U.S. patent application number 12/133693 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-11 for formed flange for pressure monitoring valve stem mount.
This patent application is currently assigned to CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS US, INC.. Invention is credited to Jean-Christophe Deniau, Francois Gory, Michael Hettle, Franz Hillenmayer, Christain Kempf.
Application Number | 20080302425 12/133693 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39683461 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080302425 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hettle; Michael ; et
al. |
December 11, 2008 |
Formed Flange For Pressure Monitoring Valve Stem Mount
Abstract
A valve stem for mounting and supporting a tire pressure
monitoring assembly includes a flange formed after insertion into
the wheel rim for preventing movement caused by forces generated
during wheel rotation.
Inventors: |
Hettle; Michael; (Onsted,
MI) ; Deniau; Jean-Christophe; (Fenton, MI) ;
Hillenmayer; Franz; (Burglengenfeld, DE) ; Kempf;
Christain; (Toulouse, FR) ; Gory; Francois;
(Tournefeuille, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS, P.C.
400 WEST MAPLE ROAD, SUITE 350
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Assignee: |
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS US,
INC.
Auburn Hills
MI
|
Family ID: |
39683461 |
Appl. No.: |
12/133693 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60967113 |
Aug 31, 2007 |
|
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|
60937410 |
Jun 27, 2007 |
|
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60933378 |
Jun 5, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
137/227 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 137/3662 20150401;
B60C 29/02 20130101; B60C 23/0491 20130101; B60C 23/0494 20130101;
B60C 23/0408 20130101; Y10T 137/0491 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/227 |
International
Class: |
F16K 15/20 20060101
F16K015/20 |
Claims
1. A tire pressure monitoring assembly comprising: an elastic valve
stem including an inner portion, an outer portion and a cavity
extending from the inner portion to the outer portion; a valve body
disposed within the cavity and defining a bore; a fastening member
including a first end engageable to the valve body and a second end
engaged with the inner portion of the elastic valve stem for
deforming the outer portion of the valve stem; and a sensor housing
secured to the valve stem by the fastening member.
2. The assembly as recited in claim 2, including an anti-rotation
feature disposed between the sensor housing and at least one of the
valve body and the valve stem for preventing relative rotation of
the sensor housing relative to the at least one of the valve body
and the valve stem.
3. The assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the anti-rotation
feature comprise a tab on one of the valve stem and the sensor
housing and an indentation receiving the tab on the other of the
valve stem and the sensor housing.
4. The assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein anti-rotation
feature comprise a key on the valve body that corresponds to a
receiving feature of the sensor housing.
5. The assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the key and
receiving feature provide for an angular adjustment between the
valve stem and sensor housing.
6. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the bore of the
valve body includes threads corresponding to threads of the
fastening member.
7. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the valve body
extends outwardly from the inner portion of the valve stem and
includes threads on an external surface and the fastening member
comprises a nut securable to the threads.
8. The assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the threads on the
valve body include a stop that defines a desired deformation of the
outer portion of the valve stem.
9. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the valve body
extends outwardly from the inner portion of the valve stem and
includes capture features and the fastening member comprises a push
nut engageable to the capture features for holding the valve body
in a secured position.
10. The assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the capture
features comprise grooves on outer surface of the valve body
engageable to threads on an inner surface of the push nut.
11. The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the push nut is
adapted for unthreading from the capture features.
12. The assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the capture
features include a frangible portion that breaks away responsive to
application of a desired load.
13. A method of securing a tire pressure monitoring sensor assembly
to a wheel rim comprising: inserting a valve stem comprising an
elastically deformable material through an opening in a wheel rim;
seating an inner portion of the valve stem against an inner surface
of the wheel rim; and deforming an outer portion of the valve stem
against an outer surface of the wheel rim.
14. The method as recited in claim 13, comprising deforming the
outer portion of the valve stem by fastening a fastening member to
a valve body disposed within the valve stem.
15. The method as recited in claim 14, comprising, engaging a
threaded member to a threaded portion of the valve body for
compressing the outer portion of the valve stem and forming a
flange in the valve stem against the outer surface of the wheel
rim.
16. The method as recited in claim 14, comprising, pulling on a
valve body in a first direction aligned with the valve stem and
pushing on the fastening member in a second direction opposite the
first direction for forming a flange in the valve stem against the
outer surface of the wheel rim.
17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the fastening member
comprises a push-on nut engageable to features on the valve stem
for compressing the outer portion of the valve stem.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Nos. 60/967,113, filed Aug. 31, 2007; 60/937,410, filed
Jun. 27, 2007; and 60/933,378 filed on Jun. 5, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A disclosed example valve stem includes a deformable housing
for securement within a wheel rim. More particularly, the disclosed
example valve stem includes features for securing a valve stem
supporting a tire pressure monitoring sensor within a wheel
rim.
[0003] Tire pressure monitoring sensors can be secured within a
wheel rim to a valve stem. A conventional valve stem is received
within an opening of the wheel rim and secured therein by an
elastically deformable rubber housing. Disadvantageously, the
weight added by a tire pressure monitoring device attached to the
valve stem can cause undesired deformation during rotation of the
wheel rim. Centrifugal forces acting on the tire pressure
monitoring device can be transmitted back to the rubber housing and
cause deformation that in turn disrupts the desired air tight seal
with the wheel rim.
[0004] Accordingly, it is desirable to design and develop a method
and device for securing a tire pressure monitoring device to a
valve stem that does not result in loss of the desired seal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An example valve stem for mounting and supporting a tire
pressure monitoring assembly includes a flange formed after
insertion into the wheel rim for preventing movement caused by
forces generated during wheel rotation.
[0006] An example tire pressure monitoring (TPM) assembly is
mounted to a valve stem received within an opening of the wheel
rim. The valve stem includes an inner portion disposed within the
rim and an outer portion that extends outward from the rim. A valve
body is disposed within the valve stem and provides an air passage
through the rim for filling the tire. The valve stem includes the
inner portion that abuts an inner surface of the rim. A flange is
formed in the valve stem to expand against an outer surface of the
wheel rim. In one disclosed example, a screw extends though the
housing and engages internal threads formed in the valve body.
Tightening of the thread pulls the valve body inwardly to cause
deformation of the valve stem to form a flange abutting the outer
surface of the wheel rim.
[0007] In another disclosed example, the valve body includes
external threads on a portion that extends through the sensor body.
A nut is then either pushed or threaded on to provide the desired
deformation of the valve stem to form the desired formed flange
that secures the valve stem to the wheel rim. Accordingly, the
example valve stem flange formed TPM assemblies provide a robust
valve stem wheel rim interface that prevents leakage caused by
force generated by rotation of the wheel rim.
[0008] These and other features of the present invention can be
best understood from the following specification and drawings, the
following of which is a brief description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example tire pressure
monitoring assembly mounted within a wheel.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an example tire pressure
monitoring assembly prior formation of the mounting flange.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an example tire pressure
monitoring assembly mounted within to a wheel rim.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another example tire pressure
monitoring assembly prior to formation of the mounting flange.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the example tire pressure
monitoring assembly of FIG. 4 mounted to the wheel rim.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of another tire pressure
monitoring assembly including a push on nut.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the tire pressure monitoring
assembly of FIG. 6 mounted to the wheel rim.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an example anti-rotation
feature.
[0017] FIG. 9 is another schematic view of another example
anti-rotation feature.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of yet another example
anti-rotation feature.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1 a tire pressure monitoring sensor (TPM)
assembly 10 is mounted to a wheel rim 12. The rim 12 supports a
tire 14 and the TPM assembly 10 includes a sensor housing 16 that
includes a sensor and a transmitter for measuring and communicating
conditions within the tire 14.
[0020] The TPM assembly 10 includes a valve stem 18 comprised of an
elastic material such as for example rubber. The valve stem 18
includes an inner portion 30 disposed within the rim 12 and outer
portion 32 that extends outward from the rim 12. A valve body 20 is
disposed within the valve stem 18 and provides an air passage
through the rim 12 for filling the tire 14.
