Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a system for measuring one or more parameters, for example tyre pressure, of a tyre fitted to a vehicle wheel.

Tyre parameter monitoring systems (TPMS) are used to inform the driver of any abnormal variation in the measured parameter, for example tyre pressure. Such systems typically include an inflation valve and an electronic module. The inflation valve is positioned in a bore or hole in the wheel rim and the electronic module is arranged inside the tyre and is coupled with the inflation valve.

One type of tyre parameter monitoring system or tyre pressure monitoring system may be referred to as a snap-in type in which the inflation valve, designed as a so-called snap-in type valve positioned on the outside of the wheel rim extends through a bore in the wheel rim and is connected to an electronic unit positioned on the inside of the wheel rim by a snap-in connection. Snap-in type valves commonly include an elastically deformable stem. An example of such a valve is disclosed in <CIT>.

Another type of tyre parameter monitoring system may be referred to as a clamp-in type. For the clamp-in type it is possible to fasten the electronic module in various angular positions with respect to the wheel rim thus enabling the system to be mounted on different designs of wheel rim. An example of such a clamp-in system is disclosed in <CIT>.

Document <CIT>) discloses tyre pressure monitoring apparatuses, systems and method for adapting a tire pressure monitoring apparatus to be used with a plurality of valve stem configurations.

Document <CIT>) discloses A signal transmission device for a tyre pressure gauge with a valve.

Document <CIT> discloses a tyre pressure monitoring apparatus which is provided with locations that mate with a tyre tube valve, where the internal face of locations and tire tube valve effect is a sphere, and the tyre pressure sensor can rotate relative to tyre tube valve and still keep fitting tightly.

Document <CIT> discloses an assembly comprising a tyre valve and an enclosure, wherein the enclosure is adapted to receive a gas pressure monitoring unit, wherein the enclosure comprises a hinge joint, the hinge joint having at least one stationary member connected to the enclosure, an axle and a rotatable member arranged to at least partially rotate around the axle and wherein the tyre valve is connected to the rotatable member of the hinge joint.

Depending on various factors, either a system of the snap-in type or the clamp-in type may be desirable. In order to simplify assembly and reduce costs, it would be desirable to use components of the tyre parameter monitoring system with both snap-in type and clamp-in type valves.

According to the invention, a housing for a tyre parameter monitoring system, for example a tyre pressure monitoring system, is provided. The housing comprises a first fitting for engaging a valve stem of a snap-in type valve. The housing also comprises two arms that are shaped and spaced to provide a second fitting for engaging with a valve stem of a clamp-in type valve such that the valve stem of the clamp-in valve is pivotably engaged with the housing and such that the angle between the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve and the housing is variable. The two arms are connected by a web portion forming an aperture, the aperture being sized and shaped such that the valve stem of the snap-in type valve or the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve is insertable through the aperture. The web portion comprises two slots in an inner surface, the inner surface facing towards the first fitting, wherein the slots are designed to engage the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve such that the valve stem is pivotably engaged with the slots, and wherein the slots are arcuate and are designed to engage arcuate protrusions of a bar of the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve such that the valve stem is pivotably engaged with the housing. The arms and the first fitting protrude from an upper surface of the housing and the first fitting is positioned between and spaced apart from the two arms and is spaced apart from the inner surface of the web portion.

The housing provides two types of fitting: a first fitting and a second fitting. Therefore, the housing can be used for both snap-in type and clamp-in type valves. Additionally, at least the second fitting provides a variable angular position between the clamp-in type valve and the housing. This enables the housing and tyre parameter system to be used with different types of wheel rim and different types of tyre which conform to different standards. Thus, the housing can be used in a larger number of installations.

The first fitting is positioned between the arms which cooperate to form the second fitting. Therefore, the first fitting does not occupy an additional area of the housing which would lead to an increase in the lateral size of the housing. Therefore, the housing is compact and can be used in a larger number of installations with both snap-in type valves and clamp-in type valves. The arms are shaped and spaced to provide the clamp-in and also to allow the snap-in connection to be positioned between the arms and spaced at a distance from the two arms. For example, the arms may be shaped such that they are spaced apart by a smaller distance at one position, for example one end, to provide the second fitting and by a greater distance at a second position to enable the snap-in connection to be positioned between and spaced apart from the two arms. This enables the housing to provide two different connection fittings at two different positions without one connection fitting disrupting or affecting the design and form of the other fitting.

The two arms cooperate to engage with the clamp-in type valve and provide the second fitting.

