A tire inflator having an air compressor to inflate a tire to a predetermined pressure threshold. A central OBD module plugged into in a vehicle uses a short-range radio to transmit to the inflator the predetermined pressure threshold fit for a vehicle. An OBD vehicle bus reader can obtain a VIN of an associated vehicle model. A predetermined tire pressure threshold memory contains a predetermined look-up table of tire pressure thresholds for models. A processor uses the VIN to identify the vehicle model in the look-up table to select the one of the predetermined tire pressure thresholds including a spare tire pressure threshold. A short-range radio wirelessly transmits the looked-up tire pressure threshold including a spare tire pressure threshold to each inflator. The tire inflator has an optical moisture sensor on air inlet or air outlet. The air compressor is disabled when moisture is detected.

This application relates generally to sensor systems and, more particularly, relates to systems and methods for management of smart wheel sensors that collect actionable sensor data from a rotatable component of a vehicle's wheel. In certain embodiments, a system includes a vehicle body; a rotatable component configured to rotate relative to the vehicle body; an energy harvesting component disposed along a circumference of the rotatable component, wherein the energy harvesting component is configured to generate electric power based on a force to the rotatable component; a sensor configured to produce sensor data by using the electric power while disposed on the rotatable component; and at least one processor disposed within the vehicle body, the at least one processor configured to perform an action within the vehicle body based on a parameter value meeting a threshold value, wherein the parameter value is based on the sensor data.

A drain plug for a component of a vehicle includes: a plug body having a stem portion configured to plug a corresponding hole in the component of the vehicle, and a sensor module. The sensor module includes a sensor and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit data regarding a reading from the at least one sensor. The sensor includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and an accelerometer. A system for wireless monitoring a component of a vehicle includes: a plug body having a stem portion configured to plug a corresponding hole in the component of the vehicle, and a sensor module having at least one sensor and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit data regarding a reading from the at least one sensor. The system also includes a receiver located on the vehicle and configured to receive the data from the wireless transmitter.

A tire information acquisition device includes: a sensor unit mountable on a tire inner surface and including a sensor configured to acquire tire information; and a power supply unit mountable on a wheel. The power supply unit includes a power supply mechanism configured to supply power to the sensor unit in a non-contact manner. The sensor unit includes: a power reception mechanism configured to receive power from the power supply unit in a non-contact manner; and an information transmission unit configured to wirelessly transmit acquired tire information.

An antenna is installed on an installation surface of a wheel. The antenna includes a first conductor, a second conductor, one or more third conductors, a fourth conductor, and a feeding line. The first conductor and the second conductor face each other in a first axis. The one or more third conductors are located between the first conductor and the second conductor and extend in the first axis. The fourth conductor is connected to the first conductor and the second conductor and extends in the first axis. The feeding line is electromagnetically connected to the third conductor. The first conductor and the second conductor are capacitively connected via the third conductor. A surface of the fourth conductor faces the installation surface of the wheel in a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

A tire valve includes a grommet fitted on an outside of a valve stem on a proximal end side, the tire valve being inserted into a valve attachment hole from a distal end side, the grommet having a proximal end portion engaging with the valve attachment hole, a stem step portion provided on an outer surface of the valve stem and increasing in diameter at the proximal end side and facing toward the distal end side, a ring provided on the grommet in a portion on the distal end side of the stem step portion and restricting axial movements of the ring relative to the grommet, and a pressed portion provided on the grommet between the stem step portion and the ring to be pressed between the stem step portion and the ring wherein the grommet receives a load applied toward the proximal end side of the valve stem.

The approach presented here relates to a monitoring device (100) for a vehicle. The monitoring device (100) has at least one measuring device (105) with a sensor unit (110) and a transmitter unit (115). The sensor unit (110) is designed to sense a physical parameter in the area of the wheel in a coupled position on a first section of a wheel hub (120) of a wheel of the vehicle while the vehicle is moving. The transmitter unit (115) has a fastening device which is shaped in order to fasten the transmitter unit (115) in a fastening position on a second section of the wheel hub (120) of the wheel or on a wheel rim (122), the transmitter unit (115) is designed to wirelessly send a sensor signal (125) representing the physical parameter to a warning device in order to enable monitoring of the physical parameter.

A valve stem includes: a pair of internal electrodes connected to an internal circuit; a pair of external electrodes connectable to an external circuit; first and second conductive members having the internal electrodes and the external electrodes and insulated from each other; a conductive stem main body forming the first conductive member; a core fitting portion; and an inner sleeve fitted in the stem main body. The inner sleeve includes a conductive inner sleeve main body forming the second conductive member, and an insulating layer covering an outer side surface of the inner sleeve main body to insulate between the inner sleeve main body and the stem main body. The stem main body has a side surface through-hole laterally penetrating the stem main body and closed with an end portion of the inner sleeve, the side surface through-hole providing the external electrode of the second conductive member.

An outboard wheel half has an axis and includes an outboard wheel structure configured to receive at least a portion of a tire. The outboard wheel half also includes a structure defining an alignment hole usable to align a hubcap relative to the structure. The structure defines a pocket circumferentially aligned with the alignment hole to reduce an amount of stress at a location of the alignment hole.

A pressure sensing assembly configured to be attached to a bicycle wheel having a tire and a rim mounted to the tire. The pressure sensing assembly includes a housing, a pressure transmitting member, a sensing chamber defined by the housing and the pressure transmitting member, and a sensing element. The pressure transmitting member is coupled the housing and has a central portion offset from the plane in a first direction. The sensing element is offset from the plane in a second direction opposite the first direction. The pressure transmitting member is configured to transmit a pressure in the tire to the sensing element via the sensing chamber.