Tire pressure indicator

• US 9,193,223 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2014
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Keller, Steven Thomas, Summers, Paul L., Cahill, Eric Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US14/184,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20150231936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2200/02 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0406 Alarms noticeable from outside the vehicle, e.g. indication in side mirror, front light or audible alarms B60C23/0403, B60C23/0405 take precedence
• 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 23/0447 Wheel or tyre mounted circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/36 Arrangements or adaptations of wheels, tyres or axles in general
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

System and methods for indicating a tire pressure condition are disclosed. Some systems and methods include receiving, by a control unit comprising a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory, a tire pressure data, determining, by the control unit, a relationship of the tire pressure data to a predetermined tire pressure, and causing, by the control unit, an output device to display a value in accordance with the relationship, wherein the output device is externally located on an aircraft.

Claims

1. A system for indicating a tire pressure condition comprising:

a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory, wherein the processor is in electrical communication with an output device, wherein the output device is externally located on an aircraft,

wherein the processor is configured to receive a tire pressure data,

wherein the processor is configured to determine a relationship of the tire pressure data to a predetermined tire pressure,

wherein the processor is configured to cause the output device to display a binary value in accordance with the relationship,

wherein the output device is located on at least one of a hubcap of a wheel, a landing gear of the aircraft and a gear bay of the aircraft, and

wherein the output device comprises at least one of an indicator light and a light-emitting diode (“

LED”

).

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a battery in electrical communication with the output device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is part of a brake system control unit (“

BSCU”

) and the output device is in electrical communication with the BSCU and the output device is powered by the BSCU.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to implement a hysteresis feature.

5. A method of indicating a tire pressure condition, comprising:

receiving, by a control unit comprising a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory, a tire pressure data;

determining, by the control unit, a relationship of the tire pressure data to a predetermined tire pressure; and

causing, by the control unit, an output device to display a binary value by activating a light-emitting diode (“

LED”

) in accordance with the relationship, wherein the output device is located on at least one of a hubcap of a wheel, a landing gear of the aircraft and a gear bay of the aircraft.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising filtering, by the control unit, the tire pressure data.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the determining comprises determining whether the tire pressure data exceeds the predetermined tire pressure.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the displaying is performed during inflation of a tire.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the displaying comprises activating an audible display.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is a brake system control unit (“

BSCU”

) and the audible display is performed by actuating a brake with the BSCU.

11. A system for indicating a tire pressure condition comprising:

a housing, wherein a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory is mounted within the housing;

a light-emitting diode (“

LED”

) mounted to the housing and in electrical communication with the processor;

a battery in electrical communication with the processor and the LED;

a pressure sensor coupled to the housing, in electrical communication with the processor, and configured to measure a tire pressure data;

wherein the processor is configured to receive the tire pressure data,

wherein the processor is configured to determine a relationship of the tire pressure data to a predetermined tire pressure,

wherein the processor is configured to cause the LED to display a binary value in accordance with the relationship, and

wherein the LED is located on at least one of a hubcap of a wheel, a landing gear of the aircraft and a gear bay of the aircraft.