The two arms are connected by a web portion forming an aperture. In some embodiments, the web portion extends between and substantially perpendicularly to the two arms at one end of the two arms to form a U-shape. The arms and the web portion form a U-shape that laterally surrounds and is spaced apart from the separate first fitting on three adjoining sides. The web portion may be positioned at the edge of the housing.

The aperture is sized and shaped such that the valve stem of the snap-in type valve or the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve is insertable through the aperture. The aperture may be formed between the upper surface of the housing, the web portion and the two arms or may be defined by the web portion. The web portion may also be described as a mounting plate with the arms forming lateral gusset plates that extend from an inner surface of the web portion at opposing lateral ends of the web portion.

The web portion comprises two slots in an inner surface. The inner surface is the surface of the web portion facing towards the first fitting. The slots are designed to engage the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve such that the valve stem is pivotably engaged with the slots. The slots may also have the form of a rail which engages with the valve stem.

The slots or rails are arcuate, that is the length of the slot or rail forms a curve. The arcuate slots are designed to engage an arcuate protrusion on the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve such that the valve stem is pivotably engaged with the housing.

The web portion includes two slots in an inner surface which are adapted to engage with a valve stem of a clamp-in type valve such that the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve is pivotably engaged with the housing. For example, the valve stem may include a longitudinal axis and a bar at one end of the stem that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. The bar is adapted to be inserted into the slots in the inner surface of the web portion such that the bar is pivotably engaged with the slots and such that the valve stem is positionable at different angular positions with respect to the housing.

The bar includes arcuate protrusions for engaging with the arcuate slots such that the bar is slidably engaged with the slots and such that the valve stem is positionable at different angular positions with respect to the housing.

In some embodiments, the arms and the first fitting protrude upwardly from the same surface of the housing. The first fitting and the arms may be formed integrally with and form integral parts of the housing. The first fitting may be spaced apart from inner surfaces of the arms, which face towards one another, by a distance. The slots for engaging with the clamp-in valve stem may be positioned in the inner surfaces of the arms and in the gap formed between the inner surface of the arms and the first fitting, i.e. on opposing sides in the gap formed between the side of the first fitting and the inner surface of the respective arm.

The arms and the web portion may extend upwardly from a surface of the housing and the first fitting may protrude upwardly from the same surface of the housing and is positioned between and spaced part from the arms and is spaced apart from the web portion. The first fitting, the arms and the web portion may be formed integrally with and form integral parts of the housing. The first fitting may be spaced apart from inner surfaces of the arms.

The first fitting may be positioned between the slots in the inner surface of the web portion that are provided for engaging with the clamp-in valve stem. The first fitting may also be spaced apart from inner surfaces of the arms, which face towards one another, by a distance. The slots for engaging with the clamp-in valve stem may be positioned in the web portion within the distance between the inner surfaces of the arms and the first fitting, i.e. on opposing sides in the gap formed between the side of the first fitting and the inner surface of the respective arm.

The first fitting may comprise a member with an opening for accepting a valve stem of a snap-in type valve. The opening may be elongate, for example have a tubular form.

In some embodiments, the valve stem of the snap-in type valve is attachable to the first fitting by a screw. The screw may engage an inner thread of the valve stem to attach the valve stem to the first fitting.

The first fitting may be used to secure the housing to the valve stem of the snap-in type valve and to a rim of the wheel, in particular an inner surface of the rim of the wheel. This enables the system with the housing and a snap-in type valve to be used for different wheel rims and tyres. The snap-in type valve may be mounted at just in one angle with respect to the housing.

A sensor unit may be positioned within the housing. For example, the sensor unit may include a sensor and/or electronics for monitoring a tyre parameter, in particular tyre pressure. The housing including the sensor unit may also be called an electronic module.

A tyre parameter monitoring system is also provided which comprises the housing of any one of the embodiments described herein and either a snap-in type valve or a clamp-in type valve.

In an embodiment, a tyre parameter monitoring system comprises the housing according to any one of the embodiments described herein and a snap-in type valve. The valve stem of the snap-in type valve is adapted to be secured to the first fitting by a screw. For example, the valve stem of the snap-in type valve may comprise an inner thread which engages with the screw in order to secure the snap-in type valve to the snap connection fitting.

In an embodiment, a tyre parameter monitoring system comprises the housing according to any one of the embodiments described herein and a clamp-in type valve. The clamp-in type valve comprises a bar comprising the arcuate protrusion that is adapted to engage with the slot in the housing to pivotably engage a valve stem of the clamp-in type valve with the housing such that the angle between the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve and the housing is variable.

The bar of the clamp-in type valve comprises protrusions that are sized and shaped to mechanically engage with slots in the housing. In some embodiments, the ends of the bar of the clamp-in type valve each comprise an arcuate protrusion that is sized and shaped to mechanically engage an arcuate slot in the housing.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises a washer, a seal and a nut for securing the clamp-in type valve to the wheel rim. The outer surface of the valve stem includes a thread for engaging with the nut.

The housing may be mounted to a rim of a wheel using either a snap-in type valve or a clamp-in type valve.

In an embodiment, a method for mounting a tyre parameter monitoring system to a rim of a wheel comprises inserting a valve stem of a snap-in type valve into the housing of any one of the embodiments described herein, securing the valve stem to the first fitting of the housing by a screw to form an assembly, and mounting the assembly on a bore in the rim of the wheel, thereby mounting the snap-in type valve on an outer surface of the rim of the wheel and the housing on an inner surface of the rim of the wheel with a fixed angular position between the housing and the valve stem.

The valve stem may be secured to the first fitting by a screw, for example by engaging the screw with an inner thread of the valve stem that is positioned in an aperture in the first fitting.

In an embodiment, a method for mounting a tyre parameter monitoring system to a wheel rim comprises placing a valve stem of a clamp-in type valve into the second fitting of the housing of any one of the embodiments described herein to pivotably engage the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve with the housing, placing a washer over the clamp-in type valve, placing a seal over the clamp-in type valve on an outer side of the wheel rim, inserting the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve into a hole in the wheel rim from an inner surface of the wheel rim, and mounting the valve stem on the outer surface of the wheel rim and the housing on the inner surface of the wheel rim by engaging a nut with outer thread of the clamp-in type valve stem such that the angle between the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve and the housing is adapted to the wheel rim.

The angle between the valve stem of the clamp-in type valve and the housing and between the clamp-in type valve and the wheel rim is automatically adapted to the wheel rim due to the pivotable connection between the valve stem and the housing.

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> illustrates a housing <NUM> of a tyre parameter monitoring system <NUM>. The housing <NUM> houses a sensor unit for measuring one or more parameters of a tyre, for example tyre pressure. The housing <NUM> includes two different types of connection fitting, namely a first fitting <NUM> for engaging with a snap-in type valve and a second fitting <NUM> for engaging with a clamp-in type valve.

<FIG> illustrates a tyre parameter monitoring system <NUM> in the assembled state that includes the housing <NUM> and a snap-in type valve <NUM> and <FIG> illustrates a tyre parameter monitoring system <NUM>' that includes the housing <NUM> and a clamp-in type valve <NUM>.

Referring in particular to <FIG>, the housing <NUM> includes two arms <NUM>, <NUM> which extend upwards from an upper surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The arms <NUM>, <NUM> may also be considered to be plates or projections extending upwardly from the upper surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The two arms <NUM>, <NUM> cooperate to provide the second fitting <NUM> for engaging with the clamp-in type valve. In particular, each of the arms <NUM>, <NUM> is shaped and spaced apart from the other so as to provide the second fitting <NUM> at one end of the arms <NUM>, <NUM>, in particular a peripheral end of the arms <NUM>, <NUM> positioned at the edge of the upper surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

The arms <NUM>, <NUM> are connected by a web portion <NUM> which extends substantially perpendicularly between the arms <NUM>, <NUM> at the peripheral end of the arms <NUM>, <NUM> at the edge of the upper surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The web portion forms an aperture <NUM> which is sized and shaped such that a valve stem <NUM> of the snap-in type valve <NUM> and a valve stem <NUM> of the clamp-in type valve <NUM> can be inserted into the aperture <NUM> and be positioned between the arms <NUM>, <NUM> without making contact with the aperture <NUM>. The aperture <NUM> may be defined by the upper surface <NUM> of the housing, the web portion <NUM> and the arms <NUM>, <NUM>. In other embodiments, the web portion <NUM> may include the aperture <NUM>. The web portion <NUM> may be called a mounting plate and the arms <NUM>, <NUM> may be called lateral gusset plates that provide support for the web portion <NUM>. The arms <NUM>, <NUM> and the web portion <NUM> form a U-shape and laterally surround the first fitting <NUM> on three sides.

The housing <NUM> includes at least one slot <NUM> in an inner surface of the web portion <NUM> or an inner surface of the arms <NUM>, <NUM>. The slot or slots <NUM> are sized, shaped and arranged so as to cooperate to provide a fitting for a clamp-in type valve <NUM>, as is illustrated in <FIG> for the tyre parameter monitoring system <NUM>'. The slots <NUM> may be considered to be rails. In some embodiments, the slots <NUM> are arcuate in order to pivotably engage the valve stem <NUM> of the clamp-in type valve <NUM> with the housing <NUM>.

