Patent ID: 11915530
Assignee: CONSOLIDATED METCO, INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  H  B | IPC B  G  H

Claim 17:
18. A wheel end monitoring apparatus for a vehicle, the wheel end monitoring apparatus comprising:
a wheel hub having a mounting portion;
a plurality of studs of the wheel hub projecting from the mounting portion to mount a wheel rim to the wheel hub;
a plurality of nuts of the wheel hub configured to threadingly engage the studs and clamp the wheel rim and wheel hub mounting portion together;
a power source of the wheel hub and rotatable therewith;
a plurality of sensors of the studs operably coupled to the power source, the sensors configured to detect at least one property of the studs indicative of the clamping of the wheel rim and wheel hub; and
communication circuitry of the wheel hub operably coupled to the power source and sensors, the communication circuitry configured to communicate data associated with the at least one property to an external device;
wherein each of the studs comprises:
a head portion;
a shank portion configured to elongate upon tensioning of the stud;
an internal compartment; and
a displacement member in the internal compartment, the displacement member shifting relative to the head portion upon tensioning of the stud;

wherein the sensors include a capacitive sensor of each of the studs, the capacitive sensor in the internal compartment of the stud and configured to detect a capacitance between the capacitive sensor and the displacement member, the capacitance changing as the displacement member shifts with tensioning of the stud.