Air pressure detection device for a wheel

• US 6,825,759 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Harada, Tomoyuki, Yamagiwa, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/058,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 340/445, 340/448, 340/427, 340/447, 340/442, 343/700.MS, 343/711, 343/712, 343/713, 343/714-717, 731/46, 731/462, 731/463, 731/464, 731/465, 731/468, 116/34.R, 116/34.A, 116/34.B
• US Class Current: 340/445
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/006 having two wheels only
• 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 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders

Abstract

A wheel includes a disk form wheel, a tire fitted to the wheel, and a tire tube contained between the wheel and the tire, and is provided with an air pressure detection device intermediately disposed between the tire tube and the wheel. A metallic line form reception antenna is inserted by molding into a front fender. Since the distance from a transmission means fitted to an air pressure sensor to the reception antenna is reduced, reception sensitivity can be enhanced. In addition, since the reception antenna can be pitched to about the size of the fender, the reception sensitivity can be enhanced. Further, since jigs for fixing the antenna are needless, a reduction in the number of component parts can be contrived, and the antenna can be fixed without spoiling the appearance.

Claims

1. An air pressure detection device for a wheel of a vehicle comprising:

an air pressure sensor for detecting the air pressure of a tire;

detection and transmission means for emitting pressure information detected by said air pressure sensor provided on a side of said wheel of said vehicle, the detection and transmission means being fixed to a rim of the wheel by a screw shaft and nut, the detection and transmission means being in a position different from an air valve; and

reception means provided on a side of the vehicle body;

wherein a reception antenna of said reception means is inserted by molding into a fender formed of an insulating resin.

2. The air pressure detection device for a wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reception antenna is a metallic antenna, the reception antenna being stretched in a front-rear direction of the fender.

3. The air pressure detection device for a wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reception antenna is an electrically conductive resin antenna.

4. The air pressure detection device for a wheel as set forth in claim 1, and further including a pressure-receiving plate having a surface facing an outside surface of a tire tube, said pressure-receiving plate being operatively mounted relative to said air pressure sensor for enabling said pressure sensor to detect the pressure of the tire tube.

5. The air pressure detection device for a wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detection and transmission means includes a detection circuit and a transmission circuit for detecting pressure from the air pressure sensor, transforming the pressure into an electrical signal and emitting the electrical signal through electromagnetic waves to the reception antenna.

6. The air pressure detection device for a wheel as set forth in claim 4, wherein said detection and transmission means and said pressure-receiving plate are sequentially laid on each other in this order in the radial direction from the rim of the tire towards the tire tube.

7. The air pressure detection device for a wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reception antenna is disposed in close proximity to said transmission means for increasing sensitivity.

8. An air pressure detection device adapted for use with a wheel of a vehicle comprising:

an air pressure sensor operatively connected to a tire for detecting air pressure;

detection and transmission means for transmitting pressure information detected by said air pressure sensor;

a case for housing the air pressure sensor, the case being provided with a screw shaft for penetrating through the rim;

a nut fastened onto the screw shaft, whereby the case is fitted to the rim; and

reception means adapted to be provided on a vehicle body;

wherein said reception means is inserted by molding into a fender, said reception means being disposed in close proximity to said detection and transmission means for increasing sensitivity.

9. The air pressure detection device for a wheel as set forth in claim 8, wherein said reception means is a metallic line-form reception antenna.

10. The air pressure detection device for a wheel as set forth in claim 8, wherein said reception means is an electrically conductive resin antenna.

11. The air pressure detection device for a wheel as set forth in claim 8, and further including a pressure-receiving plate operatively having a surface facing an outside surface of a tire tube, said pressure-receiving plate being operatively mounted relative to said air pressure sensor for enabling said pressure sensor to detect the pressure of the tire tube.

12. The air pressure detection device for a wheel as set forth in claim 8, wherein said detection and transmission means includes a detection circuit and a transmission circuit for detecting pressure from the air pressure sensor, transforming the pressure into an electrical signal and emitting the electrical signal through electromagnetic waves to the reception antenna.

13. The air pressure detection device for a wheel as set forth in claim 11, wherein the detection and transmissions means and said pressure-receiving plate are sequentially laid on each other in this order in the radial direction from the rim of the tire towards a tire tube.