[0021] The sensor housing 16 is supported within the rim 12 by the
valve stem 18 and is susceptible to movement responsive to
rotation. A centripetal force in a direction indicated at 22 is
generated by rotation of the rim 12. The force 22 is exerted on the
sensor housing 16 that causes movement in a direction indicated by
arrows 24. This twisting movement is not desirable and is
substantially reduced and prevented by the disclosed TPM assembly
10 and mounting methods.
[0022] The valve stem 18 includes the inner portion 30 that abuts
an inner surface 40 of the rim 12. A flange is formed in the valve
stem 18 to expand against an outer surface 48 of the wheel rim
12.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, with continued reference to FIG. 1, the
example TPM assembly 10 includes a screw 26 with threads 40. The
valve body 20 defines the bore 36 and includes internal threads 38
that engage the threads 40 of the screw 26. The valve stem 18 is
received through an opening 52 in the rim 12 such that the inner
portion 30 abuts the inner surface 50. The outer portion 32 is a
clearance to slight interference fit with the opening 52. The
slight interference fit is such that the valve stem 18 will remain
within the opening 52, but is not yet substantial enough to prevent
forces generated during rotation from distorting a desired seal
with the rim 12.
[0024] The housing 16 includes an opening 28 though which the screw
26 extends to engage the threads 38 of the valve body 20. The outer
portion 32 of the valve stem 18 includes a thickness that provides
for a desired flexibility and deformability. Tightening of the
screw 26 within the valve body 20 pulls the valve body 20, and
thereby the valve stem 18 toward the rim 12 to buckle and deform
the outer portion 32 to form a flange against the outer surface 48
of the wheel rim 12.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3 with continued reference to FIGS. 1 and
2, the screw 26 is engaged with the threads 38 of the valve body 20
and tightened to cause the outer portion 32 of the valve stem 18 to
buckle and form a flange portion 42. The flange portion 42 secures
the outer portion 32 against the outer surface of the wheel rim 12.
The flange portion 42 comprises the buckled and deformed portion of
the valve stem 18 caused by tightening and securing of the screw
26.
[0026] The elastic characteristics of the valve stem 18 creates a
compression biasing force between the formed flange 42 and the
inner portion 32 that counters forces generated during rotation of
the wheel rim 12. Further, because the compression biasing forces
are only exerted after the valve stem 18 is received within the
opening 52, the compression forces holding the valve stem 18 can be
much higher than if a flange is formed prior to insertion and
required to be pushed through the opening 52. As appreciated,
conventional valve stem mounting methods simply force the elastic
valve stem 18 through the opening. Accordingly, the amount of force
available for pushing the flange through the opening limits the
size of the flange. In the disclosed method, because the flange 42
is formed after insertion through the opening 52, it can be larger
and thereby provide a greater compression to hold the valve stem 18
in place.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, another TPM assembly 54 includes
a valve body 56 that includes an inner portion 60 that extends
outwardly from the valve stem 18. The inner portion 60 of the valve
body 56 includes eternal threads 62. The sensor housing 16 includes
an opening 28 through which the inner portion 60 extends. A nut 58
includes internal threads 64 that engage the threads 62. Tightening
of the nut 58 secures the sensor housing 16 to the valve body
56.
[0028] Further tightening of the nut 58 causes deformation of the
outer portion 32 of the valve stem 18 thereby forming the flange
42. The flange 42 comprises buckled material of the outer portion
32 that abuts against the outer surface 48 of the wheel rim 12. The
flange 42 compresses against the wheel rim 12 to hold and secure
the valve stem 18 in place. The increased compressive forces that
are exerted and formed by tightening the nut 58 result in an
improved seal that is substantially resistant to movements caused
by rotation of the wheel.
[0029] The threads 62 are provided along a defined length such that
the nut 58 can only be tightened a desired amount. Therefore,
during installation, the nut 58 is tightened until the threads end.
The end of the threads corresponds to a tightened amount that
provides a desired flange 42 and that also provides a desired
compression against the wheel rim 12. The defined length of the
threads provides a desired fit and substantially prevents over
tightening.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 6, another example TPM assembly 70
includes the valves stem 18 with a valve body 74. The valve body 74
includes an inner portion 76. The inner portion 76 extends
outwardly from the valve stem 18 and extends into an interior
portion of the wheel rim 12. The inner portion 76 includes features
82 for engaging a push on nut 72. The example features 82 comprise
threads configured to allow pushing on of the nut 72 and threading
off for removal of the TPM assembly 70. The engagement features
could also comprise barbs adapted to engage and secure the nut in a
desired position.
