Tire deflection alarm

• US 6,367,528 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Nguyen, Gia Van, Colantonio, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, Michael W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHER, JUSTIN R
• Application Number:
  US09/515,076
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 152/450, 152/518, 152/519, 152/520, 152/418, 152/516, 116/34.R, 731/468, 340/58
• US Class Current: 152/540
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/006 Warning devices, e.g. devices generating noise due to flat or worn tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/063 Generating directly an audible signal by deformation of the tyre by touching the ground B60C23/085

Abstract

A tire assembly (100) comprises a tire (110), a rim (112) having a rim well (124), and an alarm system (114). The tire assembly (100) is characterized by the alarm system (114) having a belt (130) disposed tightly around the rim well (124), a bladder (132a) attached to the belt, and a whistle (136a) within the tire cavity (128).

Claims

1. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly, comprising:

an alarm system disposed within a rim well of a tire assembly, the alarm system having a belt disposed tightly around the rim well, a first bladder attached to the belt, and a counterweight attached to the belt, the bladder and the counterweight being disposed diametrically opposite one another within the tire assembly.

2. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the first bladder has a first noise maker responsive to compression and expansion of the first bladder.

3. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 2, wherein:

the first noise maker is a first whistle.

4. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 3, wherein:

the first whistle emits an audible sound.

5. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 3, wherein:

the first whistle emits an ultrasonic sound.

6. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 2, wherein:

the first noise maker is a percussion noise making mechanism.

12. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 2, wherein:

at least one noise maker is a percussion noise making mechanism.

13. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the alarm system has at least one noise maker responsive to deflection of a tire of the tire assembly to produce a noise;

sensing means disposed outside of the tire assembly, said sensing means being responsive to the noise produced by the at least one noise maker to produce a signal; and

an electronic circuit responsive to the signal from the sensing means.

14. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 13, wherein:

the sensing means is a microphone.

15. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 13, wherein:

the noise maker produces at least a characteristic frequency; and

the electronic circuit is responsive to the characteristic frequency.

16. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 13, wherein:

the at least one noise maker produces periodic noises corresponding to a frequency of rotation of the tire assembly; and

the electronic circuit compares the periodic noises to the frequency of rotation of the tire assembly.

17. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 13, wherein:

at least one noise maker is a percussion noise making mechanism.

18. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 13, wherein:

at least one noise maker is a whistle.

19. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 18, wherein:

the whistle produces an ultrasonic noise.

7. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly, comprising:

an alarm system disposed within a rim well of a tire assembly, the alarm system having a belt disposed tightly around the rim well, a first bladder attached to the belt, and a second bladder attached to the belt, the first and second bladders being disposed diametrically opposite one another within the tire assembly.

8. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly, according to claim 7, wherein:

the first and second bladders have corresponding first and second noise makers responsive to compression and expansion of the first and second bladders, respectively.

9. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 8, wherein:

at least one noise maker is a whistle.

10. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 9, wherein:

the whistle emits an audible noise.

11. A tire deflection alarm in a tire assembly according to claim 9, wherein:

the whistle emits an ultrasonic noise.