AU9721098A

AU9721098A - Tyre pressure monitor

Info

Publication number: AU9721098A
Application number: AU97210/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dean Russell Sando
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-12-22
Filing date: 1998-12-18
Publication date: 1999-07-08

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): DEAN RUSSELL SANDO Invention Title: Tyre Pressure Monitor The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: TYRE PRESSURE MONITOR This invention relates to a tyre pressure monitor and has been devised particularly though not solely for monitoring the pressure in the spare tyre of a motor vehicle.

Many motor vehicles have the spare tyre located in a position where it is not convenient to regularly check the pressure in the spare tyre by manually accessing the valve stem of the spare tyre and engaging a tyre pressure gauge.

This particularly applies to motor vehicles where the spare tyre is in the boot or trunk of the motor vehicle and particularly in those vehicles where the spare tyre is located under the floor of the boot or trunk compartment and requires the lifting of one or more floor components to access the valve stem on the spare tyre. Furthermore many modern motor vehicles utilise the well of the spare wheel for the location of tool kits or other pieces of apparatus further inhibiting access to the valve stem.

In some recently manufactured motor vehicles, the spare tyre is even mounted "upside down" in a well beneath the floor of the boot or trunk of the motor vehicle in an attempt to further save space and give more efficient packaging of the various motor vehicle components. In such motor vehicles, it is necessary to remove the spare tyre from the well in order to check the pressure.

With these difficulties, it is common to neglect the pressure in the spare tyre to the point where it may frequently drop below a useable level rendering the spare tyre useless for its intended use in the event of a puncture.

It is also a trend in motor vehicle design, particularly in so-called "luxury" cars to provide the driver with a high level of automated control and/or information about various functions of the motor vehicle and the manual checking of spare tyre pressure has become rather an anathema in such motor vehicles.

S:25333A/419 The present invention therefore provides a device for adjusting the pressure in the spare tyre in a motor vehicle comprising a coupling adapted to engage the valve stem of the spare type in a manner which opens the valve therein allowing communication between the interior of the spare tyre and the conduit, a conduit having one end connected to and communicating with the coupling and the other end connected to a valve assembly mounted in or on the motor vehicle for convenient access by an air inflation line.

In a further aspect the invention provides a device for monitoring the pressure in the spare tyre in a motor vehicle comprising a pressure monitoring transducer, display means arranged to display predetermined pressure characteristics detected by the transducer, a conduit having one end connected to and communicating with the transducer, and a coupling adapted to engage the valve stem of the spare type in a manner which opens the valve therein allowing communication between the interior of the spare tyre and the conduit.

Preferably the display means are located within the cabin of the motor vehicle where they can be readily observed by the driver.

In one form of the invention the display means may comprise a simple indicator light or similar "on/off" display arranged to illuminate when the pressure detected by the transducer drops below a preset level. The preset level would normally be the desired minimum pressure for air in the spare tyre of that motor vehicle.

Alternatively the display means may be some form of analogue or digital display giving an indication to the driver of the motor vehicle of the current pressure in the spare tyre. The display could form part of a "trip computer" or other similar device and may be connected to an alarm function arranged to alert the driver if the pressure falls below the minimum predetermined safe level.

S:25333A/419 Preferably the pressure monitoring transducer comprises an electrical pressure switch connected to the display means by way of electrical wires.

Preferably the pressure monitoring transducer is engaged with a mounting block having an interior compartment communicating with a suitable spigot or the like which is engaged with one end of the conduit.

Preferably the conduit comprises a flexible rubber reinforced air line which is typically engaged with the spigot by way of a hose pinch clamp.

Preferably the coupling is threadedly engaged with the valve stem of the spare tyre and incorporates an internal cross member or stem, adapted to depress the corresponding valve release member in the valve stem of the spare tyre depressing the valve release member in a similar manner to the engagement of an air inflation line.

In one form of the invention the mounting block for the pressure monitoring transducer is provided with a second spigot also communicating with the interior of the mounting block, the second spigot being connected in turn by a conduit to a valve assembly mounted in or on the motor vehicle for convenient access by an air inflation line.

