Tire pressure indicator including pressure gauges that have a self-generating power capability
First Claim
1. A tire pressure indicator for a set of pneumatic tires of a vehicle, said tire pressure indicator comprising a plurality of pressure gauges, each of which includes:
- a casing formed with an aperture and adapted to be mounted on a respective one of the pneumatic tires such that air in the respective one of the pneumatic tires flows into said casing via said aperture;
a signal generating device disposed in said casing and capable of transmitting wirelessly a pressure signal corresponding to pressure of the air in the respective one of the pneumatic tires; and
a power supplying device disposed in said casing and connected electrically to said signal generating device so as to supply electric power for operating said signal generating device, said power supplying device including a self-generating voltage unit which has a spring plate with a mounting end secured to said casing and an opposite distal end, a weighting block secured to said distal end, and a piezoelectric unit secured to said spring plate, said spring plate being capable of deforming so as to subject said piezoelectric unit to mechanical stress when the pneumatic tire to which said casing is mounted is in motion so as to enable said piezoelectric unit to generate a voltage output.
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Abstract
A tire pressure indicator includes a pressure gauge for a pneumatic tire of a vehicle. The pressure gauge has a casing formed with an aperture and mounted on the pneumatic tire such that air in the pneumatic tire flows into the casing via the aperture. A signal generating device is disposed in the casing and is capable of transmitting wirelessly a pressure signal corresponding to pressure of the air in the pneumatic tire. A power supplying device is disposed in the casing and is connected electrically to the signal generating device so as to supply electric power for operating the signal generating device. The power supplying device includes a self-generating voltage unit which has a spring plate with a mounting end secured to the casing and an opposite distal end, a weighting block secured to the distal end, and a piezoelectric unit secured to the spring plate. The spring plate is capable of deforming so as to subject the piezoelectric unit to mechanical stress when the pneumatic tire is in motion so as to enable the piezoelectric unit to generate a voltage output.
93 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A tire pressure indicator for a set of pneumatic tires of a vehicle, said tire pressure indicator comprising a plurality of pressure gauges, each of which includes:
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a casing formed with an aperture and adapted to be mounted on a respective one of the pneumatic tires such that air in the respective one of the pneumatic tires flows into said casing via said aperture; a signal generating device disposed in said casing and capable of transmitting wirelessly a pressure signal corresponding to pressure of the air in the respective one of the pneumatic tires; and a power supplying device disposed in said casing and connected electrically to said signal generating device so as to supply electric power for operating said signal generating device, said power supplying device including a self-generating voltage unit which has a spring plate with a mounting end secured to said casing and an opposite distal end, a weighting block secured to said distal end, and a piezoelectric unit secured to said spring plate, said spring plate being capable of deforming so as to subject said piezoelectric unit to mechanical stress when the pneumatic tire to which said casing is mounted is in motion so as to enable said piezoelectric unit to generate a voltage output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A pressure gauge for a pneumatic tire of a vehicle, comprising:
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a casing formed with an aperture and adapted to be mounted on the pneumatic tire such that air in the pneumatic tire flows into said casing via said aperture; a signal generating device disposed in said casing and capable of transmitting wirelessly a pressure signal corresponding to pressure of the air in the pneumatic tire; and a power supplying device disposed in said casing and connected electrically to said signal generating device so as to supply electric power for operating said signal generating device, said power supplying device including a self-generating voltage unit which has a spring plate with a mounting end secured to said casing and an opposite distal end, a weighting block secured to said distal end, and a piezoelectric unit secured to said spring plate, said spring plate being capable of deforming so as to subject said piezoelectric unit to mechanical stress when the pneumatic tire is in motion so as to enable said piezoelectric unit to generate a voltage output. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification