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US 8,939,020 B2Granted
Spherical monitoring device for pneumatic tires
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsGene A. Townsend, Gregory J. Parsons, David R. Meinhold, Joseph J. Every
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims26
A monitoring device for use inside a pneumatic tire, the monitoring device comprising:
- a sensor unit;
- an encapsulant surrounding said sensor unit;
- and
- a spherical shell formed by combining hemispherical halves, the spherical shell comprising:
- a vent;
- a vent guard, wherein the vent guard is in the form of a cantilever shape formed into at least one portion of at least one of the hemispherical halves and extending over the vent;
- and
- wherein said spherical shell surrounds said encapsulant.
5 more elements
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 the vent guard is in the form of a cantilever shape formed into at least one portion of at least one of the hemispherical halves;
- and
- wherein said spherical shell surrounds said encapsulant.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.