Tire-pressure monitor for vehicles

• US 5,134,880 A
• Filed: 05/06/1991
• Issued: 08/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Gerhard, Hettich
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODIEL, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US07/679,047
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146.5, 73/146.3, 340/442, 340/448, 200/61.22, 200/61.25
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• 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 23/0498 for rim attachments B60C23/0494, B60C23/0496 take precedence

Abstract

A tire-pressure monitor (13) comprising a pressure switch to be fixed to the periphery of the wheel rim (12) of vehicle wheels radially to the wheel axis is proposed, which pressure switch consists of a reference-pressure chamber (20) which is closed off towards the tire by an electrically conductive diaphragm (21). To close an electric circuit the diaphragm (21), when tire pressure is sufficient, is pressed onto a contact pin (22) inserted in an insulated manner into the reference-pressure chamber (20). To achieve an increase in the switching threshold as a function of speed, which increase can be determined in a defined manner, the diaphragm (21), free towards the tire, is provided with an elastic additional mass (30) which is applied over the surface to one diaphragm side and whose modulus of elasticity, in relation to that of the diaphragm (21) is less than one tenth.

Claims

1. Tire-pressure monitor for vehicles, comprising a pressure switch which is to be fixed to the periphery of the wheel rim of vehicle wheels radially to the wheel axis, is to be actuated by the tire pressure and has a reference-pressure chamber which is closed off towards the tire by an electrically conductive diaphragm which is arranged parallel to the tread of the tire and carries an additional mass provided for increasing the switching threshold as a function of speed, and a contact which is inserted in an electrically insulated manner into the reference-pressure chamber and against which, when air pressure in the tire is sufficient, a contact area at the centre region of the diaphragm bears for closing an electric circuit, in which arrangement the state of the electric circuit is to be monitored in a cordless manner by a receiver fixed to the vehicle and having an analysing circuit, characterized in that the diaphragm (21) is free towards the tire (11) and the additional mass (30, 30a, 30b) is applied over the surface to at least one diaphragm side and is also made of a material whose modulus of elasticity is less than 1/10th of the modulus of elasticity of the diaphragm (21).

2. Tire-pressure monitor according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional mass (30, 30a, 30b) is a silicone adhesive filled with a metal powder, preferably of tungsten.

3. Tire-pressure monitor according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional mass (30) is applied with uniform thickness and over the full surface to the side of the diaphragm (21) directed towards the tire.

4. Tire-pressure monitor according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional mass (30a) is applied in a uniformly distributed grid shape to the surface of the diaphragm (21) directed towards the tire (11).

5. Tire-pressure monitor according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional mass (30b), on the centre region of the diaphragm (21), is adhesively bonded in a heaped manner to the side remote from the contact area.