Tyre pressure determination

• US 6,343,506 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snap-on Equipment Ltd. (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Snap-on Equipment Ltd. (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stollery, David, Smith, Paul, Jones, Barbara L.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US09/423,400
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/462, 737/53
• US Class Current: 73/146.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/005 using a sensor contacting the exterior surface, e.g. for measuring deformation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining tire pressure in automotive vehicles utilices twin spaced parallel and non-transverse piezoelectric cables which are traversed by a vehicle to produce a voltage pulse having a shapes or profiles characteristic of the tire pressure. Waveform analysis on the basis of a software algorithm and/or look-up calibration data enables numerical pressure determination. The system is well adapted for remote automotive vehicle tire pressure sensing under normal conditions of vehicle use.

Claims

1. A method of analysing data produced by a piezo electric device located on a roadway traversed by automotive vehicles, comprising:

a) locating a piezo electric detector for engagement with a tire of an automotive vehicle;

b) causing said vehicle to pass over said detector and to generate a signal;

c) analysing said signal to determine information relating to said vehicle;

characterised by;

d) said step of analysing said signal to determine information to said vehicle comprising analysing the waveform of said signal to eliminate or reduce the effect of vehicle weight on said waveform.

2. A method according to claim 1 characterised by said step of locating said piezo electric detector for engagement by a tire of an automotive vehicle comprising employing as said detector a piezo electric sensor element adapted to be subjected to localised loading.

3. A method according to claim 2 characterised by said piezo electric detector being adapted for said localised loading by said piezo-electric detector being in the form of an elongated element of rope or cable of strand-like form so that said loading is applied mechanically only to a portion of the external profile thereof.

4. A method according to claim 1 characterised by said step of analysing said signal further comprising analysis of the shape or profile of a waveform produced by compressive loading of said piezo electric detector, to determine on an algorithmic and/or look-up basis the pressure of said tire.

5. A method according to claim 4 characterised by said step of analysing said signal to determine said information comprising employing an algorithm to analyze said waveform on the basis of progressive wave form shape changes therein with respect to progressive tire pressure changes.

6. A method according to claim 1 characterised by the step of providing two spaced piezo electric detectors positioned in said roadway for sequential traversing by automotive vehicles, and said step of analysing said signal to determine information relating to said vehicle comprising obtaining from the signals successively produced by said tire, a measure of the vehicle speed and adjusting the waveform in accordance with the speed on the basis of known data.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by said analysis to eliminate or reduce the effect of vehicle weight comprising adjusting the waveform amplitude in accordance with calibration data relating to vehicle weight.

8. A method according to claim 7 characterised by said step of analysing said waveform to eliminate or reduce the effect of vehicle speed on said waveform comprising effecting an adjustment step in relation to data obtained from said piezo electric detector for time interval data obtained by said tire passing sequentially over detectors at a known spacing.

9. A method according to claim 8 comprising locating said piezo electric detector in the form of an elongated detector disposed non-transversely with respect of the intended vehicle direction of normal forward travel so that the wheels on opposite sides of a vehicle engage said detector non simultaneously and thus produce sequential signals which can be individually analyzed.

10. Apparatus for analysing data produced by a piezo electric detector located in a roadway traversed by automotive vehicles the apparatus comprising;

a) a mounting for a piezo electric detector adapted to mount same for engagement by tires of automotive vehicles, so that said tires can pass over said detector to generate a signal;

b) signal analysis means to determine information relating to said vehicle;

characterised by;

c) said analysis means being adapted to analyse the waveform of said signal to reduce or eliminate the effect of vehicle weight on said waveform.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterised by said analysis means being adapted to analyze the shape or profile of said waveform produced by compressive loading of said piezo electric detector to determine on an algorithmic and/or look-up basis the pressure of said tire.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11 characterised by said piezo electric detector comprising a sensor element adapted to be subjected to localised loading when mounted thus by said mounting.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 characterised by said analysis means being adapted to employ an algorithm to analyze said waveform on the basis of progressive waveform shape changes therein with respect to pressure.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 characterised by said detector being adapted for said localised loading by being in the form of an elongated element of rope or cable or strand-like form so that said loading is applied mechanically only to a portion of the external profile thereof.

15. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterised by the piezo electric detector including a pair of spaced piezo electric detector cables to be traversed in sequence by said automotive vehicle, and said analysis means being adapted to determine a measure of the vehicle speed and to adjust said waveform or profile for analysis in accordance with said vehicle speed.

16. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterised by said piezo detector cables comprising an elongated detector element adapted to be disposed non transversely with respect to the intended direction of normal forward vehicle travel when engaging same so that wheels on opposite sides of a vehicle engage said detector non-simultaneously and thus produce sequential signals which can be individually analyzed.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 characterised by at least two of said piezo electric cables being provided and disposed in generally parallel relationship so as to provide sequences of signals in accordance with the number of tires (on associated axles) which engage the cables at each side of a vehicle whereby the apparatus can determine the numbers of corresponding axles and associated tires to be pressure-assessed at each side of the vehicle.