Tire pressure sensor

• US 5,675,314 A
• Filed: 02/09/1996
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of British Columbia
• Original Assignee: University of British Columbia
• Inventors: Chaklader, Asoke Chandra Das
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/599,000
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 340/443, 340/442, 340/444, 340/445, 340/446-448, 340/525, 73/146.5, 200/61.22
• US Class Current: 340/443
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0467 Electric contact means, e.g. slip-rings, rollers, brushes

Abstract

A pressure sensing system is formed by a sensor mounted one to rotate with each tire and adapted to sense the pressure in the tire and generate a signal corresponding to the tire pressure, a movable contact system is moved into an operative position only when the vehicle is stopped and provides power (if required) to the sensor and contacts to deliver the electrical signals indicative of the tire air pressure to the vehicle body where it may be displayed for the operator'"'"'s convenience.

Claims

1. A system for indicating inflation pressure of a rotatable tire of a vehicle comprising sensor means rotatable with said tire for sensing tire pressure of said tire, inflation pressure indicator display means on said vehicle an annular contact means connected to said sensor means and rotatable with said tire, said annular contact means having a plurality of annular contacts for delivering signals from said sensor means, a movable contact means having contact elements one for each of said annular contact means to move said movable contact means between an active position wherein each said contact element contacts a corresponding one of said annular contacts and a base retracted position wherein said elements are clear of said annular contacts, means for biasing said means to move to said base retracted position, said contact elements when said moveable contact means is in said active position electrically connecting said sensor means to said inflation pressure indicator display means, means to control said means to move, said means to control including means to prevent said means to move from positioning said moveable contact means in said active position when said tire is rotating relative to said vehicle whereby said movable contact means is in said base retracted position when said tire is rotating and may only be moved to active position when said means to prevent is overridden.

2. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular contacts are annular conductive strips covered by penetrable protective coating and said elements have sharp points that are projected through said coating when said contact means is moved into said active position.

3. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 1 wherein said contact elements include spring means resiliently urging said contact elements to an extended position.

4. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 2 wherein said contact elements include spring means resiliently urging said contact elements to an extended position.

5. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 3 wherein said spring means independently urge each of said contact elements to said extended position.

6. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 4 wherein said spring means independently urge each of said contact elements to said extended position.

7. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to prevent comprises a timer, a timer activated switch which is closed for a preselected time period after activation of said timer and a motion detector activated switch connected in series with a power source for operating said means to move whereby if either said timer switch or said motion detector switch is open, said means for biasing holds said contact means in said base retracted position.

8. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 2 wherein said means to prevent comprises a timer, a timer activated switch which is closed for a preselected time period after activation of said timer and a motion detector activated switch connected in series with a power source for operating said means to move whereby if either said timer switch or said motion detector switch is open, said means for biasing holds said contact means in said base retracted position.

9. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 3 wherein said means to prevent comprises a timer, a timer activated switch which is closed for a preselected time period after activation of said timer and a motion detector activated switch connected in series with a power source for operating said means to move whereby if either said timer switch or said motion detector switch is open, said means for biasing holds said contact means in said base retracted position.

10. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 4 wherein said means to prevent comprises a timer, a timer activated switch which is closed for a preselected time period after activation of said timer and a motion detector activated switch connected in series with a power source for operating said means to move whereby if either said timer switch or said motion detector switch is open, said means for biasing holds said contact means in said base retracted position.

11. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 5 wherein said means to prevent comprises a timer, a timer activated switch which is closed for a preselected time period after activation of said timer and a motion detector activated switch connected in series with a power source for operating said means to move whereby if either said timer switch or said motion detector switch is open, said means for biasing holds said contact means in said base retracted position.

12. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 6 wherein said means to prevent comprises a timer, a timer activated switch which is closed for a preselected time period after activation of said timer and a motion detector activated switch connected in series with a power source for operating said means to move whereby if either said timer switch or said motion detector switch is open, said means for biasing holds said contact means in said base retracted position.

13. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 7 whereto said timer means is activated when an ignition switch for said vehicle is moved to an on position and said timer means holds said timer switch closed for a preselected time.

14. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 8 wherein said timer means is activated when an ignition switch for said vehicle is moved to an on position and said timer means holds said timer switch closed for a preselected time.

15. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 9 wherein said timer means is activated when an ignition switch for said vehicle is moved to an on position and said timer means holds said timer switch closed for a preselected time.

16. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 10 wherein said timer means is activated when an ignition switch for said vehicle is moved to an on position and said timer means holds said timer switch closed for a preselected time.

17. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 11 wherein said timer means is activated when an ignition switch for said vehicle is moved to an on position and said timer means holds said timer switch closed for a preselected time.

18. A system for indicating tire pressure as defined in claim 12 wherein said timer means is activated when an ignition switch for said vehicle is moved to an on position and said timer means holds said timer switch closed for a preselected time.