U.S. patent application number 16/339134 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-06 for electronic unit for measuring operating parameters of a vehicle wheel.
The applicant listed for this patent is Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH. Invention is credited to Jeremy Mieyan.
Application Number | 20200039302 16/339134 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57485802 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-06 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200039302 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mieyan; Jeremy |
February 6, 2020 |
ELECTRONIC UNIT FOR MEASURING OPERATING PARAMETERS OF A VEHICLE
WHEEL
Abstract
An electronic unit for measuring operating parameters of a
vehicle wheel, including an electronic casing; an inflation valve;
and elements for attaching the electronic casing and the inflation
valve. The elements for attaching the electronic casing and the
inflation valve include an insert provided with an axial bore and
mounted with the ability to pivot in the continuation of the body
of the inflation valve; a sleeve secured to the electronic casing,
designed to be mounted with the ability to slide around the insert,
a way of assembling the sleeve of the electronic casing and the
insert of the valve body; and a spring-effect elastic.
Inventors: |
Mieyan; Jeremy; (Saiguede,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Continental Automotive France
Continental Automotive GmbH |
Toulouse
Hannover |
|
FR
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
57485802 |
Appl. No.: |
16/339134 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
November 3, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2017/053013 |
371 Date: |
April 3, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60C 23/0494 20130101;
B60C 23/04 20130101; B60C 23/0498 20130101; B60C 29/02
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60C 23/04 20060101
B60C023/04; B60C 29/02 20060101 B60C029/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 4, 2016 |
FR |
1660706 |
Claims
1. An electronic unit for measuring operating parameters of a
vehicle wheel, comprising: an electronic casing configured to house
control electronics of the electronic measurement unit; an
inflation valve configured to allow said electronic measurement
unit to be fixed to a rim of a wheel of a vehicle; and elements for
attaching the electronic casing and the inflation valve; wherein
the elements for attaching the electronic casing and the inflation
valve comprise: an insert provided with an axial bore and with
lateral orifices, which is mounted with the ability to pivot in a
continuation of the body of the inflation valve; a sleeve secured
to the electronic casing, designed to be mounted with the ability
to slide around the insert, a means of assembling the sleeve of the
electronic casing and the insert of the valve body; a spring-effect
elastic means configured to: ensure a predetermined angular
orientation between the electronic casing and the inflation valve
when said elastic means is at rest: allow relative angular movement
between said electronic casing and said inflation valve when a
stress loading is applied to said electronic unit; and provide
return to the predetermined angular orientation between said
electronic casing and said inflation valve when no stress loading
is applied to said electronic unit.
2. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflation
valve is an inflation valve of the "snap-in" type, comprising: a
valve body made of an elastomer material, provided with a
longitudinal axial bore and intended to extend through an orifice
made in the rim, said valve body being made up of an elastically
deformable trunk and of an abutment head for butting against the
rim, which head is separated from the trunk by a neck designed to
become positioned in an airtight manner in the orifice made in said
rim, and a hollow tubular core made of a rigid material, housing a
shut-off mechanism and of dimensions suited to being housed in the
bore of the valve body and to extending on each side in the
continuation of said valve body, said tubular core being made up of
two longitudinal portions arranged with respect to one another and
relative to the valve body in such a way as to allow the trunk
elastic deformation suited to allowing the inflation valve to be
mounted through the orifice in the rim,
3. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflation
valve is an inflation valve of the "clamp-in" type, comprising: a
valve body made of a metallic material, provided with a
longitudinal axial bore and intended to extend through an orifice
made in the rim, said valve body comprising an abutment head for
butting against the rim, which head is separated from the trunk by
a seal allowing the valve body to be positioned in an airtight
manner in the orifice made in said rim, and a clamping nut allowing
the inflation valve to be fixed in the orifice formed in said
rim.
4. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
spring-effect elastic means comprises a spring.
5. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spring is
fixed, on the one hand, to the frontal face of the abutment head of
the inflation valve that is positioned facing the electronic casing
and, on the other hand, to the pivoting insert.
6. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spring
works in compression.
7. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spring
works in tension.
8. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
spring-effect elastic means comprises an elastomer ring.
9. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the elastomer
ring is formed by overmolding the pivoting insert.
10. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means of
assembling the sleeve of the electronic casing and the insert of
the valve body comprises a screw.
11. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spring
works in compression.
12. The electronic unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the spring
works in tension.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is the U.S. National Phase application of
PCT International Application No. PCT/FR2017/053013, filed Nov. 3,
2017, which claims priority to French Patent Application No.
