Apparatus and systems for integration of a sensor into a wheel

• US 7,350,408 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson SA (Totalenergies Se)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson SA (Totalenergies Se)
• Inventors: Bhoratis, Pinkash, Rogers, Larry K.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US11/603,936
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468, 340442-444
• US Class Current: 73/146
• 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
• 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

This apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel includes sensors for monitoring temperature, pressure or other variables inside of an inflated tire that are mounted directly to or inside of a wheel for the tire, that are in communication with conditions in the tire'"'"'s interior via ducts or channels in the wheel, and/or that are held in place by and between rim portions of a two piece wheel.

Claims

1. An apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel, comprising:

a circular wheel rim having formed coaxially on opposite ends thereof outwardly flaring circumferential flange sections disposed to be engaged by the beads of a tubeless tire mounted on the rim;

said wheel rim having intermediate said opposite ends thereof a transverse wall section extending transversely of the axis of said rim, and having therethrough a central opening disposed coaxially of said axis;

an air duct formed within at least one of said wall section and said rim to open at one end thereof on the outer periphery of said rim for communication with the interior of the tire mounted thereon; and

a sensor in communication with the interior of said tire via said air duct, wherein no portion of said sensor is located in the interior of said tire.

2. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 1, further comprising a tank valve intermediate said air duct and said sensor.

3. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 2, wherein said sensor screws onto said tank valve.

4. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 1, wherein said sensor is mounted directly to at least one of said rim and said wall section.

5. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 4, wherein said sensor is mounted via at least one of a screw threaded portion interfacing with a mating screw threaded portion in said rim or wall section, a screw threaded portion on an exterior peripheral portion of said sensor, a screw threaded extension of said sensor, a screw threaded portion located internally in said sensor, a retaining ring, a bayonet mount, epoxy, a hold-down cover, and screws passing through said sensor.

6. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 1, wherein said sensor is substantially totally contained within at least one of said rim and wall section.

7. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 6, wherein said sensor is mounted via at least one of a screw threaded portion on an exterior peripheral portion of said sensor, a screw threaded extension of said sensor, and a retaining ring.

8. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 1, wherein said sensor detects at least one of temperature and pressure.

9. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 1, wherein said air duct is sealed to said sensor via at least one of an O-ring, gaskets, thread sealers, and tapered threads.

10. An apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel, comprising:

a circular wheel rim having formed coaxially on opposite ends thereof outwardly flaring circumferential flange sections disposed to be engaged by the beads of a tubeless tire mounted on the rim;

said wheel rim having intermediate said opposite ends thereof a transverse wall section extending transversely of the axis of said rim, said wall section having therethrough a central opening disposed coaxially of said axis, said wall section being formed from an outer portion and an inner portion releasably secured together with a resilient O-ring sealingly secured between confronting surfaces of said rim portions so as to create a sealed space, which space includes the interior of the tire mounted thereon; and

a sensor located within said sealed space so as to be in communication with the interior of said tire, but wherein no portion of said sensor is located in the interior of said tire.

11. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 10, further comprising an air duct formed within at least one of said wall section and said rim to open at one end thereof on the outer periphery of said rim for communication with the interior of the tire mounted thereon, wherein said sensor is in communication with the interior of said tire via said air duct.

12. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 11, wherein said sensor detects at least one of temperature and pressure.

13. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 10, wherein said sensor body is substantially totally contained within at least one of said rim and wall section.

14. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 13, wherein said sensor body is held in position by and between the inner portion and the outer portion of said wall section.

15. An apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel, comprising:

a circular wheel rim having formed coaxially on opposite ends thereof outwardly flaring circumferential flange sections disposed to be engaged by the beads of a tubeless tire mounted on the rim;

said wheel rim having intermediate said opposite ends thereof a transverse wall section extending transversely of the axis of said rim, and having therethrough a central opening disposed coaxially of said axis; and

a sensor mounted directly to at least one of said rim and said wall section, said sensor being in communication with the interior of said tire.

16. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 15, wherein said sensor is substantially totally contained within at least one of said rim and wall section.

17. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 16, wherein said sensor detects at least one of temperature and pressure.

18. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 15, wherein said sensor is mounted via at least one of a screw threaded portion interfacing with a mating screw threaded portion in said rim or wall section, a screw threaded portion on an exterior peripheral portion of said sensor, a screw threaded extension of said sensor, a screw threaded portion located internally in said sensor, a retaining ring, a bayonet mount, epoxy, a hold-down cover, and screws passing through said sensor.

19. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 15, further comprising an air duct formed within at least one of said wall section and said rim to open at one end thereof on the outer periphery of said rim for communication with the interior of the tire mounted thereon, wherein said sensor is in communication with the interior of said tire via said air duct.

20. The apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel described in claim 19, wherein said air duct is sealed to said sensor via at least one of an O-ring, gaskets, thread sealers, and tapered threads.