Tire pressure sensor wheel attachment apparatus

• US 6,055,855 A
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Straub, Albert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AW MUSSE, ABDULLAHI H
• Application Number:
  US09/320,314
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146, 73/146.2, 73/146.3, 73/146.4, 73/146.5, 73/146.8, 152/152.1, 116/30
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• 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 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber

Abstract

An apparatus 10 mounts on a rim 11 of a vehicle wheel 13 on which a tire 12 may be mounted. The apparatus 10 comprises a tire pressure sensor 20, a first threaded fastener 30, and a tire valve stem 40. The tire pressure sensor 20 senses the pressure in the tire 12 and has a housing 21 with a pocket 22. The first threaded fastener 30 is mounted in the pocket 22 in the housing 21 and has a first threaded portion 31 extending along an axis 100. The first threaded fastener 30 and the housing 21 have surfaces 25, 26, 35 blocking rotation of the first threaded fastener 30 about the axis 100. The tire valve stem 40 projects through a first opening 17 in the rim 11 and through a second opening 27 in the housing 21 into the pocket 22. The tire valve stem 40 has a second threaded portion 41 for threaded engagement with the first threaded portion 31 upon relative rotation of the first 31 and second threaded portions 41 about the axis 100. The tire valve stem 40 and the first threaded fastener 30 clamp a part 21a of the housing 21 between the tire valve stem 40 and the first threaded fastener 30 when the first 31 and second 41 threaded portions are threaded together.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mounting on a rim of a vehicle wheel on which a tire may be mounted, said apparatus comprising:

a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the tire, said pressure sensor having a housing with a pocket in said housing;

a threaded fastener mounted in said pocket in said housing, said threaded fastener having a threaded portion extending along an axis;

said threaded fastener and said housing having surfaces blocking rotation of said threaded fastener about said axis; and

a tire valve stem for projecting through a first opening in the rim and through a second opening in said housing into said pocket, said tire valve stem having a threaded portion for threaded engagement with said threaded portion of said threaded fastener upon relative rotation of said threaded portion of said threaded fastener and said threaded portion of said valve stem about said axis, said tire valve stem and said threaded fastener clamping a part of said housing between said tire valve stem and said threaded fastener when said threaded portion of said threaded fastener and said threaded portion of said valve stem are threaded together.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second opening comprises an elongate slot in said part of said housing enabling adjustment of said tire valve stem and said housing.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said part of said housing includes a first cylindrical surface, and said threaded fastener comprises a second cylindrical surface which clamps against said first cylindrical surface when said threaded portions are threaded together.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said housing has a first spherical surface and said tire valve stem has a second spherical surface, said first and second spherical surfaces clamping together when said threaded portions are threaded together.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said threaded fastener comprises a nut and said threaded portion of said threaded fastener comprises an internally threaded passage in said nut and said threaded portion of said valve stem comprises an externally threaded portion of said valve stem.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing has surfaces which engage said rim to block rotation of said housing and said threaded fastener about said axis relative to said rim.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said tire valve stem has an externally threaded portion and a shoulder projecting radially adjacent said externally threaded portion, and a nut for threaded engagement with said threaded portion to clamp said rim between said nut and said shoulder to secure said valve stem and housing to said rim.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said surfaces of said threaded fastener and said housing are planar.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said surfaces of said threaded fastener and said housing block rotation by abutting against each other.

10. Apparatus for mounting on a rim of a vehicle wheel on which a tire may be mounted, said apparatus comprising:

a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the tire, said pressure sensor having a housing with a pocket in said housing;

a threaded fastener mounted in said pocket in said housing, said threaded fastener having a threaded portion extending along an axis;

said threaded fastener and said housing having abutting surfaces blocking rotation of said threaded fastener about said axis; and

a tire valve stem for projecting through a first opening in the rim and through a second opening in said housing into said pocket, said tire valve stem having a threaded portion for threaded engagement with said threaded portion of said threaded fastener upon relative rotation of said threaded portion of said threaded fastener and said threaded portion of said valve stem about said axis, said tire valve stem and said threaded fastener clamping a part of said housing between said tire valve stem and said threaded fastener when said threaded portion of said threaded fastener and said threaded portion of said valve stem are threaded together.