Tire pressure management system valve integrity verification method

• US 7,538,661 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stacer, Daryl J., Claussen, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout; Brent
• Application Number:
  US11/893,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/447, 152/415, 152/417, 731/463, 137/225
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00372 characterised by fluid diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/36 With pressure-responsive pressure-control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3631 Diaphragm, bellows or expansible tube

Abstract

A method of verifying the integrity of a valve in service in a tire pressure management system is disclosed. The method of verifying valve integrity of a valve interposed between a tire and conduit assemblies for conducting fluid to and/or from the tire in a tire maintenance system includes closing the valve for prohibiting fluid flow into the conduit assemblies in fluid communication with the valve and monitoring the pressure of fluid in the conduit assemblies in fluid communication with the valve for ascertaining a pressure increase therein.

Claims

1. A tire pressure management system, comprising:

a conduit conducting fluid to and from a tire;

a wheel valve disposed between said conduit and said tire;

a sensor in fluid communication with said conduit and generating a fluid pressure signal indicative of fluid pressure in said conduit; and

,

an electronic control unit configured to urge said wheel valve to a closed position and to subsequently determine whether said wheel valve has failed by comparing said fluid pressure signal to a first predetermined condition indicative of an increase in fluid pressure in said conduit.

2. The tire pressure management system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm and wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to activate said alarm if said electronic control unit determines said wheel valve has failed.

3. The tire pressure management system of claim 2 wherein said alarm comprises a lamp.

4. The tire pressure management system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured, in determining whether said wheel valve has failed, to update a counter when said fluid pressure signal meets said first predetermined condition.

5. The tire pressure management system of claim 1 wherein said wheel valve comprises a check valve.

6. The tire pressure management system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to compare said failure pressure signal to said first predetermined condition a predetermined period of time after urging said wheel valve to said closed position.

18. The tire pressure management system of claim 1 wherein said conduit is disposed between a fluid source on a vehicle and said tire.

19. The tire pressure management system of claim 18 wherein said system is mounted on said vehicle for travel with said vehicle.

7. A tire pressure management system, comprising:

a conduit conducting fluid to and from a tire;

a first control valve coupled to said conduit and movable between a first position permitting fluid communication between a fluid source and said conduit and a second position prohibiting fluid communication between said fluid source and said conduit;

a second control valve coupled to said conduit and movable between a first position permitting fluid communication between said conduit and atmosphere and a second position prohibiting fluid communication between said conduit and atmosphere;

a wheel valve disposed between said conduit and said tire;

a sensor in fluid communication with said conduit and generating a fluid pressure signal indicative of fluid pressure in said conduit; and

,

an electronic control unit configured to move said second control valve to said first position for said second control valve to thereby vent said conduit and urge said wheel valve to a closed position and to subsequently determine whether said wheel valve has failed by comparing said fluid pressure signal to a fist predetermined condition indicative of an increase in fluid pressure in said conduit.

8. The tire pressure management system of claim 7 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to move said second control valve to said second position for said second control valve following said venting of said conduit.

9. The tire pressure management system of claim 7 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to maintain said first control valve in said second position for said first control valve during a time period following said venting of said conduit and before said comparison of said fluid pressure signal to said first predetermined condition.

10. The tire pressure management system of claim 7, further comprising an alarm and wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to activate said alarm if said electronic control unit determines said wheel valve has failed.

11. The tire pressure management system of claim 10 wherein said alarm comprises a lamp.

12. The tire pressure management system of claim 7 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured, in determining whether said wheel valve has failed, to update a counter when said fluid pressure signal meets said first predetermined condition.

13. The tire pressure management system of claim 7 wherein said first control valve comprises a solenoid valve.

14. The tire pressure management system of claim 7 wherein said second control valve comprises a solenoid valve.

15. The tire pressure management system of claim 7 wherein said wheel valve comprises a check valve.

16. The tire pressure management system of claim 7 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to compare said failure pressure signal to said first predetermined condition a predetermined period of time after urging said wheel valve to said closed position.

17. The tire pressure management system of claim 7 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to maintain said first control valve in said first position for said first control valve and said second control valve in said second position for said second control valve prior to moving said venting of said conduit to thereby urge said wheel valve to an open position and inflate said tire.