Sensor for measuring the pressure and temperature of tires

• US 5,071,259 A
• Filed: 01/29/1990
• Issued: 12/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefunken Electronic GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Metzger, Kurt, Hettich, Gerhard, Dorfler, Reiner
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego F. F.
• Application Number:
  US07/459,716
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 374/142, 374/143, 374/185, 374/183, 73/146, 73/146.5
• US Class Current: 374/143
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only

Abstract

A sensor for determining the pressure and temperature of the air in a vehicle tire and comprising temperature sensor elements decoupled from the temperature of the wheel rim and coupled to the temperature of the tire air. The temperature sensor elements are arranged on an insulating foil which is stretched over one of the openings of a cover cap which is fastened at the sensor housing so as to be thermally insulated. The temperature sensor elements are connected with connecting leads of the electronic circuit of the sensor via conductor paths of the insulating foil.

Claims

1. A sensor for determining pressure and temperature of air in a vehicle tire, said sensor comprising a housing to be secured in an aperture in a tire rim and having an opening communicating with a tire interior;

a pressure sensor element within said housing;

at least one temperature sensor element arranged in said opening;

an insulating foil for monitoring a mass of a tire inflating gas, said insulating foil being arranged in said opening and being surrounded by the tire inflating gas, said at least one temperature sensor element being arranged on said insulating foil; and

means for thermally insulating said insulating foil from said housing.

2. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a cover cap for covering said opening of said housing and having a central opening through which said opening of said housing communicates with the tire interior, said insulating foil being stretched over said central opening.

3. A sensor as set forth in claim 2, further comprising an insulating plate located in said opening of said housing, said insulating foil being stretched on a side of said cover cap facing said insulating plate, said cover cap being clamped at a rim of said housing defining said opening, said thermally insulating means comprising an insulating ring for clamping said cover cap at said rim of said housing whereby said cover cap is insulated from a temperature of the tire rim.

4. A sensor as set forth in claim 3, wherein said at least one temperature sensor element comprises a thin-film resistor, said sensor comprising leads for connecting said thin-film resistor with an electrical circuit of said sensor, and said insulating foil comprising conductor paths for connecting said thin-film resistor with said connecting leads.

5. A sensor as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cover cap is formed by two profiled sheet metal plates, said insulating foil being clamped between said two profiled sheet metal plates.

6. A sensor as set forth in claim 5, wherein said two profiled sheet metal plates form an outwardly curved toroid enclosing said central opening.

7. A sensor as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of rivet means for clamping said insulating foil between said two profiled sheet metal plates.

8. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said insulating foil includes a base foil having a side facing the tire interior and conductor path arranged on said side, said at least one temperature sensor element being also arranged on said side, said insulating foil further including a cover foil for covering said at least one temperature sensor element.