TYRE FOR MOTOR-CYCLES COMPRISING A MONITORING DEVICE

Abstract

Tyre (1) for motor-cycles comprising a monitoring device (10) fixed onto the inner surface (2) of the tyre (1) at a crown portion (16), wherein the monitoring device (10) comprises a flexible support (13) in single body on which an electronic unit (11) and an electric power supplier (12) are fixed, wherein the electronic unit (11) comprises: at least one sensor for detecting at least one of the following physical quantities: temperature, pressure, acceleration, deformation; a processing unit; a transceiver.

Claims

1. Tyre (1) for motor-cycles comprising a monitoring device (10) fixed onto an inner surface (2) of said tyre (1) at a crown portion (16) of said tyre (1), wherein the monitoring device (10) comprises an electronic unit (11) and an electric power supplier (12) for supplying said electronic unit (11), wherein the electronic unit (11) comprises: at least one sensor for detecting at least one of the following physical quantities: temperature, pressure, acceleration, deformation; a processing unit; a transceiver, and wherein the monitoring device (10) comprises a flexible support (13) in single body, said electronic unit (11) and said electric power supplier (12) being fixed on said flexible support (13).

2. Tyre (1) according to claim 1, wherein an equatorial plane (20) of said tyre crosses, or passes close to, said electronic unit (11), and it crosses, or passes close to, said sensor.

3. Tyre (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an equatorial plane (20) of said tyre crosses, or passes close to, said electric power supplier (12).

4. Tyre (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the flexible support (13) has a plan view with elongated shape along a main development direction (L).

5. Tyre (1) according to claim 4, wherein the monitoring device (10) is fixed onto the inner surface (2) of the tyre for motor-cycles so that the main development direction (L) of the flexible support forms an angle with a direction parallel to the equatorial plane (20) less than or equal to 45°.

6. Tyre (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a length (L1) of the flexible support (13) along said main development direction (L) is greater than or equal to 50 mm, and/or less than or equal to 140 mm and wherein an aspect ratio between said length (L1) of the flexible support (13) along said main development direction (L) and a width (L2) along a direction orthogonal to the main development direction (L) is greater than or equal to 1.5 and/or less than or equal to 6.

7. Tyre (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said electric power supplier (12) comprises at least one electric energy accumulator (14) electrically connected to said electronic unit for supplying said electronic unit, said accumulator being fixed onto said flexible support (13).

8. Tyre (1) according to claim 7 and any one of claims from 4 to 6, wherein said electric power supplier (12) and said electronic unit (11) are distributed along said main development direction (L).

9. Tyre (1) according to any one of claims from 4 to 6, wherein said electric power supplier (12) comprises a plurality of electric energy accumulators (14), each accumulator (14) being electrically connected to said electronic unit and being suitable for supplying said electronic unit, wherein each of said accumulators is fixed onto said flexible support (13), wherein a distance (D) between each pair of accumulators is greater than or equal to 40 mm, and/or less than or equal to 250 mm, and wherein said accumulators (14) are distributed along said main development direction (L).

10. Tyre (1) according to claim 9, wherein an equatorial plane (20) of said tyre crosses, or passes close to, each of said electric energy accumulators (14).

11. Tyre (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said plurality of accumulators comprises two and no more than two accumulators (14) arranged on opposite sides of said electronic unit (11), wherein said two accumulators (14) are arranged at longitudinally opposite ends of the monitoring device.

12. Tyre (1) according to any one of claims from 7 to 11, wherein each of said accumulators (14) is an electric battery having a charge capacity greater than or equal to 30 mAh, a weight greater than or equal to 0.5 g, wherein each of said accumulators (14) is inscribed in a circle having diameter less than or equal to 30 mm, and/or circumscribed to a circle having diameter greater than or equal to 15 mm.

13. Tyre (1) according to any one of claims from 7 to 11, wherein each accumulator (14) has a plan surface greater than or equal to 500 mm2, a thickness less than or equal to 1.5 mm, a weight less than or equal to 3 g, a length along a first plan direction greater than or equal to 15 mm, and/or less than or equal to 40 mm, a width along a second plan direction orthogonal to the first direction greater than or equal to 20 mm, and/or less than or equal at 60 mm, wherein said accumulator is foldable and wherein said accumulator is interposed between said flexible support (13) and said inner surface (2) of the tyre.

14. Tyre (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the monitoring device (10) comprises an electric connection circuit (18) for connecting the electric power supplier (12) to said electronic unit (11), wherein said electric connection circuit (18) is printed on said flexible support (13) with a conductive ink or the electric connection circuit (18) comprises copper conducting tracks obtained by chemical etching of a thin layer of copper.

15. Tyre (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said flexible support (13) is substantially inextensible, wherein said flexible support (13) is a film made of an elastomeric or thermoplastic material selected in the following group: nylon, PET, PEN, polyimide, EPDM, diene polymers and polyurethane resins, or it is selected in the group: paper substrates, thin epoxy resin sheets and super thin and flexible silicon or other semiconductor sheets, wherein the tyre comprises an adhesive layer interposed between said flexible support (13) and said inner surface (2) for fixing said flexible support to the inner surface, said electric power supplier (12) and said electronic unit (11) being fixed to said flexible support (13) on the opposite side of said inner surface (2), wherein the adhesive layer is an acrylic double-sided tape comprising a viscoelastic acrylic foam with a thickness equal to or greater than 0.4 mm, or the adhesive layer is an acrylic double-sided tape comprising a substrate of expanded polymeric material with a thickness equal to or greater than 0.4 mm, or the adhesive layer is an acrylic double-sided tape comprising at least a layer of acrylic adhesive with a thickness equal to or greater than 0.4 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0096] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective and partial view of a tyre for motor-cycles section comprising a monitoring device according to the present invention;

[0097] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a plan, schematic, and partial view of the inner surface of the tyre for motor-cycles developed on the figure plane and comprising respective further embodiment of the monitoring device according to the present invention;

[0098] FIG. 4 shows a schematic and partial view of a tyre for motor-cycles section comprising a monitoring device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0099] The features and advantages of the present invention will be further clarified by the following detailed description of some embodiments, presented by way of non-limiting example of the present invention, with reference to the attached figures.

[0100] In FIG. 1 with reference number 1 it is shown a tyre for motor-cycles (in partial perspective section) comprising a monitoring device 10 according to the present invention. The dashed line 30 schematically and arbitrarily indicates the boundaries line between the crown portion 16 (i.e. the portion of the tyre at the tread band 17) and the sidewall of the tyre. In the present description and figures the same reference number is used for the same elements, also for their embodiments.

[0101] The tyre 1 for motor-cycles of the present invention has a high transversal curvature (and therefore a high curvature ratio), for example equal to 0.26.

[0102] In one embodiment, the tyre 1 for motor-cycles of the invention is a rear tyre having dimension of the cord C substantially comprised between 100 and 160 mm. Preferably the distance f between the radially outer point of the tread and the line b passing through the laterally opposite ends 0 of the tread of the rear tyre is comprised between 30 and 80 mm. Typically, the transversal curvature ratio (f/C) is substantially comprised between 0.20 and 0.50.

[0103] In one embodiment, the tyre 1 for motor-cycles of the invention is a tyre for forward-wheel of motor-cycles having dimension of the cord C substantially comprised between 100 and 130 mm. Preferably the aforesaid distance f is comprised between 30 and 65 mm. The ratio of transversal curvature/cord (f/C) can be substantially comprised between 0.20 and 0.60.

[0104] In FIGS. 2 and 3 it is shown a plan view of a portion of inner surface 2 of the crown portion schematically delimited by the directions 30, developed on the lying plane of the figures together with the monitoring device 10. With number 20 the intersection of the equatorial plane with the (plane developed) inner surface 2 of the tyre is shown. All the figures are shown not in scale and with purely illustrative purpose.

[0105] The monitoring device 10 comprises an electronic unit 11 and an electric power supplier 12 electrically connected to the electronic unit for its supply.

