Electronic unit for measuring the operation parameters of a vehicle wheel including an electronic housing and an inflation valve

• US 8,839,667 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive France (Continental AG), Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive France (Continental AG), Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Kempf, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US13/519,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20120312389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3662 With gauge or indicator

Abstract

An electronic unit includes an inflation valve (2) designed to be attached to a wheel rim (J) and an electronic module (1) assembled with the inflation valve. The inflation valve includes a rigid tube (12) extending in the extension of the valve, on the periphery of which is formed at least one transversal detent (20, 21), and the electronic module is attached to a ring (15) slideably mounted around the rigid tube. A latch plate (22) having a locking tooth (24) for insertion into a transversal detent, is mounted on the electronic module with a capacity to travel between a locking position and an unlocking position, the latch plate being associated with elastic elements designed, in the absence of stresses, to exert a force maintaining the latch plate in its locking position, and, upon an action exerted on these elastic elements, to displace this latch plate to its unlocking position.

Claims

1. A valve stem assembly, comprising:

a valve body being constructed of a flexible material, the valve body defining a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; and

a rigid core disposed within and extending entirely through the bore, the core having at least one detent formed along a periphery of the core, the detent being configured to receive a locking member positioned outside of the bore and around the rigid core and including a locking insert configured to be inserted into the detent, the locking member being coupled to an electronic module that monitors a condition of a tire,

wherein moving the locking insert of the locking member into the detent ensures at least a partial locking between the core to the electronic module.

2. The valve stem assembly of claim 1 wherein the core is hollow.

3. The valve stem assembly of claim 1 wherein the core is a hollow tubular structure comprising a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section.

4. The valve stem assembly of claim 3 wherein the first longitudinal section comprises a shutting mechanism of an inflation valve.

5. The valve stem assembly of claim 3 wherein the first longitudinal section comprises a cylindrical rod, and wherein the second longitudinal section comprises a substantially cylindrical tube that fits into the cylindrical rod.

6. The valve stem assembly of claim 1 wherein the partial locking is effective to incline the electronic module with respect to a longitudinal axis of the core at an angle from approximately 10 degrees to approximately 40 degrees.

7. The valve stem assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve body is configured to be engaged to a protective cap.

8. The valve stem assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve body comprises an abutment head, a trunk, and a neck, the abutment head being separated from the trunk by the neck.

9. A valve stem assembly comprising:

a valve body being constructed of a flexible material, the valve body defining a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; and

a hollow core disposed within the valve body, the hollow core being constructed of a rigid material and having an end portion extending through the bore, the hollow core having at least one detent formed along a periphery of the end portion of the core, the detent being configured to receive a locking member positioned outside of the bore and around the core and including a locking insert configured to be inserted into the detent, the locking member being coupled to an electronic module that monitors a condition of a tire,

wherein moving the locking insert of the locking member into the detent ensures at least a partial locking between the hollow core to the electronic module, and

the partial locking is effective to incline the electronic module with respect to a longitudinal axis of the hollow core at a non-right angle.

10. The valve stem assembly of claim 9 wherein the non-right angle is in the range of approximately 10 degrees to approximately 40 degrees.

11. The valve stem assembly of claim 9 wherein the core is a tubular structure comprising a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section.

12. The valve stem assembly of claim 11 wherein the first longitudinal section comprises a shutting mechanism of an inflation valve.

13. The valve stem assembly of claim 11 wherein the first longitudinal section comprise a cylindrical rod, and wherein the second longitudinal section comprises a substantially cylindrical tube that fits into the cylindrical rod.

14. The valve stem assembly of claim 9 wherein the valve body is configured to be engaged to a protective cap.

15. The valve stem assembly of claim 9 wherein the valve body comprises an abutment head, a trunk, and a neck, the abutment head being separated from the trunk by the neck.

16. A tire pressure measurement system comprising:

a valve body being constructed of a flexible material, the valve body having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough;

a core disposed within and extending through the bore, the core having at least one detent formed along a periphery of the core;

an electronic module configured to measure tire pressure, the electronic module communicating with the core; and

a locking member positioned outside of the bore and around the core and including a locking insert configured to be inserted into the detent, the locking member being coupled to the electronic module, the detent being configured to receive the locking insert of the locking member,

wherein moving the locking insert of the locking member into the detent ensures at least a partial locking between the hollow core to the electronic module.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the locking member is configured to move between a locking position and an unlocking position.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the locking position is obtained in the absence of stress on portions of the locking member.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the unlocking position is obtained in the presence of stress on portions of the locking member.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the locking member comprises a tab-like member.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the tab-like member comprises a locking tooth.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the core is hollow.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein the core is a hollow tubular structure comprising a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the first longitudinal section comprises a shutting mechanism of an inflation valve.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the first longitudinal section comprises a cylindrical rod, and wherein the second longitudinal section comprises a substantially cylindrical tube that fits into the cylindrical rod.

26. The system of claim 16 wherein the partial locking is effective to incline the electronic module with respect to a longitudinal axis of the core at an angle from approximately 10 degrees to approximately 40 degrees.

27. The system of claim 16 wherein the valve body is configured to be engaged to a protective cap.

28. The system of claim 16 wherein the valve body comprises an abutment head, a trunk, and a neck, the abutment head being separated from the trunk by the neck.