Low tire pressure alarm system
First Claim
1. An alarm system for monitoring the air pressure in each of the pneumatic tires on a pair of coaxial dual inboard and outboard vehicle wheels, the outboard wheel having a hub, and inboard and outboard air valves in fluid communication with the interior of each corresponding tire, comprising:
- (a) a pneumatic cylinder,(b) a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder and defining an inboard detector chamber in one end of said cylinder on one side of said piston and an outboard detector chamber in the other end of said cylinder on the other side of said piston member,(c) an inboard fluid conduit coupled in fluid communication between said inboard detector chamber and the inboard air valve,(d) an outboard fluid conduit coupled in fluid communication between said outboard detector chamber and the outboard air valve,(e) a sensor comprising first and second axially spaced movable switch elements movable with said piston, and first and second fixed switch elements axially spaced on said cylinder and in alignment with the reciprocal path of said movable switch elements,(f) signal generating means associated with said sensor and being adapted to generate a first alarm signal when said first movable and fixed switch elements are adjacent each other in a first operative position when the pressure in said inboard detector chamber is less than a predetermined value, and to generate a second alarm signal when said second movable and fixed switch elements are adjacent each other in a second operative position when the air pressure in said outboard detector chamber is less than a predetermined value,(g) an alarm device adapted to be actuated by either said first or second alarm signals to indicate corresponding low pressure in the inboard tire or the outboard tire, and(h) mounting means mounting said cylinder on the hub of a vehicle wheel, so that the mass of said cylinder, said piston and said switch elements is substantially equally distributed concentrically of the hub.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire pressure alarm system primarily adapted for the monitoring of tire pressure in the pneumatic tires of coaxial dual wheels on a vehicle including a pneumatic cylinder mounted diametrically on the hub of the outboard wheel and having its end portions coupled by fluid hoses to the air valves of the respective inboard and outboard tires. The cylinder includes a reciprocal piston member normally biased to a axial central position defining air detector chambers at opposite ends of the cylinder for communication with the respective air valve stems. The piston member carries a pair of axially spaced switch elements movable with the piston member for actuating switch sensor elements spaced along the cylinder for generating alarm signals corresponding to predetermined tire pressures in the respective inboard and outboard tires. The pneumatic cylinders are substantially centrifugally balanced on the hub of the outboard wheel.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An alarm system for monitoring the air pressure in each of the pneumatic tires on a pair of coaxial dual inboard and outboard vehicle wheels, the outboard wheel having a hub, and inboard and outboard air valves in fluid communication with the interior of each corresponding tire, comprising:
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(a) a pneumatic cylinder, (b) a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder and defining an inboard detector chamber in one end of said cylinder on one side of said piston and an outboard detector chamber in the other end of said cylinder on the other side of said piston member, (c) an inboard fluid conduit coupled in fluid communication between said inboard detector chamber and the inboard air valve, (d) an outboard fluid conduit coupled in fluid communication between said outboard detector chamber and the outboard air valve, (e) a sensor comprising first and second axially spaced movable switch elements movable with said piston, and first and second fixed switch elements axially spaced on said cylinder and in alignment with the reciprocal path of said movable switch elements, (f) signal generating means associated with said sensor and being adapted to generate a first alarm signal when said first movable and fixed switch elements are adjacent each other in a first operative position when the pressure in said inboard detector chamber is less than a predetermined value, and to generate a second alarm signal when said second movable and fixed switch elements are adjacent each other in a second operative position when the air pressure in said outboard detector chamber is less than a predetermined value, (g) an alarm device adapted to be actuated by either said first or second alarm signals to indicate corresponding low pressure in the inboard tire or the outboard tire, and (h) mounting means mounting said cylinder on the hub of a vehicle wheel, so that the mass of said cylinder, said piston and said switch elements is substantially equally distributed concentrically of the hub. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification