Tire condition sensing apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for sensing the profile condition of a conventional vehicle wheel assembly having an axis of rotation comprised of a rim having an outer peripheral surface with outwardly extending radial flanges at the opposed side edges thereof and a pneumatic tire having an annular road-engaging tread surface with side wall portions at the side edges thereof defining a generally annular tire cavity with said tire adapted to be mounted on said rim and inflated to a predetermined pressure for supporting a vehicle with a predetermined maximum allowable tire profile deflection, said apparatus comprising:
- a sensing and actuating structure adapted to be operably mounted within said annular tire cavity including a body portion and a linkage portion comprising a flexible profile sensor having high flexfatigue characteristics, said linkage portion having a first normal position spaced from said tire when said tire profile deflection is less than said predetermined maximum and a second flexibly deflected position when said tire profile deflection is greater than said predetermined maximum, said linkage portion being forcibly moved from said first toward said second position by positive contact from said tire;
energizing means comprising a piezoelectric generator associated with said body portion which is selectively movable between energizing and non-energizing conditions, said energizing means being in said non-energizing condition when said linkage is in said first normal position and being moved into said energizing condition as said linkage is moved toward said second position; and
,means responsive to said energizing means for indicating that said tire has a profile deflection greater than said predetermined maximum allowable deflection.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method adapted for detecting the profile deflection condition in a wheel structure of the type comprised of a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel rim and which deflection may be caused by tire under inflation or overloading. A sensing and actuating structure constructed from flexible material having high flex fatigue characteristics to include a body portion and a profile sensor is conveniently mounted to the drop center portion of the rim such that the profile sensor extends into the tire cavity so that it is positively engaged by the inside of the tire wall when tire profile deflection reaches an amount greater than a predetermined maximum amount due to overloading or under inflation, to thereby cause flexure in the profile sensor generally inwardly toward the rim. This flexure causes a piezoelectric device positioned adjacent the profile sensor to provide an electrical discharge. This electrical discharge is electrically interconnected to the radio transmitter for selectively causing energization thereof. The radio signal thus selectively transmitted is received by a receiving unit spaced remote from the wheel to cause energization of convenient indicating means located within the vehicle itself for showing that tire deflection greater than a predetermined maximum amount has been detected.
39 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for sensing the profile condition of a conventional vehicle wheel assembly having an axis of rotation comprised of a rim having an outer peripheral surface with outwardly extending radial flanges at the opposed side edges thereof and a pneumatic tire having an annular road-engaging tread surface with side wall portions at the side edges thereof defining a generally annular tire cavity with said tire adapted to be mounted on said rim and inflated to a predetermined pressure for supporting a vehicle with a predetermined maximum allowable tire profile deflection, said apparatus comprising:
-
a sensing and actuating structure adapted to be operably mounted within said annular tire cavity including a body portion and a linkage portion comprising a flexible profile sensor having high flexfatigue characteristics, said linkage portion having a first normal position spaced from said tire when said tire profile deflection is less than said predetermined maximum and a second flexibly deflected position when said tire profile deflection is greater than said predetermined maximum, said linkage portion being forcibly moved from said first toward said second position by positive contact from said tire; energizing means comprising a piezoelectric generator associated with said body portion which is selectively movable between energizing and non-energizing conditions, said energizing means being in said non-energizing condition when said linkage is in said first normal position and being moved into said energizing condition as said linkage is moved toward said second position; and
,means responsive to said energizing means for indicating that said tire has a profile deflection greater than said predetermined maximum allowable deflection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification