Electronic unit for measuring working parameters of a vehicle wheel

• US 9,884,526 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• 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): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kidanu, Gedeon M
• Application Number:
  US14/670,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20150273957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 73146, 152427
• 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 23/0491 Constructional details of means for attaching the control device
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 29/02 Connection to rims

Abstract

An electronic unit includes an electronic box (1) and a “snap-in” inflation valve (2) made up of a shaft (5) and of an abutment head (6) which are separated by a neck (7) in the shape of an annular groove. The electronic box (1) and the inflation valve (2) are rigidly connected by element, firstly, of an annular piece (22) housed in the neck (7) of the valve body (3), which piece is continued by at least one arm (23) for connecting the annular piece with the electronic box (1), extending externally along the abutment head (6) and in a continuation of the latter, and, secondly, of members (27) for fixing the connecting arm (23) on the electronic box (1).

Claims

1. An electronic unit for measuring working parameters of a vehicle wheel, comprising:

an inflation valve adapted for being rigidly connected on a wheel rim, including;

a valve body made up of a shaft and of an abutment head which are separated by a neck in the shape of an annular groove, and

a hollow rigid tube extending in the valve body, continued by an assembling section in a continuation of the abutment head of said valve body,

an electronic box provided with an assembling sleeve for housing the assembling section of the rigid tube,

and a connector rigidly connecting the electronic box and the inflation valve, in a position of said electronic box where the latter extends in a direct continuation of said inflation valve,

wherein the connector connecting the electronic box and the inflation valve comprises;

an annular piece housed in the neck of the valve body, the annular piece is continued by at least one arm for connection between said annular piece and the electronic box, extending externally along the abutment head and in a continuation of said abutment head, and

members fixing the connecting arm on the electronic box.

2. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular piece has an external diameter paired with the diameter of the abutment head, which diameter is suitable such that said annular piece is flush with the peripheral face of the abutment head.

3. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic box has a blind bore therethrough arranged opposite an opening arranged in the connecting arm, the fixing members comprising a threaded pin housed in said opening and bore, for rigid connection by screwing of the connecting arm on the electronic box.

4. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular piece is orientated such that the connecting arm extends laterally with respect to the hollow rigid tube, such as to be rigidly connected to a lateral wall of the electronic box.

5. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment head of the inflation valve includes a peripheral wall wherein, for each connecting arm, a longitudinal channel is arranged, that is suitable for housing the section of said connecting arm extending along the abutment head.

6. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular piece is continued by a second arm for connecting with the electronic box, extending externally along the abutment head, said connecting arm and the electronic box being provided with complementary members for assembly by interlocking.

7. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 6, comprising two diametrically opposite connecting arms, for rigidly connecting the electronic box and the inflation valve, and for assembly by interlocking, respectively.

8. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular piece has an internal diameter that is substantially less than the diameter of the bottom of the annular groove, such as to be anchored in said groove bottom.

9. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the annular piece has an external diameter paired with the diameter of the abutment head, which diameter is suitable such that said annular piece is flush with the peripheral face of the abutment head.

10. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electronic box has a blind bore therethrough arranged opposite an opening arranged in the connecting arm, the fixing members comprising a threaded pin housed in said opening and bore, for rigid connection by screwing of the connecting arm on the electronic box.

11. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the annular piece is orientated such that the connecting arm extends laterally with respect to the hollow rigid tube, such as to be rigidly connected to a lateral wall of the electronic box.

12. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the annular piece is continued by a second arm for connecting with the electronic box, extending externally along the abutment head, said connecting arm and the electronic box being provided with complementary members for assembly by interlocking.

13. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the abutment head of the inflation valve includes a peripheral wall wherein, for each connecting arm, a longitudinal channel is arranged, that is suitable for housing the section of said connecting arm extending along the abutment head.