JP4853250B2 - Wheel information transmitter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of a device capable of transmitting wheel information related to a wheel.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, wheels used in vehicles are equipped with an air valve for maintaining tire air pressure and filling air as necessary. In recent years, in order to further improve safety, a device for wirelessly transmitting tire air pressure information to a vehicle body has been devised. As such a device, Patent Document 1 discloses a transmission unit in which a pressure detection unit for detecting tire air pressure and a signal processing circuit for transmitting a detection pressure to a receiver on the vehicle body side by radio waves are housed in a case. There is disclosed a tire pressure alarm device in which a tire is disposed in a wheel rim. This tire pressure alarm device uses a wheel as an antenna by conducting a wheel and a transmission unit through a valve stem fixed to the transmission unit.

Patent Document 2 discloses a tire pressure sensor in which a stopper that contacts the wheel rim is provided on the sensor housing casing in order to perform positioning when the tire pressure sensor is attached to the wheel rim. Patent Document 3 discloses a tire pressure alarm device in which a pressure detector fixed to a wheel rim portion is electrically connected to a conductive portion of a wheel cover.
JP 11-139117 A JP 2005-502515 A Japanese Utility Model Publication 2-74204

  By the way, the surface of the wheel is often in a state of low conductivity by being coated with a resin or the like from the viewpoint of aesthetics or rust prevention. Therefore, for example, even if the valve stem or the ring or nut to which it is attached is a conductor as in the tire pressure alarm device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the wheel surface has low conductivity, It is not possible to ensure good electrical conductivity.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, The place made into the objective is to provide the technique which improves the transmission performance of the apparatus which can transmit the wheel information relevant to a wheel.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a wheel information transmission device according to an aspect of the present invention is a wheel information transmission device capable of transmitting wheel information related to a wheel, the detection unit detecting the wheel information, and the wheel A wheel-side transmission unit that transmits a signal including information, and a conduction unit that penetrates to a conductor part inside the wheel on which the tire is mounted and serves as a conduction path between the wheel and the wheel-side transmission unit. Moreover, you may further provide the housing | casing which accommodates the said detection part and the said wheel side transmission part. The conduction part may penetrate to a conductor part inside the wheel when fixing the housing to the wheel, and may be a conduction path between the wheel and the wheel side transmission part.

According to this aspect, for example, even when the surface of the wheel has low conductivity due to resin coating or the like, the conductivity is improved by the penetration of the conductive portion to the conductor portion inside the wheel. Therefore, the wheel side transmission unit can use the wheel as an antenna for radio wave transmission regardless of whether the surface of the wheel is a conductor or a non-conductor. As a result, the transmission performance of the wheel information transmission device is improved.

The conducting portion includes a fixing portion that is provided on the housing and fixes the housing to the wheel, and a protrusion that is formed on a surface of the fixing portion and penetrates to a conductor portion inside the wheel. May be. As a result, when the housing is fixed, the protruding portion penetrates to the conductor portion inside the wheel , so that the conduction between the wheel side transmission portion and the wheel conductor portion is achieved easily and without requiring a large force. The Here, the projecting portion may be made of a material harder than a non-conductor formed on the surface of the wheel, for example, a resinous coating film.

You may further provide the valve stem provided integrally with the said housing | casing and attached to the hole formed in the said wheel. The protruding portion may invade the conductor portion inside the wheel when the wheel is sandwiched between the fastening member and the fixed portion by rotation of the fastening member attached to the outer periphery of the valve stem. Good. As a result, an axial force is generated in the valve stem by the rotation of a tightening member attached to the outer periphery of the valve stem, for example, a nut, and the wheel is interposed between the fixing portion provided in the housing and the tightening member by the axial force. Is pinched. And the protrusion part currently formed in the surface of the fixing | fixed part can penetrate | invade easily into the inside of a wheel in that case, and can reach | attain a conductor part . For this reason, since the connection between the wheel side transmitter and the conductor of the wheel is also achieved by the operation of attaching the valve stem to the hole, the wheel information transmitter can be installed without reducing the workability of the wheel information transmitter to the wheel. Transmission performance can be improved.

The protrusion may have a gap with the outer periphery of the valve stem and may be formed along the longitudinal direction of the valve stem. Thereby, since a protrusion part penetrate | invades to the conductor part of the inside of the wheel in the position away from the inner peripheral surface of the hole covered with the coating film, the wheel information transmitting device and the conductive part of the wheel are more reliably Continuity is achieved.

  The projecting portion may have a tip formed obliquely so that the projecting amount decreases from the side closer to the valve stem toward the side farther from the side. As a result, even when a part of the operator's body, for example, a finger, touches the protruding portion when the wheel information transmitting device is attached to the wheel, it leaves the valve stem along the tip formed obliquely of the protruding portion. It becomes easy to move a finger toward the direction, and a decrease in workability due to the protruding portion can be suppressed.

