Power supply unit for a pressure-sensing device that is concealed by a tire of a vehicle wheel

• US 6,194,998 B1
• Filed: 04/26/1999
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teng-Yi Huang
• Original Assignee: Teng-Yi Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Teng-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/299,518
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/445, 731/465, 731/468, 116/34.R, 200/61.22, 200/61.25, 137/233
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber

Abstract

A power supply unit is adapted for use with a pressure-sensing device that is mounted on a wheel rim inside an airtight chamber confined by the wheel rim and a pneumatic tire. The power supply unit includes a valve housing, an air valve member, and a battery housing. The valve housing is mounted on the wheel rim with an inner end portion thereof extending into the airtight chamber and with an outer end portion thereof extending outwardly of the wheel rim. The valve housing is provided with a housing conductor for electrical connection with the pressure-sensing device. The air valve member is mounted in the valve housing, and includes a spring-loaded valve stem with a conductive stem body that is connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device, and that is electrically insulated from the housing conductor. The battery housing is mounted on the outer end portion of the valve housing and receives a battery cell therein. The battery housing has first and second battery contacts to interconnect electrically first and second terminals of the battery cell with the housing conductor and the stem body, respectively.

Claims

1. A power supply unit adapted for use with a pressure-sensing device for a vehicle wheel, the vehicle wheel including a wheel rim and a pneumatic tire mounted on the wheel rim so as to confine an airtight chamber therewith, the pressure-sensing device being mounted on the wheel rim inside the airtight chamber and being concealed by the pneumatic tire, said power supply unit comprising:

a tubular valve housing having an outer end portion, an inner end portion and an intermediate portion between said outer and inner end portions, said valve housing confining a longitudinal air passage that extends from said outer end portions through said inner end portion, said intermediate portion being adapted to be mounted on the wheel rim in an airtight manner such that said inner end portion extends into the airtight chamber and such that said outer end portion extends outwardly of the wheel rim, said valve housing being provided with a housing conductor that extends from said outer end portion to said inner end portion and that is adapted to be connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device;

an air valve member mounted in said air passage of said valve housing and operable so as to control air flow through said air passage, said air valve member including a spring-loaded valve stem with a conductive stem body that is adapted to be connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device, and insulation means for electrically insulating said stem body from said housing conductor; and

a battery housing mounted on said outer end portion of said valve housing and adapted to receive a battery cell therein, said battery housing being provided with electrically isolated first and second battery contacts adapted to connect electrically and respectively with first and second terminals of the battery cell when the battery cell is received in said battery housing, said first and second battery contacts establishing electrical connection with said housing conductor and said conductive stem body, respectively, when said battery housing is mounted on said outer end portion of said valve housing, said battery housing including a connecting portion for removable mounting on said outer end portion of said valve housing, and a battery confining portion adapted to receive the battery cell therein, said first battery contact being provided in said battery confining portion, said second battery contact being mounted in said battery housing at a junction of said connecting portion and said battery confining portion, said valve housing and said battery housing being made from an electrically conductive material such that said valve housing is provided inherently with said housing conductor, and such that said first battery contact is connected electrically to said valve housing via said battery housing, said battery housing having a positioning member made from an insulator material and disposed at the junction of said connecting portion and said battery confining portion, said second battery contact being mounted on said positioning member and having a first portion that extends into said battery confining portion and that is adapted to contact the second terminal of the battery cell, and a second portion that extends into said connecting portion and that contacts said conductive stem body when said battery housing is mounted on said outer end portion of said valve.

2. The power supply unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said battery confining portion has a battery seat mounted removably therein, said battery seat having a support plate formed from an insulator material, said support plate having one side formed with a recess that is adapted to receive the battery cell therein, said battery seat further having a contactor plate made from an electrically conductive material and mounted on another side of said support plate opposite said recess, said contactor plate being formed with said first battery contact that extends into said recess and being further formed with a conductive extension for physical contact with said battery housing so as to be adapted to establish electrical connection between said battery housing and the first terminal of the battery cell.

