Valve cap pressure indicator

• US 4,763,517 A
• Filed: 06/16/1987
• Issued: 08/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew S. Feinberg
• Original Assignee: Andrew S. Feinberg
• Inventors: Feinberg, Andrew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woodiel, Donald O.
• Application Number:
  US07/062,657
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146.8, 340/58
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber

Abstract

A system for measuring and indicating air tire pressure which is adapted for mounting on the valve stem of a tire. The system, which is entirely self-contained in a housing threaded for fastening to the valve stem, includes a pressure transducer, a signal processing unit connected to the pressure transducer, display means connected to the signal processing unit to display pressure, and a battery to provide electric energy. A plunger is axially mounted within the housing, which when depressed, closes an electric circuit between the battery and the electronic components, and also activates the valve to admit air into the housing from the tire.

Claims

1. A valve stem-mounted system for measuring and displaying the pressure of air within a pneumatic tire comprising:

(a) a housing, a portion of which is threaded for mounting onto a tire valve stem;

(b) a pressure transducer mounted within said housing;

(c) a signal processing unit mounted within said housing, said processing unit being operationally connected to said transducer for converting signals received from said transducer;

(d) display means mounted within said housing and electrically connected to said signal processing unit for displaying tire air pressure;

(e) an electric battery power source mounted within said housing and connected through switch means to furnish power to operate said signal processing unit and said display means;

(f) means for manually operating said switch to power said processing unit and said display means; and

(g) means for bringing said pressure transducer into fluid communication with the interior of said tire;

wherein said display means comprises a plurality of display chips.

2. A valve stem-mounted system for measuring and displaying the pressure of air within a pneumatic tire comprising:

(a) a housing, a portion of which is threaded for mounting onto a tire valve stem;

(b) a pressure transducer mounted within said housing;

(c) a signal processing unit mounted within said housing, said processing unit being operationally connected to said transducer for converting signals received from said transducer;

(d) display means mounted within said housing and electrically connected to said signal processing unit for displaying tire air pressure;

(e) an electric battery power source mounted within said housing and connected through switch means to furnish power to operate said signal processing unit and said display means;

(f) means for manually operating said switch to power said processing unit and said display means; and

(g) means for bringing said pressure transducer into fluid communication with the interior of said tire;

wherein said display means comprises three display chips mounted about the periphery of the housing at an angle of about 120°

from each other.

3. A valve stem-mounted system for measuring and displaying the pressure of air within a pneumatic tire comprising:

(a) a housing, a portion of which is threaded for mounting onto a tire valve stem;

(b) a pressure transducer mounted within said housing;

(c) a signal processing unit mounted within said housing, said processing unit being operationally connected to said transducer for converting signals received from said transducer;

(d) display means mounted within said housing and electrically connected to said signal processing unit for displaying tire air pressure;

(e) an electric battery power source mounted within said housing and connected through switch means to furnish power to operate said signal processing unit and said display means;

(f) means for manually operating said switch to power said processing unit and said display means; and

(g) means for bringing said pressure transducer into fluid communication with the interior of said tire;

wherein said transducer is a strain gauge.

4. A valve stem-mounted system for measuring and displaying the pressure of air within a pneumatic tire comprising:

(a) a housing, a portion of which is threaded for mounting onto a tire valve stem;

(b) a pressure transducer mounted within said housing;

(c) a signal processing unit mounted within said housing, said processing unit being operationally connected to said transducer for converting signals received from said transducer;

(d) display means mounted within said housing and electrically connected to said signal processing unit for displaying tire air pressure;

(e) an electric battery power source mounted within said housing and connected through switch means to furnish power to operate said signal processing unit and said display means;

(f) means for manually operating said switch to power said processing unit and said display means; and

(g) means for bringing said pressure transducer into fluid communication with the interior of said tire;

wherein said means for manually operating said switch comprises an elongated plunger which is axially mounted within said housing and is adapted to open or close an electric circuit between said battery and said signal processing unit and said display means by axial displacement of said plunger.

5. The valve stem-mounted system of claim 4 wherein said plunger has an inner and an outer end, and said inner end is adapted to cooperate with the valve core of said valve stem to release air from the tire into the cavity formed by said housing.

6. The valve stem-mounted system of claim 5 wherein the outer end of said plunger is embedded in the outer end of said housing and is adapted for axial movement by pressing on the outer end of said housing.