Battery powered electronic assembly for wheel attachment

• US 5,637,926 A
• Filed: 02/20/1996
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Zedonis, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/603,138
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/118, 307/150, 361/758, 361/759, 361/742, 361/740, 361/743, 73/146.2-146.5, 340/442-448, 152/415, 152/418, 200/61.22-61.26
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04985 using straps surrounding the rims

Abstract

A low tire pressure system has a transmitter inside a vehicle tire attached to the wheel rim. A housing has an outboard wall perpendicular to a wheel radius and an inner flange around the wall periphery. A battery is mounted on the circuit board through an intermediate support frame. Battery leads extending through snug holes in the support frame are soldered to the circuit board to achieve a unitized assembly. The assembly is installed in the housing with the circuit board parallel to the wall and its margin bearing on the inner flange. Centrifugal force developed on the battery is transferred by the support frame through the board margins to the flange without bending the circuit board.

Claims

1. An electronic assembly for mounting on a vehicle wheel rim inside a tire comprising:

a housing having a wall;

the housing having a base for mounting on said wheel rim to hold the wall perpendicular to a wheel radius;

a circuit board disposed between the housing base and wall, parallel to the wall and having margins engaging the wall;

a battery support disposed between the circuit board and base, having a frame engaging margins of the circuit board opposite to said wall so that the margins of the circuit board are gripped between the wall and the frame; and

a battery carried on the frame and spaced from the circuit board, whereby centrifugal force developed on the battery due to rotation of the vehicle wheel rim is applied to the wall of the housing through the frame of the battery support and the margins of the circuit board.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the circuit board has locating holes in the margins;

the frame has a pair of lateral rails for engaging the circuit board; and

the rails have depending locating pins for mating with the locating holes, thereby fixing the position of the frame relative to the circuit board.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the frame has a pair of lateral rails for engaging the circuit board; and

the rails have relief areas for accommodating solder bumps on the circuit board.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the battery has leads extending to the circuit board; and

the support has an aperture for each lead whereby the leads pass through the respective apertures to secure the battery position on the support.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the base contains an opening for access into the housing; and

a cover fits over the opening to close the housing and to engage the battery, whereby the battery, the support and the circuit board are sandwiched between the wall and the cover.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein;

the housing is elongated in the direction of wheel rotation; and

the wall has an inner surface facing the base, the inner surface having a flange around its periphery engaging the margin of the circuit board, whereby the margin of the circuit board is gripped between the frame of the battery support and the flange.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the inner surface of the wall has a flange around its periphery for supporting the margin of the circuit board; and

the inner surface of the wall has transverse ribs for supporting the circuit board, whereby the circuit board is preventing from bending under centrifugal load.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the assembly includes a switch positioned adjacent the battery; and

the battery support includes an opening for receiving the switch and holding the switch against lateral movement.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the battery includes terminals which extend to the circuit board through openings in the battery support, and the circuit board, battery support and battery comprise a unitized assembly held by solder connections joining the terminals of the battery to the circuit board.

10. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the battery includes terminals which extend to the circuit board through openings in the battery support, and the circuit board, battery support, battery and a pressure switch comprise a unitized assembly held by solder connections joining the terminals of the battery to the circuit board.