Tire pressure maintenance and monitoring system

• US 6,744,356 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Parks, Brent, Hamilton, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/193,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/443, 340/444, 340/445, 340/446, 340/447, 340/448, 731/464, 731/465, 417/233, 417/470, 417/328, 152/418, 280/304.2
• US Class Current: 340/444
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/126 the pumps being mounted on the wheel rims

Abstract

A generator system powered by a fluid fly-wheel is disclosed that generates electric current to power a tire pressure maintenance and monitoring system. A vehicle wheel including a tire and a rim. A sealed tube containing fluid is fixed around the rim. When the rim accelerates or decelerates, the fluid within the tube moves within the tube a turbine in communication with the fluid is turned by the moving fluid within the tube. The turning turbine drives an electric generator to produce an electric current through induction. In certain configurations, the turning turbine rotates gears to drive a mechanical pump. The electric generator, or mechanical pump may be used to add air pressure to the tire when a sensor indicates low air pressure.

Claims

1. A generator, comprising:

a sealed tube rotatable about an axis;

a fluid disposed within the tube such that the fluid moves within the tube when the tube accelerates about the axis; and

a turbine in communication with the fluid, the turbine being rotated by the moving fluid within the tube.

2. A generator as in claim 1, wherein when the tube and fluid rotate about the axis at a constant rotational velocity, a change in rotational velocity of the tube causes the fluid to continue moving within the tube and rotate the turbine.

3. A generator as in claim 1, further comprising:

an electric generator connected to the turbine to produce an electric current through induction;

an electricity storage device electrically coupled to the electric generator to store the electric current;

an electric pump coupled to the electricity storage device and activated by a pressure sensor when air pressure within a pressurized chamber drops below a predetermined level, the pump increasing the air pressure within the pressurized chamber to the pre-determined level.

4. A generator as in claim 3, wherein the electricity storage device comprises a battery.

5. A generator as in claim 3, wherein the electricity storage device comprises a capacitor.

6. A generator as in claim 1, further comprising:

a spur gear connected to the turbine; and

a piston of a pneumatic pump, the piston being connected by a crank to a drive gear coupled to the spur gear;

the piston being pumped when the spur gear is turned by the turbine.

7. A generator as in claim 6, wherein the piston comprises a temperature sensitive spring that biases the piston against compression;

the bias force of the spring changing as the ambient temperature changes.

8. A generator as in claim 6, wherein the pump is configured to maintain a constant pressure within a pneumatic pressurized chamber.

9. A generator as in claim 1, wherein the tube is toroidal.

10. A generator, comprising:

a sealed tube rotatable about an axis;

a fluid disposed within the tube such that the fluid moves within the tube when the tube accelerates about the axis;

a pair of opposing conductive coils in close proximity to the tube;

a magnetic turbine within the tube between the conductive coils, the magnetic turbine having a longitudinal axis; and

wherein the moving fluid within the tube rotates the magnetic turbine about the longitudinal axis to produce an electric current in the conductive coils.

11. A generator as in claim 10, further comprising:

an electricity storage device to store the electric current, the storage device being electrically coupled to electric leads from the coils;

an electric pneumatic pump coupled to the storage device and activated when air pressure within a pressurized chamber drops below a predetermined level, the pump increasing the air pressure within the pressurized chamber to the pre-determined level.

12. A generator as in claim 11, wherein the electricity storage device comprises a battery.

13. A generator as in claim 11, wherein the electricity storage device comprises a capacitor.

14. A generator as in claim 11, further comprising:

an intake valve in fluid communication with an ambient air supply and the pump;

an output valve in fluid communication with the pump and the pressurized chamber;

wherein rotating the tube about the axis with at least a pre-determined velocity opens the intake valve to allow the pump to pump ambient air through the output valve and into the pressurized chamber.

15. A generator as in claim 14, wherein the intake valve comprises a stem for manually opening the intake valve and the generator further comprises:

a tire valve in fluid communication with the intake valve and the pump, the tire valve having a linkage;

wherein moving the stem opens the intake valve and moves the linkage which opens the tire valve.

16. A generator as in claim 11, further comprising:

a controller coupled to the pump;

a pressure sensor in communication with the controller, the pressure sensor configured to monitor air pressure within the pressurized chamber;

a temperature sensor and an altitude sensor in communication with the controller; and

wherein the controller collects readings from the pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and altitude sensor and activates the pump based on the readings.