1660706, filed Nov. 4, 2016, the contents of such applications
being incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic unit for
measuring operating parameters of a vehicle wheel, comprising an
electronic casing and an inflation valve for securing said
electronic casing to a wheel rim.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Motor vehicles are increasingly being fitted with systems
for monitoring and/or measuring parameters, comprising sensors
mounted on said vehicle.
[0004] By way of example of such systems, mention may be made of
the monitoring systems that comprise electronic casings mounted on
each of the wheels of vehicles, these being dedicated to measuring
parameters, such as pressure and/or temperature of the tires with
which these wheels are fitted, and intended to inform the driver of
any abnormal variation in the measured parameter.
[0005] One of the current solutions most commonly used for
attaching the electronic casings to the wheel rims is to make
electronic units each made up of an electronic casing and of an
inflation valve assembled with said electronic casing, that allows
the latter to be secured to the rim of the wheel.
[0006] In addition, each electronic casing then conventionally
comprises an external "eyelet", and each inflation valve comprises
a body intended to extend through the eyelet and through an orifice
made in the rim, and an assembly head separated from the body by a
shoulder that constitutes a face via which the eyelet and said
inflation valve are immobilized against said rim.
[0007] Such a design makes it possible to obtain a tightening
torque that is capable of correctly retaining the electronic
casings in spite of the significant loadings (centrifugal force,
vibrations, accelerations . . . ) to which these casings are
subjected.
[0008] However, during the operations of mounting the tire on the
rim of the wheel of the vehicle and removing it therefrom, the tire
passes over the electronic casing and the rigid connection between
the valve and the electronic casing breaks under the stress
loadings applied by said tire.
[0009] As a result, it is necessary to be able to press the
electronic casing firmly against the bottom of the rim so as to
create contact between said casing and said rim so as to be able to
withstand the forces applied by the tire during the operations of
fitting same on and removing same from the rim, and thereby avoid
breaking the electronic unit at the rigid connection between the
electronic casing and the valve.
[0010] In order to ensure this contact between the electronic
casing and the bottom of the rim', electronic units have been
proposed that comprise an electronic casing and a valve that are
configured in such a way as to be able to adapt to the angular
orientation between the electronic casing and the valve so that
said electronic casing can be pressed firmly against the bottom of
the rim, regardless of the profile and dimensions of said rim,
before the electronic unit is fixed to the rim.
[0011] In general, in order to achieve this orientable angular
connection, the electronic casing and the valve of the electronic
unit comprise connecting elements of complementing shapes so as to
generate a pivot connection. The valve is then inserted into the
valve hole provided in the rim, then the electronic casing is
rotated about the pivot connection. The angular orientation
obtained in order to achieve contact between the electronic casing
and the bottom of the rim is then blocked in position by friction
as a nut is tightened, allowing the electronic unit to be fixed
rigidly to the rim.
[0012] For example, document FR 2 907 048, incorporated herein by
reference, describes an electronic unit for measuring operating
parameters of a vehicle wheel, comprising an electronic casing and
an inflation valve for securing said electronic casing to a wheel
rim, comprising a body intended to extend through an orifice formed
in the rim, and an assembly head separated from the body by a
shoulder that constitutes a face via which said inflation valve is
immobilized against said rim. The electronic casing comprises an
exterior wall defining a lateral housing for the inflation valve
assembly head, delimited by a metal plate made as one piece with
said electronic casing, against which the immobilizing face of said
assembly head bears, and provided with a cutout for the passage of
the body of said inflation valve.
[0013] The metal plate and the immobilizing face of the assembly
head have cylindrical contacting faces, allowing the inclination of
the electronic casing with respect to the longitudinal axis of the
inflation valve to be adjusted before the latter is immobilized
against the rim. Such an articulation makes it possible to adjust
the position of the electronic casings to suit the profiles of the
rims, notably with a view to keeping said electronic casings in
contact with the bottom of the rim and thereby to limiting the
loadings experienced.
[0014] However, this solution has a number of disadvantages.
[0015] Specifically, when mounting the electronic unit on the rim,
the operator therefore has to orient the electronic casing with
respect to the valve until he achieves contact between the casing
and the bottom of the rim, and keep said casing in contact with the
rim while tightening the nut, something which is a complicated
maneuver which does not make it possible to guarantee the desired
contact.
[0016] In addition, this solution proves expensive because, in
addition to the high price of the inflation valves, which are
generally all-metal, it entails the production of ancillary
components (nuts, seals, . . . ) which are especially designed to
ensure this angularly adaptable connection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] An aspect of the present invention proposes an electronic
unit for measuring operating parameters of a vehicle wheel,
comprising an electronic module casing and an inflation valve, that
seeks to alleviate these disadvantages and has the key objective of
providing an electronic unit capable of withstanding significant
loadings, notably during the operations of fitting a tire on the
rim of the wheel of the vehicle and removing same therefrom.
[0018] According to an aspect of the invention, an electronic unit
for measuring operating parameters of a vehicle wheel, comprises:
[0019] an electronic casing configured to house the control
electronics of the electronic measurement unit; [0020] an inflation
valve configured to allow said electronic measurement unit to be
fixed, to a rim of a wheel of a vehicle; and [0021] elements for
attaching the electronic casing and the inflation valve; this
electronic unit being notable in that the elements for attaching
the electronic casing and the inflation valve comprise: [0022] an
insert provided with an axial bore and with lateral orifices, which
is mounted with the ability to pivot in the continuation of the
body of the inflation valve; [0023] a sleeve secured to the
electronic casing, designed to be mounted with the ability to slide
around the insert, [0024] a means of assembling the sleeve of the
electronic casing and the insert of the valve body; [0025] a
spring-effect elastic element configured to: [0026] ensure a
predetermined angular orientation between the electronic casing and
the inflation valve when said elastic means is at rest: [0027]
allow relative angular movement between said electronic casing and
said inflation valve when a stress loading is applied to said
electronic unit; [0028] provide return to the predetermined angular
orientation between said electronic casing and said inflation valve
when no stress loading is applied to said electronic unit.
[0029] The electronic unit according to an aspect of the invention
affords several beneficial advantages. In particular: [0030] the
elastic means of the means for attaching the electronic casing and
the inflation valve allow automatic contact between said electronic
casing and the bottom of the rim, without human intervention, as
the electronic unit is mounted on the rim; [0031] it adapts to all
shapes and dimensional characteristics of rim.
[0032] According to one exemplary embodiment, the inflation valve
is an inflation valve of the "snap-in" type, comprising: [0033] a
valve body made of an elastomer material, provided with a
longitudinal axial bore and intended to extend through an orifice
made in the rim, said valve body being made up of an elastically
deformable trunk and of an abutment head for butting against the
rim, which head is separated from the trunk by a neck designed to
become positioned in an airtight manner in the orifice made in said
rim, [0034] and a hollow tubular core made of a rigid material,
housing a shut-off mechanism and of dimensions suited to being
housed in the bore of the valve body and to extending on each side
in the continuation of said valve body, said tubular core being
made up of two longitudinal portions arranged with respect to one
another and relative to the valve body in such a way as to allow
the trunk elastic deformation suited to allowing the inflation
valve to be mounted through the orifice in the rim,
[0035] According to one exemplary embodiment, the inflation valve
is an inflation valve of the "clamp-in" type, comprising: [0036] a
valve body made of a metallic material, provided with a
longitudinal axial bore and intended to extend through an orifice
made in the rim, said valve body comprising an abutment head for
butting against the rim, which head is separated from the trunk by
a seal allowing the valve body to be positioned in an airtight
manner in the orifice made in said rim, [0037] and a clamping nut
allowing the inflation valve to be fixed in the orifice formed in
said rim.
[0038] The electronic unit according to an aspect of the invention
offers the beneficial advantage, because of its special connection
between the electronic casing and the inflation valve, of being
adaptable to suit rigid valves of the "clamp-in" type just as
easily as to suit flexible valves of the "snap-in" type.
[0039] According to one advantageous exemplary embodiment, the
spring-effect elastic means consists of a spring.
[0040] According to one advantageous exemplary embodiment, the
spring is fixed, on the one hand, to the frontal face of the
abutment head of the inflation valve that is positioned facing the
electronic casing and, on the other hand, to the pivoting
insert.
[0041] According to one preferred exemplary embodiment, the spring
works in compression.
[0042] According to another exemplary embodiment, the spring works
in tension.
[0043] According to one preferred and advantageous exemplary
embodiment, the spring-effect elastic means consists of an
elastomer ring.
[0044] According to one advantageous exemplary embodiment, the
elastomer ring is formed by overmolding the pivoting insert.
[0045] According to one advantageous exemplary embodiment, the
means of assembling the sleeve of the electronic casing and the
insert of the valve body consists of a screw.
[0046] This feature affords rigid assembly between the electronic
casing and the inflation valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0047] Other objects, features and advantages of aspects of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
description, provided by way of non-limiting example with reference
to the appended drawings, in which:
[0048] FIG. 1 is a view of schematic nature of a first exemplary
embodiment of an aspect of the invention.