3. The power supply unit as defined in claim 2, wherein said battery confining portion has a surrounding wall formed with a peripheral slot for access thereinto, said battery seat being inserted into said battery confining portion via said peripheral slot.

4. The power supply unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting portion is mounted threadedly on said outer end portion of said valve housing.

12. The power supply unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said air valve member is mounted in said air passage proximate said outer end portion of said valve housing, said power supply unit further comprising a biasing member mounted in said air passage proximate to said inner end portion of said valve housing, said biasing member including a spring-loaded biasing stem made from an electrically conductive material, said biasing stem having one end acting on said stem body of said valve stem and an opposite end that is adapted to be connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device such that electrical connection between said stem body and the pressure-sensing device is established via said biasing stem.

5. A power supply unit adapted for use with a pressure-sensing device for a vehicle wheel, the vehicle wheel including a wheel rim and a pneumatic tire mounted on the wheel rim so as to confine an airtight chamber therewith, the pressure-sensing device being mounted on the wheel rim inside the airtight chamber and being concealed by the pneumatic tire, said power supply unit comprising:

a tubular valve housing having an outer end portion, an inner end portion and an intermediate portion between said outer and inner end portions, said valve housing confining a longitudinal air passage that extends from said outer end portions through said inner end portion, said intermediate portion being adapted to be mounted on the wheel rim in an airtight manner such that said inner end portion extends into the airtight chamber and such that said outer end portion extends outwardly of the wheel rim, said valve housing being provided with a housing conductor that extends from said outer end portion to said inner end portion and that is adapted to be connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device;

an air valve member mounted in said air passage of said valve housing and operable so as to control air flow through said air passage, said air valve member including a spring-loaded valve stem with a conductive stem body that is adapted to be connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device, and insulation means for electrically insulating said stem body from said housing conductor; and

a battery housing mounted on said outer end portion of said valve housing and adapted to receive a battery cell therein, said battery housing being provided with electrically isolated first and second battery contacts adapted to connect electrically and respectively with first and second terminals of the battery cell when the battery cell is received in said battery housing, said first and second battery contacts establishing electrical connection with said housing conductor and said conductive stem body, respectively, when said battery housing is mounted on said outer end portion of said valve housing, said battery housing including a connecting portion for removable mounting on said outer end portion of said valve housing, and a battery confining portion adapted to receive the battery cell therein, said first battery contact being provided in said battery confining portion, said second battery contact being mounted in said battery housing at a junction of said connecting portion and said battery confining portion, said battery housing further including a mounting seat formed with said connecting portion and said battery confining portion, said mounting seat having an open end for access into said battery confining portion, said battery housing further including a cover member mounted removably on said open end of said mounting seat to close said battery confining portion.

6. The power supply unit as defined in claim 5, wherein said valve housing and said battery housing are made from an electrically conductive material such that said valve housing is provided inherently with said housing conductor, and such that said first battery contact is connected electrically to said valve housing via said battery housing.

7. The power supply unit as defined in claim 6, wherein said battery housing has a positioning member made from an insulator material and disposed at a junction of said connecting portion and said battery confining portion, said second battery contact being mounted on said positioning member and having a first portion that extends into said battery confining portion and that is adapted to contact the second terminal of the battery cell, and a second portion that extends into said connecting portion and that contacts said conductive stem body when said battery housing is mounted on said outer end portion of said valve housing.

8. The power supply unit as defined in claim 7, wherein said battery confining portion has a battery seat mounted removably therein, said battery seat being formed from an insulator material and having one side formed with a recess that is adapted to receive the battery cell therein, said first battery contact being provided on said cover member, said first portion of said second battery contact extending into said recess of said battery seat so as to be adapted to contact the second terminal of the battery cell.

14. The power supply unit as defined in claim 6, further comprising a signal antenna having one end connected electrically to said valve housing, and an opposite end adapted to be connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device, said signal antenna being adapted to transmit wirelessly a pressure signal generated by the pressure-sensing device.