[0106] The monitoring device 10 further comprises a flexible support 13 in single piece, fixed onto an inner surface 2 of the tyre at the crown portion 16 of the tyre 1. The electronic unit and the electric power supplier are both fixed onto the flexible support 13, for example by conductive adhesive (e.g. Henkel 3104 WXL) and/or structural adhesive (e.g. Henkel® LOCTITE® 312™).

[0107] Exemplarily the flexible support 13 is a sheet made of polyimide (e.g. Kapton® by DuPont®).

[0108] One adhesive layer (not shown), can be arranged for gluing the lower face (opposite to the electronic unit 11) of the flexible support 13 to the inner surface 2 of the tyre, as described above. Exemplarily the adhesive layer is made of a 3M™ VHB™ adhesive tape of the 4941 family, of the 4956 family or of the 5952 family.

[0109] The electronic unit 11 comprises (not shown) at least one sensor for detecting at least one of the following physical quantities: temperature, pressure, acceleration, deformation preferably at least the temperature; a processing unit and a transceiver.

[0110] As an example, the electronic unit can comprise a pre-fabricated assembly model FXTH870911DT1 sold by NXP Semiconductors®, comprising a processing unit and a plurality of sensors suitable for detecting all the three physical quantities: temperature, pressure and acceleration. This assembly also comprises an RF transceiver with transceiver frequency of 315-434 Mhz. In one exemplary embodiment, a further transceiver fixed onto the flexible support separately from the aforementioned assembly can be used, the further transceiver being usable on a different frequency band (for example with Wifi or Bluetooth® technology).

[0111] Preferably the device 10 is applied onto the inner surface 2 of the tyre so that the equatorial plane 20 of the tyre crosses, or passes close to, the electronic unit 11 (for example it crosses the sensor).

[0112] Preferably the electric power supplier 12 comprises at least one electric energy accumulator 14, for example only one as shown in FIG. 1, or, more preferably, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of electric energy accumulators 14 distinct from each other, each accumulator 14 being electrically connected to the electronic unit for supplying the electronic unit. Each accumulator 14 is fixed onto the flexible support 13.

[0113] Preferably the equatorial plane 20 crosses, or passes close to, the electric power supplier 12 or each accumulator 14.

[0114] Exemplarily each accumulator 14 is an electric battery, for example a coin cell battery of the CR2032HR type sold by Maxell® (capacity 200 mAh, weight 3 g, diameter and thickness 20×3.2 mm), or BR1632A sold by Panasonic® (capacity 120 mAh, 1.5 g, 16×3.2 mm). The typical voltage is equal to 3V, and the operational temperature range is from −40° C. to +125° C. (or possibly subintervals, depending on the expected use).

[0115] In one alternative (not shown) embodiment, the accumulator 14 is a primary electric battery (i.e. non-rechargeable), with nominal voltage of 3V, a rectangular-shaped plan view and a maximum thickness of about 0.5 mm. The battery has a casing made of two foldable aluminium sheets and it is foldable itself with no appreciable functionality loss.

[0116] In one version, with capacity of 35 mAh and weight=0.61 g, the plan length and width (excluding the contact tabs) are respectively equal to 23 mm and 45 mm, for a plan surface of 1035 mm.sup.2.

[0117] In one further version, with capacity of 25 mAh and weight=0.43 g, the plan length and width (excluding the contact tabs) are respectively equal to 22 mm and 29 mm, for a plan surface of 638 mm.sup.2.

[0118] In one (not shown) embodiment, the accumulator is a foldable and thin electric battery fixed onto the flexible support on opposite side with respect to the electronic unit. In other words, in this embodiment the foldable and thin electric battery is arranged, in the monitoring device fixed onto the tyre, between flexible support and inner surface of the tyre.

[0119] The monitoring device 10 comprises an electric connection circuit 18 (only schematically shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) for connecting each accumulator 14 to the electronic unit 11. In case of a plurality of accumulators, they are preferably connected in parallel (as exemplarily and schematically shown only in FIG. 2).

