Wireless tire-pressure monitor

• US 7,089,147 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hung-Sen Chang
• Original Assignee: Hung-Sen Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Hung-Sen
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US11/046,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 702/138, 701/1, 701/3, 701/16, 701/36, 701/29, 701/2, 701/33, 731/465, 731/462, 731/468, 731/464, 340/442, 340/447
• US Class Current: 702/138
• 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 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0498 for rim attachments B60C23/0494, B60C23/0496 take precedence

Abstract

A wireless tire-pressure monitor mainly has a cylindrical body, a seal assembly, a screw and a sensor. The cylindrical body is mounted through a hole in a wheel rim wall and has an air passage, an interior thread defined in the air passage and a flange formed around the body. The seal assembly is mounted around the body on opposite sides of the wheel rim wall and abuts the flange on the body. The screw is screwed into the air passage and squeezes the seal assembly against the wheel rim wall. The sensor is mounted on the body. Therefore, the wireless tire-pressure monitor is easily and securely attached to the wheel rim to detect pressure and temperature of the wheel. Further, the sensor is positioned outside of the wheel rim to prevent the wireless detecting signals from being interfered by the wheel rim or wheel.

Claims

1. A wireless tire-pressure monitor, comprising:

a body being cylindrical and having an outside surface, an inside end, an outside end, a flange formed on the outside surface, an exterior thread formed on the outside surface at the outside end, an air passage defined coaxially through the body, and a side opening defined through the outside surface and communicating with the air passage, wherein the air passage comprises;

an inside end corresponding to the inside end of the body;

an interior thread is defined at the inside end of the air passage; and

an outer interior thread defined in the outside end of the air passage;

a sleeve mounted around the outside surface of the body and having a flat seat;

a seal assembly mounted around the outside surface of the body and having an outer washer mounted around the outside surface of the body against the flange, a seal mounted around the outside surface of the body against the outer washer and has a longitudinal neck, an inner washer slipped around the outside surface of the body, and a backing ring mounted to the inner washer;

a screw screwed into the inside end of the body and having a threaded shaft screwed into the interior thread in the air passage in the body, a head pressing against the inner washer and compressing the seal, and a through hole defined coaxially through the head and the threaded shaft and communicating with the air passage;

a sensor mounted on the sleeve and the outside surface of the body and having a casing mounted on the flat seat of the sleeve and the outside surface of the body around and communicating with the side opening in the body and at least one circuit board mounted in the casing; and

a valve core screwed into the interior thread at the outside end of the air passage.

2. The wireless tire-pressure monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit board comprises:

a microprocessor having multiple inputs and outputs;

a pressure detector connected to the input of the microprocessor and faced to the opening of the casing to detect, wherein the opening communicates to the air passage, so the pressure detector detects the tire pressure of a wheel;

a temperature sensor connected to the input of the microprocessor and faced to the opening of the casing to detect, wherein the opening communicates to the air passage, so the temperature sensor detects the tire temperature of a wheel;

a transmitter connected to the output of the microprocessor;

an antenna connected to the transmitter; and

a battery connected to the microprocessor, the pressure detector, the temperature sensor and the transmitter.

3. The wireless tire-pressure monitor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor casing has encapsulant encapsulating the at least one circuit board.

4. The wireless tire-pressure monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is L-shaped.

5. A wireless tire-pressure monitor, comprising:

a body being an L-shaped cylinder and having an outside surface, an inside end, an outside end, a nut formed on the inside end of the body and having a top, an L-shaped air passage defined coaxially through the body, an exterior thread defined on the outside surface at the outside end, an outer interior thread defined in the outside end of the body, and a side opening defined through the outside surface and communicating with the air passage;

a sleeve mounted around the outside surface of the body and having a flat seat;

a screw screwed into the nut on the inside end of the body and having a threaded shaft screwed into the nut, a head and a through hole defined coaxially through the head and the threaded shaft and communicating with the air passage;

a seal assembly having an outer washer mounted on the top of the nut, a seal attached to the outer washer and having a longitudinal neck, and a backing ring mounted on the head of the screw;

a sensor having a casing mounted on the flat seat of the sleeve and communicating with the side opening in the body and at least one circuit board mounted in the casing; and

a valve core screwed into the outer interior thread at the outside end of the air passage.

6. The wireless tire-pressure monitor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one circuit board comprises:

a microprocessor having multiple inputs and outputs;

a pressure detector connected to the input of the microprocessor and faced to the opening of the casing to detect, wherein the opening communicates to the air passage, so the pressure detector detects the tire pressure of a wheel;

a temperature sensor connected to the input of the microprocessor and faced to the opening of the casing to detect, wherein the opening communicates to the air passage, so the temperature sensor detects the tire temperature of a wheel;

a transmitter connected to the input of the microprocessor;

an antenna connected to the transmitter; and

a battery connected to the microprocessor, the pressure detector, the temperature sensor and the transmitter.

7. The wireless tire-pressure monitor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensor casing has encapsulant encapsulating the at least one circuit board.