Indicating device, especially for indicating the state of pressure of a tire

• US 5,315,866 A
• Filed: 03/23/1993
• Issued: 05/31/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eurafrica SRL Societa' Per Ricerche Elettroniche E Audiovisivi
• Original Assignee: Eurafrica Videomatic SRL Societa Per Ricerche
• Inventors: Righi, Nardino
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr., Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oen, William L.
• Application Number:
  US08/035,955
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146.5, 73/146.2, 336/30, 340/442, 331/65
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel

Abstract

The invention relates to an indicating device, especially for indicating the state of pressure of a tire, of the type that can be fixed to a wheel. The device includes: a mechanism (7) for measuring the pressure of the tire (2); a transducer/transmitter (8) which converts the measured magnitude of the pressure into an electrical signal and transmits the electrical signal to an electronic unit; and a source of electrical power (12, 13) for the transducer/transmitter (8). In order to make the device not only more practical and operationally reliable but also less expensive, the device provides an electrical power source, the power source consists of an inductive current generator formed by a rotor (12) which is fixed coaxially to the wheel so as to rotate as one piece therewith, and by a coaxial stator (13) which is freely rotatable with respect to the rotor (12) and is provided with a counterweight (14),capable of keeping the stator (13) essentially motionless with respect to the rotor (12) as the rotor rotates with the wheel.

Claims

1. An indicating device for indicating a pressure in a tire, which tire is mounted on a rim to form a wheel which has a rotation axis, the device being mounted on the wheel and comprising;

a means for measuring the pressure in the tire;

a transducer/transmitter means for converting the measured pressure of the tire to an electrical signal and for transmitting this signal to an electrical unit; and

a source of electrical power for said transducer/transmitter means forming an inductive current generator when the wheel rotates, said source including

a rotor which is fixed to the wheel coaxially to the axis of the wheel so as to rotate with the wheel,

a stator which is mounted coaxial with the axis of the wheel so as to be substantially freely rotatable relative to said rotor and about the axis,

a first counterweight which is fixed relative to said stator such that, as the wheel and said rotor turn together, said first counterweight keeps said stator substantially motionless with respect to said rotor as said first counterweight overcomes a force of magnetic attraction between said stator and said rotor, and

a damping means for damping swinging movement of said first counterweight as the wheel rotates, said damping means including a second counterweight, a mounting means for mounting said second counterweight for free rotation about the axis of the wheel and axially adjacent said first counterweight, and a coupling means for coupling said first counterweight and said second counterweight together to permit only a limited angular displacement about the axis between said first and second counterweights.

2. An indicating device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotor includes a winding coaxial with the axis in which a current is induced;

and wherein said stator is a permanent, multipolar magnetic element.

3. An indicating device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said stator and said rotor are arranged coaxially alongside one another.

4. An indicating device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said magnetic element includes a periphery comprising a series of equidistantly spaced magnetic poles with alternating polarities.

5. An indicating device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said rotor further includes a ferromagnetic part having a circular periphery coaxial with the axis and a series of radially spaced extensions extending from the periphery of said part parallel to the axis and axially about said magnetic element but radially spaced a slight distance therefrom.

6. An indicating device as claimed in claim 5 wherein a number of said extensions of said rotor matches a number of said magnetic poles of said stator.

7. An indicating device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said part forms a box in which said winding is housed.

8. An indicating device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said part further includes a cylindrical core coaxial with the axis, two coaxial discs fixed to opposite ends of said cylindrical core such that said winding is located about said cylindrical core between said discs and such that said extensions extend across both of said discs to said stator;

and wherein said multipolar magnetic element is annular shaped.

9. An indicating device as claimed in claim 8

further including a housing and a means for fixing said housing to the rim of the wheel;

and

wherein said housing includes a front wall and a back wall, a second mounting means for mounting said rotor to said back wall, a first bearing located coaxially in said cylindrical core, a second bearing attached coaxially to said front wall, and a spindle to which said stator is fixed which is received in and extends between said first and second bearings such that said spindle and said stator are rotatable coaxially relative to said rotor and said box.

