Tire temperature emergency warning heat indicator/transmitter with cooling solution

• US 8,988,208 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2013
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carson, George J., Dion D. Xenos
• Original Assignee: Carson, George J., Dion D. Xenos
• Inventors: Carson, George J., Xenos, Dion D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/777,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20130234847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 340/449, 340/442, 340/445, 340/447, 731/46
• US Class Current: 340/449
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/18 Tyre cooling arrangements , e.g. heat shields wheels with cooling fins B60B19/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only

Abstract

A system and method for operating a tire temperature warning system with an optional cooling solution is disclosed.

Claims

1. A system to monitor tire temperature and provide a warning signal, comprising:

a temperature sensing assembly located in sensing proximity to a tire;

said assembly including a temperature sensor in electronic communication with a processor having memory, said processor having data stored in memory corresponding to temperature points related to tire functioning;

a warning system to provide an alert when a predetermined tire temperature range is at least reached; and

a cooling system equipped with an outlet, said cooling system outlet in close proximity to said tire and controlled by said processor to cool said tire when said tire temperature is above a predetermined temperature.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said warning system provides a visual, haptic or audio alert signal of varying intensity or frequency at predetermined temperatures within said temperature range.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said temperature sensing assembly is at a tire stem, a tire rim, an inner wall of said tire, at a bolt of said tire rim, a cover over said tire rim, or incorporated directly into a tire material.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said cooling system is a receptacle having a coolant stored therein.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said coolant is at least one of liquid nitrogen and cooling powder.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is an electronic control unit.

7. A method to monitor tire temperature with a sensor in electronic communication with a processor having temperature data points stored in memory, comprising:

determining the operational temperature of a tire;

determining whether said operational temperature exceeds a predetermined tire temperature range for a predetermined period of time;

providing an alert signal to indicate the tire operational temperature exceeds a predetermined tire temperature in said range;

applying a coolant to said tire to reduce the operational temperature of said tire to a predetermined temperature.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said alert signal is haptic, audio or visual.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said alert signal is provided in a varying intensity or frequency.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said predetermined tire temperature is below said predetermined temperature range.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said processor is an electronic control unit.

12. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute the steps of determining tire temperature with data signals from a sensor in electronic communication with said processor indicative of tire operational temperature, said processor having temperature data points stored in memory;

determining whether said operational temperature exceeds a predetermined tire temperature range for a predetermined period of time;

providing an alert signal to indicate the tire operational temperature exceeds a predetermined tire temperature in said range and providing an alert when said operational temperature exceeds said predetermined tire range;

providing instructions to apply a coolant to a tire to reduce the tire operational temperature to a predetermined temperature.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further including instructions to provide haptic, visual or audio alert signals.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein said signal is varying intensity or frequency.

15. A system to monitor tire temperature and provide a warning signal, comprising:

a temperature sensing assembly located in sensing proximity to a tire;

said assembly including a temperature sensor and a warning system to provide an alert when a predetermined tire temperature range is at least reached;

wherein the temperature sensor is a temperature sensitive chemical incorporated into at least a portion of said tire that changes color when the tire operational temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time.