Vehicle abnormality detection method and device thereof and sensor unit thereof

a vehicle abnormality detection device detecting an abnormality of at least one of a vehicle bearing mechanism section or a vehicle brake mechanism section in a vehicle provided with a tire including a tire wheel and a tire body mounted in the tire wheel, the device characterized by comprising:

• a sensor unit having a sensor housing and comprising in said housing:
• a first temperature sensing element sensing as a first temperature any one of an air temperature within tire and a tire body temperature;
• a second temperature sensing element sensing as a second temperature a temperature related to at least one of a temperature of the vehicle bearing mechanism section and a temperature of the vehicle brake mechanism section, characterized in that the second temperature sensing element is arranged to sense a temperature of tire wheel as the second temperature;
• means for calculating a temperature difference between the first and second temperatures;
• and
• means for determining, upon the temperature difference being a predetermined value or more, that an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle bearing mechanism section or the vehicle brake mechanism section and thereby detecting the abnormality.

a sensor unit used in a vehicle abnormality detection device detecting an abnormality of at least one of a vehicle bearing mechanism section or a vehicle brake mechanism section based on the difference between a first temperature and a second temperature being a predetermined value or more in a vehicle provided with a tire including a tire wheel and a tire body mounted in the tire wheel, the sensor unit characterized by comprising:

• a housing capable of being mounted in an inner side of a tire air chamber of the tire wheel and having an opening communicating the inner side of the tire air chamber with the first temperature sensing element and heat transfer means for transferring heat of the tire wheel to the second temperature sensing element;
• the first temperature sensing element arranged in the housing and sensing as the first temperature any one of an air temperature within tire and a temperature of the tire body;
• the second temperature sensing element arranged in the housing and sensing as the second temperature a temperature related to at least one of a temperature of the vehicle bearing mechanism section and a temperature of the vehicle brake mechanism section, characterized in that the second temperature sensing element is arranged to sense a temperature of tire wheel as the second temperature;
• and
• means arranged in the housing for converting into a signal, information on first temperature sensed by the first temperature sensing element and information on second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensing element and for transmitting the signal.