Tire deflation warning device

• US 4,479,109 A
• Filed: 06/07/1982
• Issued: 10/23/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ernest French
• Original Assignee: Ernest French
• Inventors: French, Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Frankfort, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corr, Denis E.
• Application Number:
  US06/385,873
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 340/58, 200/61.22, 200/61.25, 116/34 R
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0403 Mechanically generated audible signals, e.g. by buzzer or whistle signals

Abstract

A tire deflation warning device having an arm carried by the rotating wheel and normally held retracted by a plunger activated by tire air pressure. Upon deflation the plunger releases the arm to be moved radially outwardly by centrifugal force so as to contact an element on the vehicle body and sound an alarm.

Claims

1. A tire deflation warning device comprising, in combination, a spring-loaded plunger arrangement and a co-operating trip arm;

said spring-loaded plunger arrangement being attachable to the underside of the periphery of a spacer ring of a dual wheel assembly and said co-operating trip arm being pivotally attachable to the outer side of the periphery of the said spacer ring;

said spring-loaded plunger arrangement including a flexible conduit for communication with the valve of a tire of said dual wheel assembly or of an inner tube thereof;

the plunger of said arrangement, when in its extended position due to said tire or tube being inflated to optimum pressure, being adapted to engage, through a slot in said spacer ring'"'"'s periphery, a co-acting element of said trip arm to maintain it substantially parallel to the spacer ring'"'"'s periphery but, when in its retracted position due to deflation of said tire or tube, disengages from said element to thereby permit said trip arm to swing through substantially a right angle, in response to centrifugal force, to assume a radial position in which its outer end is able to contact a contact element to thereby actuate a visible and/or audible signal in a cab of a vehicle to which the device is fitted, stop means being provided to prevent swinging movement of said trip arm beyond the said radial position thereof.

2. A tire deflation warning device comprising, in combination, a spring-loaded plunger arrangement and a co-operating trip arm;

both being attachable to the periphery of a spacer ring of a dual wheel assembly, said trip arm being pivotally attached thereto;

said spring-loaded plunger arrangement including a flexible conduit for communication with the valve of a tire of said dual wheel assembly or of an inner tube thereof;

the plunger of said arrangement, when in its extended position due to said tire or tube being inflated to optimum pressure, being adapted to engage a co-acting element of said trip arm to maintain it substantially parallel to the spacer ring'"'"'s periphery but, when in its retracted position, due to deflation of said tire or tube, disengages from said element to thereby permit said trip arm to swing through substantially a right angle, in response to centrifugal force, to assume a radial position in which its outer end is able to contact a contact element to thereby cause a warning signal to be actuated;

stop means being provided to prevent swinging movement of said trip arm beyond the said radial position thereof.