Tire pressure detector

• US 5,604,481 A
• Filed: 03/08/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bai Chz Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Bai Chz Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lin, Ming-Te
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US08/400,839
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/443, 340/445, 73/146.3, 73/146.4, 73/146.5, 73/146.8, 200/61.22, 200/61.25, 200/61.26, 116/34 R
• US Class Current: 340/442
• 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 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber

Abstract

A tire pressure detector includes a casing that receives a battery unit and a signal generating unit therein and that is provided with an adaptor to engage an inflating valve of a tire. A switch unit is mounted in the adaptor for connecting electrically the battery unit and the signal generating unit, and includes a resilient disc member with a peripheral portion secured to an inner wall of the adaptor, and a central portion moving in accordance with pressure inside the tire. An annular conductive piece is disposed on an inward protrusion of the adaptor and is connected to the signal generating unit. A conductive tubular body is disposed on the central portion of the disc member and extends slidably through the inward protrusion of the adaptor. The tubular body has a peripheral flange projecting outwardly from an upper end thereof and extending above the conductive piece. A hollow conductive seat member is mounted in the adaptor above the tubular body. The seat member is connected to the battery unit. An adjustment rod has external threads engaging internal threads of the seat member. A spring is clamped between the adjustment rod and the tubular body to bias the tubular body toward the disc member. The adjustment rod is movable within the seat member to adjust biasing force of the spring.

Claims

1. A pressure detector for a tire having an inflating valve, comprising:

a cap-like casing having a closed upper portion and an open lower portion;

a hollow adaptor made of an insulating material and having an upper end engaging said open lower portion of said casing, a lower end adapted to engage and open the inflating valve to permit flow of air from the tire into said adaptor, and an inward protrusion projecting from an inner wall of said adaptor;

a detector assembly including a battery unit and a signal generating unit which are mounted within said casing;

a pressure-actuated switch unit mounted within said adaptor for connecting electrically said battery unit to said signal generating unit so as to activate said signal generating unit when pressure inside the tire is insufficient, said switch unit including;

a resilient disc member disposed in said lower end of said adaptor, said disc member having a peripheral portion secured to said inner wall of said adaptor and forming an air chamber in said lower end of said adaptor to be communicated with an interior of the tire, and a central portion moving in accordance with pressure inside the tire;

an annular conductive piece disposed on an upper surface of said inward protrusion of said adaptor and connected electrically to one of said battery unit and said signal generating unit;

a first contact unit having a conductive tubular body which is disposed on said central portion of said disc member and which extends slidably through said inward protrusion of said adaptor, said tubular body having a peripheral flange which projects outwardly from an upper end thereof and which extends above said conductive piece;

a second contact unit including a hollow conductive seat member which is mounted within said adaptor above said tubular body and which has an internally threaded portion, said seat member being connected electrically to the other one of said battery unit and said signal generating unit, said second contact unit further including an adjustment rod which has an externally threaded portion that engages said internally threaded portion of said seat member; and

a spring having one end abutting said adjustment rod and another end abutting said tubular body to bias said tubular body toward said disc member, said adjustment rod being movable within said seat member to adjust biasing force of said spring;

whereby, when pressure inside the tire is sufficient to overcome said biasing force of said spring, said disc member biases said tubular body such that said peripheral flange of said tubular body is spaced from said conductive piece to disconnect electrically said signal generating unit from said battery unit, and when pressure inside the tire is insufficient to overcome said biasing force, said spring biases said tubular body such that said peripheral flange of said tubular body contacts said conductive piece to connect electrically said signal generating unit to said battery unit.

2. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tubular guide member secured to said inward protrusion of said adaptor and sleeved around said tubular body for guiding movement of said tubular body.

3. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a metal reinforcing sleeve member sleeved around said adaptor.

4. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower end of said adaptor is provided with a metal valve engaging member which is mounted securely within said air chamber and which has an axially extending passage and an internally threaded portion for engaging the inflating valve, and a central finger piece which is disposed in said passage for actuating the inflating valve when said valve engaging member engages the inflating valve, said finger piece having an axially extending hole communicated with said passage to permit the flow of air from the tire into said adaptor.

5. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detector assembly further includes an insulating covering confining said battery unit therein and having a top wall with a central hole formed therethrough, said signal generating unit being disposed on said top wall of said insulating covering, said battery unit being disposed on said seat member, said detector assembly further including a conductive spring which interconnects said signal generating unit and said battery unit and which extends through said central hole of said top wall of said insulating covering, said conductive spring pushing said battery unit toward said seat member for electrical contact therewith.

6. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a conductor assembly which interconnects electrically said signal generating unit and said conductive piece, said conductor assembly including a first conductive plate disposed on said conductive piece, a second conductive plate extending from said first conductive plate to a bottom side of said insulating covering, a third conductive plate positioned on said bottom side of said insulating covering and contacting electrically said second conductive plate, and a fourth conductive plate connecting electrically said third conductive plate to said signal generating unit.

7. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular body has a bottom wall with a hole formed through a central portion thereof, said adjustment rod having an axially extending hole formed therethrough.

8. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sealing ring sleeved on said adaptor and engaging a bottom edge of said open lower portion of said cap-like casing.

9. A pressure detector for a tire having an inflating valve, comprising:

a cap-like casing having a closed upper portion and an open lower portion;

a hollow adaptor made of an insulating material and having an upper end engaging said open lower portion of said casing, a lower end adapted to engage and open the inflating valve to permit flow of air from the tire into said adaptor, and an inward protrusion projecting from an inner wall of said adaptor;

a detector assembly including a battery unit and a signal generating unit which are mounted within said casing;

a pressure-actuated switch unit mounted within said adaptor for connecting electrically said battery unit to said signal generating unit so as to activate said signal generating unit when pressure inside the tire is insufficient, said switch unit including;

a resilient disc member disposed in said lower end of said adaptor, said disc member having a peripheral portion secured to said inner wall of said adaptor and forming an air chamber in said lower end of said adaptor to be communicated with an interior of the tire, and a central portion moving in accordance with pressure inside the tire;

an annular conductive piece disposed on an upper surface of said inward protrusion of said adaptor and connected electrically to one of said battery unit and said signal generating unit;

a first contact unit having a conductive tubular body which is disposed on said central portion of said disc member and which extends slidably through said inward protrusion of said adaptor, said tubular body having a peripheral flange which projects outwardly from an upper end thereof and which extends above said conductive piece;

a second contact unit mounted within said adaptor above said tubular body and connected electrically to the other one of said battery unit and said signal generating unit; and

a spring having one end abutting said second contact unit, and another end abutting said tubular body to bias said tubular body toward said disc member;

whereby, when pressure inside the tire is sufficient to overcome biasing force of said spring, said disc member biases said tubular body such that said peripheral flange of said tubular body is spaced from said conductive piece to disconnect electrically said signal generating unit from said battery unit, and when pressure inside the tire is insufficient to overcome said biasing force, said spring biases said tubular body such that said peripheral flange of said tubular body contacts said conductive piece to connect electrically said signal generating unit to said battery unit.

10. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a tubular guide member secured to said inward protrusion of said adaptor and sleeved around said tubular body for guiding movement of said tubular body.

11. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second contact unit includes a hollow conductive seat member which is mounted within said adaptor above said tubular body and which has an internally threaded portion, said seat member being connected electrically to the other one of said battery unit and said signal generating unit, said second contact unit further including an adjustment rod which has an externally threaded portion that engages said internally threaded portion of said seat member, said adjustment rod abutting said one end of said spring and being movable within said seat member to adjust said biasing force of said spring.

12. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a metal reinforcing sleeve member sleeved around said adaptor.

13. A pressure detector for a tire having an inflating valve, comprising:

a cap-like casing having a closed upper portion and an open lower portion;

a hollow adaptor made of an insulating material and having an upper end engaging said open lower portion of said casing, and a lower end adapted to engage and open the inflating valve to permit flow of air from the tire into said adaptor;

a detector assembly including a battery unit and a signal generating unit which are mounted within said casing;

a pressure-actuated switch unit mounted within said adaptor for connecting electrically said battery unit to said signal generating unit so as to activate said signal generating unit when pressure inside the tire is insufficient, said switch unit including;

a resilient disc member disposed in said lower end of said adaptor, said disc member having a peripheral portion secured to an inner wall of said adaptor and forming an air chamber in said lower end of said adaptor to be communicated with an interior of the tire, and a central portion moving in accordance with pressure inside the tire;

an annular conductive piece secured to said inner wall of said adaptor above said disc member and connected electrically to one of said battery unit and said signal generating unit;

a first contact unit disposed on said central portion of said disc member, and having a peripheral flange projecting therefrom and extending above said conductive piece;

a second contact unit including a hollow conductive seat member which is mounted within said adaptor above said first contact unit and which has an internally threaded portion, said seat member being connected electrically to the other one of said battery unit and said signal generating unit, said second contact unit further including an adjustment rod which has an externally threaded portion that engages said internally threaded portion of said seat member; and

a spring having one end abutting said adjustment rod and another end abutting said first contact unit to bias said first contact unit toward said disc member, said adjustment rod being movable within said seat member to adjust biasing force of said spring;

whereby, when pressure inside the tire is sufficient to overcome said biasing force of said spring, said disc member biases said tubular body such that said peripheral flange of said first contact unit is spaced from said conductive piece to disconnect electrically said signal generating unit from said battery unit, and when pressure inside the tire is insufficient to overcome said biasing force, said spring biases said first contact unit such that said peripheral flange of said first contact unit contacts said conductive piece to connect electrically said signal generating unit to said battery unit.

14. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 13, wherein said adaptor has an inward protrusion projecting from said inner wall thereof for carrying said conductive piece thereon, said first contact unit having a conductive tubular body which is disposed on said central portion of said disc member and which extends slidably through said inward protrusion of said adaptor, said tubular body having an upper end provided with said peripheral flange which extends above said conductive piece.

15. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a tubular guide member secured to said inward protrusion of said adaptor and sleeved around said tubular body for guiding movement of said tubular body.

16. A pressure detector as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a metal reinforcing sleeve member sleeved around said adaptor.