Mounting patch for a tire

Abstract

A rubber patch, which is useable for mounting an active electronic component to a tire, is described. The rubber patch includes a base having a connecting face and support face. The connecting face is substantially planar and is intended to be fixed to an internal surface of the tire. The support face is opposite the connecting face and is arranged to support the active electronic component. The rubber patch further includes a passive label arranged between the connecting face and the support face. The passive label is for identifying the tire and is provided with a memory for storing a unique identification data item pertaining to the tire. A corresponding tire monitoring system, which is configured to read at least the identification data item pertaining to the tire, also is described.

Claims

1. A tire monitoring system for a vehicle or for a fleet of vehicles, the system comprising: an active electronics module for measuring at least one physical parameter of a tire and for transmitting data relating to a physical condition of the tire; and a rubber patch for mounting an active electronics module to an internal tire surface; and a monitoring module for receiving, from the active electronics module, physical data pertaining to a condition or a behaviour of the tire, wherein the rubber patch includes: a base having a connecting face, which is substantially planar and intended to be fixed to the internal tire surface, and a support face located opposite the connecting face, the support face intended to serve as a support for the active electronics module, and a passive label for identifying the tire, the passive label being positioned between the connecting face and the support face, wherein the active electronics module includes: a pressure sensor, a power supply, a reader for obtaining identification data from the rubber patch, the reader being configured to perform RFID readings from the passive label to obtain the identification data after detecting a drop in tire pressure down to substantially zero bar followed by a rise in tire pressure value up to a value substantially corresponding to a service pressure of the tire, and a data transmitter for transmitting physical data received from the pressure sensor and the identification data obtained from the passive label to a remote receiver.

2. The tire monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the passive label is integrated into the base between the connecting face and the support face.

3. The tire monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, when the rubber patch and the active electronics module are mounted in an operating position, the rubber patch is not in electrical contact with the active electronics module.

4. The tire monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the active electronics module further includes a memory for storing data of the at least one physical parameter of the tire.

5. The tire monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the physical data transmitted from the data transmitter of the active electronics module is stored in a memory of the remote server.

6. The tire monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a remote controller for sending commands to the active electronics module from a mobile apparatus or from an interrogation apparatus installed on a vehicle.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) All the embodiment details are given in the description which follows, supplemented by FIGS. 1 to 7 which are given solely by way of nonlimiting examples and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of a patch according to the invention, in which an active electronics module is placed;

(3) FIG. 2 is an elevation of one example of a patch according to the invention in which an active electronics module is placed;

(4) FIG. 3 is a plan view of the patch of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the patch of FIG. 1, showing an integrated label;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another example of patch according to the invention, in which an alternative form of the active electronics module is placed;

(7) FIG. 6 is an elevation of the patch of FIG. 5 showing the integration of a label into the platform of the patch;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic depiction of one embodiment of a tire monitoring system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of one embodiment of a mounting patch 1 according to the invention, bonded permanently against an internal wall 20 of a tire. The figure shows a portion of the wall 20 or internal surface of a tire for the sake of simplifying the figure. A connecting face 3 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) of a base 2 of the patch 1, provided under the patch 1, acts as an adhesion interface between the patch and the internal surface of the tire intended to bear the patch. The connecting face is advantageously substantially planar and smooth, so as to promote adhesive contact between the two elements that are to be assembled.

(10) The opposite side to the connecting face consists of a support face 4 against which an active electronics module 10 can be placed. In order to hold the active electronics module 10 on the support face 4, a flexible fixing strip 7 cooperates with the patch, as shown in FIG. 3. In the example illustrated, the fixing strip 7 is held by means of two substantially parallel straps 6 each creating an opening through which the fixing strip 7 is inserted. As an alternative, the straps 6 may be joined together by a common central portion.

(11) FIG. 2 shows the mounting of an active electronics module 10 on a patch 1, with one side being held against the support face 4 of the patch and the other side held by means of the fixing strip 7 which goes right over the said electronics module 10. In the example illustrated, the fixing strip is held firmly by the insertion of a protruding portion of the module into openings specifically provided for this purpose on each side of the fixing strip 7, as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(12) In one advantageous embodiment, the ends of the flexible strip comprise at least two independent module securing means. The flexible strip is arranged removably in the base by passing under two openings in the base which are there for the passage of the strip. This flexible strip is advantageously a single-component strip in the form of a strip of hook-and-loop fabric (Velcro strip). As an alternative, the flexible strip has three portions: a middle portion, made of bi-elastic fabric and two end portions each connected to the middle portion and made of hook-and-loop fabric.

(13) Without departing from the scope of the invention, the patch 1, the fixing strip 7 and the electronics module 10 may have respective shapes and arrangements that differ from those illustrated in the figures.

(14) FIG. 4 shows a passive identification label 5 provided in this example under the support face 4, between the straps 6 of the patch. The label 5 advantageously comprises a memory used to store a unique identification data item pertaining to the tire against which the patch is fixed. As described later on, the identification is advantageously assigned at the moment that the patch is fixed to the associated tire. The two elements are preferably fixed together so that the fixing is permanent, in order to ensure that the tire identification remains associated with the same tire throughout the life thereof.

(15) The passive identification label preferably comprises a radiofrequency identification transponder (of known type). This type of identification without an inbuilt power supply offers great durability at low cost, ensuring that the identification of the associated product will last. It also offers good integrity and durability despite the very harsh environment in which civil engineering vehicle or agricultural vehicle tires are used.

(16) FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative form of embodiment in which the electronics module 10 is fixed by a platform 8 with a dovetail profile intended for insertion into one of the faces of the electronics module in which face a corresponding dovetail profile is provided. The two complementing elements are fixed together by sliding the electronics module 10 axially along the platform 8, as shown for example in FIG. 5. In this alternative form of embodiment, the passive identification label 5 is provided on the upper face of the platform 8. As an alternative, the label is integrated within the platform. These figures also show an example of an electronics module having a profile or configuration differing from the example of FIGS. 1 to 4.

(17) The active electronics module 10, whatever its external configuration, comprises a reader of the tire identification which is specifically designed to receive identification data coming from a passive identification label 5 integrated into a patch 1.

(18) Because the RFID reading of a passive electronic label of the tire consumes a great deal of energy at the reader, it is advantageous to reduce the number of label readings in order to extend the life of the battery of the active electronics module. For example, a number of between 5 and 15, and preferably of around 10 reading operations is enough to ensure the functions of the system while at the same time ensuring that the reader battery will have sufficient battery life.

(19) Furthermore, according to the invention, when considering that applying an active electronics module 10 of a mounting patch 1 requires external manipulation, and therefore the removal of the tire, one of the solutions for keeping the number of readings down to the lowest possible number is to take label readings when the pressure sensor of the active electronics module detects a pressure substantially equal to 0 bar, signifying that the tire and the sensor may potentially have become detached from one another as a result of a removal of the tire. The reading of the label data is therefore taken after the tire has been refitted, when the pressure detector measures a pressure value substantially corresponding to the service pressure, signifying that the tire is correctly fitted and ready for use.

(20) FIG. 7 is a schematic depiction of one exemplary embodiment of a tire monitoring system for a vehicle of civil engineering type such as transport vehicles for mines. The system comprises an active electronics module 10 for taking measurements of the physical parameters of the tires and for sending the gathered data to a monitoring module 20.

(21) The active electronics module 10 comprises a pressure sensor 11, a power supply 12 and a data transmission module 13 for transmitting the data to the monitoring module 20. It also comprises an RFID reading module 14 designed to activate the passive identification label 5 of the tire. Because this passive identification label 5 is integrated into the patch that is used to mount the active electronics module 10, the RFID reading module 14 is thus advantageously situated in the immediate vicinity of the label it is to interrogate. The operation of reading the data from the label 5 is thus far more reliable. The electrical power consumption required is optimized. The risks of reading error are practically eliminated.

(22) The active electronics module advantageously comprises other sensors making it possible to measure other parameters such as the temperature, humidity, the number of revolutions performed, etc.

(23) The monitoring module 20 comprises a data receiving module 22 designed to receive data coming from one or more active electronic modules 10. A database 21 of tire parameters allows the data of use in performing active, preventive and statistical tire monitoring to be stored.