US5604307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tire pressure drop alarm device sensing partial travel on irregular road surface
Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-01-29
•
Granted: 1997-02-18
•
Expires: 2016-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A tire pressure drop alarm device for judging a pneumatic pressure drop by calculating rotational angular velocities of tires provided for a four-wheel vehicle. When the vehicle is traveling on a road which varies in condition between left and right sides, a front/rear ratio of rotational angular velocities of the tires at the shoulder side of the road changes more markedly than that of rotational angular velocities of the tires at the center side, and a large time differential value appears. Therefore, it is possible to judge the traveling condition of the vehicle when the road condition varies between left and right sides. When it is judged that the traveling condition of the vehicle encounters a road condition which varies between left and right sides, the tire rotation of the four wheels is likely to become unbalanced, giving a false alarm even if the tire pressure does not drop. In this case, the judgment by the pneumatic pressure drop judging means is inhibited to prevent an issuance of a false alarm.
Inventors
- 👤 Akiko Iida
- 👤 Mikao Nakajima
- 👤 Hiroto Horie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C23/00; B60C23/06; B60C23/061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device, comprising: rotational angular velocity calculating means for calculating rotational angular velocities of tires provided for corresponding wheels of a four-wheel vehicle having a front left wheel, a front right wheel, a rear left wheel and a rear right wheel; pneumatic pressure drop judging means for judging whether a tire pressure drops, based on the rotational angular velocities calculated by the rotational angular velocity calculating means; alarm means for generating a signal corresponding to a judgment result output of the pneumatic pressure drop judging means; operating means for determining a first time differential value of a front/rear wheel ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left tires and a second time differential value of a front/rear wheel ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the right tires, and determining a difference between the first time differential value and the second time differential value; one-sided irregular road traveling judging means for judging a traveling condition of the vehicle, to determine a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle, based on the difference between the first time differential value and the second time differential value determined by the operating means when the vehicle is operating under one-sided irregular road traveling conditions, and for generating a judgment result output; and means for inhibiting the pneumatic pressure drop judging means when the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means indicates a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device, comprising: rotational angular velocity calculating means for calculating rotational angular velocities of tires provided for corresponding wheels of a four-wheel vehicle having a front left wheel, a front right wheel, a rear left wheel and a rear right wheel; pneumatic pressure drop judging means for judging whether a tire pressure drops, based on the rotational angular velocities calculated by the rotational angular velocity calculating means; alarm means for generating a signal corresponding to a judgment result output of the pneumatic pressure drop judging means; operating means for determining a first time differential value of a front/rear wheel ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left tires and a second time differential value of a front/rear wheel ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the right tires, and determining a difference between the first time differential value and the second time differential value; one-sided irregular road traveling judging means for judging a traveling condition of the vehicle, to determine a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle, based on the difference between the first time differential value and the second time differential value determined by the operating means when the vehicle is operating under one-sided irregular road traveling conditions, and for generating a judgment result output; and means for inhibiting the pneumatic pressure drop judging means when the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means indicates a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means comprises means for performing integral processing on the difference between the first time differential value and the second time differential value determined by the operating means to generate a value upon which the traveling condition of the vehicle is judged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 2, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means determines a variation in road conditions exists between the left and right sides of the vehicle, when the value generated by the integral processing means is greater than a predetermined threshold value t 1 ; and determines a variation in road conditions does not exist between the left and right sides of the vehicle when the value generated by the integral processing means becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value t 2 , wherein t 1 is greater than t 2 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means determines a variation in road conditions exists between the left and right sides of the vehicle, when the difference between the first time differential value and the second time differential value determined by the operating means is greater than a predetermined threshold t 1 ; and determines a variation in road conditions does not exist between the left and right sides of the vehicle when the difference between the first time differential value and the second time differential value becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value t 2 , wherein t 1 is greater than t 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
244 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device, comprising: rotational angular velocity calculating means for calculating rotational angular velocities of tires provided for corresponding wheels of a four-wheel vehicle having a front left wheel, front right wheel, a rear left wheel, and a rear right wheel; pneumatic pressure drop judging means for judging whether a tire pressure drops, based on the rotational angular velocities calculated by the rotational angular velocity calculating means; alarm means for generating a signal corresponding to a judgment result output of the pneumatic pressure drop judging means; operating means for determining a first front/rear ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left tires and a second front/rear ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the right tires, and determining a time differential value of a difference between the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear ratio; one-sided irregular road traveling judging means for judging a traveling condition of the vehicle to determine a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle, based on the differential value of the difference between the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear wheel ratio determined by the operating means when the vehicle is operating under one-sided irregular road traveling conditions, and for generating a judgment result output; and means for inhibiting the pneumatic pressure drop judging means when the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means indicates a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
