Method for generating an electric current within a tire

• US 6,885,111 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: Volpi, Alessandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US10/232,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20030000615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/1.A, 310/15, 310/75.R, 310/75.A, 322/3
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/48 Bead-rings or bead-cores from wire B21F37/00; Treatment thereof prior to building the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 15/04 Bead cores
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/005 Magnets integrated within the tyre structure
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10819 Characterized by the structure of the bead portion of the tire
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10846 Bead characterized by the chemical composition and or physical properties of elastomers or the like

Abstract

A method for generating an electric current within a tyre includes the step of including a variable magnetic field in at least one winding. The tire includes at least one bead core and the at least one winding. The at least one winding includes at least one turn wound around the at least one bead core. The electric current may power one or more electronic devices. The one or more electronic devices may include means for sensing one or more parameters associated with the tire, such as temperature sensors, pressure sensors, or a pair of extensometers orientated perpendicularly to each other to sense deformations of the at least one bead core. The at least one winding may form at least part of a first inductive element associated with and movable with respect to at least one second inductive element to form an electrical generator.

Claims

1. A method for generating an electric current within a tyre, the tyre comprising:

at least one bead core; and

at least one winding;

wherein the at least one winding comprises at least one turn wound around the at least one bead core,

the method comprising the step of;

inducing a variable magnetic field in the at least one winding.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electric current powers one or more electronic devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electric current continuously powers the one or more electronic devices.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the electric current at least intermittently powers the one or more electronic devices.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more electronic devices are fixed to the at least one bead care.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more electronic devices comprise means for sensing one or more parameters associated with the tyre.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensing means comprises:

at least one temperature sensor,

at least one pressure sensor, or

at least one temperature sensor and at least one pressure sensor.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensing means comprises a pair of extensometers oriented perpendicularly to each other to sense deformations of the at least one bead core.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein to one or more electronic devices comprise means for transmitting information related to at least one of the one or more parameters associated with the tyre.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electric current supplies power to one or more circuit elements.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the electric current continuously supplies power to the one or more circuit elements.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the electric current at least intermittently supplies power to the one or more circuit elements.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one bead core comprises a steel strip spirally wound to form at least two radially-superposed layers.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one bead core further comprises one or more layers comprising a material with high magnetic permeability.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the layers comprising the material with high magnetic permeability comprises more than one part.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one bead core comprises a matrix based on an elastomeric material or a plastomeric material.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the matrix comprises fibers, yarn, or cords.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the matrix comprises ferromagnetic material in at least one of a powder form or a fibril form.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one bead core further comprises one or more layers comprising a material with high magnetic permeability.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of the layers comprising the material with high magnetic permeability comprises more than one part.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one winding forms at least part of a first inductive element of an electrical generator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first inductive element can be associated with at teat one second inductive element to form the electrical generator, and

wherein the first inductive element is movable with respect to the second inductive element.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one second inductive element comprises at least one permanent magnet.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one second inductive element comprises at least one electromagnet and at least one turn of conducting wire wound around a transverse profile of one of the at least one electromagnet to form at least one winding of the electrical generator.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one electromagnet is supplied with direct current.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one electromagnet is supplied with alternating current.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one electromagnet is supplied with direct current and alternating current.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one winding comprises at least one turn of conducting wire wound around the at least one head core.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one winding comprises at least one turn wound around a transverse profile of the at least one bead core.