Wheel condition detector and wheel condition monitor

• US 7,538,660 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Murakami, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/835,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20080055059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/438, 73146-1468
• US Class Current: 340/442
• 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

Abstract

A wheel condition detector and a wheel condition monitor, each having a case provided in an internal space defined between a tire and a wheel member, the tire and the wheel member forming a wheel. The case has a detection space formed therein and a communication section for communicating an interior and an exterior of the detection space with each other. The wheel condition detector or the wheel condition monitor has: a condition sensor located in the detection space that detects a condition of the wheel; and a restriction section that restricts an entry of foreign matter present in the internal space into the detection space through the communication section.

Claims

1. A wheel condition detector that detects a condition of a wheel comprising:

a case that is located in an internal space between a tire and a wheel member, the tire and the wheel member forming a wheel, wherein the case includes a detection space formed therein and includes a communication section that communicates the detection space with the internal space;

a condition sensor located in the detection space that detects a condition of the wheel; and

a restriction section that restricts an entry of foreign matter that exists in the internal space into the detection space through the communication section, wherein the restriction section includes a mode switching section that switches the communication section from a communication mode to a disconnection mode, if a preset condition, under which the foreign matter is expected to enter the detection space, is met.

2. The wheel condition detector according to claim 1, wherein the mode switching section switches the communication section into the disconnection mode, if a centrifugal force applied to the wheel is equal to or below a predetermined value, and switches the communication section into the communication mode, if the centrifugal force applied to the wheel exceeds the predetermined value.

3. The wheel condition detector according to claim 2, wherein the mode switching section switches the communication section into the disconnection mode, if the centrifugal force applied to the wheel is equal to or below gravity acting on the wheel, and switches the communication section into the communication mode, if the centrifugal force applied to the wheel exceeds the gravity acting on the wheel.

4. The wheel condition detector according to claim 2, wherein

the communication section includes a communication hole, and

the mode switching section includes an opening-closing member for opening or closing the communication hole to the internal space;

and includes an elastic member that impels the opening-closing member in a direction to close the opening-closing member,

the opening-closing member closes the communication hole if the centrifugal force is equal to or below the predetermined value, and opens the communication hole against an impelling force of the elastic member if the centrifugal force exceeds the predetermined value.

5. The wheel condition detector according to claim 4, wherein the opening-closing member includes a lid member that opens and closes the communication hole.

6. The wheel condition detector according to claim 4, wherein the opening-closing member includes a communication hole forming section that has a communication passage running through the communication hole forming section and slides in the communication hole, and wherein the communication passage is opened and closed in accordance with the sliding movement of the communication forming section relative to the case.

7. The wheel condition detector according to claim 4, wherein the opening-closing member slides within the communication hole or in an area near an opening of the communication hole when the opening-closing member is moved in an opening direction or the closing direction in order to discharge the foreign matter from the communication hole to the internal space.

8. The wheel condition detector according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmission section that sends wheel information indicative of the condition of the wheel detected by the condition sensor to a vehicle-mounted device;

a disconnection detecting sensor that detects the disconnection mode of the communication section switched by the mode switching section; and

a transmission restriction section that prohibits the transmission section from sending the wheel information or that invalidates the wheel information, if the disconnection detecting sensor detects the disconnection mode of the communication section,

wherein a wheel condition monitor includes the wheel condition detector and the vehicle mounted device.

9. The wheel condition detector according to claim 1, further comprising:

a stop state detecting section for detecting if the wheel stops rotating; and

an actuator that actuates the mode switching section to bring the communication section into the communication mode after a predetermined period of time elapses after the stop state detecting section detects that the wheel stops rotating,

wherein the wheel condition detector is provided on a rim of the wheel member.

12. The wheel condition detector according to claim 1, wherein the foreign matter is a flat tire repair liquid.

10. A wheel condition monitor comprising:

a wheel-mounted device that is provided for a wheel and sends wheel information that indicates a wheel condition to a vehicle body; and

a vehicle-mounted device that is mounted on the vehicle body and monitors the wheel condition based on the wheel information received from the wheel-mounted device,

the wheel-mounted device comprising;

a case located in an internal space defined between a tire and a wheel member, the tire and the wheel member forming a wheel, wherein the case includes a detection space formed therein and includes a communication section for communicating the detection space with the internal space;

a condition sensor located in the detection space that detects a condition of the wheel; and

a restriction section that restricts an entry of foreign matter that exists in the internal space into the detection space through the communication sections,

wherein the restriction section includes a mode switching section that switches the communication section from communication mode to disconnection mode, if a preset condition, under which the foreign matter is expected to enter the detection space, is met.

11. The wheel condition monitor according to claim 10, further comprising:

a disconnection detecting sensor that detects the disconnection mode of the communication section switched by the mode switching section; and

a transmission restriction section that prohibits the wheel-mounted device from sending the wheel information or that invalidates the wheel information sent by the wheel mounted device, if the disconnection detecting sensor detects the disconnection mode of the communication section.