244 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device, comprising: rotational angular velocity calculating means for calculating rotational angular velocities of tires provided for corresponding wheels of a four-wheel vehicle having a front left wheel, front right wheel, a rear left wheel, and a rear right wheel; pneumatic pressure drop judging means for judging whether a tire pressure drops, based on the rotational angular velocities calculated by the rotational angular velocity calculating means; alarm means for generating a signal corresponding to a judgment result output of the pneumatic pressure drop judging means; operating means for determining a first front/rear ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left tires and a second front/rear ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the right tires, and determining a time differential value of a difference between the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear ratio; one-sided irregular road traveling judging means for judging a traveling condition of the vehicle to determine a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle, based on the differential value of the difference between the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear wheel ratio determined by the operating means when the vehicle is operating under one-sided irregular road traveling conditions, and for generating a judgment result output; and means for inhibiting the pneumatic pressure drop judging means when the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means indicates a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 5, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means comprises means for performing integral processing on the time differential value of the difference in the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear wheel ratio determined by the operating means to generate a value upon which the traveling condition of the vehicle is judged.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 6, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means determines a variation in road conditions exists between the left and right sides of the vehicle, when the value generated by the integral processing means is greater than a predetermined threshold value t 1 ; and determines a variation in road conditions does not exist between the left and right sides of the vehicle when the value generated by the integral processing means becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value t 2 , wherein t 1 is greater than t 2 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 5, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means determines a variation in road conditions exists between the left and right sides of the vehicle, when the time differential value of the difference between the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear wheel ratio determined by the operating means is greater than a predetermined threshold value t 1 ; and determines a variation in road conditions does not exist between the left and right sides of the vehicle when the time differential value of the difference between the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear wheel ratio becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value t 2 , wherein t 1 is greater than t 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
249 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device, comprising: rotational angular velocity calculating means for calculating rotational angular velocities of tires provided for corresponding wheels of a four-wheel vehicle having a front left wheel, a front right wheel, a rear left wheel, and a rear right wheel; pneumatic pressure drop judging means for judging whether a tire pressure drops, based on the rotational angular velocities calculated by the rotational angular velocity calculating means; alarm means for generating a signal corresponding to a judgment result output of the pneumatic pressure drop judging means; operating means for determining a first time differential value of a front/rear wheel ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left tires and a second time differential value of a front/rear wheel ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the right tires, and determining a ratio of the first time differential value and the second time differential value; one-sided irregular road traveling judging means for judging a traveling condition of the vehicle, to determine a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle, based on the ratio of the first time differential value and the second time differential value determined by the operating means when the vehicle is operating under one-sided irregular road traveling conditions, and for generating a judgment result output; and means for inhibiting the pneumatic pressure drop judging means when the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means indicates a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
249 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device, comprising: rotational angular velocity calculating means for calculating rotational angular velocities of tires provided for corresponding wheels of a four-wheel vehicle having a front left wheel, a front right wheel, a rear left wheel, and a rear right wheel; pneumatic pressure drop judging means for judging whether a tire pressure drops, based on the rotational angular velocities calculated by the rotational angular velocity calculating means; alarm means for generating a signal corresponding to a judgment result output of the pneumatic pressure drop judging means; operating means for determining a first time differential value of a front/rear wheel ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left tires and a second time differential value of a front/rear wheel ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the right tires, and determining a ratio of the first time differential value and the second time differential value; one-sided irregular road traveling judging means for judging a traveling condition of the vehicle, to determine a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle, based on the ratio of the first time differential value and the second time differential value determined by the operating means when the vehicle is operating under one-sided irregular road traveling conditions, and for generating a judgment result output; and means for inhibiting the pneumatic pressure drop judging means when the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means indicates a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 9, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means comprises means for performing integral processing on the ratio of the first time differential value and the second time differential value determined by the operating means to generate a value upon which the traveling condition of the vehicle is judged.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 10, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means determines a variation in road conditions exists between the left and right sides of the vehicle, when the value generated by the integral processing means is greater than a predetermined threshold value t 1 ; and determines a variation in road conditions does not exist between the left and right sides of the vehicle when the value generated by the integral processing means becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value t 2 , wherein t 1 is greater than t 2 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 9, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means determines a variation in road conditions exists between the left and right sides of the vehicle, when the ratio of the first time differential value and the second time differential value determined by the operating means is greater than a predetermined threshold t 1 ; and determines a variation in road conditions does not exist between the left and right sides of the vehicle when the ratio of the first time differential value and the second time differential value becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value t 2 , wherein t 1 is greater than t 2 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
245 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device, comprising: rotational angular velocity calculating means for calculating rotational angular velocities of tires provided for corresponding wheels of a four-wheel vehicle having a front left wheel, a front right wheel, a rear left wheel, and a rear right wheel; pneumatic pressure drop judging means for judging whether a tire pressure drops, based on the rotational angular velocities calculated by the rotational angular velocity calculating means; alarm means for generating a signal corresponding to a judgment result output of the pneumatic pressure drop judging means; operating means for determining a first front/rear ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left tires and a second front/rear ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the right tires, and determining a time differential value of a ratio of the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear ratio; one-sided irregular road traveling judging means for judging a traveling condition of the vehicle to determine a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle, based on the differential value of the ratio of the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear wheel ratio determined by the operating means when the vehicle is operating under one-sided irregular road traveling conditions, and for generating a judgment result output; and means for inhibiting the pneumatic pressure drop judging means when the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means indicates a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
245 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device, comprising: rotational angular velocity calculating means for calculating rotational angular velocities of tires provided for corresponding wheels of a four-wheel vehicle having a front left wheel, a front right wheel, a rear left wheel, and a rear right wheel; pneumatic pressure drop judging means for judging whether a tire pressure drops, based on the rotational angular velocities calculated by the rotational angular velocity calculating means; alarm means for generating a signal corresponding to a judgment result output of the pneumatic pressure drop judging means; operating means for determining a first front/rear ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left tires and a second front/rear ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the right tires, and determining a time differential value of a ratio of the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear ratio; one-sided irregular road traveling judging means for judging a traveling condition of the vehicle to determine a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle, based on the differential value of the ratio of the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear wheel ratio determined by the operating means when the vehicle is operating under one-sided irregular road traveling conditions, and for generating a judgment result output; and means for inhibiting the pneumatic pressure drop judging means when the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means indicates a variation in road conditions between left and right sides of the vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 13, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means comprises means for performing integral processing on the time differential value of the ratio of the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear wheel ratio determined by the operating means to generate a value upon which the traveling condition of the vehicle is judged.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
100 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 14, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means determines a variation in road conditions exists between the left and right sides of the vehicle, when the value generated by the integral processing means is greater than a predetermined threshold value t 1 ; and determines a variation in road conditions does not exist between the left and right sides of the vehicle when the value generated by the integral processing means becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value t 2 , wherein t 1 is greater than t 2 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
125 words
A tire pressure drop alarm device according to claim 13, wherein the one-sided irregular road traveling judging means determines a variation in road conditions exists between the left and right sides of the vehicle, when the time differential value of the ratio of the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear wheel ratio determined by the operating means is greater than a predetermined threshold value t 1 ; and determines a variation in road conditions does not exist between the left and right sides of the vehicle when the time differential value of the the first front/rear wheel ratio and the second front/rear wheel ratio becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value t 2 , wherein t 1 is greater than t 2 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3691524A
Cited
GB2191553A
Cited
JPS63305011A
Cited
US4876528A
Cited
JPH04212609A
Cited
JPH0411844A
Cited
EP0489562A1
Cited
US5343741A
Cited
DE4410941A1
Cited
DE4337443A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-02-18 | 2000-08-19 | 2001-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-18 | 2004-08-19 | 2005-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-18 | 2008-08-19 | 2009-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |