Tyre and system for monitoring the tyre during the running of a vehicle

• US 8,019,502 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: Fioravanti, Anna Paola, Mancosu, Federico, Brusarosco, Massimo
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US12/259,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20090115590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/462, 152/152, 701/29, 701/35, 701/31, 340/441, 340/445, 340/447, 340443-444, 702/181
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/064 comprising tyre mounted deformation sensors, e.g. to determine road contact area
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2240/03 Tire sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2240/04 Tire deformation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1725 Using tyre sensors, e.g. Sidewall Torsion sensors [SWT] for tyre pressure and temperature detection B60C23/00

Abstract

A method for monitoring a tire during running includes acquiring and storing, at least temporarily, a first curve representing an acceleration profile of a first point of a tread area of the tire; acquiring and storing, at least temporarily, at least one second curve representing an acceleration profile of a second point of the tread area; and comparing the first curve and the at least one second curve, or parameters derived from the first curve and the at least one second curve, so as to determine a dynamic behavior of the tire. The first and second points are located substantially on a same meridian plane of the tire. A related tire, wheel for a vehicle, system for monitoring a tire during running, and method for controlling a vehicle are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A tyre, comprising:

at least one first group of sensors, wherein the at least one first group of sensors is located in a first circumferential position of the tyre, and wherein the at least one first group of sensors comprises;

a first acceleration sensor; and

at least one second acceleration sensor,

wherein the first acceleration sensor is associated with a first point of a tread area of the tyre,

wherein the at least one second acceleration sensor is associated with a second point of the tread area, and

wherein the first and second points are located substantially on a same meridian plane of the tyre.

2. The tyre of claim 1, wherein the at least one first group of sensors further comprises at least one third acceleration sensor,

wherein the at least one third acceleration sensor is associated with a third point of the tread area, and

wherein the third point is located substantially on the same meridian plane of the tyre.

3. The tyre of claim 1, wherein the first point is located in a first shoulder region of the tread area.

4. The tyre of claim 3, wherein the second point is located in a second shoulder region of the tread area, and

wherein the second shoulder region is opposite to the first shoulder region with respect to an equatorial plane of the tyre.

5. The tyre of claim 2, wherein the third point is located substantially on an equatorial plane of the tyre.

6. The tyre of claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third points are located on an inner surface of the tyre.

7. The tyre of claim 2, wherein a misalignment angle between meridian planes of the first, second, and third points is less than or equal to 5°

.

8. The tyre of claim 2, wherein a misalignment angle between meridian planes of the first, second, and third points is less than or equal to 3°

.

9. The tyre of claim 2, wherein a misalignment angle between meridian planes of the first, second, and third points is less than or equal to 1°

.

10. The tyre of claim 1, wherein the first point is located at a first distance from an equatorial plane of the tyre that is greater than or equal to 15% of an entire width of a tread of the tyre and less than or equal to 30% of the width of the tread, and

wherein the second point is located at a second distance from the equatorial plane of the tyre that is greater than or equal to 15% of the width of the tread and less than or equal to 30% of the width of the tread.

11. The tyre of claim 1, wherein the first point is located at a first distance from an equatorial plane of the tyre that is greater than or equal to 18% of an entire width of a tread of the tyre and less than or equal to 28% of the width of the tread, and

wherein the second point is located at a second distance from the equatorial plane of the tyre that is greater than or equal to 18% of the width of the tread and less than or equal to 28% of the width of the tread.

12. The tyre of claim 1, wherein the first point is located at a first distance from an equatorial plane of the tyre that is greater than or equal to 20% of an entire width of a tread of the tyre and less than or equal to 25% of the width of the tread, and

wherein the second point is located at a second distance from the equatorial plane of the tyre that is greater than or equal to 20% of the width of the tread and less than or equal to 25% of the width of the tread.

13. The tyre of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one second group of sensors,

wherein the at least one second group of sensors is located in a second circumferential position of the tyre, and

wherein the second circumferential position is spaced apart a predetermined angle from the first circumferential position.

14. The tyre of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one third group of sensors,

wherein the at least one third group of sensors is located in a third circumferential position of the tyre, and

wherein the first, second, and third circumferential positions are spaced apart from each other by substantially a same angle.

15. The tyre of claim 1, wherein each of the acceleration sensors comprises an elaboration unit.

16. A wheel for a vehicle, comprising:

a rim; and

a tyre,

wherein the tyre comprises;

at least one first group of sensors;

wherein the at least one first group of sensors is located in a first circumferential position of the tyre,

wherein the at least one first group of sensors comprises;

a first acceleration sensor; and

at least one second acceleration sensor,

wherein the first acceleration sensor is associated with a first point of a tread area of the tyre,

wherein the at least one second acceleration sensor is associated with a second point of the tread area, and

wherein the first and second points are located substantially on a same meridian plane of the tyre.

17. The wheel of claim 16, further comprising another acceleration sensor associated with the rim.

18. A system for monitoring a tyre during running, comprising:

a tyre; and

a receiving device,

wherein the tyre comprises;

at least one first group of sensors, wherein the at least one first group of sensors comprises;

a first acceleration sensor; and

at least one second acceleration sensor, and

wherein the first acceleration sensor is associated with a first point of a tread area of the tyre,

wherein the at least one second acceleration sensor is associated with a second point of the tread area,

wherein the first and second points are located substantially on a same meridian plane of the tyre, and

wherein the receiving device is associated with the at least one first group of sensors.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the receiving device comprises:

a receiver; and

an elaboration unit.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one first group of sensors is located in a first circumferential position of the tyre.