Device for continuously measuring deformations in a tire during the travel movement for a motor vehicle

• US 6,967,590 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2000
• 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: Mancosu, Federico, Matrascia, Giuseppe
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US09/937,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20030095050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.01, 340/870.07, 340442-448, 731/462, 731/464, 701/1
• US Class Current: 340/870.07
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/066 by monitoring wheel-centre to ground distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2240/04 Tire deformation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1725 Using tyre sensors, e.g. Sidewall Torsion sensors [SWT] for tyre pressure and temperature detection B60C23/00

Abstract

A device for continuously measuring deformations in a tire mounted on a rim includes at least one emitter, at least one reflecting element, and at least one optical sensor of luminous intensity. The at least one emitter and the at least one optical sensor are disposed on the rim. The at least one reflecting element is disposed on a portion of an inner surface of the tire. The at least one emitter emits a light beam toward the at least one reflecting element, the at least one reflecting element reflects the light beam toward the at least one optical sensor, and the at least one optical sensor receives the reflected light beam, measures a prechosen physical parameter associated with the reflected light beam, and provides a signal representing a deformation of the tire on the portion of the inner surface of the tire.

Claims

1. A device for continuously measuring deformations in a tyre mounted on a rim, comprising:

at least one emitter;

at least one reflecting element; and

at least one optical sensor;

wherein the at least one emitter and the at least one optical sensor are disposed on the rim, wherein the at least one reflecting element is disposed on a first portion of an inner surface of the tyre,

wherein the at least one emitter emits a light beam toward the at least one reflecting element, wherein the at least one reflecting element reflects the light beam toward the at least one optical sensor, and

wherein the at least one optical sensor receives the reflected light beam, measures a first prechosen physical parameter associated with the reflected light beam, and provides a first signal representing a deformation of the tyre on the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first prechosen physical parameter is a luminous intensity of the reflected light beam.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical sensor is operationally connected to a processor, and wherein the processor:

determines, using the first signal, a displacement of at least one point on the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre in a predetermined direction; and

provides an output signal representing the displacement of the at least one point on the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre in a predetermined direction.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second emitter;

a second reflecting element; and

a second optical sensor;

wherein the second emitter and the second optical sensor are disposed on the rim, wherein the second reflecting element is disposed on a second portion of the inner surface of the tyre near the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre,

wherein the second emitter emits a second light beam toward the second reflecting element, wherein the second reflecting element reflects the second light beam toward the second optical sensor, and

wherein the second optical sensor receives the reflected second light beam, measures a second prechosen physical parameter associated with the reflected second light beam, and provides a second signal representing a variation in distance between the second portion of the inner surface of the tyre and the rim.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the second prechosen physical parameter is a luminous intensity of the reflected second light beam.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the second prechosen physical parameter is a time difference between the second emitter emitting the second light beam and the second optical sensor receiving the reflected second light beam, and

wherein the second light beam has a given wavelength.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the optical sensors are operationally connected to one or more processors, and wherein the one or more processors:

determine, using the first signal, a displacement of at least one point on the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre in a predetermined direction;

correct the displacement depending on the second signal; and

provide an output signal representing the corrected displacement of the at least one point on the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre in a predetermined direction.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors provide a measurement of a vertical compression of the tyre based on the second signal.

9. A motor vehicle wheel, comprising:

a tyre mounted on a rim; and

a device for continuously measuring deformations in the tyre;

where the device comprises;

at least one emitter;

at least one reflecting element; and

at least one optical sensor;

wherein the at least one emitter and the at least one optical sensor are disposed on the rim, wherein the at least one reflecting element is disposed on a first portion of an inner surface of the tyre,

wherein the at least one emitter emits a light beam toward the at least one reflecting element, wherein the at least one reflecting element reflects the light beam toward the at least one optical sensor, and

wherein the at least one optical sensor receives the reflected light beam, measures a first prechosen physical parameter associated with the reflected light beam, and provides a first signal representing a deformation of the tyre on the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre.

10. The motor vehicle wheel of claim 9, wherein the first prechosen physical parameter is a luminous intensity of the reflected light beam.

11. The motor vehicle wheel of claim 9, wherein the at least one optical sensor is operationally connected to a processor, and wherein the processor:

determines, using the first signal, a displacement of at least one point on the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre in a predetermined direction; and

provides an output signal representing the displacement of the at least one point on the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre in a predetermined direction.

12. The motor vehicle wheel of claim 9, wherein the device further comprises:

a second emitter;

a second reflecting element; and

a second optical sensor;

wherein the second emitter and the second optical sensor are disposed on the rim, wherein the second reflecting element is disposed on a second portion of the inner surface of the tyre near the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre,

wherein the second emitter emits a second light beam toward the second reflecting element, wherein the second reflecting element reflects the second light beam toward the second optical sensor, and

wherein the second optical sensor receives the reflected second light beam, measures a second prechosen physical parameter associated with the reflected second light beam, and provides a second signal representing a variation in distance between the second portion of the inner surface of the tyre and the rim.

13. The motor vehicle wheel of claim 12, wherein the second prechosen physical parameter is a luminous intensity of the reflected second light beam.

14. The motor vehicle wheel of claim 12, wherein the second prechosen physical parameter is a time difference between the second emitter emitting the second light beam and the second optical sensor receiving the reflected second light beam, and

wherein the second light beam has a given wavelength.

15. The motor vehicle wheel of claim 12, wherein the optical sensors are operationally connected to one or more processors, and wherein the one or more processors:

determine, using the first signal, a displacement of at least one point on the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre in a predetermined direction;

correct the displacement depending on the second signal; and

provide an output signal representing the corrected displacement of the at least one point on the first portion of the inner surface of the tyre in a predetermined direction.

16. The motor vehicle wheel of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors provide a measurement of a vertical compression of the tyre based on the second signal.