Measuring and testing – Tire – tread or roadway – Tire inflation testing installation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-04
2001-05-15
Oen, William (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Tire, tread or roadway
Tire inflation testing installation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230556
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to a unique system for electronically recording each inflation operation performed by an automatic tire inflation system. The electronic recorder receives, stores, and transmits inflation count data to an output device.
Tire inflation systems are designed primarily to detect an underinflated tire condition, typically the result of a slow air leak, and automatically replenish the tire with the proper air pressure. By maintaining proper tire pressure, tire inflation systems reduce accidents caused by improper tire inflation conditions. However, automatic tire inflation systems are relatively expensive and, therefore, installed primarily on tractor-trailers.
Most tire inflation systems include a warning light which is illuminated during engine key-on when a low tire air pressure is detected. Once the leaking tire is refilled with the proper air pressure, the warning light is switched off and the driver typically continues on route to the next scheduled destination. Often, the driver fails to report the tire leak to service repair personnel. Over time, failure to report the tire leak can lead to permanent tire damage resulting in lengthy service down-time and expensive tire replacement. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an electronic recorder for receiving, storing, and transmitting inflation count data to an output device to facilitate service repairs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, an axle assembly is integrated with a tire inflation system. The axle assembly includes an axle, a tire having a predetermined air inflation pressure rotatably supported on the axle, and a tire inflation system for detecting an actual tire inflation pressure less than the predetermined air inflation pressure, replenishing the tire with air, and producing an inflation signal. An inventive electronic recorder receives the inflation signal, increments a count register, and transmits count register data to an output device. In a first embodiment of this invention, the electronic recorder is mounted at an easily accessible location on a vehicle which includes the integrated axle assembly.
In a second embodiment of this invention, the tire is mounted to a wheel assembly and the axle assembly further includes an electronic hub odometer for detecting a revolution of the wheel assembly and producing an odometer signal. In this second embodiment of the invention, the electronic recorder includes a first count register for receiving the inflation signal, incrementing the first count register, and transmitting first count register data to an output device and a second count register for receiving the odometer signal, incrementing the second count register, determining the distance the wheel assembly has traveled from the second count register, and transmitting distance data to the output device. Preferably, the electronic recorder is mounted to a hub cap of the wheel assembly. A system incorporating only the electronic hub odometer is disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/185,779, entitled “Axle Assembly Integrated with an Electronic Odometer.”
REFERENCES:
patent: 3700164 (1972-10-01), Slagle
patent: 3735103 (1973-05-01), Finley
patent: 3739270 (1973-06-01), Miller et al.
patent: 3780272 (1973-12-01), Rohner
patent: 4167699 (1979-09-01), Baker
patent: 4176397 (1979-11-01), Crom et al.
patent: 4491007 (1985-01-01), Crowdes, Jr.
patent: 4682287 (1987-07-01), Mizuno et al.
patent: 4697278 (1987-09-01), Fleischer
patent: 4782878 (1988-11-01), Mittal
U.S. patent application for Electronic Hub Odometer; filed Jan. 21, 1998; Ser. No. 09/010,016.
Carlson & Gaskey & Olds
Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LLC
Oen William
LandOfFree
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