System to monitor conditions in a fluid-containing member

• US 6,407,662 B1
• Filed: 04/29/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fernando Gomez De Sebastian
• Original Assignee: Fernando Gomez De Sebastian
• Inventors: Gomez De Sebastian, Fernando
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/301,804
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/447, 340/431, 340/445, 340/459, 340/457, 340/438, 340/539, 340/443, 340/448, 340/626
• US Class Current: 340/447
• 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 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0486 comprising additional sensors in the wheel or tyre mounted monitoring device, e.g. movement sensors, microphones or earth magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0488 Movement sensor, e.g. for sensing angular speed, acceleration or centripetal force
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber

Abstract

The valve assembly according to the present invention includes two valves, an inner valve and an outer valve that cooperate to control the fluid flow in fluid-containing member such as a vehicle tire. The outer valve cooperates with the inner valve to control the flow of fluid in and out of the fluid-containing member. The valve assembly includes an energy source such as a battery between the two valves. During normal operation, the outer valve is closed and prevents the flow of fluid out of the fluid-containing member. If the outer valve is opened, the inner valve is also open to permit the fluid flow in the fluid-containing member. If the energy source is removed, the inner valve component is closed and prevents fluid flow out of the fluid-containing member. The energy source in the valve assembly can be conveniently replaced without the need to deflate or otherwise dismantle the fluid-containing member. This is particularly advantageous when the fluid-containing member is a vehicle tire. By being located inside the valve assembly, the energy source is protected from hazards such as water, dirt, and physical forces. The energy source can be replaced without deflating the tire. The tire can be filled in the normal manner since the inner valve is opened when the outer valve is opened. The valve assembly and energy source are typically part of an electric circuit that can be mounted on a support plate that is attached to the base of the inner valve.

Claims

1. A valve assembly for control of fluid flow in or out of fluid-containing member comprising,

main body member 200 having a passageway 201 extending therethrough,

outer body member 300 having a passageway extending therethrough and which is connected to a first section of main body member 200,

insulating member 205 having a passageway extending therethrough and which is connected to a second section of main body member 200,

said passageways of main body member 200, outer body member 300 and insulating member 205 cooperating to define a continuous passageway for fluid flow,

an inner valve 206 engaging said insulating member 205 so as to control the flow of fluid into or out of said continuous passageway, and

an outer valve 301 engaging said outer body member 300 so as to control the flow of fluid into or out of said continuous passageway.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1 that further comprises an electrical energy source 4 located within said continuous passageway and operatively connected to said inner valve 206 and said outer valve 301, wherein the outer valve 301, outer body member 300, the inner valve 206, and main body member 200 cooperate with energy source 4 to form an electrical circuit.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 2 further comprising a pressure sensor or a temperature sensor, a microcontroller, and a radio frequency transmitter that receive electrical energy from said energy source.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 2 wherein the fluid-containing member is a vehicle tire and the energy source is a battery.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 4 wherein the electrical circuit further comprises at least one of a battery charging device, a tire wear detector, a tire expiration detector, and a wheel movement detector.

6. The valve assembly according to claim 2 further comprising a support plate 5 attached to the main body member 200.

7. The valve assembly according to claim 6 further comprising a pressure sensor or a temperature sensor, a microcontroller, and a radio frequency transmitter that are attached to support plate 5 and receive electrical energy from said energy source.

8. A system for monitoring conditions inside fluid-containing member comprising a valve assembly 1 operatively connected to

a transmitter module 6 located inside the fluid-containing member for transmitting signals and

a receiver module 30 for receiving transmission of said signals from said transmitter module 6 wherein said valve assembly 1 comprises,

main body member 200 having a passageway 201 extending therethrough,

outer body member 300 having a passageway extending therethrough and which is connected to a first section of main body member 200,

insulating member 205 having a passageway extending therethrough and which is releasably connected to a second section of main body member 200,

said passageways of main body member 200, outer body member 300 and insulating member 205 cooperating to define a continuous passageway for fluid flow,

an inner valve 206 engaging said insulating member 205 so as to control the flow of fluid into or out of said continuous passageway,

an outer valve 301 engaging said outer body member 300 so as to control the flow of fluid into or out of said continuous passageway, and

an electrical energy source 4 located in said continuous passageway and operatively connected to said inner valve 206 and said outer valve 301,

wherein the outer valve mechanism 301, outer body member 300, the inner valve 206, main body member 200, and energy source 4 cooperate to provide electrical energy to transmitter module 6.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein said transmitter module comprises a microcontroller, a radio frequency transmitter, and any of a pressure sensor or temperature sensor.

10. The system according to claim 8 wherein said fluid-containing member is a tire and said energy source is a battery.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein said transmitter module further comprises any of a battery charging device, a tire wear detector, a tire expiration detector, and a wheel movement detector.

12. The system according to claim 8 wherein the signals transmitted by the transmitter module are radio waves.

13. The system according to claim 8 wherein said receiver module comprises a radio frequency receiver, a control bus, and a microcontroller.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein said fluid-containing member is a vehicle tire and said receiver module further comprises a memory unit that stores the identification code for the vehicle tire.

15. The system according to claim 8 that further comprises a main module for receiving data communications from the receiver module and for displaying information obtained from said data communications.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein said main module comprises a microcontroller, control bus, and display device.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein said main module further comprises a memory unit for storing data communications received from the receiver module.

18. The system according to claim 16 wherein said main module further comprises an alarm unit that generates an alarm signal depending upon the result of the comparison of data received from the receiver unit with values that have been previously programmed into the main module.

19. The system according to claim 16 wherein the main module further comprises an input device and an outlet port.