[0049] FIG. 2 is a view of schematic nature depicting a conceptual
view illustrating the interference-fit mounting of the first
embodiment of the electronic unit according to an aspect of the
invention mounted on a wheel rim.
[0050] FIG. 3 is a view of a schematic nature of the electronic
unit according to the first embodiment mounted on a wheel rim.
[0051] FIG. 4 is a view of schematic nature of a second exemplary
embodiment of the electronic unit according to an aspect of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0052] In this description, the terms "distal" and "proximal" are
used with reference to the position of the elements that make up
the electronic unit according to an aspect of the invention when
this unit is mounted on the rim of a wheel of a vehicle, the term
"proximal" referring to elements closest to the tire, so that the
term "distal" then refers to that which is furthest from the
tire.
[0053] An aspect of the present invention relates to an electronic
unit for measuring operating parameters of a vehicle wheel.
[0054] As is known per se, this electronic unit is made up of an
electronic casing 1 designed to be mounted inside the casing of a
tire, and of an inflation valve 2 for securing this to the rim J of
the wheel fitted with this tire.
[0055] In the first place, the inflation valve 2 comprises a valve
body 3 pierced axially with a cylindrical longitudinal bore 3a.
[0056] In the conventional way, this valve body 3 is also
subdivided, longitudinally, into a trunk 4 which, at its proximal
end, has an abutment head 5 delimited by a frontal face 5a and a
rear abutment face 5b. This rear face 5b, intended to be brought
into contact with the rim 3 as the valve body 3 passes through a
hole provided for this purpose in the rim, may have an annular
groove able to accept a seal 6.
[0057] The distal end of the valve trunk 4 is equipped with a screw
thread intended for screwing a protective cap on in the
continuation of said trunk 4 of the valve body 3.
[0058] The electronic casing 1 of the electronic unit is for its
part made up of a hollow casing intended to house the control
"electronics" of the electronic unit according to an aspect of the
invention. The electronic casing 1 is for example produced by
molding in plastic.
[0059] Elements referred to as securing elements provide attachment
of said electronic casing 1 and said inflation valve 2. These
securing elements comprise: [0060] an insert 7; [0061] a sleeve 8;
[0062] a means 9 of assembling the sleeve 4 and the insert 3;
[0063] a spring-effect elastic means 10, 11.
[0064] The insert 7, for example made of metal, is mounted at the
proximal end of the inflation valve 2, on the frontal face 5a of
the abutment head 5. The connection between the insert 7 and the
inflation valve 2 is a connection of the ball-joint type, allowing
relative angular movement between the insert 7 and the inflation
valve 2. This insert 7 is provided with an axial bore 7a positioned
in the continuation of the bore 3a of the valve body 3 and with
lateral orifices 7b thus allowing the flow of inflation air to pass
into the tire.
[0065] The sleeve 8 is secured to the electronic casing 1 and is
designed to be mounted with the ability to slide around the insert
7. The sleeve 8 may also form an integral part of the electronic
casing 1.
[0066] The means 9 of assembling the sleeve 8 of the electronic
casing 1 and the insert 7 consists for example of a screw. In that
way, the electronic casing 1, via its sleeve 8, and the inflation
valve 2, via the insert 7, are securely attached.
[0067] According to one first exemplary embodiment, illustrated in
FIGS. 1 to 3, the spring-effect elastic means consists of a spring
10. This spring is fixed, on the one hand, to the frontal face 5a
of the abutment head 5 of the inflation valve 2 intended to be
positioned facing the electronic casing 1 and, on the other hand,
to the pivoting insert 7. These fixings of the spring 10 are
achieved by any means known per se. This spring 10 may work either
in compression or in tension.
[0068] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the spring-effect
elastic means consists of an elastomer ring 11 fixed to the
inflation valve 2 by any means known per se. According to a first
embodiment, the spring-effect component thus formed is created for
example by overmolding the insert 7 in rubber in the form of the
ring 11 directly on the frontal face 5a of the abutment head 5 of
the inflation valve 2. According to another embodiment, the
overmolding of the insert 7 with the ring 11 is performed during a
distinct step before being fixed on the frontal face 5a of the
abutment head 5 of the inflation valve 2, for example by adhesive
bonding.
[0069] The pair 7-10 or 7-11 created by the insert 7 and the
spring-effect elastic means 10 or 11 provides a predetermined
angular orientation a between the electronic casing 1 (notably its
longitudinal axis A-A determined by the sleeve 8 secured to the
insert 7 via the screw 9) and the inflation valve 2 (notably the
axis B-B of its valve body 3) at the ball-joint connection between
the pivoting insert 7 and the abutment head 5 when said
spring-effect elastic means 10, 11 is in the rest position.