[0031] Pushing of the nut 72 onto the valve body 74 causes the
desired deformation of the outer portion 32 of the valve stem 18,
thereby providing the desired compressive forces to hold the valve
stem 18 within the opening 52.
[0032] Installation of the example TPM assembly 70 is accomplished
with a clamping tool 78 and a pushing tool 80. Installation
proceeds by initially inserting the valve stem 18 and valve body 74
through the opening 52 in the wheel rim 12. The amount of force
required for this step is substantially reduced as compared to
conventional methods because the outer flange is not yet
formed.
[0033] The nut 72 can be pre-assembled to the valve body 74 to ease
assembly operations. Once the valve stem 18 is disposed within the
opening 52, the clamping tool 78 and pushing tool 80 can be engaged
to the valve body 74 and the nut 72 respectively. As appreciated,
is also within the contemplation of this invention that the
clamping and pushing tool comprises a portion of the tool utilized
to insert the valve stem 18 within the wheel rim 12. Further, other
configuration as would be understood by a worker experienced in
this field is also within the contemplation of this invention.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 7, with continued reference to FIG. 6,
installation is completed by concurrently pushing on the nut 72,
and holding, or pulling on the valve body 74. The rear portion 76
of the valve body includes notch features that can be configured to
break away under a desired load. Breaking way of the notch features
on the rear portion 76 of the valve body provides a limit on the
load that can be exerted by the nut 72. The resulting fit of the
nut 72 against the housing 16 and the inner portion 30 of the valve
stem 18 causes a buckling that forms the flange 42. The flange 42
is formed to abut against the outer surface 48 of the wheel rim 12.
The compression provided by the nut 72 is maintained until the nut
72 is removed. The example nut 72 is pushed on and threaded
off.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 8 and back to FIG. 2, a rear end view of
the interface between the housing 16 and the valve body 20 of FIG.
2 is shown with an anti-rotational feature that includes the valve
body 20 with a D-shaped cross-section 82 that corresponds with the
opening 28. The keyed corresponding shapes of the valve body 20 and
the sensor housing 16 substantially prevent relative rotation of
the sensor housing 16 relative to the valve stem 18.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 9, another anti-rotation configuration
include tabs 84 on the sensor housing 16 that engage corresponding
indentations 86 within the valve stem 18. The tabs 84 engage the
indentations 86 to provide a positive locating feature that
prevents relative rotation between the valve stem 18 and the sensor
housing 16.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 10, another anti-rotation interface
between the valve stem 18 and the housing 16 include interlocking
shapes 88 that prevent relative rotation. The example interlocking
shapes 88 include a curved longitudinal surface 90 on the sensor
housing 16 that fits within a concave portion 92 of the valve stem
18. The interlocking shapes 88 thereby prevent relative rotation
between the valve stem 18 relative to the sensor housing 16.
Further, the example interlocking features also facilitate an
angular adjustment of the housing angle relative to the valve stem
to accommodate various wheel rim angles with a single housing
interface configuration. As is appreciated, the example
interlocking shapes 88 can be reversed with the concave portion on
the sensor housing 16 and the curved portion on the valve stem 18.
Additionally, the interlocking shapes can include other
configurations that provide and maintain a desired relative
orientation.
[0038] Further, as the flange is formed by compression against the
wheel rim, the frictional interface between the valve stem 18 and
the wheel rim substantially prevent rotation of the valve stem 18
relative to the rim 12. Accordingly, the anti-rotation features
that prevent rotation of the sensor housing 16 relative to the
valve stem substantially prevent rotation of the entire TPM
assembly 10. Further, the example valve stem flange formed TPM
assemblies provide a robust valve stem wheel rim interface that
prevents leakage caused by force generated by rotation of the wheel
rim and retention of the sensor.
[0039] Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been
disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize
that certain modifications would come within the scope of this
invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied
to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
* * * * *