[0120] In one embodiment, the tracks of the electric connection circuit are made with a conductive ink (e.g. silver conductive ink DuPont® 5025) printed directly onto the flexible substrate 13, for example with serigraphic technique.

[0121] In some embodiments, the plurality of accumulators 14 comprises two and no more than two accumulators, more preferably arranged on opposite sides of the electronic unit 11, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

[0122] The flexible support 13 exemplarily has a plan view with elongated shape along a main development direction L.

[0123] Preferably the electric power supplier 12 (more preferably each accumulator 14) and the electronic unit 11 are distributed along the main development direction L (for example the main development direction passes through the respective centres of mass of the electronic unit and of the power supplier/accumulator).

[0124] Preferably the two accumulators 14 are arranged at opposite ends of the monitoring device (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) along the main development line L. Preferably the two accumulators 14 are arranged on opposite sides of the electronic unit 11.

[0125] Exemplarily, as schematically shown in figures, the flexible support 13 has plan dimensions L1 and L2 (respectively along such direction L and along the dimension perpendicular to it) different from each other. Exemplarily, in case of the device of FIG. 2, the dimensions L1×L2 are equal to about 110×30 mm (aspect ratio R equal to 3.7) or about 80×25 mm (R equal to 3.2). Exemplarily the distance D between the two accumulators is equal to about 69 mm in case of the dimensions 110×30 mm, while for dimensions equal to 80×25 mm the distance D is equal to about 50 mm.

[0126] Exemplarily, in case of the device of FIG. 3, the dimensions L1×L2 are equal to about 80×55 mm (aspect ratio R equal to about 1.5) and the distance D between the two accumulators is equal to about 45 mm.

[0127] Preferably, the monitoring device comprises a protective film (not shown) for covering and protecting the components of the device.

[0128] FIG. 4 schematically shows a tyre in which the monitoring device 10 (for example in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2) is applied onto the inner surface 2 of the tyre so that the two accumulators 14 are substantially distant from the equatorial plane 20 (for example the linear distance of the edge of each accumulator from the equatorial plane 20 is equal to 30 mm, with undeformed device 10). The main development line is oriented perpendicularly to the equatorial plane 20.

[0129] The solid line shows the monitoring device 10 (comprising the flexible support 13, the two accumulators 14 and the electronic unit 11) in its undeformed state (for example immediately after the fixing onto the tyre). The arrows 100 schematically show the, radially directed, centrifugal force which is generated during the rotation of the tyre in the out-of-footprint portion and which acts on the masses of each accumulator 14. The reference system herein adopted, for explanatory purposes only, is integral with the monitoring device 10. This centrifugal force 100 can be decomposed into a component 100″ perpendicular to the inner surface 2 (which is substantially cancelled by the constraint reaction of the latter) and into a component 100′ tangent to the inner surface 2, with direction facing towards the equatorial plane 20. This component 100′ of the centrifugal force tends to push each accumulator 14 along the inner surface 2 towards the equatorial plane. In certain conditions, as explained above (for example in case of relatively heavy accumulators 14), this thrust can cause a displacement of the accumulators 14 and/or a deformation of the flexible support 13 which forms a fold 101 and/or a detachment of the accumulators 14 from the flexible support and/or a detachment of the flexible support 13 from the inner surface 2. The dashed line schematically shows the monitoring device 10 in an arbitrary deformed state.

[0130] To overcome this drawback, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the monitoring device 10 is preferably fixed onto the inner surface of the tyre 1 so that the main development direction L of the flexible support 13, and/or a direction passing through a center of mass of the accumulators 14, forms with a direction parallel to the equatorial plane 20 of the tyre an angle 40 less than 45°, more preferably less than or equal to 30°, even more preferably less than or equal to 20°. In this way the equatorial plane 20 crosses each accumulator 14.

[0131] Exemplarily in FIGS. 1 and 2 this angle 40 is equal to zero (main direction L parallel to the equatorial plane 20), and in FIG. 3 it is equal to about 15°.