Patent ID: 9649889
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: B60C,G01S,Y10T

Claim:
1. A vehicle tire and tread wear device assembly comprising: a tire having a radially outward plurality of tread elements; at least one tread element projecting from the base of the tread and having a defined tread depth; a tread wear indicator having an elongate indicator body embedded within the one tread element, the indicator body extending radially outward to an end surface offset a radial distance from a ground engaging surface of the one tread element; the indicator body having at least one sensor element; power generating means for supplying operational electrical power to the at least one sensor element; communication means for transmitting a data signal from the at least one sensor element indicative of a radial wear level of the one tread element; wherein the electric power is supplied by a built-in electromechanical or thermo mechanical energy harvester; wherein the electrical parameter change is communicated by the communication means to a remote radio frequency receiver; wherein the indicator body is substantially centered within the one tread element and is substantially in a tubular shape having a longitudinal, radially extending axis; wherein the at least one sensor element is located radially outward from the power generating means within the tubular shape of the indicator body; wherein the power generating means is located radially outward from the communications means within the tubular shape of the indicator body; and wherein the power generating means comprises energy harvesting means for operably harvesting energy from the tire as the tire rolls against a ground surface.