Measuring device and sensor for contactlessly measuring tire forces

• US 6,612,164 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2002
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Meins, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Marissa
• Application Number:
  US10/049,077
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46--468, 738/62, 340/442, 340/443, 340/438, 378/61, 356/139
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/066 by monitoring wheel-centre to ground distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/027 using light, e.g. infrared, ultraviolet or holographic techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/06 Steering behaviour; Rolling behaviour

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sensor as well as a measuring device with a sensor of this type for contactlessly detecting the change in position of a measuring point on or in a tire on the basis of a force acting on the tire of a wheel, in particular during driving, wherein the sensor is fixed in a stationary position in relation to the rim of the wheel. So as to be able to measure, in a simple manner, the transversal and longitudinal forces acting on the tire during driving, the sensor detects the change in position of the measuring point in the longitudinal or transverse direction (y,x) in relation to the running surface of the tire.

Claims

1. Method of contactlessly detecting the change in position of a measuring point on or in a tire on the basis of a force acting on the tire, comprising the steps of:

rotating a sensor and a measuring point with the rotation of a tire rim

arranging a source of radiation to irradiate from or to irradiate upon said measuring point,

using the sensor to detect the irradiation irradiating from or upon said measuring point such that said sensor detects the change in position of the measuring point in a longitudinal or transverse direction in relation to a running surface of the tire.

2. Method according to claim 1, further including the step of mounting the sensor on the rim of the wheel.

3. Method according to claim 1, further including the step of using the sensor to detect the distance between the measuring point and the sensor or the change in position of the measuring point in the radial direction.

4. Method according to claim 1, further including the step of arranging said measuring point on an inner surface of the tire facing towards a rim of the tire proximate a the running surface of the tire.

5. Method according to claim 1, further including the step of using the sensor to cyclically detect the change in position of one or several measuring points on the tire simultaneously or cyclically, with the wheel always assuming the same angle-of-rotation position during the cyclically repeated detection of the change in position of a certain measuring point.

6. Method according to claim 1, further including the step of using the sensor to detect the change in position while the measuring point passes through the tire contact area.

7. Method according to claim 1, further including the step of using optical radiation whose state change is detected by sensor during driving.

8. Method according to claim 1, further including the step of using a marking on said measuring point that can be distinguished from its surroundings through the radiation of the sensor.

9. A measuring device for measuring the change in position of a measuring point on or in a tire on the basis of a force acting on the tire, comprising:

a sensor attached to at least one of the tire, a wheel of the tire or, a valve of the tire, wherein said sensor rotates with said tire rim,

a reference point associated with at least one of the tire, the tire wheel, or the tire valve, wherein said reference point rotates with said tire rim,

a radiating source for irradiating said measuring point wherein said sensor senses the radiation irradiated upon said measuring point or radiation irradiated from said measuring point such that said sensor detects a change in position of the measuring point in a longitudinal or transverse direction in relation to a running surface of said tire.

a reference point associate with at least one of the tire, the tire wheel, or the tire volve, wherein said reference point rotates with said tire rim,

a radiating source for irradiating said measuring paint wherein said sensor senses the radiation irradiate upon said measuring point or radiation irradiated from said measuring point such that said sensor detects a change in position of the measuring point in a longitudinal or transverse direction in relation to a running surface of said tire.

10. Measuring device according to claim 9, wherein the sensor generates output signals which contain information on the longitudinal, transversal, and radial forces acting on the tire.

11. Measuring device with a sensor according to claim 10, wherein the output signals of the sensor contain tire pressure information.

12. Measuring device according to claim 9, wherein said sensor is connected to the tire valve.