Pressure sensor intended to be mounted in a tire, and support therefor

• US 6,862,929 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Luce, Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US10/281,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20030079537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/462, 731/463, 731/468, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/442
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• 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 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber

Abstract

This pressure sensor (8) is intended to be placed in a tire mounted on a rim (2) equipped with a valve (6) allowing air to be let into and removed from the tire. It comprises a support (22) fixed at the level of the valve (6) by a screw or the like. The support (22) comprises a wall (30) for bearing on the valve (6), this wall (30) being elastically articulated to the rest of the support (22).

Claims

1. A pressure sensor (8) intended to be placed in a tire mounted on a rim (2) equipped with a valve (6) allowing air to be put into and let out of the tire, the sensor (8) comprising a support (22) fixed at the level of the valve (6),

the support (22) comprising a sensor housing (25) and a wall (30) for bearing on the valve (6), this wall (30) being elastically articulated to the housing (25), whereby the sensor housing (25) is tiltable relative to a longitudinal axis of the valve (6).

2. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support (22) is made of synthetic material and in that the bearing wall (30) forms just one piece with the support (22).

3. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elastic articulation (32) between the bearing wall (30) and the rest of the support is produced by thinning the material, giving it elasticity.

6. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support (22) further comprises a lip (34) placed on the opposite side to the bearing wall (30) and intended to come into contact with the rim (2) when the sensor (8) is in the mounted position.

7. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lip (34) forms just one piece with the support (22).

8. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein an edge of the bearing wall (30) opposite the elastic articulation (32) is connected to the rest of the support by a bellows (26).

9. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein an edge of the bearing wall (30) opposite the elastic articulation (32) is connected to the rest of the support by a bellows (26).

10. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein a space defined by the bearing wall (30), the bellows (26) and the housing is closed at both ends.

11. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein a space defined by the bearing wall (30), the bellows (26) and the housing is closed at both ends.

12. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support (22) further comprises a lip (34) placed on the opposite side to the bearing wall (30) and intended to come into contact with the rim (2) when the sensor (8) is in the mounted position.

13. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support (22) further comprises a lip (34) placed on the opposite side to the bearing wall (30) and intended to come into contact with the rim (2) when the sensor (8) is in the mounted position.

4. A pressure sensor (8) intended to be placed in a tire mounted on a rim (2) equipped with a valve (6) allowing air to be put into and let out of the tire, the sensor (8) comprising a support (22) fixed at the level of the valve (6),

wherein the support (22) comprises a wall (30) for bearing on the valve (6), this wall (30) being elastically articulated to the rest of the support (22), and wherein an edge of the bearing wall (30) opposite the elastic articulation (32) is connected to the rest of the support by a bellows (26).

5. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 4, wherein a space defined by the bearing wall (30), the bellows (26) and the rest of the support is closed at both ends.

14. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support (22) further comprises a lip (34) placed on the opposite side to the bearing wall (30) and intended to come into contact with the rim (2) when the sensor (8) is in the mounted position.

15. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the support (22) further comprises a lip (34) placed on the opposite side to the bearing wall (30) and intended to come into contact with the rim (2) when the sensor (8) is in the mounted position.

16. The pressure sensor as claimed in claim 14, wherein the lip (34) forms just one piece with the support (22).

17. A sensor for sensing pressure inside a tire having a valve, the sensor comprising:

a pressure sensor inside a housing; and

a wall attached to said housing by a flexible portion so that said housing is tiltable relative to said wall, said wall having a first opening arranged and adapted to receive a portion of a valve inside a tire whose pressure is to be sensed.

18. The sensor of claim 17, wherein said wall further comprises a hinge and an extension connected to said hinge, said extension having a second opening that is also arranged and adapted to receive a portion of a valve.

19. The sensor of claim 18, wherein said first opening is round and said second opening is oblong.

20. The sensor of claim 18, wherein said wall and said extension more rigid than said flexible portion.