Vehicle tire suitable for cooperation with a device for determining the longitudinal force acting on the tire or the tire spring travel or the footprint length or the load/pressure ratio during rotation

• US 6,161,431 A
• Filed: 03/10/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental AG
• Original Assignee: Continental AG
• Inventors: Becherer, Thomas, Drahne, Eberhard
• Primary Examiner(s): FELBER, JOSEPH LEON
• Application Number:
  US09/267,129
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146, 152/245
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/11 Mounting of sensors thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2240/03 Tire sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1725 Using tyre sensors, e.g. Sidewall Torsion sensors [SWT] for tyre pressure and temperature detection B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/329 Systems characterised by their speed sensor arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/14 wherein the torque-transmitting element is other than a torsionally-flexible shaft
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/165 for measuring angular accelerations
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/64 Devices characterised by the determination of the time taken to traverse a fixed distance

Abstract

A vehicle tire has a plurality of first marks arranged in a circular pattern on a radially outer area of the vehicle tire. A plurality of second marks is arranged in a circular pattern on a radially inner area of the sidewall. Passing of the first and second marks is detectable by magnetic or inductive sensors. The derived signals are used to determine the longitudinal force acting on the tire or the tire spring travel or the footprint length or the load/pressure ratio during rotation of the tire.

Claims

1. A vehicle tire comprising a radially outer portion, said radially outer portion comprising a plurality of first marks arranged in a circular pattern on said radially outer portion, wherein a passing of said first marks is detectable by magnetic or inductive sensors, and wherein said radially outer portion is a sidewall portion of said vehicle tire.

2. A vehicle tire according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle tire comprises at least one second mark positioned radially inwardly relative to said first marks.

3. A vehicle tire according to claim 2, wherein said vehicle tire has a tire bead area and wherein said at least one second mark is positioned in said tire bead area.

4. A vehicle tire according to claim 1, comprising a sidewall and comprising a plurality of second marks arranged in a circular pattern on a radially inner area of said sidewall, wherein a passing of said second marks is detectable by magnetic or inductive sensors.

5. A vehicle tire according to claim 4, wherein said vehicle tire has a tire bead area and wherein said second marks are positioned in said tire bead area.

6. A vehicle tire according to claim 4, wherein said first and second marks are arranged in mark pairs, wherein said first and second marks of each one of said mark pairs have a differential angle relative to one another, and wherein the differential angle of all said mark pairs are identical.

7. A vehicle tire according to claim 6, wherein the differential angle is greater than zero.

8. A vehicle tire according to claim 4, wherein said first and second marks consist of metal.

9. A vehicle tire according to claim 4, wherein said first and second marks project from said sidewall of said vehicle tire.

10. A vehicle tire comprising a radially outer portion, said radially outer portion comprising a plurality of first marks arranged in a circular pattern on said radially outer portion, wherein a passing of said first marks is detectable by magnetic or inductive sensors, and wherein said radially outer portion is a shoulder area of said vehicle tire.

11. A vehicle tire according to claim 10, wherein said tire has a sidewall portion and wherein said vehicle tire comprises at least one second mark positioned radially inwardly relative to said first marks.

12. A vehicle tire according to claim 11, wherein said vehicle tire has a tire bead area and wherein said at least one second mark is positioned in said tire bead area.

13. A vehicle tire according to claim 10, comprising a sidewall and comprising a plurality of second marks arranged in a circular pattern on a radially inner area of said sidewall, wherein a passing of said second marks is detectable by magnetic or inductive sensors.

14. A vehicle tire according to claim 13, wherein said vehicle tire has a tire bead area and wherein said second marks are positioned in said tire bead area.

15. A vehicle tire according to claim 13, wherein said first and second marks are arranged in mark pairs, wherein said first and second marks of each one of said mark pairs have a differential angle relative to one another, and wherein the differential angle of all said mark pairs are identical.

16. A vehicle tire according to claim 15, wherein the differential angle is greater than zero.

17. A vehicle tire according to claim 13, wherein said first and second marks consist of metal.

18. A vehicle tire according to claim 13, wherein said first and second marks project from said sidewall of said vehicle tire.

19. A vehicle tire having a plurality of first marks arranged in a circular pattern on a radially outer area of said vehicle tire wherein a passing of said first marks is detectable by magnetic or inductive sensors, comprising a sidewall and comprising a plurality of second marks arranged in a circular pattern on a radially inner area of said sidewall, wherein a passing of said second marks is detectable by magnetic or inductive sensors, wherein at least some of said first and second marks are magnetic.