Vibrating transducer power supply for use in abnormal tire condition warning systems

Claim 1

A device for sensing the abnormal condition of a pneumatic tire preferably of the type used on an automobile wherein said tire is mounted on a tire rim and said tire is subject to normal wheel vibrations, said device comprising: a housing; a fastening means for fixedly attaching said housing to said tire rim; sensing means fixedly attached to said housing for continuously monitoring a condition within the tire and for generating a signal indicative of an abnormal condition; electronic means located within said housing and operatively connected to said sensing means for electronically processing the signal from said sensing means and for generating a transmission signal; antenna means located within said housing and operatively connected to said electronic means for transmitting the transmission signal indicative of the tire condition; power supply means located within said housing and operatively connected to said electronic means, said power supply means further comprising an arm fixedly attached to said housing such that said arm is rendered vibratable when said wheel vibrations occur, weight means fixedly attached to said arm such that said arm will flex when said wheel vibrates, and a transducer means piezoelectrically responsive in the flexure mode and when said arm flexes, thus producing power for said electronic means; means responsive to said abnormal condition signal for rendering effective the power supply means; and receiving means that receives the transmitted signal and indicates the condition of the tire.

Claim 2

A device for sensing the abnormal condition of a pneumatic tire preferably of the type used on an automobile wherein said tire is mounted on a tire rim and said tire is subject to normal wheel vibrations, said device comprising: a housing; a fastening means for fixedly attaching said housing to said tire rim; sensing means fixedly attached to said housing for continuously monitoring a condition within the tire and for generating a signal indicative of an abnormal condition; electronic means located within said housing and operatively connected to said sensing means for electronically processing the signal from said sensing means and for generating a transmission signal; antenna means located within said housing and operatively connected to said electronic means for transmitting the transmission signal indicative of the tire condition; power supply means located within said housing and operatively connected to said electronic means, said power supply means further comprising an arm fixedly attached to said housing such that said arm is rendered vibratable when said wheel vibrations occur, weight means fixedly attached to said arm such that said arm will flex when said wheel vibrates, and a transducer means piezoelectrically responsive in the flexure mode and when said arm flexes, thus producing power for said electronic means; means responsive to said abnormal condition signal for rendering effective the power supply means; and receiving means that receives the transmitted signal and indicates the condition of the tire.