Device for controlling the tire pressure of automobiles by means of a battery-powered circuit

• US 6,124,786 A
• Filed: 03/15/1999
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Ami Doduco GmbH (AMI Doduco, Inc.)
• Inventors: Normann, Norbert, Uhl, Gunter, Schulze, Gunter Lothar
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/242,240
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/443, 340/447, 340/626, 73/146.2, 73/146.5, 73/146.8
• US Class Current: 340/447
• 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 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring tire pressure on automobiles, having an arrangement (1), intended for installation into a wheel, made up of a pressure sensor, a transmitter, and a circuit for operating the pressure sensor and transmitter, and having a battery (2) which supplies the circuit with power via a power supply line (3), the arrangement (1) and the battery (2) being located in a sealed housing (9). Located in the power supply line (3) is an electronic switch (4) which has a control electrode (5) and is nonconductive when the control electrode (5) is connected to ground.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring tire pressure on automobiles, having an arrangement (1), intended for installation into a wheel, made up of a pressure sensor, a transmitter, and a circuit for operating the pressure sensor and transmitter, and having a battery (2) which supplies the circuit with power via a power supply line (3), the arrangement (1) and the battery (2) being located in a sealed housing (9), wherein there is located in the power supply line (3) an electronic switch (4) which has a control electrode (5) and is nonconductive when the control electrode (5) is connected to ground, where the line (6) can be permanently interrupted between the control electrode (5) and ground by a measure to be effected on the housing (9), for purposes of setting the arrangement into operation.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing (9) has a housing wall with a flexibly configured segment (12) on the inner side of which is arranged an interrupter (7) that can be opened by being pressed in and is located in the line (6) which connects the control electrode (5) to ground.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing (9) has a housing wall with a flexibly configured segment (12) on the inner side of which is arranged a segment of the line (6) connecting the control electrode (5) to ground that can be broken off by being pressed in.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the line (6) which connects the control electrode (5) to ground has one or more defined break points (13, 14) on the flexibly configured segment (12) of the housing wall.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the line which connects the control electrode (5) to ground runs partially on the outer side of the housing (9).

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein that portion of the line (6) connecting the control electrode (5) to ground which runs on the outer side of the (9) has a loop (8) standing out from the outer side of the housing (9).

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the loop (8) has defined break points (10, 11) just next to the outer side of the housing (9).

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the housing (9) with the externally located loop (8) is dimensioned, in accordance with the predefined installation conditions on the wheel, that installation into the wheel absolutely requires that the loop (8) first be broken off.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the housing with the externally located loop is dimensioned, in accordance with the predefined installation conditions on the wheel, that installation into the wheel absolutely requires that that loop first be broken off.