Vibrating transducer power supply for use in abnormal tire condition warning systems

• US 4,384,482 A
• Filed: 09/11/1981
• Issued: 05/24/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1979
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Pullman Company (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Imperial Clevite Incorporated
• Inventors: Snyder, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gill, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/311,354
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146, 73/146.5, 340/52 R, 340/58
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01

Abstract

An abnormal tire condition warning system is disclosed for use in pneumatic tires. The self-contained device comprises a sensor, an electronic transmitter and a power supply. The power supply is a weighted, vibrating arm that has a piezoelectric transducer attached. Normal wheel vibrations cause the weighted arm to vibrate and flex, in turn causing the transducer to flex, thus producing electrical energy.

Claims

1. A device for sensing the abnormal condition of a pneumatic tire preferably of the type used on an automobile wherein said tire is mounted on a tire rim and said tire is subject to normal wheel vibrations, said device comprising:

a housing;

a fastening means for fixedly attaching said housing to said tire rim;

sensing means fixedly attached to said housing for continuously monitoring a condition within the tire and for generating a signal indicative of an abnormal condition;

electronic means located within said housing and operatively connected to said sensing means for electronically processing the signal from said sensing means and for generating a transmission signal;

antenna means located within said housing and operatively connected to said electronic means for transmitting the transmission signal indicative of the tire condition;

power supply means located within said housing and operatively connected to said electronic means, said power supply means further comprising an arm fixedly attached to said housing such that said arm is rendered vibratable when said wheel vibrations occur, weight means fixedly attached to said arm such that said arm will flex when said wheel vibrates, and a transducer means piezoelectrically responsive in the flexure mode and when said arm flexes, thus producing power for said electronic means;

means responsive to said abnormal condition signal for rendering effective the power supply means; and

receiving means that receives the transmitted signal and indicates the condition of the tire.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said transducer means is a double piezoelectric layer wired in series.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is located within the tire.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensing means senses pressure.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensing means senses temperature.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said antenna means is molded into the housing.