Vehicle tire and system for generating electrical energy in the tire

• US 6,992,423 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• 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, Villa, Diego
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/257,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20030146676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 310/338, 310/339, 310/328
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/60 having a coaxial cable structure

Abstract

A system for generating electrical energy in a tire for a vehicle includes at least one piezoelectric element that generates electrical energy when deformed. The at least one piezoelectric element is associated with the tire and is elongate. The at least one piezoelectric element extends along at least a portion of the tire and is electrically connected to an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit is not in electrical communication with the vehicle. The tire is mounted on a rim of the vehicle. An associated tire is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for generating electrical energy in a tyre for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one elongate piezoelectric element that generates electrical energy when deformed;

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is associated with the tyre,

wherein a length of the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction along at least a portion of a circumference of the tyre,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is electrically connected to an electrical circuit that comprises at least one sensor other than the at least one piezoelectric element,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element supplies the generated electrical energy to power the at least one sensor other than the at least one piezoelectric element or supplies the generated electrical energy to a device that stores electrical energy,

wherein the electrical circuit is not in electrical communication with the vehicle, and

wherein the tyre is mounted on a rim of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for monitoring performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for controlling performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for monitoring and controlling performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more pressure sensors, temperature sensors, force sensors, or velocity sensors.

6. The system of claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein the one or more sensors comprise any combination of two or more pressure, temperature, force, and/or velocity sensors.

7. The system of claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein the one or more transmitters transmit data from the one or more sensors out of the tyre.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more transmitters are operationally connected to a receiver associated with the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more transmitters are radio transmitters.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the device that stores electrical energy comprises one or more capacitors, one or more rechargeable batteries, or one or more capacitors and one or more rechargeable batteries.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the device that stores electrical energy acts as a buffer battery.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction all the way around an equatorial circumference of the tyre.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction all the way around a circumference of the tyre along a sidewall of the tyre.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element supplies the generated electrical energy to power the at least one sensor other than the at least one piezoelectric element and supplies the generated electrical energy to the device that stores electrical energy.

12. A system for generating electrical energy in a tyre for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one elongate piezoelectric element that generates electrical energy when deformed;

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is associated with the tyre,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction along at least a portion of a circumference of the tyre,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is electrically connected to an electrical circuit,

wherein the electrical circuit is not in electrical communication with the vehicle,

wherein the tyre is mounted on a rim of the vehicle, and

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction all the way around a circumference of the tyre.

13. A system for generating electrical energy in a tyre for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one elongate piezoelectric element that generates electrical energy when deformed;

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is associated with the tyre,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction along at least a portion of a circumference of the tyre,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is electrically connected to an electrical circuit,

wherein the electrical circuit is not in electrical communication with the vehicle,

wherein the tyre is mounted on a rim of the vehicle, and

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is disposed in an undulated path along the circumference of the tyre.

14. A tyre for a vehicle, comprising:

a carcass;

a tread; and

at least one elongate piezoelectric element;

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element generates electrical energy when deformed,

wherein a length of the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction along at least a portion of a circumference of the tyre,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is electrically connected to an electrical circuit that comprises at least one sensor other than the at least one piezoelectric element,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element supplies the generated electrical energy to power the at least one sensor other than the at least one piezoelectric element or supplies the generated electrical energy to a device that stores electrical energy, and

wherein the electrical circuit is not in electrical communication with the vehicle.

15. The tyre of claim 14, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for monitoring performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

16. The tyre of claim 14, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for controlling performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

17. The tyre of claim 14, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for monitoring and controlling performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

18. The tyre of claim 15, 16, or 17, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more pressure sensors, temperature sensors, force sensors, or velocity sensors.

19. The tyre of claim 15, 16, or 17, wherein the one or more sensors comprise any combination of two or more pressure, temperature, force, and/or velocity sensors.

20. The tyre of claim 15, 16, or 17, wherein the one or more transmitters transmit data from the one or more sensors out of the tyre.

21. The tyre of claim 20, wherein the one or more transmitters are operationally connected to a receiver associated with the vehicle.

22. The tyre of claim 20, wherein the one or more transmitters are radio transmitters.

23. The tyre of claim 14, wherein the device that stores electrical energy comprises one or more capacitors, one or more rechargeable batteries, or one or more capacitors and one or more rechargeable batteries.

24. The tyre of claim 14, wherein the device that stores electrical energy acts as a buffer battery.

29. The tyre of claim 14, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction all the way around an equatorial circumference of the tyre.

30. The tyre of claim 14, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction all the way around a circumference of the tyre along a sidewall of the tyre.

32. The tyre of claim 14, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element supplies the generated electrical energy to power the at least one sensor other than the at least one piezoelectric element and supplies the generated electrical energy to the device that stores electrical energy.

25. A tyre for a vehicle, comprising:

a carcass;

a tread; and

at least one elongate piezoelectric element;

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element generates electrical energy when deformed,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction along at least a portion of a circumference of the tyre,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is electrically connected to an electrical circuit,

wherein the electrical circuit is not in electrical communication with the vehicle, and

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction all the way around a circumference of the tyre.

26. A tyre for a vehicle, comprising:

a carcass;

a tread; and

at least one elongate piezoelectric element;

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element generates electrical energy when deformed,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element extends in a longitudinal direction along at least a portion of a circumference of the tyre,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is electrically connected to an electrical circuit,

wherein the electrical circuit is not in electrical communication with the vehicle, and

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is disposed in an undulated path along the circumference of the tyre.