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US 2022/0332153 A1Published application
Ball and socket articulating tpm sensor
AssigneeSensata Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMICHAEL D. WESTON, THOMAS J. O’BRIEN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tire monitoring apparatus comprises a sensor housing having a connection part integrated with the sensor housing, the connection part having an elongated opening and a corresponding mounting feature in a wheel rim, wherein a screw extends through the elongated opening and connects with the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, thereby when the screw is not tightened fully, the sensor housing can be rotated with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, and when the screw is tightened fully, the sensor housing is secured in place and does not rotate with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim.
Claims16
A tire pressure monitoring device, comprising:
- a sensor housing comprising an outer casing that defines an internal space, wherein the sensor housing includes a top surface and a bottom surface;
- extending from and beyond the bottom surface are at least two foot portions, the at least two foot portions being proximate to a first edge of the sensor housing;
- a pressure sensor device located at least partially inside the internal space and communicatively connected to an area outside of the sensor housing, to measure pressure in an area outside of the housing;
- a signal transmitter that interfaces with the pressure sensor and relays an electromagnetic signal that represents detected pressure outside of the sensor housing, the signal being detectable by a receiver that is remote from the sensor housing;
- a connection part integrated with the sensor housing, the connection part being located proximate to a second edge of the housing that is opposite to the first edge, and that is distal from the at least two foot portions;
- the connection part comprising a concave portion facing internally toward a recessed portion of the sensor housing, the concave portion having an elongated opening defined therein that extends at least partially in a direction perpendicular to the second edge;
- the connection part has a convex valve mating surface that is external and faces outward away from the sensor housing, and forms a convex shape;
- a valve base is formed of a tubular body extending in a direction, has an internal annulus that extends therethrough defining an inner passageway that is at least partially threaded, and a head portion that is located at an end of the valve base and forms a flat circular shaped top surface with the annulus extending therethrough;
- a ball head screw comprises an elongated tubular body having an annulus defined therethrough, and a threaded portion on the outer surface, the threaded portion extending from a location proximate one end of the elongated tubular body to a head portion of the ball head screw, the head portion comprising a curved convex face that faces the threaded portion, wherein the threaded portion is adapted to mate with the internal threaded portion inside the valve base, and the curved convex face of the ball head screw is adapted to mate with the concave surface of the connection part, wherein when the ball head screw is mated with the threaded portion of the valve base, and the convex valve mating surface is held against the flat circular shaped surface of the valve base, and deters rotation of the sensor housing with respect to the valve base.
6 more elements
A tire monitoring apparatus comprising:
- a sensor housing having a pressure sensor therein;
- and
- a connection part integrated with the sensor housing, the connection part comprising an external mating surface that is convex in shape, an internal concave surface facing toward a recessed portion of the sensor housing surface;
- the connection part defining therein a slot that extends through the connection part from the concave surface through to the convex surface, and is elongated so that a screw with a head portion and a threaded body portion can extend through the slot so that the head of the screw is larger than the narrowest width of the slot and is held on the concave side of the connection part while the threaded body portion extends through the slot and protrudes beyond the convex surface of the connection part,
- the slot is adapted to allow for travel of the screw along a lengthwise direction of the slot while the screw remains substantially perpendicular to the concave surface and the head of the screw remains in contact with the concave surface, thereby allowing for rotation of the sensor housing with respect to the screw while maintaining contact between the screw head and the concave surface,
- wherein the screw is configured to couple to a tire valve to maintain the sensor housing at an angle with respect to a tire valve, by way of tightening the screw into a threaded connection with the tire valve.
3 more elements
A tire monitoring apparatus comprising:
- a sensor housing having
- a connection part integrated with the sensor housing, the connection part having an elongated opening, and
- a corresponding mounting feature in a wheel rim;
- wherein a screw extends through the elongated opening and connects with the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, thereby when the screw is not tightened fully the sensor housing can be rotated with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, and when the screw is tightened fully the sensor housing is secured in place and does not rotate with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.