Wheel for vehicles

• US 7,856,871 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Tyre SPA (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Tyre SPA (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: Mancosu, Federico, Brusarosco, Massimo
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J
• Application Number:
  US12/309,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20090188310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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: H02K 7/1846 structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces

Abstract

A wheel for vehicles includes a rim, a tyre mounted on the rim, and at least one device for energy generation operatively associated with the tyre. The device for energy generation includes a first element that is fixed relative to the rim or to the tyre, and a second element mounted on the first element and free to rotate relative to the first element around a predetermined rotation axis. The second element has a mass centre eccentric to the predetermined rotation axis. The device for energy generation further includes an electric generator having a stator mounted on the first element and a rotor mounted on the second element.

Claims

1. A wheel for vehicles comprising:

a rim;

a tyre mounted on the rim; and

at least one device for energy generation operatively associated with said tyre, wherein said at least one device for energy generation comprises;

a first element that is fixed relative to said rim or to said tyre;

a second element mounted on the first element and free to rotate relative to said first element around a predetermined rotation axis, the second element having a mass centre eccentric to the predetermined rotation axis; and

an electric generator having a stator mounted on the first element and a rotor mounted on the second element.

2. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second element comprises at least one concentrated mass spaced apart from the predetermined rotation axis.

3. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second element comprises a plurality of concentrated masses disposed around the predetermined rotation axis.

4. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second element comprises three concentrated masses disposed around the predetermined rotation axis.

5. The wheel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the three concentrated masses have angular distances different from each other.

6. The wheel as claimed in claim 3, wherein bodies corresponding to the concentrated masses have a same density and same volume.

7. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first element and second element are defined by respective parallel discs mutually spaced apart and connected by a pin extending along the predetermined rotation axis.

8. The wheel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the discs are coaxial.

9. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stator is a conductive element and the rotor is a permanent magnet.

10. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotor is a conductive element and the stator is a permanent magnet.

11. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stator is a conductive element and the rotor comprises a material of the electret type.

12. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotor is a conductive element and the stator comprises a material of the electret type.

13. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one device for energy generation further comprises a casing housing the first element and the second element.

14. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined rotation axis of said at least one device for energy generation is oriented in a radial direction of the tyre.

15. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined rotation axis of said at least one device for energy generation is oriented in an axial direction of the tyre.

16. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, comprising a valve mounted on the rim, wherein said at least one device for energy generation is installed on said valve.

17. The wheel as claimed in claim 16, wherein said at least one device for energy generation is installed on a closing plug of the valve.

18. The wheel as claimed in claim 16, wherein the predetermined rotation axis of said at least one device for energy generation is oriented in a direction parallel to a longitudinal extension of the valve.

19. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one system for detecting at least one operating parameter of the tyre, wherein said at least one device for energy generation feeds said at least one detecting system.

20. The wheel as claimed in claim 19, comprising a valve mounted on the rim and connected to the tyre, wherein said at least one detecting system is installed on said valve.

21. The wheel as claimed in claim 20, wherein said at least one device for energy generation is installed on a closing plug of the valve.

22. A tyre for vehicle wheels, comprising at least one device for energy generation, said at least one device for energy generation comprising:

a first element integrally linked to a tyre portion;

a second element mounted on the first element and free to rotate relative to said first element around a predetermined rotation axis, the second element having a mass centre eccentric to the predetermined rotation axis; and

an electric generator having a stator mounted on the first element and a rotor mounted on the second element.

23. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second element comprises at least one concentrated mass spaced apart from the predetermined rotation axis.

24. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second element comprises a plurality of concentrated masses disposed around the predetermined rotation axis.

25. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second element comprises three concentrated masses disposed around the predetermined rotation axis.

26. The tyre as claimed in claim 23, wherein the three concentrated masses have angular distances different from each other.

27. The tyre as claimed in claim 24, wherein bodies corresponding to the concentrated masses have a same density and same volume.

28. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first element and second element are defined by respective parallel discs mutually spaced apart and connected by a pin extending along the predetermined rotation axis.

29. The tyre as claimed in claim 28, wherein the discs are coaxial.

30. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein the stator is a conductive element and the rotor is a permanent magnet.

31. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein the rotor is a conductive element and the stator is a permanent magnet.

32. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein the stator is a conductive element and the rotor comprises a material of the electret type.

33. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein the rotor is a conductive element and the stator comprises a material of the electret type.

34. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein said at least one device for energy generation further comprises a casing housing the first element and the second element.

35. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein said device for energy generation is installed on a radially internal surface of the tyre.

36. The tyre as claimed in claim 35, wherein said at least one device for energy generation is installed on a circumferential portion of the radially internal surface close to a tread band of the tyre.

37. The tyre as claimed in claim 36, wherein said at least one device for energy generation is installed close to an equatorial plane of the tyre.

38. The tyre as claimed in claim 35, wherein said at least one device for energy generation is installed on a side portion of the radially internal surface, close to a sidewall of the tyre.

39. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein the predetermined rotation axis of said at least one device for energy generation is oriented in a radial direction of the tyre.

40. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, wherein the predetermined rotation axis of said at least one device for energy generation is oriented in an axial direction of the tyre.

41. The tyre as claimed in claim 22, further comprising at least one system for detecting at least one operating parameter of the tyre, wherein said at least one device for energy generation feeds said at least one detecting system.

42. The tyre as claimed in claim 41, wherein said at least one detecting system is installed on a radially internal surface of the tyre.

43. A wheel for vehicles comprising:

a rim;

a tyre mounted on the rim; and

at least one device for energy generation operatively associated with said tyre, wherein said at least one device for energy generation comprises;

a first element that is fixed relative to said rim or to said tyre;

a second element mounted on the first element and free to rotate relative to said first element around a predetermined rotation axis, the second element having a mass centre eccentric to the predetermined rotation axis, the second element comprising a plurality of concentrated masses disposed around the predetermined rotation axis; and

an electric generator having a stator mounted on the first element and a rotor mounted on the second element.

44. A tyre for vehicle wheels, comprising at least one device for energy generation, said at least one device for energy generation comprising:

a first element integrally linked to a tyre portion;

a second element mounted on the first element and free to rotate relative to said first element around a predetermined rotation axis, the second element having a mass centre eccentric to the predetermined rotation axis, the second element comprising a plurality of concentrated masses disposed around the predetermined rotation axis; and

an electric generator having a stator mounted on the first element and a rotor mounted on the second element.