Device for detecting vibrating signal caused by tire engaging safety insert after pressure loss in tire

• US 6,397,670 B1
• Filed: 10/14/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
• Original Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin, Michelin & CIE
• Inventors: Hottebart, François, Dufournier, Arnaud
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/418,283
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 152/155, 152/156, 152/157, 152/158, 152/379.4, 152/381.5, 152/379.3, 152/379.5, 152/381.3, 152/281.4, 152/382, 152/383, 152/520, 731/46, 731/462, 346/443, 346/683
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 17/04 utilising additional non-inflatable supports which become load-supporting in emergency
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 17/06 resilient
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/006 Warning devices, e.g. devices generating noise due to flat or worn tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0469 Transmission by sound, e.g. ultra-sound
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/063 Generating directly an audible signal by deformation of the tyre by touching the ground B60C23/085
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10009 Emergency
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10027 with wear indicating feature

Abstract

A safety insert designed to be mounted in an assembly comprising a tire and a rim of a vehicle and device for detecting the bearing of the tire on an insert, so that the insert generates signals oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire and rim assembly and so that the device detects and analyzes the vibrating signals of the chassis of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the bearing of a tire of a vehicle, equipped with a plurality of tire, rim and safety insert assemblies, the insert of each assembly being mounted between the rim and the radially inner face of the tire tread, on the corresponding safety insert, each assembly being capable of triggering the emission of a vibrating signal when the tire comes in contact with the insert after a pressure loss in the tire, comprising means of detection and treatment of said vibrating signal, including a single sensor capable of being mounted on the vehicle and sensitive to the signals emitted by each of the said assemblies, when the corresponding tire comes in contact with the respective insert, and an indicator capable of signaling to the occupant of the vehicle a run-flat condition in response to a signal picked up by said sensor.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the vibrating signal is maintained by running flat.

3. A device according to claim 1, including a pressure-sensitive generator and in which the vibrating signal is a signal emitted by a pressure-sensitive generator.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which the vibrating signal is an acoustic signal.

10. A device according to claim 1 or claim 5, in which the treatment means calculate a first characteristic magnitude in at least a first given frequency band, calculate a criterion C corresponding to a given combination of the preceding first characteristic magnitude or magnitudes, compare that criterion C to a given threshold and trip an alarm when the result of the comparison follows a given ratio.

11. A device according to claim 10, in which, for each of the axles of the vehicle, the treatment means calculate a first characteristic magnitude in at least a first frequency band specific to said axle of the vehicle.

12. A device according to claim 11, in which the treatment means calculate a criterion C corresponding to a weighted value of said first characteristic magnitudes of said first frequency bands specific to said axles of the vehicle.

13. A device according to claim 10, in which the first frequency band or bands lie between 20 and 100 Hz.

14. A device according to claim 10, in which the treatment means further determine the frequency of rotation of the tire and in which said first frequency band or bands are narrow frequency bands, each centered on a multiple frequency of said frequency of rotation of the tire.

15. A device according to claim 14, in which said first frequency band or bands lie between 10 and 200 Hz.

16. A device according to claim 10, in which the means of treatment of the vibrations of the chassis further calculate a second characteristic magnitude in at least a given second frequency band, so that, in said second band, said vibrations are appreciably independent of bearing of the tire on its safety insert and so that the alarm tripping threshold is a function of said second characteristic magnitude.

17. A device according to claim 16, in which said second frequency band lies between 3 and 7 hz.

18. A device according to claim 16, in which said second frequency band lies between 100 and 200 hz.

19. A device according to claim 16, in which said second bands are situated outside the multiple frequencies of the frequency of rotation of the tire.

20. A device according to claim 10, in which the characteristic magnitude measured is the vibrational energy of the signals expressed by the rms value.

21. A device according to one of claim 1 or 5, in which the treatment means do not transmit any alarm when the speed of the vehicle is below a given threshold.

5. A device for detection of bearing of a tire of a vehicle, equipped with a plurality of tire, rim and safety insert assemblies in which the safety inserts are mounted between the rim and the radially inner face of the tire tread, on the corresponding safety insert, each assembly being capable of transmitting a characteristic vibration to the chassis of the vehicle in response to the bearing of one of the tires on the corresponding safety insert as a result of a pressure loss in the tire, comprising:

means of detection and treatment of such predetermined characteristic mechanical vibration of the chassis of the vehicle; and

means of transmission of an alarm.

6. A device according to claim 5, in which the vehicle has at least two axles and the means of detection of a predetermined characteristic vibration of the chassis of the vehicle comprise one and not more than one sensor per axle of said vehicle.

7. A device according to claim 6, in which the means of detection of a predetermined vibration of the chassis of the vehicle comprise a single sensor connected to the vehicle.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which the means of detection of a predetermined characteristic vibration of the vehicle comprise a single sensor rigidly connected to the chassis of the vehicle.

9. A device according to claim 5, in which the characteristic vibration transmitted to the chassis by the tire, rim and insert assembly includes a component oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of said assembly.