[0070] This predetermined angular orientation a is such that the
electronic casing 1 is an interference fit. As the conceptual view
illustrated in FIG. 2 shows, that means that when the spring-effect
elastic means 10, 11 is at rest, the angular orientation between
the electronic casing 1 and the inflation valve 2 is such that, as
the electronic unit according to an aspect of the invention is
mounted on a rim J, the spring-effect elastic means 10, 11 of the
means of attaching the electronic casing 1 and the inflation valve
2 always allows automatic contact of said electronic casing 1
against the bottom of the rim 3, without human intervention, the
spring-effect elastic means 10, 11 then always being subjected to a
stress loading that deforms it away from its rest position.
[0071] The spring-effect elastic means 10, 11 allows freedom of
relative pivoting between the electronic casing 1 and the inflation
valve 2 such that the electronic measurement unit according to an
aspect of the invention is adapted to suit all shapes and
dimensional characteristics of rim.
[0072] When a stress loading is applied the electronic unit
according to an aspect of the invention, this results in a relative
angular movement between the electronic casing 1 and the inflation
valve 2 at the pivot connection between the insert 7 and the
abutment head 5. The spring effect of the spring-effect elastic
means 10, 11 then ensures return to the predetermined angular
orientation a between said electronic casing 1 and said inflation
valve 2 when no stress loading is applied to the electronic unit
according to an aspect of the invention.
[0073] Thus, when the vehicle moves, the electronic casing 1,
subjected to the action of centrifugal force, may lift so that it
is no longer in contact with the bottom of the rim J. Thus, when
the vehicle stops, the spring-effect elastic means 7-10 or 7-11
allows the electronic casing 1 to be brought back to bear against
the bottom of the rim J. In that way, during the operations of
fitting or removing the tire (which are operations during which the
vehicle is quite obviously stationary), there is no risk of ripping
out the electronic casing 1 of the electronic measurement unit
according to an aspect of the invention as the latter is properly
securely pressed against the bottom of the rim J.
[0074] In order to mount the electronic unit on a rim J, the
annular seal 6 is positioned around the trunk 4 of the valve body 3
against the rear face 5b of the abutment head 5 so that it can be
compressed between the rim J and the abutment head 5 after said
valve body 3 has been inserted in a bore formed in the conventional
way in said rim. This annular seal may be (at least partially)
contained in a groove (not depicted) created in the rear face 5b of
the abutment head 5.
[0075] The spring-effect component thus makes it possible
automatically to adjust the inclination of the electronic casing 1
according to the angle defined by the profile of the rim J, so as
to keep said electronic casing pressed firmly against the bottom of
the rim J, and thus limit the stress loadings experienced as a tire
is being fitted onto or removed from said rim.
[0076] Finally, the immobilizing of the electronic unit on the rim
J is afforded by means of a (metal) nut 12 screwed onto a threaded
portion (not depicted) of the valve body 3.
[0077] In the above description, the inflation valve 2 described
and illustrated is an inflation valve of the "clamp-in" type,
comprising: [0078] the valve body 3 is made of a metallic material,
provided with a longitudinal axial bore 3a and intended to extend
through an orifice made in the rim J, said valve body 3 comprising
an abutment head 5 for butting against the rim 3, which head is
separated from the trunk 4 by a seal 6 allowing the valve body 3 to
be positioned in an airtight manner in the orifice made in said rim
J, [0079] and a clamping nut 12 allowing the inflation valve 2 to
be fixed in the orifice formed in said rim J.
[0080] However, the electronic unit according to an aspect of the
invention affords the beneficial advantage of being able to be
adapted to any type of inflation valve. Hence, according to one
exemplary embodiment which has not been illustrated, the inflation
valve 2 is an inflation valve of the "snap-in" type.
[0081] In the conventional way, a "snap-in" valve comprises: [0082]
a valve body made of an elastomer material, provided with a
longitudinal axial bore and intended to extend through an orifice
made in the rim, said valve body being made up of an elastically
deformable trunk and of an abutment head for butting against the
rim, which head is separated from the trunk by a neck designed to
become positioned in an airtight manner in the orifice made in said
rim, [0083] and a hollow tubular core made of a rigid material,
housing a shut-off mechanism and of dimensions suited to being
housed in the bore of the valve body and to extending on each side
in the continuation of said valve body, said tubular core being
made up of two longitudinal portions arranged with respect to one
another and relative to the valve body in such a way as to allow
the trunk elastic deformation suited to allowing the inflation
valve to be mounted through the orifice in the rim, thus not
requiring any nut as is required for the "clamp-in" valve.
* * * * *