Lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, method, and components therefor

• US 7,994,901 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TAG Blue, LLC
• Original Assignee: TAG Blue, LLC
• Inventors: Malis, Craig Steven, Calaman, Douglas James
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHERWIN, RYAN W
• Application Number:
  US12/032,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20090207008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.33, 340450-451, 340/686.1, 340/426.27, 340442-448, 340/539.15, 301 35623- 35625, 301/37.374, 301/37.375, 301/37.21, 411 8- 14, 737/61
• US Class Current: 340/426.33
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/16 by bolts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

A lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, method, and components for a vehicle may have a lug stud, a lug nut, at least one sensor, and an indicator. The lug stud has a shank. The lug nut is constructed to fasten on the shank. The sensor can be carried by the lug stud, by the lug nut, or by both the lug stud and the lug nut. The sensor takes at least one measurement. The indicator communicates with the sensor in order to determine a value based on the measurement, and to alert an operator of the vehicle if and when the value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value.

Claims

1. A vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, comprising:

a lug stud having a shank;

a lug nut constructed to fasten on the shank;

a first sensor carried by the lug stud and a second sensor carried by the lug nut, at least one of the first and second sensors measuring a relative distance between the first and second sensors; and

an indicator communicating with the at least one measuring sensor to determine a torque value based on the measured relative distance, and to alert an operator of the vehicle when the torque value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value.

2. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one measuring sensor measures a linear distance between the lug stud and the lug nut parallel to a center axis defined by the lug stud.

3. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes a radio frequency transmitter that communicates with the at least one measuring sensor in order to emit a signal in response to the measured relative distance.

4. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the indicator includes a radio frequency receiver in order to receive the signal from the radio frequency transmitter.

5. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the indicator includes a control module that communicates with the radio frequency receiver in order to determine when the torque value reaches the predetermined relationship to the reference value.

6. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the indicator includes a display on a vehicle instrument panel in order to alert the operator of the vehicle when the torque value reaches the predetermined relationship to the reference value.

7. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 3, further comprising a power source in order to supply power to at least some components of the system.

8. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the power source includes a piezoelectric film electrically connected to the at least one measuring sensor and to the radio frequency transmitter in order to supply power thereto.

9. A vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, comprising:

a lug stud having a shank;

a lug nut constructed to fasten on the shank;

a first sensor carried by the lug stud and a second sensor carried by the lug nut, the first sensor measuring a distance between itself and the second sensor; and

an indicator communicating with the first sensor to determine a value based on the measured distance, and to alert an operator of the vehicle when the value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value.

10. The vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the reference value is a range of distances that represents a range of acceptable torque values between the lug stud and the lug nut, the range of distances having an upper limit and a lower limit, whereby the indicator alerts the operator when the value is greater than the upper limit or less than the lower limit.

11. A method of monitoring a lug stud and a lug nut on a vehicle wheel, the method comprising:

measuring a distance between a first sensor carried by the lug stud and a second sensor carried by the lug nut;

determining a value that is based on the measured distance between the first and second sensors; and

alerting an operator of the vehicle when the value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value.

12. A vehicle lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, comprising:

a lug stud having a head and an externally threaded shank;

a lug nut having internal threads to fasten on the shank;

a first sensor carried by the lug stud and a second sensor carried by the lug nut, at least one of the first and second sensors measuring a relative distance between the first and second sensors;

a radio frequency transmitter communicating with the at least one measuring sensor to emit a signal in response to the measured relative distance;

a radio frequency receiver to receive the signal from the radio frequency transmitter;

a control module communicating with the radio frequency receiver to determine a value that is based on the measured relative distance;

a display to alert an operator of the vehicle when the value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value; and

a power source to supply power to at least the at least one sensor and the radio frequency transmitter.