Tire abnormality detecting device

• US 5,006,844 A
• Filed: 06/29/1989
• Issued: 04/09/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Original Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Inventors: Masuda, Hisami, Ohta, Katsuhiro, Makishima, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tumm, Brian R.
• Application Number:
  US07/373,846
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 340/448, 340/449, 340/445, 73/146.5, 336/192, 333/185, 333/219, 333/175
• US Class Current: 340/448
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0428 using passive wheel mounted resonance circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only

Abstract

A tire abnormality detecting device has a first unit to be provided on a vehicle body side and a second unit to be provided on a tire side. The first unit includes an electrical signal generating source for generating a specific electrical signal, a first coil device for generating an induction voltage in receipt of the electrical signal, and a device for detecting a change in the induction voltage of the first coil device. The second unit includes a second coil device adapted to be magnetically connected to the first coil device, a third coil device having a magnetic core formed of a temperature sensing magnetic material to form a resonance circuit in cooperation with the second coil device, and a switch mechanism for changing a time constant of the resonance circuit in response to a change in air pressure in a tire. With this construction, the abnormal reduction in air pressure in the tire and/or the abnormal increase in temperature of the tire can be detected.

Claims

1. A tire abnormality detecting device comprising:

a first unit to be provided on a vehicle body side, said first unit including

an electrical signal generating source for generating a specific electrical signal,

a first coil device, serially connected to said electrical signal generating source, for generating an induction voltage in receipt of said electrical signal, and

detecting means, serially connected to first coil device, for detecting a change in said induction voltage of said first coil device; and

a second unit provided on a tire side, said second unit including

a second coil device to be magnetically connected to said first coil device, said second coil device having first and second coils and a capacitor respectively connected in series,

a switch mechanism, connected between a junction of said first and second coils, opening and closing in response to a change in air pressure in a tire, and

a third coil device, connected in series between said switch mechanism and said capacitor, said second and third coil devices forming a resonance circuit, said third coil device having a temperature detecting magnetic core,

wherein said detecting means detects said change in said induction voltage of said first coil device generated by said second coil device according to one of (a) an open/close condition of said switch mechanism and (b) magnetic permeability of said third coil device.

2. The tire abnormality detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting magnetic core is a drum core.

3. The tire abnormality detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting magnetic core is a toridal core.

4. The tire abnormality detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said resonance circuit formed of said second and third coil devices is formed of said temperature detecting magnetic core having a coil pattern and a dielectric having an electroconductive pattern.