Tire module and tire comprising a module of this type

• US 7,631,554 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental AG
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Company HG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Behrends, Holger, Koschnitzki, Thomas, Reimann, Carsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J
• Application Number:
  US11/794,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468, 340/445, 340/447
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/306 Cantilevers

Abstract

Disclosed is a tire module for sensing tire condition variables with a spring element (2) clamped on one end and a converting unit (2, 3, 4, 6, 7), in which kinetic energy is converted into electric energy. The spring element (2) is a bar spring, torsion spring, or leaf spring, with a seismic mass (3) being arranged at the end of the spring element that is not clamped, and the spring element transmits acceleration jumps of the seismic mass (3) to the converting unit (2, 3, 4, 6, 7).

Claims

1. A tire module for sensing tire condition variables with a spring element with two ends, one of the ends being clamped in and the other end being movable in at least one moving direction, and with a converting unit, in which kinetic energy is converted into electric energy,

wherein the spring element (2) is a bar spring, torsion spring or leaf spring, with a seismic mass (3) being arranged at the other end of the spring element, which has at least one direction of movement, and the spring element transmits acceleration jumps of the seismic mass (3) to the converting unit (2, 3, 4, 6, 7).

2. The tire module as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the spring element (2) is clamped in a housing (5) and is coupled to at least one piezoelectric element (4) converting kinetic energy into electric energy.

3. The tire module as claimed in claim 2,

wherein at least one of the piezoelectric elements (4) is mechanically coupled to the spring element (2) in each moving direction.

4. The tire module as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the at least one piezoelectric element (4) is attached to the spring element (2).

5. The tire module as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the converting unit (2, 3, 6, 7) operates inductively or capacitively.

6. The tire module as claimed in claim 5,

wherein the spring element (2) is a leaf spring and the seismic mass (3) is arranged in the center of gravity of the leaf spring.

7. The tire module as claimed in claim 5,

wherein the seismic mass (3) is configured as a permanent magnet or a charge carrier.

8. The tire module as claimed in claim 1,

wherein a rectifier (K) is connected to the converting unit (4;

2, 3, 6, 7;

G).

9. The tire module as claimed in claim 8,

wherein an electric energy accumulator (C) is connected to the rectifier (K).

10. The tire module as claimed in claim 1,

wherein an evaluating unit (AE) for evaluating electric pulses is connected to the converting unit (4;

2, 3, 6, 7;

G).

11. The tire module as claimed in claim 10,

wherein a control unit (EE) is associated with the rectifier (K) and selectively relays the pulses of the converting unit (4;

2, 3, 6, 7;

G) to the rectifier (K) or the evaluating unit (AE).

12. The tire module as claimed in claim 10,

wherein a sensor (S) and/or a transmitter (SS) is connected to the evaluating unit (AE).

13. The tire module as claimed in claim 1,

wherein stops (8) are provided in each moving direction of the spring element (2).

14. The tire module as claimed in claim 13,

wherein the stops (8) correspond to the shape of the spring element (2) when it is bent or have a curvature less than that of the bent spring element (2).

15. The tire module as claimed in claim 13,

wherein elastically designed stop surfaces (9), are arranged on the stops (8).

16. The tire module as claimed in claim 15,

wherein the curvature of the stop surfaces (9) is less than that of the stops (8).

17. The tire module as claimed in claim 15,

wherein the stop surfaces (9) are composed of several segments or layers.

18. The tire module as claimed in claim 1,

wherein amplitude limiters (11, 12) are associated with the seismic mass (3).

19. The tire module as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the length of the spring element (2) ranges from 8 mm to 40 mm, the seismic mass (3) weighs between 0.5 g and 5 g, and the deflection of the seismic mass (3) ranges between 1 mm and 15 mm.

20. A pneumatic tire comprising a tire module with a spring element with two ends, one of the ends being clamped in and the other end being movable in at least one moving direction, and with a converting unit, in which kinetic energy is converted into electric energy,

wherein the spring element (2) is a bar spring, torsion spring or leaf spring, with a seismic mass (3) being arranged at the other end of the spring element, which has at least one direction of movement, and the spring element transmits acceleration jumps of the seismic mass (3) to the converting unit (2, 3, 4, 6, 7), wherein the tire module (1) is arranged on the inside surface of the tire.

21. The pneumatic tire as claimed in claim 20,

wherein the spring element (2) extends axially in parallel to the axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire.