Pump system and motorized vehicle

A pump system for inflating a tire of a motorized vehicle, comprises a pump unit. The pump unit has an outlet connectable to an inlet of the tire, for providing a fluid to the inside of the tire. A communication interface is communicatively connectable to a tire pressure monitoring system, TPMS, in the vehicle, for receiving from the TPMS data representing information for controlling the providing of fluid to the tire. A pump controller is connected to the pump unit and to the communication interface and can control the pump unit based on at least the information.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a pump system and a motorized vehicle

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pump systems for inflating tyre of motorized vehicles are known in the art. For example, British patent application publication GB 2 299 380 A1 discloses a vehicle compressor comprising an electronically operated compressor driven by a motor arranged to be connected to the vehicle's electrical supply, output supply means from the compressor for attachment to a vehicle tyre to inflate the tyre, pressure release valve means subject to the output pressure from the compressor comprising a moveable valve urged by resilient means against a valve seat, a housing defining an enclosure into which air from the pressure release valve releases; means for adjusting the pressure at which the release valve means release comprising a rotary knob mounted so as to be rotatably movable over a planar surface of the housing which carries a pressure—calibrated scale; and means for detecting the release of air into the enclosure and de-energising the motor.

With such an arrangement, the user can pre-set a desired inflating pressure by means of the rotary knob; the pressure can be readily set by aligning an appropriate part of the knob with the desired pressure on the calibrated scale. Once this desired pressure is reached, the device will automatically stop at this point.

However, a disadvantage is that this requires actions and knowledge from the user, since the user needs to needs to know the target value for the pressure, which is generally unknown and has to be looked up, for example on a look-up table provided on a vehicle, and set the desired pressure correctly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pump system and a motorized vehicle as described in the accompanying claims.

Specific embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Because the illustrated embodiments of the present invention may for the most part, be implemented using electronic components and circuits known to those skilled in the art, details will not be explained in any greater extent than that considered necessary for the understanding and appreciation of the underlying concepts of the present invention and in order not to obfuscate or distract from the teachings of the present invention.

Referring to the example ofFIG. 1, a pump system30for inflating a tyre of a motorized vehicle is shown therein, together with a part of a motorized vehicle101.

The shown motorized vehicle101is an automobile, but the motorized vehicle may alternatively be a motorbike, an aeroplane undercarriage, straddle-lift carrier, forklift or another type of motorized vehicle. The vehicle101comprises a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)130for monitoring a pressure of one, or more than one, tyre105,107,109,111of the vehicle101and outputting, in a for humans perceptible form, a warning when the pressure is outside a predetermine range. A Tire Pressure Monitoring System, sometimes referred to as a Tire Pressure Indication System (TPIS), is generally an in-vehicle electronic system which, when in operation, monitors the pressure inside the tires. The TPMS may for example be controlled to be in operation when the engine of the vehicle is running and to be inactive when the engine is not running. The TPMS provides information about the actual tire pressure, in a for humans perceptible form, to the driver of the vehicle, for example via a gauge, a pictogram display, or a low pressure indicator on the dashboard of the vehicle. The TPMS may for example be a direct TPMS, where the tyres comprise physical pressure sensors inside the tire and a data processing unit which processes and sends that information from the tire to a central controller system. Alternatively, the TPMS130may for example be a so called indirect TPMS, which does not use physical pressure sensors inside the tyres but measures parameters outside the tyre from which the pressure can be derived, such as the “apparent” air pressure, individual wheel rotational speeds, and other signals available outside the tire itself.

In the shown examples, and as explained below in more detail, the TPMS can comprise a tyre pressure monitoring module135and one, or more than one, tyre pressure sensor module125,127,129,131. As shown, the tyre pressure monitoring module135is communicatively connected to the tyre pressure sensor modules125,127,129,131. The tyre pressure sensor modules125,127,129,131are arranged to sense one, or more than one, parameter representative of a pressure in a respective tyre105,107,109,111. In the shown example, the sensors are presumed to measure both the pressure and the temperature in the air-chamber of the tyre. The tyre pressure monitoring module135is arranged to determine whether or not the pressure in the tyre105,107,109,111is sufficient based on at least the sensed parameter.

As shown, the pump system30is an off-vehicle system, outside the vehicle101. The pump system30may for example be a pump system in a residential garage or a repair shop, and for instance be stationary, e.g. be fixated to the ground. As shown inFIG. 1, the pump system30may comprise a communication interface301, a pump controller302, and a pump unit303.

In the shown example, the pump unit303has an outlet307which is connectable to an inlet190of a fluid tight chamber of a tyre105,107,109,111of the motorized vehicle. The inlet190may for example comprise a tyre valve or a nozzle in order to allow fluid being inserted in the chamber, while preventing the fluid from flowing out of the chamber. When the outlet307is properly connected to the inlet190a fluid duct is formed between the pump unit303and the chamber, which allows the pump unit303to provide a fluid to the inside of the tyre and thereby inflate the tyre. Although further details are not shown in the example nor described herein below, it will be appreciated that the pump unit303may be implemented in any manner suitable for the specific implementation, and for example comprise a valve at the outlet307and an actuator, such as an electronic or manual actuator, which can actuate the valve to open and close the outlet, as well as other mechanical or electrical components which are commonly used in tyre inflators.

As shown inFIG. 1, the communication interface301of the pump system30may be communicatively connectable to a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)130in the vehicle. In the shown example, a wireless connection can be established between the communication interface301and the TPMS via an antenna300in the pump system30. InFIG. 1, as explained in more detail with reference toFIGS. 4-6, the TPMS130comprises a communication interface136communicatively connectable to the pump system30, via which data representing information for controlling the provision of fluid to the pump system30can be transmitted. The communication interfaces136,301may for example allow a two-way communication between the pump system30and the TMPS130. The communication interface301can, when communicatively connected to the TPMS130, for example transmit a request to the TPMS for data and receive from the TPMS the data.

Alternatively. the communication interfaces136,301may for example allow a one-way communication between the pump system30and the TMPS130. For example, the communication301can, when communicatively connected to the TPMS130, for example transmit a request to the TPMS to put the TPMS in inflating mode during which the TPMS outputs information about the pressure and/or the inflating in a for humans perceptible form, for example by outputting respective sounds indicating that the inflating may be started, that the pressure is too high or too low. However, the TMPS may switch into inflating mode in response to otherwise determining an availability of a pump system. In the example ofFIG. 1, the communication interface301is shown connected to a tyre pressure monitoring module135of the TPMS130and can receive data generated by the tyre pressure monitoring module135, such as start/stop instructions or other information derived by the tyre pressure monitoring module135from the sensor data, e.g. without being connected to the sensor modules. Accordingly, the pump unit30may use the intelligence present in the tyre pressure monitoring module135, without requiring extensive data processing capabilities.

However, as shown inFIG. 2, the communication interface301may alternatively or in addition be communicatively connectable to the tyre pressure sensor module125,127,129,131of the TPMS130, and receive data generated by the sensor modules, e.g. without being connected to the tyre pressure monitoring module135. Thereby, for example, calculations specific for a pump unit may be performed using the sensed parameter(s) and, as shown, the pump unit30may comprise a suitably configured data processor309, e.g. connected to the interface301and the controller302to perform the calculations and to send instructions to the controller302which are based on the performed calculations.

The information may be any type of information suitable to control inflating the tyre to a desired pressure. The information may for example be information about a desired pressure of the tyre, and/or a pressure of the tyre (or another parameter related to the pressure, such as the temperature) observed by the TPMS130or simply an indication that the pump system30has to start or stop inflating the tyre. Thus, the pump system30may be relatively user friendly since it can be implemented such that less actions or knowledge may be required from the user to operate. For example, the system can be implemented such that the user does not need to memorise, look or set the desired pressure. Also, when the pump system receives from the TPMS130start and stop commands generated by the TPMS130based a comparison between the pressure observed in the tyre and a predetermined target value for the pressure, the system can be implemented such that the pump system can inflate the tyre to the desired pressure without requiring input from the user (after the user has connected the outlet307to the inlet190of the tyre).

In addition, the tyre can be inflated to a more suitable pressure, for example by setting the target pressure depending on the actual conditions in the tyre or the motorized vehicle. For example, the target value for the pressure may be determined by adjusting a predetermine theoretical target value for the temperature inside the tyre and/or the load bearing on the vehicle, as is explained below in more detail with reference toFIG. 6.

The pump controller302may, as in the shown example, be connected to the pump unit303and to the communication interface301. The pump controller302, when in operation, controls the pump unit based on at least the information, as is explained below in more detail with reference to the example ofFIG. 3. The pump controller302may use additional information as well, such as for example information provided by one or more sensor308in the pump system30, e.g. which detects the presence of the connection, or provided by a user of the pump system.

The pump controller302may control the operation of the pump unit303in any manner suitable for the specific implementation. For example, the pump controller302may, when in operation, control the pump unit303to start providing the fluid in response to the communication interface301receiving a start instruction, and stop providing the fluid in response to the communication interface301receiving a stop instruction. For instance, in the example ofFIG. 1, the pump unit303comprises a compressor305and a valve306and the pump controller302may be connected to respective control inputs3050,3060of the compressor305and the valve306, via which the operation of the compressor305and the valve306can be controlled. In the shown example, the compressor305is connected to an fluid intake303upstream of the compressor305in order to receive a fluid to be compressed, e.g. air, and is connected to the outlet307downstream of the compressor305, in order to provide a compressed fluid, e.g. compressed air. The valve306is positioned between the compressor305and the outlet307, and can open or close the flow path between the compressor305and the outlet307.

The pump controller302may for example be arranged to open the valve306in response to receiving a start instruction and to close the valve306in response to a stop instruction. The pump controller302may start the compressor305in response to a detection of the connection between the outlet307and the inlet190and stop the compressor in response to detecting that the connection is broken. It will be apparent that the pump controller302may control the operation of the pump unit303in another manner.

Referring to the example ofFIG. 3, the pump system30may comprise a detector308for detecting whether or not a coupling between the outlet307of the pump unit303and the inlet190of the tyre105,107,109,111is established. The detector308may for example be a button or other manual input which can be used by a user to indicate that the user has established a connection. The detector may also be another type of detector, which can detect the coupling without human interference. Suitable detectors are known in the art and for the sake of brevity not described in further detail. As shown inFIG. 3, the detector308may sense a parameter of the outlet307, such as the instantaneous pressure or the change of the pressure over time. The shown pump controller302comprises an AND gate3021connected with an input to the detector308. The AND gate is further connected with another input to the communication interface301, and more specific the AND gate is connected with the other input to the output of a logic unit3020which is connected with an input to the communication interface301.

The detector308asserts the output when a coupling is detected and negates the output otherwise. In the shown examples, in response to the detection, the logic unit3020may output, via the communication interface301an information request to the TPMS130. Alternatively, the logic unit3020may transmit the information request to the TPMS in response to an activation signal, such as manually generated by a user, e.g. by pushing a button, or automatically generated when a vehicle comes within a perimeter around the pump system.

In response to the information request the TPMS130determines whether inflating can be started and, if so, transmits to the pump system30the information or another start instruction which indicates to the pump system30that inflating can be started.

The logic unit3020asserts the output thereof in response to receiving a start instruction from the TPMS via the communication interface and negates the output in response to receiving a stop instruction from the TPMS or when no communication with a TMPS is present. The AND gate asserts the output of the AND gate when both the inputs are asserted, i.e. in this example when both the detector308and the logic unit3020assert their respective output, and negates the output of the AND gate otherwise. Thus, when both a coupling is detected and a start instruction is received from the TPMS, the AND gate asserts its output.

As shown inFIG. 3, the AND gate3021is connected to a driver unit3022which outputs suitable control signals to the pump unit305and the valve306, in order to have the pump unit305in operating mode and the valve open when the AND gate asserts its output, while having the valve closed, and optionally the pump unit305in non-operating mode, when the AND gate negates its output.

In addition or alternatively to using the information provided by the detector308as an input for controlling the operation of the pump controller, the pump controller302may output, via the communication interface301, a pump available signal to the TPMS130in response to the detector detecting that the coupling is established.

In addition, the pump controller302may output other information to the TPMS130, such as information required to establish a two-way communication connection between the TPMS130and the pump controller302, such as receipt acknowledged message and status information about the pump unit30. When the pump unit30is arranged to transmit information, the TPMS130can derive additional information therefrom, and for example determine that a tyre is flat if the pressure does not increase, e.g. with a certain rate or to a certain level, after the TPMS has been informed by the pump unit30that inflating the tyre has started. The additional information may for example be outputted to the user, such as for example via a gauge, a pictogram display, or a low pressure or flat tyre indicator on the dashboard of the vehicle.

Referring to the example ofFIG. 4, the example of a motorized vehicle101shown therein is a car with a motor103, but may be one of another type of motorized vehicle e.g. trucks, semi trailers, SUVs, motorcycle, busses, electric vehicles, and airplanes in other embodiments.

Vehicle101is supported by four wheels105,107,109, and111. It will be apparent that the vehicle may have more or less wheels, e.g. when the vehicle is a motorbike there may be two or three wheels and if the vehicle is a truck more than four wheels may be present.

The wheel each comprise a rim115,117,119,121on which a tire116,118,120,122is mounted. Each wheel of vehicle101comprises a tire pressure sensor module125,127,129,131, which in the embodiment shown is mounted to a portion of the rim of the wheel that is exposed to the internal pressurized side of the tire. The TMPS may for example be implemented as described in International Patent application publication WO2005106422 A1, incorporated herein by reference.

The shown tire pressure sensor modules each comprise a pressure sensor for measuring the air pressure of the tire. The tire pressure sensor modules125,127,129,131also comprise an antenna for transmitting the pressure information to a tyre pressure monitoring module135, in this example implemented as a central controller system. In the shown example, the tyre pressure monitoring module135is mounted in instrument panel139of the vehicle101. The tire pressure sensor module125,127,129,131may comprise further (not shown) components, such as a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the tire. With such systems, the pressure readings may be compensated for temperature effects. With some systems, temperature may be measured at a slower interval than pressure.

Tyre pressure monitoring module135comprises an antenna and a receiver (not shown) via which communication with the tire pressure sensor module125,127,129,131can be established. The tyre pressure monitoring module135evaluates the information, e.g. the sensed pressure and temperature, received from the tire pressure sensor modules125,127,129,131. If the tire pressure (temperature compensated in some embodiments) of any of wheels105,107,109,111, is below a certain threshold, tyre pressure monitoring module135activates an indication (e.g. dash board light137) that the tire pressure is below the threshold.

FIG. 5is a circuit diagram of an example of a tire pressure sensor module201. The shown tire pressure sensor module comprises a motion sensor205, a motion detector circuit207, a pressure controller211, an oscillator209, a battery225, a pressure sensor219, a pressure measuring circuit217, a temperature measuring circuit213, a temperature sensor215, an RF transmitter218, and an antenna221.

The pressure measuring circuit217provides, in response to a sample signal provided by the controller211, a signal to controller211indicative of the pressure as measured by pressure sensor219. Also, in response to a sample signal provided to temperature measuring circuit213, temperature measuring circuit213provides a signal to controller211indicative of the temperature as measured by temperature sensor215. In the embodiment shown, the output signals of pressure sensor219and temperature sensor215have voltage levels dependent upon the parameters being measured, which are converted by the measurement circuits213,217in a digital value representing the measured parameter.

When in operation, the tire pressure sensor module201transmits via RF transmitter218and antenna221an indication of the tire pressure and tire temperature to a central controller system (e.g. tyre pressure monitoring module135). In this example, the rate at which the indications of pressure and temperature are provided to controller211and transmitted to the central controller system are dependent upon what mode (e.g. motion or park) tire pressure sensor module201is operating. To determine whether tire pressure sensor module201should be in a motion mode and to transmit the indication or in a park mode, in which no transmission or at a lower rate takes place, tire pressure sensor module201comprises a motion sensor205for sensing vibration, angular acceleration or anyother physical disturbance caused by a wheel rotating over a surface. The motion detector circuit207uses the output of motion sensor205to provide a signal that is indicative of wheel rotation to the controller211. Based on the signal provided by the motion detector circuit, the controller211determines and controls the mode the sensor module is in.

The shown example comprises a coil221which forms part of the communication interface136. Via the coil221the information request from the pump system30may be received, e.g. in the form of a low-frequency, LF, signal emitted by a suitable LF transmitter in the pump system30. In response to the information request, the tire pressure sensor module201switches into inflating mode, in which the measurements are performed at a rate suitable to control the inflating of the tyre, A suitable rate is found to be at least several times per second, although other rates may be used as well. The inflating mode rate may be different from the rate during the normal modes of the TPMS, e.g. in this example the rate during the park mode and the motion mode, in which the rate may be once every 10-30 minutes or even lower, although other rates may be used as well. In the example ofFIG. 2, the transmitted information may be received directly by the pump30, in which a pressure controller, for instance as shown inFIG. 6, may then e.g. determine the target pressure using the requested information as well as information about the vehicle type or type of TPMS system, which may be obtained for example prior to sending the request. For example, the user may have been prompted to enter the vehicle type or type of TPMS system or the pump system may have performed a series of probing checks on the TPMS to determine the type.

