# US 2014/0150542 A1 · Spherical monitoring device for pneumatic tires > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150542 A1 - Document ID: US20140150542A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,214 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Gene A. Townsend; Gregory J. Parsons; David R. Meinhold; Joseph J. Every - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150542A1 ## CPC - G01M 17/02: Tyres - B60C 23/0491: {Constructional details of means for attaching the control device} - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES ## Abstract A monitoring device and system for monitoring the conditions inside a pneumatic tire are disclosed. The monitoring device includes a sensor unit, a shell, and an encapsulant. The monitoring device is designed to roll on the inside of a tire or to float on a liquid inside of a tire. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A monitoring device for use inside a pneumatic tire, the monitoring device comprising: a sensor unit; an encapsulant surrounding said sensor unit; a spherical shell formed by combining hemispherical halves, the spherical shell comprising: a vent; a vent guard; wherein said spherical shell surrounds said encapsulant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein the vent is liquid-proof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein a vent guard is integrated into said shell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein said hemispherical halves are identical. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein said spherical shell further comprises a drain port. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein said spherical shell further comprises a means to direct liquid away from said vent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein said hemispherical halves are joined via complimentary features. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein said monitoring device has a specific gravity of less than one. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein said spherical shell comprises two vents located on opposite sides of the monitoring device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The monitoring device in claim 9, wherein said shell is made from a predetermined material; and mass is configured in said hemispherical halves such that an axis of rotation of the monitoring device aligns substantially with an axis extending through the two vent guards. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The monitoring device in claim 10, wherein said mass is in the form of additional shell material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The monitoring device in claim 10, wherein said mass is in the form of additional material denser than said shell material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein said encapsulant is made of an open-cell foam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein said foam encapsulant includes channels for conducting ambient conditions to the sensor unit. ### Claim 15 A system for monitoring conditions inside a pneumatic tire, the system comprising: a vehicle control system in communication with a receiver unit; the receiver unit configured to communicate with a monitoring device; the monitoring device comprising: a sensor unit; an encapsulant surrounding said sensor unit; a spherical shell formed by combining hemispherical halves, the spherical shell comprising: a vent; a vent guard; wherein said spherical shell surrounds said encapsulant. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The monitoring device in claim 15, wherein the vent is liquid-proof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The monitoring device in claim 15, wherein a vent guard is integrated into said shell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The monitoring device in claim 15, wherein said hemispherical halves are identical. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The monitoring device in claim 15, wherein said spherical shell further comprises a drain port. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The monitoring device in claim 15, wherein said spherical shell further comprises a means to direct liquid away from said vent. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The monitoring device in claim 15, wherein said hemispherical halves are joined via complimentary features. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The monitoring device in claim 15, wherein said monitoring device has a specific gravity of less than one. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The monitoring device in claim 15, wherein said spherical shell comprises two vents located on opposite sides of the monitoring device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The monitoring device in claim 23, wherein said shell is made from a predetermined material; and mass is configured in said hemispherical halves such that an axis of rotation of the monitoring device aligns substantially with an axis extending through the two vent guards. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The monitoring device in claim 24, wherein said mass is in the form of additional shell material. ### Claim 26 (depends on 10) The monitoring device in claim 10, wherein said mass is in the form of additional material denser than said shell material. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein said encapsulant is made of an open-cell foam. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The monitoring device in claim 1, wherein said foam encapsulant includes channels for conducting ambient conditions to the sensor unit.