Method of determining a variable air pressure value of a pneumatic vehicle tire and indicating a pressure value

• US 4,909,074 A
• Filed: 12/20/1988
• Issued: 03/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uniroyal Englebert Reifen GmbH
• Original Assignee: Uniroyal Englebert Reifen GmbH
• Inventors: Gerresheim, Manfred, Nitsch, Boris, Mauk, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Application Number:
  US07/289,495
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 340/58, 340/442, 340/445, 73/146.4, 73/146.5, 73/146.8, 73/146, 200/61.22, 200/61.25, 116/34 R
• US Class Current: 73/146.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

A method for detecting, evaluating, and indicating a tire air pressure value. Information signals are compared with a plurality of desired value curves having a tolerance range and an average value for the atmospheric temperature, whereupon these signals are evaluated. The pressure deviation, as a function of the desired value tolerance ranges, is assigned a specific pressure state, from which an acutal air pressure state is indicated that takes into account regional and seasonal pressure and temperature influences. Furthermore, a maximum speed and a permissible speed can be determined during emergency operation, or a state of emergency operation can be determined.

Claims

1. In a method of giving a vehicle driver the best possible information concerning vehicle tire pressure including factors of atmospheric pressure, inner temperature of the tire, and specific volume by determining a variable air pressure value of a pneumatic vehicle tire, based on transmitting of an information signal of high frequency modulated by a sensor and taken from a measured value emitter and conveyed to a measured value receiver for comparison between high frequency modulated by the sensor and a known high frequency at tire rated pressure stored in a storage means;

evaluating this information signal, via evaluation means, including control circuit logic during the comparison at tire rated pressure with desired values at least for the air pressure of the pneumatic vehicle tire;

determining a deviation value obtained by said evaluating during the comparison at tire rated pressure; and

indicating an air pressure for the pneumatic vehicle tire based on the measured value;

the improvement therewith further comprising in combination the steps of;

comparing said information signal with several specific selectable desired value curves representing pressure ranges for specific values of atmospheric temperature and inner tire temperatures, each of which has a tolerable critical range extending along the curve indicative of acceptable pressure values for given temperatures and each of which is a mathematical function of an average atmospheric temperature that exists at any given time interval;

after said comparing, determining at least one deviation value of said tire air pressure;

assigning this deviation value to a specific tire air pressure as a mathematical function based on said desired value curve tolerance ranges; and

then indicating at least the actual air pressure of said pneumatic vehicle tire and an indication of incorrect pressure being given when not within the tolerable critical range.

2. A method in combination according to claim 1, including the steps of:

additionally comparing said information with at least one desired tire air pressure value that is associated with a predetermined maximum speed evaluating this comparison to produce a maximum safe speed value, and indicating this value.

3. A method in combination according to claim 2, which, for said evaluating step, includes the step of utilizing a single predetermined value curve.

4. A method in combination according to claim 1, including the steps of:

additionally comparing said information signal with a specific, selectable desired tire air pressure value that is associated with an emergency operation driving sped'"'"' evaluating resulting information therefrom to form a maximum safe speed and indicating the maximum safe speed resulting.

5. A method in combination according to claim 1, wherein desired tire pressure values are determined according to the equation ##EQU2## where p'"'"' is the gauge pressure of the tire pressure medium, p'"'"'_s is the desired tire pressure value, p'"'"'_o is a singular, fixed tire pressure value, T_i is the inner temperature of the tire, and T_io is a singular, fixed inner tire temperature.