17. A generator as in claim 16, wherein the tube is toroidal.

18. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system, comprising:

a vehicle wheel comprising a tire and a rim;

a sealed tube fixed to the rim;

a fluid disposed within the tube such that the fluid moves within the tube when the rim rotationally accelerates;

a turbine in communication with the fluid inside the tube, the turbine being turned by the moving fluid; and

a pneumatic pump fixed to the rim and coupled to the turbine, the pump being configured to maintain constant air pressure within the tire when the turbine rotates.

19. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 18, further comprising:

an intake valve in fluid communication with an ambient air supply and the pump;

an output valve in fluid communication with the pump and the tire;

wherein rotating the tube about the axis with at least a pre-determined velocity opens the intake valve to allow the pump to pump ambient air through the output valve and into the tire.

20. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 19, wherein the intake valve comprises a stem for manually opening the intake valve and the system further comprises:

a tire valve in fluid communication with the intake valve and the pump, the tire valve having a linkage;

wherein moving the stem opens the intake valve and moves the linkage which opens the tire valve.

21. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 18, wherein the pneumatic pump comprises:

a piston coupled by one or more gears to the turbine, the piston being pumped when the one or more gears are turned by the turbine.

22. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 21, wherein the piston is biased by a temperature sensitive spring that biases the piston against compression, the bias force of the spring changing as the ambient temperature changes.

23. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 22, wherein when the tube and fluid rotate about an axle of the wheel at a constant rotational velocity a change in rotational velocity of the tube causes the fluid to continue moving within the tube and rotate the turbine.

24. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system, comprising:

a vehicle wheel comprising a tire and a rim;

a sealed tube fixed to the rim;

a fluid disposed within the tube such that the fluid moves within the tube when the rim rotationally accelerates;

a turbine in communication with the fluid inside the tube, the turbine being turned by the moving fluid; and

an electric generator connected to the turbine to produce an electric current through induction.

25. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 24, further comprising:

a battery electrically coupled to the electric generator to store the electric current.

26. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 25, further comprising:

an electric pneumatic pump electrically coupled to the battery and the electric generator, the pump being activated by a tire pressure sensor when air pressure within the tire drops below a pre-determined level.

27. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 26, wherein when the tube and fluid rotate about an axle of the wheel at a constant rotational velocity a change in rotational velocity of the tube causes the fluid to continue moving within the tube and rotate the turbine.

28. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 27, further comprising:

an intake valve in fluid communication with an ambient air supply and the pump;

an output valve in fluid communication with the pump and the tire;

wherein rotating the tube about the axis with at least a pre-determined velocity opens the intake valve to allow the pump to pump ambient air through the output valve and into the tire.

29. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 28, wherein the intake valve comprises a stem for manually opening the intake valve and the system further comprises:

a tire valve in fluid communication with the intake valve and the pump, the tire valve having a linkage;

wherein moving the stem opens the intake valve and moves the linkage which opens the tire valve.

30. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 27, further comprising:

a controller coupled to the electric generator, the battery, the pump and the tire pressure sensor;

the tire pressure sensor monitoring air pressure within the tire;

a temperature sensor and an altitude sensor in communication with the controller; and

wherein the controller collects readings from the tire pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and altitude sensor and activates the pump based on the readings.

31. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 30, further comprising:

a speed sensor coupled to the controller which allows the controller to activate the pump based on speed readings.

32. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 30, further comprising:

a first transceiver coupled to the controller;

a second transceiver coupled to a vehicle control system;

wherein the first transceiver and second transceiver communicate one or more signals; and

wherein the vehicle control system presents signals representing the readings to a driver using a display device.

33. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 32, further comprising an electric charge sensor for monitoring an amount of charge in the battery, the electric charge sensor being coupled to the battery and the controller, the controller using the electric charge sensor to maintain a level of charge in the battery at least sufficient to transmit a tire pressure reading to the second transceiver.

34. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 32, wherein the vehicle control system automatically adjusts the pre-determined air pressure level for the tire based on the readings, the predetermined air pressure level being communicated to the controller by way of the first and second transceivers.

35. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 34, further comprising a selector coupled to the vehicle control system to allow a user to adjust the pre-determined air pressure level for the tire, the pre-determined air pressure level being communicated to the controller by way of the first and second transceivers.

36. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 32, wherein the first transceiver and second transceiver communicate via radio frequency (RF) signals.

37. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 32, wherein the display device displays numerical readings.

38. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 32, wherein the display device activates an audible alert.

39. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 32, wherein the display device illuminates a notification light.

40. A self-contained tire pressure maintenance system as in claim 32, wherein the tube is toroidal.