Method of securing a tire-based unit of a tire condition sensing system to a rim and an associated apparatus

• US 7,395,701 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin, TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Huchard, Xavier
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US11/431,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20060254349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468, 340442-447
• 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

Abstract

A method of securing a tire-based unit (24) of a tire condition sensing system (12) to a rim (60) and an associated apparatus (62) are provided. The method comprising the steps of: positioning a mounting bracket (124) on the rim (60); positioning a self-pierce rivet (140, 200) against the mounting bracket (124), so that a portion of the mounting bracket (124) is interposed between the self-pierce rivet (140, 200) and the rim (60); pressing the self-pierce rivet (140, 200) against the mounting bracket (124) and toward the female mold portion of the press, so as to pierce a portion of the mounting bracket and to deep draw a portion of the rim into the female mold portion to secure the mounting bracket relative to the rim; removing the rim and secured mounting bracket from the press; and attaching the tire-based unit (24) to the mounting bracket (124).

Claims

1. A method of securing a tire-based unit of a tire condition sensing system to a rim, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a mounting bracket on the rim;

disposing the rim and the mounting bracket in a press between a female mold portion and a self-pierce rivet;

pressing the self-pierce rivet against the mounting bracket and toward the female mold portion of the press so as to pierce a portion of the mounting bracket and to deep draw a portion of the rim into the female mold portion to secure the mounting bracket relative to the rim;

removing the rim and secured mounting bracket from the press; and

attaching the tire-based unit to the mounting bracket.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of positioning the mounting bracket further includes the step of positioning the mounting bracket in a drop well of the rim.

3. The method of claim 2, further including the step of positioning the mounting bracket on a lower wall of the drop well of the rim.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of attaching the tire-based unit further includes the step of positioning the tire-based unit in the drop well of the rim so that the tire-based unit is located nearer a center of the rim than an annular wall of the rim into which the drop well extends.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step of pressing the self-pierce rivet further includes the step of piercing a portion of the mounting bracket and deep drawing a portion of the rim into the female mold portion toward a center of the rim.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step of attaching the tire-based unit further includes the steps of inserting a first lock tooth of the tire-based unit into an associated opening in the mounting bracket;

pressing the tire-based unit toward the base portion of the mounting bracket; and

snapping a second lock tooth of the tire-based unit into an associated opening in the mounting bracket.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the self-piercing rivet comprises a shank with a first end, a second, free, end and an outer periphery;

and an enlarged head at the first end of the shank with a non-circular outer periphery, wherein the second end of the shank is provided with a bifurcating slot extending in an axial direction of the shank, from the second end thereof and transversely therethrough; and

wherein the outer periphery of the head does not extend in the transverse direction (d) of extension of the slot, substantially beyond the outer periphery of the shank of the rivet, on at least one side of the shank.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the self-pierce rivet is disposed with the transverse direction (d) of extension of the slot oriented in the axial direction of the rim.

9. An apparatus for a vehicle having a tire condition sensing system, the apparatus comprising:

a rim upon which a tire of the vehicle is mounted;

a tire-based unit of the tire condition sensing system, the tire-based unit including electronics for sensing a condition of the tire and for transmitting a signal indicative of the sensed condition;

a mounting bracket adapted for attachment with the tire-based unit, the mounting bracket being positioned on the rim; and

a self-pierce rivet for securing the mounting bracket to the rim, the self-pierce rivet piercing a portion of the mounting bracket and forming a deep drawn portion of the rim, so that the mounting bracket is secured with the deep drawn portion of the rim.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the rim includes an annular wall with a drop well extending into the annular wall, and the mounting bracket is secured to the rim in the drop well.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tire-based unit, when attached to the mounting bracket, is located in the drop well of the rim, the tire-based unit being located nearer a center of the rim than the annular wall of the rim.

12. The apparatus of any one of claim 9 to 11 wherein the mounting bracket includes opposite end portions, each of the end portions including an opening, the tire-based unit includes a housing having opposite ends, a lock tooth extending outward from each end of the housing, and the lock teeth of the housing are received in the openings of the end portions of the mounting bracket for attaching the tire-based unit to the mounting bracket.

13. The apparatus of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the self-piercing rivet comprises a shank with a first end, a second, free, end and an outer periphery;

and an enlarged head at the first end of the shank with a non-circular outer periphery, wherein the second end of the shank is provided with a bifurcating slot extending in an axial direction of the shank, from the second end thereof and transversely therethrough; and

wherein the outer periphery of the head does not extend in the transverse direction (d) of extension of the slot, substantially beyond the outer periphery of the shank of the rivet, on at least one side of the shank.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the self-pierce rivet is disposed with the transverse direction (d) of extension of the slot oriented in the axial direction of the rim.