Non-attached monitoring assembly for pneumatic tire
First Claim
1. In combination, a pneumatic tire, a rim, and a monitoring assembly;
- the pneumatic tire having a body mounted on the rim to form a chamber between the body and the rim;
the monitoring assembly being loosely disposed within the chamber whereby the monitoring assembly moves freely within the chamber being restrained only by the tire body and the rim;
the monitoring device having a body with at least a pressure sensor connected to the body;
the body defining a breathing tube that provides communication between the pressure sensor and the atmosphere surrounding the protective body; and
a transfer gel substantially filling the breathing tube.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire includes an electronic monitoring device having at least one sensor disposed in a protective body. The monitoring assembly is configured to float on a variety of liquids that are typically disposed within a tire. The protective body is liquid-tight and includes an encapsulation layer that encapsulates the substrate and sensors, a cushion, and a skin on the outside of the cushion. The protective body is substantially spherical allowing the assembly to roll about the inside of a tire without being permanently connected to the tire. The monitoring assembly is simply placed in a tire before the tire is mounted on a vehicle rim and allowed to move about loosely in the tire chamber when the tire is in use.
15 Citations
23 Claims
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1. In combination, a pneumatic tire, a rim, and a monitoring assembly;
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the pneumatic tire having a body mounted on the rim to form a chamber between the body and the rim;
the monitoring assembly being loosely disposed within the chamber whereby the monitoring assembly moves freely within the chamber being restrained only by the tire body and the rim;
the monitoring device having a body with at least a pressure sensor connected to the body;
the body defining a breathing tube that provides communication between the pressure sensor and the atmosphere surrounding the protective body; and
a transfer gel substantially filling the breathing tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
the monitoring assembly having a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of the liquid such that the monitoring assembly will float in the liquid.
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3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the body of the monitoring device includes a liquid-tight layer.
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4. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a diaphragm extending across the breathing tube.
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5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is at least partially surrounded by an encapsulation layer.
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6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the encapsulation layer is formed from a substantially rigid encapsulation material.
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7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the encapsulation material is an epoxy.
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8. The combination of claim 5, further comprising a cushion layer surrounding the encapsulation layer.
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9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the cushion material is a soft rubber.
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10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the cushion material is a foam.
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11. The combination of claim 8, further comprising a skin layer substantially surrounding the cushion layer.
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12. The combination of claim 11, further comprising a pair of wings extending outwardly from the monitoring assembly.
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13. The combination of claim 12, further comprising an antenna connected to the monitoring assembly, the antenna disposed in at least one of the wings.
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14. In combination, a pneumatic tire, a rim, and a monitoring assembly;
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the pneumatic tire having a body mounted on a rim to form a chamber between the body and said rim;
the monitoring assembly being loosely disposed within the chamber whereby the monitoring assembly moves freely within the chamber being restrained only by the tire body and the rim;
the monitoring device having a body with at least a sensor connected to the body; and
the body of said monitoring device including a cushion layer at least partially surrounding the sensor to protect the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In combination, a pneumatic tire, a rim, and a monitoring assembly;
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the pneumatic tire having a body mounted on a rim to form a chamber between the body and the rim;
the monitoring assembly being loosely disposed within the chamber whereby the monitoring assembly moves freely within the chamber being restrained by the tire body and the rim;
the monitoring device having a body with at least one sensor connected to the body; and
the body of the monitoring device including means for cushioning the sensor to protect the sensor while the monitoring device is moving within the pneumatic tire. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification