Device for monitoring a vehicle wheel

• US 8,988,209 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eltek SpA
• Original Assignee: Eltek SpA
• Inventors: Colombo, Paolo, Cantarelli, Domenico
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adnan, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US13/514,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 340/611, 340/612, 340/614, 340/626, 3404255-490, 73/15.7, 73/17.1, 73146-1468
• US Class Current: 340/455
• 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 23/0452 Antenna structure, control or arrangement vehicle tyre mounted antennas H01Q1/2241
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber

Abstract

A monitoring device (20) of a vehicle wheel (11) is configured for detecting and transmitting, by a wireless connection, information relating to at least one characteristic quantity of the status of the wheel (11), such as the inflating pressure of a tire thereof. The device (20) has a casing (21-22) housing a circuit (30) adapted to transmit said information, the casing (21-22) being designed for coupling to an end portion (3a) of electrically conductive body (3) of a tire valve (2) of the wheel (11). The casing (21-22) includes a casing body (21) integrating interconnection means (28, 29, 40) prearranged to obtain both an electric connection of the circuit (30) to the end portion (3a) of the electrically conductive body (3) of the valve (2; 2′; 2″), and a mechanical coupling of the casing (21-22) to the end portion (3a) of the electrically conductive body (3) of the valve (2; 2′; 2″).

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a vehicle wheel, configured for detecting and transmitting, by a wireless connection, information relating to at least one characteristic quantity of the status of the wheel, the device having a casing housing a circuit adapted to transmit said information, the casing being designed for coupling to an end portion of body made of electrically conductive material of a tyre valve of the wheel, wherein, in an installed condition of the valve and of the device, the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel and the casing of the device is secured to said end portion,

wherein the casing includes a casing body integrating interconnection element prearranged to obtain both an electric connection of the circuit to the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve and a mechanical coupling of the casing to the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve;

wherein the casing body is made of electrically insulating material and the interconnection element comprises an electrically conducted insert, integrated in the casing body and configured to obtain at least in part the said mechanical coupling and the said electrical connection;

wherein the electrically insulating material is a mouldable plastic material and the casing body is over-moulded to or co-moulded with the insert such that the insert is embedded within electrically insulating material of the casing body,

wherein the insert defines mechanical coupling element and electrical connection element protruding from the electrically insulating material of the casing body in which the insert is embedded; and

wherein the mechanical coupling element is configured to be at least hooked or push-coupled within a hollow cavity, or seat extending inside the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling element comprises one of

one or more hooking elements which are elastically deformable for the purposes of coupling within said hollow cavity or seat extending, inside the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve,

a joint adapted to be coupled by push-coupling within said hollow cavity or seat extending inside the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the interconnection element comprises one or more further hooking elements defined by electrically insulating material of the casing body, the further hooking elements being elastically deformable for the purposes of coupling within said hollow cavity or seat extending inside the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection element includes at least one portion of the insert having a respective end protruding from the electrically insulating material, within a cavity of the casing in which the circuit is housed, said end being configured for electrical coupling with the circuit.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the insert has a body portion traversed by a passage.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the insert is prearranged to obtain at least in part a fluidic connection between the casing body and an inner conduit of the valve opening at the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

8. device according to claim 6, wherein

the insert has a body portion traversed by a passage, and

a region of the casing body from which the mechanical coupling element projects is provided with at least one conduit or surface notch designed to be placed in fluid communication with an inner conduit of the valve, said at least one conduit or surface notch extending, in a transverse direction relative to said inner conduit of the valve.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one of

the insert has at least one hooking element having a cross-section circumference arc-shaped and/or a plurality of hooking elements arranged according to a circumference;

the insert is at least partly formed of an electrically conductive synthetic material, in particular a mouldable synthetic material;

at least one portion of the insert defines, together with plastic material of the casing body, a cylindrical joint designed for coupling with the electrically conductive body of the valve.

10. Use of a monitoring device according to claim 1 in combination with a tyre valve having an electrically conductive body, wherein, in an installed condition of the valve and of the device, an end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel and the casing of the device is secured at said hollow cavity or seat extending portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve through said mechanical coupling element.

11. A tyre valve for use in combination with a monitoring device according to claim 1, the valve comprising an electrically conductive body with an end portion which, in an installed condition of the valve and of the device, extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel, inside the end portion of the electrically conductive body a hollow cavity or seat being defined, for mechanical and electrical coupling with at least one of said casing body and the said insert via said interconnection element.

12. The valve according to claim 11, wherein

inside said end portion of the electrically conductive body a hooking seat is defined for one or more elastically deformable hooking elements belonging to at least one of said insert and said casing body, or

the electrically conductive body has an inner conduit opening at a proximal end of said end portion and defining

a hooking seat for one or more hooking elements belonging to at least one of said insert and said casing body.

13. The device according to claim 1, comprising a tyre valve having an electrically conductive body, wherein, in an installed condition, an end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel and the casing of the device is secured to said end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve through said casing body, and wherein a hollow cavity or seat extends inside said end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

14. The device according to claim 1, comprising a tyre valve having an electrically conductive body with an end portion which, in an installed condition, extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel, the end portion of the electrically conductive body being configured for mechanical and electrical coupling with at least one of said casing body and the said insert, wherein said hollow cavity or seat extends inside said end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein inside said end portion of the electrically conductive body a hooking seat is defined for one or more elastically deformable hooking elements belonging to said casing body, the hooking seat comprising a blind cavity of said end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive body has an inner conduit opening at said end portion and defining

a hooking seat for at least one hooking element belonging to said casing body, said hooking seat including an undercut or step of said inner conduit.

19. The valve according to claim 11, wherein the hooking seat comprises a blind cavity of said end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

20. The valve according to claim 19, wherein the electrically conductive body has an axial inner conduit which branches into a plurality of radial conduits.

7. A device for monitoring a vehicle wheel, configured for detecting and

transmitting, by a wireless connection, information relating to at least one characteristic quantity of the status of the wheel, the device having a casing housing a circuit adapted to transmit said information, the casing being designed for coupling to an end portion of body made of electrically conductive material of a tyre valve of the wheel, wherein, in an installed condition of the valve and of the device, the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel and the casing of the device is secured to said end portion,

wherein the casing includes a casing body integrating interconnection element prearranged to obtain both an electric connection of the circuit to the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve and a mechanical coupling of the casing to the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve;

wherein the casing body is made of electrically insulating material and the interconnection element comprises an electrically conductive insert, integrated in the casing body and configured to obtain at least in part the said mechanical coupling and the said electrical connection;

wherein the electrically insulating material is a mouldable plastic material and the casing body is over-moulded to, or co-moulded with, the insert, such that the insert is partially embedded within electrically insulating material of the casing body,

wherein the insert defines mechanical coupling element and electrical connection element protruding from the electrically insulating material of the casing body in which the insert is partially embedded; and

wherein the mechanical coupling element is configured to be at least partially screwed within a threaded seat extending axially inside the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve.

17. The device according to claim 7, wherein

the insert has a cylindrical body portion traversed by a passage;

within said passage of the cylindrical body portion of the insert part of the electrically insulating material of the casing body is present;

said cylindrical body portion of the insert is externally provided with a thread to be screwed within said threaded cavity or seat extending inside the end portion of the electrically conductive body of the valve, and

the part of the electrically insulating material which is present within said passage of the cylindrical body portion of the insert is traversed by a channel designed to be placed in fluid communication with an inner conduit of the valve opening at the end portion of the electrically conductive body thereof.

18. A tyre valve for use in combination with a monitoring device according to claim 7, the valve comprising an electrically conductive body with an end portion which, in an installed condition of the valve and of the device, extends at least partly within a tyre mounting channel, inside the end portion of the electrically conductive body a threaded seat being defined, configured for mechanical and electrical coupling with at least one of said casing body and the said insert via said mechanical coupling element.