Tire pressure control arrangement for a motor vehicle

• US 6,941,989 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental AG
• Original Assignee: Continental AG
• Inventors: Dreilich, Ludwig, Grotendorst, Jörg
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz F.
• Application Number:
  US10/462,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20030234066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 152/416, 152/415, 152/417, 152/418, 152/419, 152/426, 152/427, 152/429, 737/60, 731/46, 734/162, 340/442, 340/438, 340/443, 340/444, 340/446, 340/447, 340/449, 340/665, 340/666, 702/138, 702/140
• US Class Current: 152/415
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00372 characterised by fluid diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/52 in tyre

Abstract

A tire pressure control arrangement for a motor vehicle monitors the air pressure of at least one pneumatic tire and a signal is outputted from the arrangement when, in at least one tire of the motor vehicle, the air pressure drops below a lower threshold value or exceeds an upper threshold value. The lower and/or upper threshold value(s) are set in dependence upon the laden state of the motor vehicle. The laden state is determined with the aid of an air suspension system and the setting takes place automatically with the aid of the determined laden state.

Claims

1. A tire pressure control arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

means for monitoring the air pressure in at least one pneumatic tire of said motor vehicle to obtain a measured pressure;

means for comparing said measured pressure to a lower threshold value or to an upper threshold value;

means for outputting a signal when the air pressure in said at least one pneumatic tire drops below said lower threshold value or exceeds said upper threshold value;

an air suspension system including means for determining the laden state of said motor vehicle; and

,

means for automatically setting at least one of said threshold values in dependence upon said laden state of said motor vehicle so as to permit said signal outputting means to output a signal when the reset upper threshold value is exceeded or there is a drop below the reset lower threshold value.

2. The tire pressure control arrangement of claim 1, wherein a renewed setting of said threshold values takes place each time said motor vehicle is used.

3. The tire pressure control arrangement of claim 1, wherein a renewed setting of said threshold values is made only when the instantaneous laden state deviates by more than a pregiven amount from the laden state for which the threshold values were last set.

4. The tire pressure control arrangement of claim 1, further comprising

means for controlling the air pressure in at least one of the tires of said motor vehicle;

and,

means for initiating the control of the air pressure when the air pressure drops below said lower threshold value or exceeds said upper threshold value.

9. The tire pressure control arrangement of claim 1, wherein said arrangement includes a control unit storing said upper and lower threshold values;

and, said upper and lower threshold values function exclusively to permit a comparison of said measured pressure thereto.

5. A tire pressure control arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

means for monitoring the air pressure in at least one pneumatic tire of said vehicle;

means for outputting a signal when the air pressure in said at least one pneumatic tire drops below a lower threshold value or exceeds an upper threshold value;

an air suspension system including means for determining the laden state of said motor vehicle;

means for automatically resetting at least one of said threshold values in dependence upon said laden state of said motor vehicle so as to permit said signal outputting means to output a signal when the reset threshold value is exceeded or there is a drop therebelow;

a first central unit incorporating said means for automatically setting said threshold values;

said air suspension system including a second central unit incorporating said means for determining said laden state of said motor vehicle; and

,

said air suspension system further including means for transmitting the determined laden state to said first central unit wherein the threshold values are determined.

6. A tire pressure control arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

means for monitoring the air pressure in at least one pneumatic tire of said motor vehicle;

means for outputting a signal when the air pressure in said at least one pneumatic tire drops below a lower threshold value or exceeds an upper threshold value;

an air suspension system including means for determining the laden state of said motor vehicle;

means for automatically resetting at least one of said threshold values in dependence upon said laden state of said motor vehicle so as to permit said signal outputting means to output a signal when the reset threshold value is exceeded or there is a drop therebelow;

wherein said lower and/or upper threshold values are set based on an average laden state of said motor vehicle when, after a predetermined time span, no instantaneous laden state is received by said tire pressure control arrangement.

7. A tire pressure control arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

means of monitoring motor the air pressure in at least one pneumatic tire of said vehicle to obtain a measured pressure;

an air suspension system including means for determining the laden state of said motor vehicle;

means for establishing a lower threshold value and/or an upper threshold value corresponding to a different laden state of the motor vehicle;

means for automatically resetting at least one of said threshold values in dependence upon said laden state of said motor vehicle;

means for comparing said measured pressure to at least one of the reset threshold values; and

,

means for outputting a signal when air pressure in said at least one pneumatic tire drops below said lower threshold value or exceeds said upper threshold value corresponding to said laden state of the vehicle.

8. The tire pressure control arrangement of claim 7, wherein said arrangement includes a control unit storing said upper and lower threshold values;

and, said upper and lower threshold values function exclusively to permit a comparison of said measured pressure thereto.