Method and Apparatus for Mounting a Tire Sensor

Abstract

A tire sensor dock for installing an electronic tire sensor module on the inner surface of a tire, including a base portion with an upper side and an underside, the underside configured for affixation on the inner surface of a pneumatic tire, and a body portion integrally formed on the upper side and configured to receive and securely capture a tire sensor in a fixed position and unchanging orientation relative to the tire sensor dock. The tire dock may include an energy generator which converts tire kinetic energy into electrical current provided to the tire sensor module.

Claims

1. A method of installing and securing a tire sensor dock to an inner surface of a pneumatic tire, comprising: providing a rubber tire sensor dock having a base with an upper side and an underside, and a body portion on the upper side, the body portion shaped to receive a tire sensor, the underside configured for affixation on the inner surface of a pneumatic tire; providing a bonding composition suitable for forming a cross-linked bond between the base and the inner surface of the tire; applying the bonding composition to the underside of the base; and applying the base to the inner liner of a tire so as to cross-link the underside of the base and the inner liner of the tire such that the tire sensor dock is permanently affixed to the inner surface of the tire.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bonding composition is a rubber cement.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the rubber cement is a vulcanizing rubber cement.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the body and the base of the tire sensor dock body have a stiffness within 10% of a stiffness of the inner surface of the tire.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the tire sensor dock has a durometer Shore hardness of 40-80.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the tire is an inner liner.

7. The method of claim 6, further including bonding the tire sensor dock on the circumferential (longitudinal) center line of the interior surface of the tire.

8. A tire sensor dock for installing an electronic tire sensor module on the inner surface of a tire, comprising: a base portion with an upper side and an underside, said underside configured for affixation on the inner surface of a pneumatic tire; and a body portion integrally formed on said upper side and configured to receive and securely capture a tire sensor in a fixed position and unchanging orientation.

9. The tire sensor dock of claim 8, further including an adhesive compound for application to said underside of said base, said adhesive compound formulated for cross-linking said underside with the inner surface of the tire.

10. The tire sensor dock of claim 8, wherein said body portion and said base of said tire sensor dock are integrally formed as a unitary structure fabricated from rubber.

11. The tire sensor dock of claim 10, wherein said adhesive compound is a vulcanizing rubber cement.

12. The tire sensor dock of claim 10, wherein said rubber has a durometer Shore hardness of 40-80.

13. The tire sensor dock of claim 8, wherein said body portion includes a hollow interior volume having an interior surface.

14. The tire sensor dock of claim 13, wherein said hollow interior is configured to prevent rotation of an electronic sensor module installed within said body portion.

15. The tire sensor dock of claim 14, including a surface feature on said interior surface which engages a complementary structure on an electronic sensor module to fix the orientation of the tire sensor module and to prevent rotation of the tire sensor in relation to the tire sensor dock.

16. The tire sensor dock of claim 15, wherein said surface feature is a radially disposed boss.

17. The tire sensor dock of claim 8, further including an energy generator.

18. The tire sensor dock of claim 17, wherein said energy generator is an energy-scavenging system.

19. The tire sensor dock of claim 18, wherein said energy scavenging system includes: a housing having; at least one wire coil disposed in said housing so as to have a fixed position with respect to said housing; at least one magnet movable in relation to said at least one wire coil; wherein said at least one movable magnet is positioned such that it passes by said at least one wire coil as the tire sensor dock rotates about the wheel of a vehicle so as to generate an electrical current.

20. The tire sensor dock of claim 19, wherein said energy generator is configured for electronic connection to said tire sensor to provide power to said tire sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1A is an upper perspective view of an embodiment of the tire sensor dock of the present invention, poised for installation on the centerline of an inner liner of a pneumatic vehicle tire;

[0019] FIG. 1B is the same view showing the tire sensor dock installed in and on the tire;

[0020] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional side view in elevation of the tire and tire sensor dock taken along section line 2A-2A of FIG. 1A;

[0021] FIG. 2B is the same view showing taken along section line 2B-2B of FIG. 1B;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a detailed top plan view showing the tire sensor dock installed on the inner liner of a pneumatic tire;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional side view in elevation as taken along section line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0024] FIG. 5A is an upper perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the tire sensor dock shown with an open (unsealed) top;

[0025] FIG. 5B is a top plan view thereof; and

[0026] FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional side view in elevation taken along section line 5C-5C of FIG. 5B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1A through 5C, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved tire sensor dock and a method of installing the same on the inner surface of a pneumatic tire. The invention is generally denominated 10 herein.

