Pneumatic tire pressure monitor
First Claim
1. A monitoring apparatus for detecting a predetermined drop in the pressure of a pneumatic tire mounted on a vehicle comprising:
- a housing for being positioned on a tire wheel and including a first chamber for communicating with the interior pressure of the pneumatic tire,visual signalling means mounted in said housing and movable between a retracted position and an extended position visible to the operator of the vehicle,actuator means for releasably securing said signalling means within said housing member in said retracted position,a second chamber formed in said housing for maintaining therein a predetermined reference level of fluid pressure,diaphragm means responsive to the pressure differentials between said first and second chambers, andsaid actuator means responsive to said diaphragm means for releasing said visual signalling means for movement to said extended position to signal a predetermined drop in pressure within the pneumatic tire.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pneumatic tire pressure monitor for a tandem set of tires has a housing for being affixed to the outboard tire wheel. The housing includes a first and second chamber communicating with the interior pressure of each pneumatic tire of the tandem set of tires. The housing further includes a third chamber containing hydraulic fluid for maintaining a reference level of pressure. A diaphragm is responsive to pressure differentials between the first and second chambers and the third chamber to activate a latch. The latch releases a visual signal member, which moves from a retracted position within the housing to an extended position in order to signal a drop in pressure in either or both of the tires. In an alternate embodiment, the monitor may be used to monitor the pressure of a single pneumatic tire.
36 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A monitoring apparatus for detecting a predetermined drop in the pressure of a pneumatic tire mounted on a vehicle comprising:
-
a housing for being positioned on a tire wheel and including a first chamber for communicating with the interior pressure of the pneumatic tire, visual signalling means mounted in said housing and movable between a retracted position and an extended position visible to the operator of the vehicle, actuator means for releasably securing said signalling means within said housing member in said retracted position, a second chamber formed in said housing for maintaining therein a predetermined reference level of fluid pressure, diaphragm means responsive to the pressure differentials between said first and second chambers, and said actuator means responsive to said diaphragm means for releasing said visual signalling means for movement to said extended position to signal a predetermined drop in pressure within the pneumatic tire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 25)
-
-
15. A monitoring apparatus for detecting a predetermined drop in pressure of one or both tires of a tandem set of tires on a vehicle comprising:
-
a housing for being positioned on a tire wheel and including a first chamber for communicating with the interior of a first pneumatic tire and a second chamber for communicating with the interior of a second pneumatic tire, visual signalling means mounted in said housing and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and means responsive to a predetermined drop in pressure within one or both of said first and second pneumatic tires for moving said visual signalling means from said retracted position to said extended position visible to the operator of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A tire pressure monitoring apparatus for detecting a predetermined loss of air pressure in either one or both of a tandem set of pneumatic tires comprising:
-
a housing for being positioned on the outboard tire of the tandem set of tires, said housing including a central body portion and an ancillary body portion, said ancillary body portion being positioned adjacent said central body portion, said central body portion including a first chamber for communicating with the outboard tire and a second chamber for communicating with the inboard tire, said first and second chambers extending to first and second openings in an outer wall of said central body portion adjacent an outer wall of said ancillary body portion, said ancillary body portion including a third chamber containing a hydraulic fluid for maintaining a reference level of pressure, said third chamber extending to first and second openings formed in said outer wall of said ancillary body portion adjacent said central body portion, said first and second openings of said ancillary body portions being aligned with said first and second recessed openings of said central body portion, an elongated visual signalling member mounted in said central body portion for movement between a retracted position and an extended position, actuator means disposed within an aperture formed within said central body portion for releasably securing said visual signalling member within said central body portion, said third chamber further extending to a third opening formed in the outer wall of said ancillary body portion adjacent said central body portion, said third opening being aligned with said aperture of said central body portion, a flexible diaphragm disposed between said first and second chambers of said central body portion and said third chamber of said ancillary body portion, said diaphragm being responsive to pressure differentials occurring between said first chamber and said third chamber and said second chamber and said third chamber, and said actuator means being responsive to a predetermined drop in pressure in said first or second chamber of said central body portion for releasing said visual signalling member for movement to said extended position. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
-
Specification