10. An indicating device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first counterweight is a radial extension non-rotatbly fixed to a side of said stator furthest from said rotor.

11. An indicating device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said extension is a plate shaped as a sector of a circle concentric with the axis and having an angular width of 30 to 90 degrees and a radial length greater than that of said stator and of said rotor.

12. An indicating device as claimed in claim 1

further including a housing, a means for fixing said housing to the wheel, and a spindle to which said stator is mounted for rotation therewith which is mounted coaxial with the axis in said housing for free rotation relative to said housing;

wherein said first counterweight includes an arcuate guide concentric with the axis and having limit stops at each end thereof; and

wherein said second counterweight is an arm having (a) a radial length greater than that of said first counterweight, (b) a first end which is mounted to said spindle for free rotation relative thereto, (c) a second end distal from said first end which is weighted, and (d) a cursor extending axially into said arcuate guide for slidable movement therein between said limit stops.

13. An indicating device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said second weighted end of said arm is a radial fin projecting axially toward said rotor and lying peripherally over an outer edge of said first counterweight, said radial fin having inner and outer walls which are arcuate about the axis.

14. An indicating device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said arcuate guide of said first counterweight is an arcuate slot formed in said first counterweight;

and wherein said cursor of said second counterweight is a pin projecting into said arcuate slot.

15. An indicating device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second counterweights have weights which are about equal.

16. An indicating device as claimed in claim 1 and further including a cylindrical housing and a means for fixing said housing to the wheel coaxial with the axis, said housing closely enclosing in a radial direction said measuring means, said transducer/transmitter means, and said source.

17. An indicating device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transducer/transmitter means includes a transformer circuit which directly receives a generated current from said source.

18. An indicating device as claimed in claim 1 and further including a rechargeable battery which directly receives a generated current from said source and which powers said transducer/transmitter means.

19. An indicating device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said housing includes a part extending radially therefrom which contacts an external surface of the wheel;

and wherein said fixing means fixes said housing to the wheel with said part contacting the external surface.

20. An indicating device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said fixing means includes snap actuated elements.

21. An indicating device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the wheel includes a wheel cover;

and wherein said fixing means attaches said housing to the wheel cover.

22. An indicating device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the wheel cover includes a central recess in which said housing is received;

and wherein said fixing means fixes said housing partially in the recess with said part located about the recess.

23. An indicating device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said snap actuated elements of said fixing means includes at least two diametrically opposite fixing lugs integral with said housing and extending axially from said part, said lugs being elastically flexible and having a free end and a tooth extending radially from said free end.

24. An indicating device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the wheel cover is provided with slots;

and wherein said lugs of said fixing means pass through the slots in the wheel cover so that respective said teeth of said lugs are trapped behind respective slots.

25. An indicating device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the wheel cover is provided with an aperture defined by an edge of the wheel cover, said housing being received in the aperture until said part contacts the wheel cover;

and wherein said fixing means includes a series of said lugs provided coaxially about said housing with said teeth of said lugs extending radially outward so that during insertion of the housing in the aperture said teeth pass behind the edge of the wheel cover and are thus trapped behind the edge.

26. An indicating device as claimed in claim 25 wherein said part of said housing is a peripheral flange provided at an outward front side of said housing, and wherein said series of lugs are integral with said flange and extend axially from said flange.

27. An indicating device as claimed in claim 26 wherein said series of lugs comprises eight of said lugs arranged in pairs, said pairs being located at 90°

intervals peripherally about said flange.

28. An indicating device as claimed in claim 27 wherein each of said lug also includes an outward radial step spaced axially from said tooth by a distance which is substantially the same as an axial thickness of the edge of the wheel cover.

29. An indicating device as claimed in claim 28 wherein each said lug includes a radially outward peripheral groove which forms said tooth and said step.