Tire-safety sensing device

• US 6,181,240 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2000
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lih Tian Wu
• Original Assignee: Lih Tian Wu
• Inventors: Wu, Lih Tian
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/567,218
• Time in Patent Office: 266 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/444, 340/443, 340/438, 340/73
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/06 Signalling devices actuated by deformation of the tyre , e.g. tyre mounted deformation sensors or indirect determination of tyre deformation based on wheel speed, wheel-centre to ground distance or inclination of wheel axle

Abstract

A tire-safety sensing device includes a supporting rod having one end connected to the body of the vehicle, located beside a tire, a fixing peg to pivotally connect the sensing device to a sensing rod to provide swinging motion, a contacting wheel with a bearing mounted onto the top end of the sensing rod, a spring (tortional spring) being mounted to the fixing peg, the two ends of the spring being mounted to a protrusion within a notch provided at the supporting rod and a protrusion of the sensing rod, the spring urges the sensing rod towards the tire such that the contacting wheel is in contact with the tire.

Claims

1. A tire-safety sensing device comprising a supporting rod having one end connected to the body of the vehicle, located beside a tire, a fixing peg to pivotally connect the sensing device to a sensing rod to provide swinging motion, a contacting wheel with a bearing mounted onto the top end of the sensing rod, a spring (tortional spring) being mounted to the fixing peg, the two ends of the spring being mounted to a protrusion within a notch provided at the supporting rod and a protrusion of the sensing rod, the spring urges the sensing rod towards the tire such that the contacting wheel is in contact with the tire.

2. A tire-safety sensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a notch is provided at the end section of the supporting rod and a conductive wire is mounted within the supporting rod and is connected to a controlling device within the vehicle, and a protruded block, corresponding to a micro-switch, is mounted to the bottom end of the sensing rod, thereby, insufficient pressure of the tire activates the micro-switch.

3. A tire-safety sensing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the spring is a tortional spring having two end being mounted to the protrusion of the notch and to the protrusion of the sensing rod.

4. A tire-safety sensing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein a swinging element is mounted in between the sensing device and the supporting rod, and the swinging element is mounted at the rod body located at the supporting rod, the swinging element is provided with the notch for the mounting of the sensing device, and the bottom section of the sensing device is provided with the micro-switch, and a pair of elastic top rods are provided on the swinging element, facing the tire direction, and the front section of an elastic top rod is provided with a ball body to contact with the wheel edge of the tire to avoid the sensing device from damage while the tires rotate.

5. A tire-safety sensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensing element is mounted at the wheel cover of the vehicle.

6. A tire-safety sensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensing device is mounted at a holding member extended from the body of the vehicle on top of the tire, the spring is provided to the holding member such that the top rod is elastically extended outward and the rolling wheel at the top end of the top rod can contact with the tire, the holding member is provided with the micro-switch, and the circumferential edge of the top rod is provided with a protrusion, thereby, the tire with insufficient tire pressure causes the protrusion to move downward with the top rod to contact the micro-switch so as to activate the controlling device within the vehicle.