Method and apparatus for transmitting from within a pneumatic wheel assembly
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transmitting from within a pneumatic wheel assembly including a wheel having a pair of rim lips flanking a circumferential depression, and a pneumatic tire mounted on said wheel in engagement with said rim lips, said apparatus comprising:
- a transmitter antenna;
means coupling a portion of said antenna within said circumferential depression of said wheel such that a free end of said antenna may extend beyond said rim lips into the void of said pneumatic tire;
means biasing said free end towards said wheel, whereby said antenna is positioned substantially within said circumferential depression in the absence of a counter-biasing force upon said free end; and
transmitter means attached to said wheel and having an output coupled to said antenna.
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Abstract
A tire pressure transmitting apparatus characterized by an elongated antenna having a first end coupled within a wheel and a second end biased towards the wheel such that the antenna is positioned substantially within the circumferential depression in the absence of a counter-biasing force being exerted on it. As the wheel rotates, centrifugal force causes the second end of the antenna to move to a transmitting position within the void of the tire. The antenna is safely biased to a non-transmitting position as the wheel stops rotating.
36 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting from within a pneumatic wheel assembly including a wheel having a pair of rim lips flanking a circumferential depression, and a pneumatic tire mounted on said wheel in engagement with said rim lips, said apparatus comprising:
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a transmitter antenna; means coupling a portion of said antenna within said circumferential depression of said wheel such that a free end of said antenna may extend beyond said rim lips into the void of said pneumatic tire; means biasing said free end towards said wheel, whereby said antenna is positioned substantially within said circumferential depression in the absence of a counter-biasing force upon said free end; and transmitter means attached to said wheel and having an output coupled to said antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for transmitting from within a pneumatic wheel assembly including a wheel and a pneumatic tire circumferentially mounted on said wheel, the method comprising:
- coupling a portion of an antenna to a circumferential surface of said wheel;
biasing a free end of said antenna towards said circumferential surface;
coupling the output of a transmitter to said antenna; and
rotating said pneumatic wheel assembly to cause said free end to extend into the void of said pneumatic tire.
- coupling a portion of an antenna to a circumferential surface of said wheel;
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11. An apparatus for transmitting from within a pneumatic wheel assembly including a wheel having a pair of rim lips flanking a circumferential depression, and a pneumatic tire mounted on said wheel in engagement with said rim lips, said apparatus comprising:
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a transmitter antenna including an elongated conductor covered, at least in part, by an insulating material; means coupling a portion of said antenna within said circumferential depression of said wheel such that a free end of said antenna may extend beyond said rim lips into the void of said pneumatic tire; biasing means biasing said free end towards said wheel, whereby said antenna is positioned substantially within said circumferential depression in the absence of a counter-biasing force upon said free end, said insulating material comprising said biasing means; and transmitter means attached to said wheel and having an output coupled to said antenna.
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Specification