Apparatus for detecting potential tire failure
OwnerD. Scott Watkinsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tire failure detector (10) in which at least one receiver (42) mounted in a housing (12) generates a signal representative of a thermal characteristic of a portion of a tire (18) sensed by the receiver (42). A processor (46) detects an abnormal signal carried by a carrier (44) from the receiver (42) and communicates the abnormal signal to a display (50) which presents at least an image representative of the detected abnormal signal to notify an observer of the abnormal signal detected. A cover (22) inside the housing (12) protects the receiver (42) from debris, while a nozzle (32) communicates through a tube (34) a supply of a pressurized fluid (38) for cleaning debris from the cover (22).
Claims25
A tire failure detector, comprising:
- a receiver mounted in a housing adapted for being attached to a portion of a motor vehicle for generating a signal representative of a thermal characteristic of a portion of a tire sensed by the receiver;
- a cover disposed at a first end of the housing protecting the receiver from debris;
- a processor for detecting an abnormal signal connected by a carrier to the receiver for communicating the signal therefrom;
- and
- a display operated by the processor for presenting at least an image representative of the detected abnormal signal;
- whereby an observer, detecting the display of an abnormal signal, attends to the condition causing the abnormal signal.
The tire failure detector as recited in claim wherein the housing defines an elongate barrel open at a distal end thereof, the cover disposed remote therefrom for imaging through the barrel.
A tire failure detector, comprising:
- at least one thermal receiver mounted in a housing having an elongate barrel defining a thermal communicating field for the thermal receiver which generates a signal representative of a thermal characteristic of a portion of a tire sensed by the receiver, the housing adapted for being attached to a portion of a motor vehicle;
- a transparent cover disposed at a first end of the housing protecting the receiver from debris;
- a supply of a pressurized fluid;
- a nozzle mounted relative to the housing for spraying a stream of the pressurized fluid therein;
- a tube connecting the supply of the pressurized fluid to the nozzle;
- whereby the nozzle communicates the pressurized fluid for cleaning debris from the cover.
- a processor for detecting an abnormal signal connected by a carrier to the receiver for communicating the signal therefrom;
- and
- a display operated by the processor for presenting at least an image representative of the detected abnormal signal;
- whereby an observer, detecting the display of an abnormal signal, attends to the condition causing the abnormal signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.