Thermally activated power supply for sensor system
AssigneeMeritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
InventorChristos T. Kyrtsos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor system includes a housing that houses a thermally sensitive sensor, a transmitter portion and a power source. Preferably, the sensor device is encapsulated to protect the components from the environment. The transmitter generates a signal in response to the sensor detecting a temperature in a vehicle component that exceeds a predetermined temperature. A receiver is located remotely from the transmitter to receive the signal. The power supply generates electricity when the temperature of the vehicle component achieves an initial threshold temperature that is less than the predetermined temperature.
Claims34
A sensor system for determining the temperature of a vehicle component, comprising:
- a housing;
- a sensor assembly supported by said housing for generating a signal responsive to said sensor assembly detecting a temperature in the vehicle component that exceeds a predetermined temperature;
- and
- a power supply supported by said housing for providing power to said sensor assembly wherein said power supply becomes operational when the temperature of the vehicle component achieves an initial threshold temperature that is less than said predetermined temperature.
A sensor system for determining the temperature of a u-joint assembly in a vehicle driveline, comprising:
- a housing mounted to a u-joint;
- a temperature sensor supported by said housing;
- a transmitter supported by said housing for generating a signal responsive to said sensor detecting a temperature in said u-joint that exceeds a predetermined temperature;
- a receiver located remotely from said transmitter to receive said signal;
- and
- a power supply supported by said housing for providing power to said transmitter.
A method for determining temperature of a vehicle component comprising the steps of:
- (a) mounting a sensor assembly to a vehicle component;
- (b) activating a power supply to power the sensor assembly when the component operating temperature exceeds an initial threshold temperature;
- and
- (c) generating a signal responsive to the sensor assembly detecting a temperature in the vehicle component that exceeds a predetermined temperature that is greater than the initial threshold temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.