Device to encapsulate a pressure sensor

• US 6,516,673 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Tomaszewski, Walter, Weitzenhof, David A., Koch, Russell W.
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/943,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20020029628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/465, 73/8, 73/9, 737/56, 152/64, 152/123, 152/152.1, 152/151, 152/367, 152/539, 152/540, 152/543-547
• US Class Current: 73/756
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2241 used in or for vehicle tyres

Abstract

A device for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire with an encapsulation material includes an encapsulation body having an encapsulation chamber. The monitoring device has at least a pressure sensor and an antenna. A damming element is carried by the encapsulation body in an adjustable manner such that the damming element prevents the pressure sensor from being clogged with the encapsulating material when the monitoring device is encapsulated.

Claims

1. A device for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire with an encapsulation material, the monitoring device having at least a pressure sensor, the device for encapsulating comprising:

an encapsulation body having an encapsulation chamber; and

a damming element carried by said encapsulation body, said damming element being adapted to prevent the encapsulation material from clogging the pressure sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the encapsulation body includes a first body half and a second body half, said body halves cooperating to define said encapsulation chamber when said body halves are connected to each other.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein one of said body halves includes a textured surface that forms at least a part of said encapsulation chamber when said body halves are connected.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the encapsulation body further includes a top plate and a bottom plate, said plates being connected to said body halves to further define said encapsulation chamber.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said top plate has an opening defining an edge, said edge of said opening forming a lip over at least a portion of said encapsulation chamber when said top plate is connected to said body halves.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein at least one of said body halves includes a channel that is adapted to receive at least a portion of the monitoring device to at least partially hold the monitoring device in a floating disposition within said encapsulation chamber.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein both of said body halves include a partial channel portion, said partial channel portions cooperating to form said channel when said body halves are connected to form said encapsulation chamber.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said damming element is adjustably carried by said encapsulation body such that the position of said damming element with respect to said encapsulation body may be adjusted.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said damming element is threadably carried by said encapsulation body such that rotation of said damming element adjusts the position of said damming element with respect to said encapsulation body.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising an outer O-ring disposed between said damming element and said encapsulation body.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising an inner O-ring seat formed in said damming element, an inner O-ring disposed in said seat, said inner O-ring adapted to engage the pressure sensor on the monitoring device when the monitoring device is disposed in said encapsulation chamber.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said damming element is a tube having a longitudinal passageway.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a breathing tube disposed in said longitudinal passageway, said breathing tube adapted to engage the pressure sensor when the monitoring device is disposed in said encapsulation chamber.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising an inner O-ring disposed between said breathing tube and said damming element, said inner O-ring adapted to engage the pressure sensor when the monitoring device is in the encapsulation chamber.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the damming element includes an inner O-ring seat and an outer wall, said inner O-ring seat being disposed adjacent said longitudinal passageway and radially inward of said outer wall.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said encapsulation body having an outer O-ring seat, an outer O-ring disposed in said outer O-ring seat, said outer O-ring contacting said outer wall of said damming element to at least partially seal said encapsulation chamber.

17. A device for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire with an encapsulation material, the monitoring device having at least a pressure sensor, the device for encapsulating comprising:

an encapsulation body defining an encapsulation chamber; and

damming means carried by said encapsulation body for preventing the encapsulation material from clogging the pressure sensor when encapsulation material is placed into the encapsulation chamber to encapsulate the monitoring device.