Referring toFIG. 6, an example of a pressure controller1350for determining the desired value for the tyre pressure is shown therein. The pressure controller1350may for example be part of the tyre pressure monitoring module135or of another part of the motorized vehicle or the pump system. The pressure controller1350comprises a memory1353, a calculator1354and a comparator1355.

The pressure controller1350is arranged to determine said desired value based on at least said temperature and said predetermined theoretical target value. The shown example uses temperature and pressure, or parameters from which those can be derived for the determination, as may for example be provided by the example ofFIG. 5. The shown example comprises a data input1352for receiving information about a current temperature T1in said tyre (105,107,109,111). At a second input a predetermined theoretical target value Preffor the pressure may be received. In the shown example, the predetermined theoretical target value Prefis shown stored in a memory1353of the pressure controller1350, alternatively the predetermined theoretical target value Prefmay be received from outside the pressure controller1350, and for example have been stored in a memory integrated in the tyre and sent to the controller1350by the sensor module of that tyre.

As shown, the calculator1354, which may for example be a suitably programmed microprocessor or microcontroller, is connected to both the memory1353and the data input1352and can calculate the desired value based on the current temperature T1and the predetermined theoretical target value Pref, for example by performing an operation as can be described by the mathematical formula:

in which formula Pdesiredrepresents the desired value, Trefrepresents a predetermined default temperature at which the theoretical target value Prefis determined (e.g. room temperature, 293 K).

More complex operations may be performed as well to determine a desired pressure. For instance the example ofFIG. 6has an input1357for receiving information about the ambient temperature T0of the tyre, The current temperature T1as measured may be corrected using the measured ambient temperature T0as a parameter to obtain a more accurate value for the desired pressure. For example, the temperature T1as measured may be corrected using the measured ambient temperature or the value for the desired pressure may be corrected to take the influence of the ambient temperature on the temperature of the gas in the tyre into account. For example, a method as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,507, incorporated herein by reference, may be performed

As shown inFIG. 6, the calculator1354may be connected with a calculator output to a comparator input of the comparator1355. As shown, another input of the comparator1355may be connected to another data input1351of the pressure controller1350, at which data representing the measured pressure P can be received. The comparator1355may compare the measured pressure P with the desired pressure Pdesiredas determined by the calculator1354. The comparator1355may output “a pressure too low” signal when the measured pressure P is below the desired pressure P desired and a “pressure sufficient” signal when the measured pressure P is equal to or above the desired pressure Pdesired. The comparator1355may be of a more complex design, and for example compare the measured pressure P with multiple (corrected) threshold, such as to determine whether the measure pressure P is in a range between a lower pressure threshold P0and an upper pressure threshold P1and to output a warning signal when the pressure is outside the range, e.g. a too low signal when the pressure is below lower pressure threshold P0and a too high signal when the pressure is above the upper pressure threshold P1.

The connections as discussed herein may be any type of connection suitable to transfer signals from or to the respective nodes, units or devices, for example via intermediate devices. Accordingly, unless implied or stated otherwise, the connections may for example be direct connections or indirect connections. The connections may be illustrated or described in reference to being a single connection, a plurality of connections, unidirectional connections, or bidirectional connections. However, different embodiments may vary the implementation of the connections. For example, separate unidirectional connections may be used rather than bidirectional connections and vice versa. Also, plurality of connections may be replaced with a single connections that transfers multiple signals serially or in a time multiplexed manner. Likewise, single connections carrying multiple signals may be separated out into various different connections carrying subsets of these signals. Therefore, many options exist for transferring signals. For instance in the examples, the communication interface301is shown directly connected to the communication interface135. However, the connection may also be established indirectly, for example by outputting by the communication interface135in a for human perceptible form control signals suitable to control the pump unit which may then be used by a user of the pump system to control the operation of the pump system. For example, the TPMS may output to the user signals indicating that the inflating may be started, that the pressure is too high or that the pressure is too low, in response to which the user may perform a suitable operation, e.g. starting the inflating, or reducing/increasing the pressure.

Each signal may also conform to one of numerous protocols comprised of specific patterns or signals.

Also for example, in an example, the illustrated examples may be implemented as circuitry located on a single integrated circuit or within a same device. For example, the electronic components of the pump unit30shown inFIG. 1may be implemented as an integrated circuit. Likewise, the sensor module201may be implemented as a single integrated circuit. Alternatively, the examples may be implemented as any number of separate integrated circuits or separate devices interconnected with each other in a suitable manner. For example, motion detector207, the controller211and the measurement modules213217may be separate integrated circuits connected in a manner suitable to form the sensor module201.