The valve assembly can be used to inflate the spare tyre when it is detected that pressure in the tyre has fallen below an acceptable level, without having to remove the spare tyre from its location within the motor vehicle. The valve assembly could conveniently be mounted in an accessible place within the boot or trunk of the motor vehicle or alternatively may be accessible on the exterior of the motor vehicle, for example mounted beneath the rear bumper or at some other convenient point on the rear of the motor vehicle.

Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its scope, one preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- S:25333A/419 Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a tyre pressure monitor according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing the addition of an optional valve assembly for inflation of the spare tyre.

In the preferred form of the invention a tyre pressure monitor for monitoring the pressure in the spare tyre 1 of a motor vehicle is provided with a pressure monitoring transducer in the form of a pressure switch 2. The pressure switch is typically mounted by way of a threaded stem 3 with a correspondingly threaded hole in a mounting block 4 which has an internal chamber (not shown) communicating in turn with a protruding spigot The tyre pressure monitor is further provided with a conduit 6 typically in the form of a flexible rubber reinforced air line which is engaged over the spigot 5 by way of a hose pinch clamp 7.

The distal end of the conduit (not shown) is provided with a coupling adapted to engage the valve stem of the spare tyre 1 in a manner which opens the valve therein allowing communication between the interior of the spare tyre 1 and the conduit 6.

The pressure switch 2 is electrically connected by way of spade terminals 8 and connecting wires 9 to display means located in the interior of the motor vehicle. The display means may be a simple panel indicator light or other more sophisticated display means as previously described.

In an alternative form of the invention as shown in Fig. 2, the tyre pressure monitor may be provided with a further device in the form of a valve assembly 10 typically mounted in a mounting bracket 11 in a convenient location in or on the motor vehicle. The location may be a readily accessible position within the boot or trunk of the motor vehicle or at some position on the exterior of the motor vehicle. The valve assembly 10 is connected by way of a S:25333A/419 second conduit in the form of air line 12 and hose pinch clamp 13 to a further spigot located on the opposite side of mounting block 4 from spigot 5 and also communicating with the interior chamber of the mounting block.

The valve assembly 10 is similar to the assembly in the valve stem of a motor vehicle wheel and may be closed off with a dust cap 14.

In this form of the invention, the valve assembly may be conveniently used to inflate the spare tyre 1 via conduit 12, mounting block 4, and conduit 6 when it is detected that the pressure has fallen below an acceptable level by observing the display means.

In this manner it is possible to provide the motor vehicle with equipment which will allow the driver to both monitor the pressure in the spare tyre without having to consciously regularly check that pressure and more importantly without having to inconveniently directly access the valve stem of the spare tyre If a lower than acceptable pressure is detected, it is a simple matter to inflate the spare tyre without removing any components or contents of the motor vehicle boot by way of valve assembly S:25333A/419

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the pressure in the spare tyre in a motor vehicle comprising a coupling adapted to engage the valve stem of the spare type in a manner which opens the valve therein allowing communication between the interior of the spare tyre and the conduit, a conduit having one end connected to and communicating with the coupling and the other end connected to a valve assembly mounted in or on the motor vehicle for convenient access by an air inflation line.

2. A device for monitoring the pressure in the spare tyre in a motor vehicle comprising a pressure monitoring transducer, display means arranged to display predetermined pressure characteristics detected by the transducer, a conduit having one end connected to and communicating with the transducer, and a coupling adapted to engage the valve stem of the spare type in a manner which opens the valve therein allowing communication between the interior of the spare tyre and the conduit.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pressure monitoring transducer is engaged with a mounting block having an interior compartment communicating with a suitable spigot or the like which is engaged with one end of the conduit.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the mounting 0block for the pressure monitoring transducer is provided with a second spigot also communicating with the interior of the mounting block, the second spigot being connected in turn by a conduit to a valve assembly mounted in or on the motor vehicle for convenient access by an air inflation line. A device for monitoring and/or adjusting the pressure in the spare tyre in a motor vehicle when constructed, arranged and operable substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. S:25333A/419 Dated this 15th day of December 1998. Dean Russell Sando By his Patent Attorneys Griffith Hack dM S:25333A/419