System for checking the air pressure in the tires of a motor vehicle

• US 6,829,926 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2001
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: Caretta, Renato, Cantu, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US09/998,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46--468, 152/415-419
• US Class Current: 73/146.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• 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 29/04 Connection to tyres or inner tubes

Abstract

A system for checking at least one status parameter of a tire for a motor vehicle includes at least one wheel, including a tire mounted on a rim, an inner tube inserted into a cavity defined between the tire and the rim, a first device for measuring the at least one status parameter associated with the at least one wheel, a second device for transmitting a signal indicating a value measured by the first device, a third device for receiving the signal, and a fourth device for sensing movement of the at least one wheel and for enabling energization of the second device when the at least one wheel is moving, wherein the first, second, and fourth devices are housed in a container inserted into a wall of the inner tube in a radially-inner position of the inner tube respect to the at least one wheel.

Claims

1. System for checking at least one status parameter of a tyre for a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one tyre wheel comprising a tyre mounted on a mounting rim;

an inner tube inserted into a cavity defined between the tyre and the rim;

a first device for measuring the at least one status parameter associated with the at least one wheel;

a second device for transmitting a signal indicating a value measured by the first device, wherein the second device comprises a battery;

a third device for receiving the signal; and

a forth device for sensing movement of the at least one wheel and for enabling energization of the second device, when the at least one wheel is moving;

wherein the first device, the second device, and the forth device are housed in a container inserted into a wall of the inner tube in a radially-inner position of the inner tube with respect to the at least one wheel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth device is an acceleration switch.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is inserted into a bushing fixed in the wall of the inner tube.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a pressure sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a temperature sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second device further comprises a fifth device for measuring a voltage of the power supply battery, and wherein the second device transmits a value of the measured voltage using a radio-frequency signal.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sixth device for displaying the signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the inner tube comprises at least two compartments separate from each other and each provided with a first device.

9. A wheel for vehicles, comprising:

a tyre mounted on a rim;

an inner tube inserted into a cavity defined between the tyre and the rim;

a first device for measuring the at least one status parameter associated with the wheel;

a second device for transmitting a signal indicating a value measured by the first device, wherein the second device comprises a battery; and

a third device for sensing movement of the wheel and for enabling energization of the second device, when the wheel is moving;

wherein the first device, the second device, and the third device are housed in a container inserted into a wall of the inner tube in a radially-inner position of the inner tube with respect to the wheel.

10. The wheel of claim 9, wherein the third device is an acceleration switch.

11. The wheel of claim 9, wherein the first device comprises a pressure sensor.

12. The wheel of claim 9, wherein the first device comprises a temperature senior.

13. A wheel for vehicles, comprising:

a tyre mounted on a rim;

a first device for measuring the at least one status parameter associated with the wheel;

a second device for transmitting a signal indicating a value measured by the first device, wherein the second device comprises a battery;

a third device for sensing movement of the wheel designed to connect the battery to the second device when the wheel is moving;

second device, when the wheel is moving;

wherein the first device, the second device, and the third device are housed in a container, and

wherein the container is inserted into the rim from an outside of the rim by screwing the container into a threaded bushing.

14. The wheel of claim 13, wherein the third device is an acceleration switch.

15. The wheel of claim 13, wherein the first device comprise a pressure sensor.

16. The wheel of claim 13, wherein the first device comprises a temperature sensor.