EP0689950A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of monitoring conditions of vehicle tires and tires containing a monitoring device therein
Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone Inc
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Filing: 1995-05-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-05-30
Abstract
Abstract A method for monitoring various physical conditions of pneumatic tires, and to a tire including a monitoring device. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of monitoring tires which uses an active, self-powered programmable electronic device which is installed in or on the interior surface of a pneumatic tire or on a tire rim. This device can be used for monitoring, storing and telemetering information such as temperature, pressure, tire rotations and/or other operating conditions of a pneumatic tire, along with tire identification information. The device can be activated by externally transmitted radio frequency waves and in response, the device compares or transmits information and provides a warning in the event a preselected limit is exceeded.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell W. Koch
- 👤 Hiroyoshi Takigawa
- 👤 John L. Turner
- 👤 Keizo Okamoto
- 👤 Guy J. Walenga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:52
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C23/00; B60C23/02; B60C23/04; B60C23/0491; B60C23/0493; B60C23/0408; B60C23/0422; B60C23/0433; B60C23/0435; B60C23/0438; B60C23/0442; B29; B29D; B29D30/00; B29D30/0061; B29D2030/0072; B29D2030/0077; B29D2030/0083; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T152/00; Y10T152/10; Y10T152/10495; Y10T152/10819
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for embedding a monitoring device within a tire during manufacture of the tire, comprising the steps of: prior to curing the tire, placing the monitoring device having a dowel on a tie gum ply without having the monitoring device contact a body ply; prior to curing the tire, assembling an inner liner ply over said monitoring device and over said tie gum ply; applying pressure to said inner liner ply so that said dowel presses through said inner liner ply; curing the tire; and removing said dowel so that an aperture extends through said inner liner ply to said monitoring device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for securing a monitoring device to a tire, comprising the steps of: providing an inner liner patch having a first side and a second side; inserting a dowel having a body and a head through a first side of said inner liner patch until said head contacts said first side of said patch and said body penetrates through to said second side of said patch; assembling the monitoring device to said second side of said patch so that a portion of the device is in contact with said body of said dowel penetrating said second side of said patch; adhering said inner liner patch to a tire inner liner ply by contacting said second side of said patch to said tire inner liner; curing said inner liner patch to said tire inner liner ply by applying heat and pressure; removing said dowel so that an aperture extends through said inner liner patch to said monitoring device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 or 3 wherein the step of assembling includes assembling in the vicinity of a crown of the tire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 or 3 wherein the step of assembling includes assembling in the vicinity of a bead of the tire.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for monitoring an engineering condition of a tire comprising: a flexible housing having a hardness of from about 50 to about 95 on the Shore A scale, said housing including a first surface which can be adhered to a second surface located within a pressurizable cavity of a tire; and a monitoring device positioned within said housing, said monitoring device including: (a) a power source, (b) sensors for sensing the engineering condition, (c) means for converting said sensed condition to data, (d) means for transmitting said data responsive to a signal, (e) means for storing said data, (f) means for receiving a microwave frequency signal, (g) means for transmitting said data in response to said microwave frequency signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said power source is a battery having an active mode and a dormant mode, and the device further includes means for switching said battery from said dormant mode to said active mode to activate said monitoring device in response to said transmitted microwave frequency signal, and means for switching said battery from said active mode to said dormant mode after said monitoring device has completed transmitting said data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said monitoring device a circuit board, at least one sensor for monitoring the engineering conditions of the tire, a microchip mounted on said circuit board which receives said sensed condition and conditions said sensed condition as a signal, an amplifier for amplifying said conditioned signal in response to an external signal, an antenna for transmitting said amplified, conditioned signal, and a battery for powering said microchip and said amplifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said monitoring device is encapsulated by a solid material having a Shore D Hardness from about 5 to about 80 and an elastic modulus of from about 100 ksi to about 500 ksi, to form a monitoring device assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 mounted on the surface located within the pressurizable cavity of the tire, wherein said housing includes a recess molded into the second tire surface, and a cover positioned over said recess, said cover including a slot for insertion of said monitoring device into said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means for receiving and said means for transmitting a signal is an antenna and said housing includes a band for retaining said antenna in a position exterior to said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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