9. A power supply unit adapted for use with a pressure-sensing device for a vehicle wheel, the vehicle wheel including a wheel rim and a pneumatic tire mounted on the wheel rim so as to confine an airtight chamber therewith, the pressure-sensing device being mounted on the wheel rim inside the airtight chamber and being concealed by the pneumatic tire, said power supply unit comprising:

a tubular valve housing having an outer end portion, an inner end portion and an intermediate portion between said outer and inner end portions, said valve housing confining a longitudinal air passage that extends from said outer end portions through said inner end portion, said intermediate portion being adapted to be mounted on the wheel rim in an airtight manner such that said inner end portion extends into the airtight chamber and such that said outer end portion extends outwardly of the wheel rim, said valve housing being provided with a housing conductor that extends from said outer end portion to said inner end portion and that is adapted to be connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device;

an air valve member mounted in said air passage of said valve housing and operable so as to control air flow through said air passage, said air valve member including a spring-loaded valve stem with a conductive stem body that is adapted to be connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device, and insulation means for electrically insulating said stem body from said housing conductor; and

a battery housing mounted on said outer end portion of said valve housing and adapted to receive a battery cell therein, said battery housing being provided with electrically isolated first and second battery contacts adapted to connect electrically and respectively with first and second terminals of the battery cell when the battery cell is received in said battery housing, said first and second battery contacts establishing electrical connection with said housing conductor and said conductive stem body, respectively, when said battery housing is mounted on said outer end portion of said valve housing.

said air valve member further including a hollow valve seat mounted in said air passage, said stem body of said valve stem having one end that extends through said valve seat and that is provided with a valve piece, said valve stem further including a coil spring disposed around said stem body inside said valve seat so as to bias said stem body such that said valve piece normally blocks the air flow through said valve seat.

10. The power supply unit as defined in claim 9, wherein said valve seat is made from an insulator material and serves as said insulation means.

11. The power supply unit as defined in claim 9, wherein said valve seat is made from an electrically conductive material and has a seal ring disposed therearound for establishing an airtight seal with said valve housing, said seal ring being formed from an insulator material and serving as said insulation means.

13. A power supply unit adapted for use with a pressure-sensing device for a vehicle wheel, the vehicle wheel including a wheel rim and a pneumatic tire mounted on the wheel rim so as to confine an airtight chamber therewith, the pressure-sensing device being mounted on the wheel rim inside the airtight chamber and being concealed by the pneumatic tire, said power supply unit comprising:

a tubular valve housing having an outer end portion, an inner end portion and an intermediate portion between said outer and inner end portions, said valve housing confining a longitudinal air passage that extends from said outer end portions through said inner end portion, said intermediate portion being adapted to be mounted on the wheel rim in an airtight manner such that said inner end portion extends into the airtight chamber and such that said outer end portion extends outwardly of the wheel rim, said valve housing being provided with a housing conductor that extends from said outer end portion to said inner end portion and that is adapted to be connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device;

an air valve member mounted in said air passage of said valve housing and operable so as to control air flow through said air passage, said air valve member including a spring-loaded valve stem with a conductive stem body that is adapted to be connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device, and insulation means for electrically insulating said stem body from said housing conductor; and

a battery housing mounted on said outer end portion of said valve housing and adapted to receive a battery cell therein, said battery housing being provided with electrically isolated first and second battery contacts adapted to connect electrically and respectively with first and second terminals of the battery cell when the battery cell is received in said battery housing, said first and second battery contacts establishing electrical connection with said housing conductor and said conductive stem body, respectively, when said battery housing is mounted on said outer end portion of said valve housing, said battery housing including a connecting portion for removable mounting on said outer end portion of said valve housing, and a battery confining portion adapted to receive the battery cell therein, said first battery contact being provided in said battery confining portion, said second battery contact being mounted in said battery housing at a junction of said connecting portion and said battery confining portion, said valve housing and said battery housing being made from an electrically conductive material such that said valve housing is provided inherently with said housing conductor, and such that said first battery contact is connected electrically to said valve housing via said battery housing, and

a signal antenna having one end connected electrically to said valve housing, and an opposite end adapted to be connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device, said signal antenna being adapted to transmit wirelessly a pressure signal generated by the pressure-sensing device.