

check valve operating arms mounted on said manifold bellows for opening said check valves in response to a predetermined compression of said manifold bellows.

4. Pressure indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pressure responsive mechanism communicates with said manifold;

and wherein said first and second check valves are designed to open in response to a low pressure differential between said manifold and a respective tire, whereby the manifold pressure will correspond approximately to the lower of the two tire pressures.

5. Pressure indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pressure indicating means mounted in said hub unit is a visual gauge indicating pressure levels.

6. Pressure indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said pressure responsive mechanism Comprises two individual mechanisms communicating respectively with said first and second tire conduits;

and wherein said pressure indicating means includes two visual gauges actuated by respective individual pressure responsive mechanisms and indicating pressure levels.

7. Pressure indicating apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said two individual pressure responsive mechanisms includes a longitudinally expansible chamber means having its expansion axis disposed substantially along the axis of rotation of the wheel unit.