[0028] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an embodiment of the tire sensor dock of the present invention. Collectively, these views show that the inventive apparatus includes a substantially planar base portion 12, a solid disc in some embodiments and a ring in others, and a body portion 14 centrally positioned on the base portion. In an embodiment, the body portion includes a cylindrical wall 16 extending generally normal to the upper side 18 of the base portion. In embodiments, the body and base portions are integrally formed of rubber, which may be butyl rubber or any of a number of elastomeric materials suitable for application on a tire inner surface using

[0029] The body portion is preferably sized such that the base portion includes a skirt or apron 20 surrounding the lower body portion. In other embodiments, the body portion may take any of a number of suitable polyhedral shapes, which can be vertically bisected into equal halves. The body portion defines an interior volume 22 configured to accept and retain an electronic tire sensor module 24, which minimally includes at least one sensor and a transceiver unit, the module electronically coupled to a power supply 26. The power supply may be inboard or outboard, i.e., incorporated into the module housing or disposed outside the tire dock body on the upper surface of the base portion, though preferably the entire sensor package (module and power supply) are enclosed in the interior volume of the body portion.

[0030] As will be appreciated, the base portion 12 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-4 is annular, substantially normal to the wall of the body portion and circumferentially surrounding it. The underside 28 of the base portion is also substantially planar, configured for affixation on the inner liner IL of a tire T with an adhesive composition that induces a cross-linking vulcanizing effect on the tire dock material and the surface of the inner liner, thereby forming a chemically cross-linked bonded region 30 where the inner liner and base portion are approximated. In an embodiment (FIG. 4), the approximated surfaces of the underside of the skirt 20 and the inner liner form the cross-linked region. That region is expanded in another embodiment, as discussed below.

[0031] The tire dock is positioned across the longitudinal and circumferential center line CL of the inner surface of the tire such that the centerline geometrically bisects a geometric center 32 of the base portion and a vertical centerline 34 of the body portion. When installed, the circumferential centerline CL of the tire also geometrically aligns with a centerline bisecting the tire sensor. This ensures a balanced installation of the tire sensor dock and the sensor module contained therein and thus does not adversely affect or compromise tire balance more generally.

[0032] The upper end of the body portion may be closed with a sealed top 36 covering the sensor module, or it may be open (as seen in the embodiment 50 shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, and as discussed more fully below). In cylindrical embodiments, the interior wall 38 of the body portion includes a surface feature, such as a boss 40, which engages complementary notch 42 on the sensor module to align the sensor module and to prevent a change in orientation of the module in relation to the tire sensor dock and thus to the tire. Of course, the elements may be reversed, such that the module includes a boss and the body portion interior surface include a notch, with the objective also realized. If the body portion is a polyhedral enclosure, a sensor module having an exterior configuration adapted for a wall-to-wall fit in the body portion will naturally be secured so as to prevent any rotation or misalignment of the sensor module.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment 50, shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the top 36′ of the body portion is open and the base portion 12′ is continuous circular disc, and the cross-linked region 38′ is correspondingly expanded. The boss 40′ for engaging the notch 42 in the sensor module is moved to an alternative position, i.e., a lower portion of the interior volume of the body portion, 14. Otherwise, where reference numbers designate features shared with the earlier embodiment, the reference numbers are promoted for ease of review. It will be appreciated by those with skill that the location of the boss is adapted for the orientation and installation of the sensor module without altering its function nor affecting its operability.

[0034] The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.

[0035] Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.