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US 9,278,585 B2Granted
System and method for using a lightweight spare tire
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsWilliam R. Rodgers, Hamid G. Kia, Mark W. Verbrugge, Michael J. Irwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lightweight spare tire system. The lightweight spare tire system includes a carbon fiber composite vehicle rim that is suitable for use with a spare tire and a lightweight tire that is suitable for use with the carbon fiber composite rim. The lightweight tire and rim creates a lightweight spare wheel that may be used on a vehicle.
Claims19
A spare wheel system, said system comprising:
- a carbon fiber composite vehicle rim suitable for use with a spare tire;
- a lightweight tire that is suitable for use with the carbon fiber composite rim, said lightweight tire and said rim creating a lightweight spare wheel that may be used on a vehicle;
- a plurality of sensors, wherein a sensor is associated with each wheel that is in use on the vehicle, each sensor monitoring the rotational speed of the wheel that the sensor is associated with;
- and
- a controller, said controller programmed to receive signals from the sensors, said controller further programmed to determine whether the spare wheel is being used based on the signals from the sensors and to track a distance driven using the spare wheel, wherein each of the sensors provides a signal only when the wheel that the sensor is associated with is in use.
2 more elements
A method for using a spare wheel, said method comprising:
- providing a carbon fiber composite vehicle rim that is suitable for use with a spare tire;
- providing a lightweight tire that is suitable for use with the carbon fiber composite rim, said lightweight tire and said rim creating a lightweight spare wheel that may be used on a vehicle;
- providing a sensor, said sensor embedded in the lightweight tire, said sensor sending a signal when the spare wheel is in use;
- and
- providing a controller, said controller programmed to the receive signal from the sensor to determine the use of the spare wheel, wherein the sensor provides a signal only when the spare wheel is in use.
2 more elements
A lightweight spare tire system, said system comprising:
- a carbon fiber composite vehicle rim suitable for use with a spare tire;
- a lightweight tire that is suitable for use with the carbon fiber composite rim, said lightweight tire and said rim creating a lightweight spare wheel that may be used on a vehicle;
- and
- at least one sensor, said sensor monitoring the rotational speed of the wheel that the sensor is associated with, and a controller, said controller receiving signals from the sensor, said controller programmed to determine if the spare wheel is being used based on the signals provided from the sensor, wherein the at least one sensor provides a signal only when the wheel that the sensor is associated with is in use.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.