  The fixing portion may be provided with a restricting portion that restricts a part of a human body from touching the protruding portion. The restricting portion may be provided outside the protruding portion. Usually, the finger of an operator who easily touches the protruding portion has a certain degree of curvature, so by restricting the movement of the finger in the vicinity of the protruding portion by the restricting portion provided outside the protruding portion, A space in which a finger cannot touch can be formed. Thereby, when attaching a wheel information transmitter to a wheel, it can control that a part of an operator's body, for example, a finger, touches a projection part accidentally.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the transmission performance of the apparatus which can transmit the wheel information relevant to a wheel can be improved.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a main part of a wheel to which a wheel information transmission device according to the present embodiment is attached. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main part in the vicinity of the rim to which the wheel information transmission device shown in FIG. 1 is attached. The wheel information transmitting apparatus according to the present embodiment is a TPMS valve 2 including a tire pressure monitoring system (hereinafter referred to as TPMS). As shown in FIG. 1, the TPMS valve 2 is attached to a rim 6a of a wheel 6 on which a tire 4 is mounted. More specifically, the TPMS valve 2 is attached to a hole 6b formed so as to penetrate from the inside of the wheel 6 toward the outside. The tire 4 and the wheel 6 constitute a wheel. Further, in the wheel 6, a conductor portion 6c made of a metal alloy such as aluminum, magnesium, or iron is covered with a coating film 6d such as a resin that is a non-conductor from the viewpoint of rust prevention or aesthetic appearance.

  The TPMS valve 2 according to the present embodiment includes a case 10 including a sensor and the like, and a valve portion 12 that is provided integrally with the case 10 and is attached to a hole 6 b formed in the wheel 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the case 10 houses a sensor body 11 therein. The sensor body 11 includes a sensor 14 that detects wheel information related to wheels such as the air pressure and temperature of the tire 4, and a wheel that transmits the detected wheel information as a signal including high-frequency radio waves to a receiving device provided in the vehicle body. Side transmission unit 16.

  The valve portion 12 has a structure capable of maintaining the pressure in the internal region 8 surrounded by the tire 4 and the wheel 6 higher than the outside of the wheel 6 and introducing gas from the outside into the internal region 8. More specifically, a check valve is provided inside a tubular valve stem 18 attached to the hole 6 b of the wheel 6. The check valve is opened when air is injected into the inner region 8 of the tire 4, but in a normal state, the check valve is closed by the pressure of the inner region 8 higher than the outside air. Can be maintained.

  The TPMS valve 2 according to the present embodiment includes a plate-like flange 20 as a fixing portion for fixing the case 10 to the wheel 6 between the case 10 and the valve portion 12. At least a part of the flange 20 is formed of a conductor. The flange 20 is attached to the case 10 and is electrically connected to the substrate 22 on which the sensor body 11 is placed.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the vicinity of the flange 20 pressed against the wheel 6. On the surface of the flange 20 on the side facing the wheel 6, a needle-like protrusion 24 that is a conductor is formed. When the case 24 is fixed to the wheel 6, the protruding portion 24 breaks the coating film 6 d and penetrates to the conductor portion 6 c by damaging the surface of the wheel 6. Here, the flange 20 and the protruding portion 24 function as a conduction portion that becomes a conduction path between the wheel-side transmission portion 16 and the wheel 6.

  As described above, the TPMS valve 2 according to the present embodiment has a non-conductive coating film 6d formed on the surface of the wheel 6 and the inside of the wheel 6 even when the surface of the wheel 6 is in a low conductive state. When the protruding portion 24 which is a part of the conductive portion enters the conductive portion 6c, the conductive portion 6c of the wheel 6 and the wheel-side transmitting portion 16 are stably connected. Therefore, the wheel-side transmitter 16 can use the wheel 6 as a highly reliable antenna during radio wave transmission even when the surface of the wheel 6 is in a low conductive state. As a result, the transmission performance of the TPMS valve 2 is improved.

  The valve stem 18 according to the present embodiment is a cylindrical member whose longitudinal direction is an air inflow path, and a thread 18a is formed on the outer periphery thereof. Then, a force for moving the valve stem 18 in the direction of the arrow A is generated by attaching and rotating the nut 26 having a thread groove formed on the inside to the outer periphery of the valve stem 18. Therefore, a force toward the rim 6a acts on the case 10 together with the valve stem 18, and the flange 20 provided between the case 10 and the rim 6a is pressed against the rim 6a. As a result, the wheel 6 is clamped between the nut 26 and the flange 20 by the axial force generated in the valve stem 18, whereby the TPMS valve 2 is fixed to the wheel 6.

  Therefore, the protrusion 24 formed on the surface of the flange 20 damages the surface of the wheel 6 and enters the wheel 6 when the case 10 is fixed to the wheel 6 via the flange 20, and therefore requires a special process. In addition, electrical connection between the wheel-side transmitter 16 and the conductor 6c of the wheel 6 is achieved without requiring a large force.

  Further, since the protrusion 24 according to the present embodiment has a gap with the outer periphery of the valve stem 18 and is formed along the longitudinal direction of the valve stem 18, the protrusion 24 protrudes without a gap with the outer periphery of the valve stem 18. Compared with the case where the portion is formed, the protruding portion 24 easily enters the inside of the wheel 6 with a smaller force. Moreover, since the protrusion part 24 penetrate | invades into the wheel 6 in the position away from the internal peripheral surface of the hole 6b covered with the coating film 6d, it is more reliable between the TPMS valve 2 and the conductor part 6c of the wheel 6. Conduction is achieved.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram schematically showing the position of the operator's finger with respect to the protruding portion according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4B is a side view of the flange 20 shown in FIG. The projecting portion 24 has a tip 24a formed obliquely so that the projecting amount decreases from the side closer to the far side from the outer periphery of the valve stem 18. Thus, when the TPMS valve 2 is attached to the wheel 6, even when a part of the operator's body, for example, a finger touches the protruding part 24, the valve is formed along the tip 24 a formed obliquely of the protruding part 24. A finger is easily moved in a direction away from the stem 18, and a decrease in workability due to the finger or the like being caught on the protruding portion 24 can be suppressed.

  In addition, the flange 20 is provided with a restricting portion 20 a that restricts a part of the human body from touching the protruding portion 24 on the outer peripheral side from the protruding portion 24. The finger of the operator who is most likely to touch the protruding portion 24 has a certain degree of curvature at the tip thereof. Therefore, the movement of the finger in the vicinity of the protruding portion 24 is provided by providing the restricting portion 20a outside the protruding portion 24. The finger is prevented from entering the vicinity of the protruding portion 24. That is, a space in which a finger cannot be touched can be formed larger. Then, by forming the protrusion 24 so as to fit in the space, when attaching the TPMS valve 2 to the wheel 6, a part of the operator's body, for example, a finger, may accidentally touch the protrusion 24. Can be suppressed.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the transmission performance of the TPMS valve 2 without deteriorating the workability when the TPMS valve 2 is attached to the wheel 6.

  As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the present invention can be appropriately combined or replaced with the configuration of the embodiment. It is included in the present invention. Various modifications such as design changes can be added to the embodiments based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and the embodiments to which such modifications are added can be included in the scope of the present invention. .

  The shape of the fixing portion applicable to the present invention is not limited to the disk shape described in the above embodiment, but may be appropriately selected in consideration of the shape of the wheel to be attached, such as an ellipse, a rectangle, or a polygon. Good.

It is sectional drawing which showed typically the principal part of the wheel with which the wheel information transmission apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment was attached. It is principal part sectional drawing of the rim | limb vicinity where the wheel information transmitter shown in FIG. 1 was attached. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the mode of the flange vicinity pressed on the wheel. (A) is the figure which showed typically the position of the operator's finger | toe with respect to the protrusion part which concerns on this Embodiment. (B) is a side view at the time of seeing the flange shown to (a) from the arrow B direction.

Explanation of symbols

  2 TPMS valve, 4 tire, 6 wheel, 6a rim, 6c conductor part, 6d coating film, 10 case, 11 sensor body, 12 valve part, 14 sensor, 16 wheel side transmission part, 18 valve stem, 20 flange, 20a regulation Part, 24 projecting part, 24a tip, 26 nut.

Claims (5)

A wheel information transmission device capable of transmitting wheel information related to a wheel,
A detection unit for detecting the wheel information;
A wheel side transmitter for transmitting a signal including the wheel information;
A conductive part that penetrates to the conductor part inside the wheel on which the tire is mounted, and is a conductive path between the wheel and the wheel side transmission part;
A housing that houses the detection unit and the wheel-side transmission unit;
A valve stem provided integrally with the housing and attached to a hole formed in the wheel; and
The conducting portion includes a fixing portion that is provided on the housing and fixes the housing to the wheel, and a protrusion that is formed on a surface of the fixing portion and penetrates to a conductor portion inside the wheel. And
The conduction part enters the conductor part inside the wheel when fixing the housing to the wheel, and becomes a conduction path between the wheel and the wheel side transmission part,
The protruding portion penetrates to a conductor portion inside the wheel when the wheel is clamped between the fastening member and the fixing portion by rotation of a fastening member attached to the outer periphery of the valve stem. The wheel information transmitter characterized by the above. The wheel information transmitting device according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion has an outer periphery and a gap of the valve stem and is formed along a longitudinal direction of the valve stem. The wheel information transmitting device according to claim 2 , wherein a tip of the protruding portion is formed obliquely so that a protruding amount decreases from a side closer to the valve stem toward a side farther from the valve stem. The wheel information transmitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the fixing portion is provided with a restricting portion that restricts a part of a human body from touching the protruding portion. The wheel information transmitting device according to claim 4 , wherein the restricting portion is provided outside the projecting portion.

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