The clamp-in type valve <NUM> includes a bar <NUM> which extends substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the valve stem <NUM> of the clamp-in type valve <NUM> and which includes protrusions that are sized and shaped to mechanically engage with the slots <NUM> in order to pivotably couple the clamp-in type valve <NUM> to the housing <NUM>. The protrusions may be arcuate so as to slidably engage the slots <NUM> and pivotably couple the clamp-in type valve <NUM> to the housing <NUM>. The bar <NUM> can be positioned between the arms <NUM>, <NUM> in the slots <NUM> such that the valve stem <NUM> of the clamp-in type valve <NUM> extends through the aperture <NUM> in the web portion <NUM> and the bar <NUM> is pivotably coupled to the inner surface of the arms <NUM>, <NUM> or web portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> such that the angle between the valve stem <NUM> and the housing <NUM> is variable.

The first fitting <NUM> is spaced apart from the web portion <NUM> by a distance such that the bar <NUM> is positioned between and does not make contact with the first fitting <NUM>.

The tyre parameter monitoring system may also include a washer, a seal <NUM> and a nut <NUM> for securing the housing <NUM> and the clamp-in type valve <NUM> to a wheel rim.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first connection fitting <NUM> for engaging with a snap-in type valve is a snap-in fitting and protrudes upwards from the upper surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and is positioned between and spaced apart from the arms <NUM>, <NUM> and from the web portion <NUM>. The first fitting <NUM> may include an aperture <NUM> which may be elongate and have a tubular shape. The aperture <NUM> is sized and shaped to accommodate the valve stem <NUM> of the snap-in type valve <NUM>. The valve stem <NUM> is inserted through the aperture <NUM> in the web portion <NUM> and into the aperture <NUM> of the first fitting <NUM> and is secured to the first fitting <NUM>. In this embodiment, the valve stem <NUM> is secured to the first fitting <NUM> by a screw <NUM>. The screw <NUM> is positioned on an opposing side of the first fitting <NUM> to the valve stem <NUM> and engages an inner thread of the valve stem <NUM> to secure the valve stem <NUM> to the first fitting <NUM>. The valve stem <NUM> is secured at one fixed angular position with respect to the first fitting <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> can be used for both snap-in type valves and clamp-in type valves. Additionally, the housing provides a variable positioning, in particular, different angular positions between the housing <NUM> and the clamp-in type valve <NUM>. The tyre parameter monitoring system <NUM> can therefore be used with different types of wheel rims and wheel rims that conform to different standards.

For a snap-in type valve, a method for mounting the tyre parameter monitoring system <NUM> to a rim of a wheel may include inserting a valve stem <NUM> of the snap-in type valve <NUM> through the aperture <NUM> in the web portion <NUM> and into the aperture <NUM> of the first fitting <NUM> and securing the valve stem <NUM> to the first fitting <NUM> of the housing by the screw <NUM> which engages with a thread on the valve stem <NUM>. The housing is mounted on a bore in an inner surface of the rim of the wheel, and therefore within the tyre when the tyre is fitted to the wheel, with a fixed angular position between the housing <NUM> and the valve stem <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A housing (<NUM>) for a tyre parameter monitoring system, the housing (<NUM>) comprising:
a first fitting (<NUM>) for engaging a valve stem (<NUM>) of a snap-in type valve (<NUM>); and
two arms (<NUM>, <NUM>) that are shaped and spaced to provide a second fitting (<NUM>) for engaging with a valve stem (<NUM>) of a clamp-in type valve (<NUM>) such that the valve stem (<NUM>) of the clamp-in type valve (<NUM>) is pivotably engaged with the housing (<NUM>) and such that the angle between the valve stem (<NUM>) of the clamp-in type valve (<NUM>) and the housing (<NUM>) is variable,
wherein the two arms (<NUM>, <NUM>) are connected by a web portion (<NUM>) forming an aperture (<NUM>), the aperture (<NUM>) being sized and shaped such that the valve stem (<NUM>) of the snap-in type valve (<NUM>) or the valve stem (<NUM>) of the clamp-in type valve (<NUM>) is insertable through the aperture (<NUM>), characterized in that
the web portion (<NUM>) comprises two slots (<NUM>) in an inner surface, the inner surface facing towards the first fitting (<NUM>), wherein the slots (<NUM>) are designed to engage the valve stem (<NUM>) of the clamp-in type valve (<NUM>) such that the valve stem (<NUM>) is pivotably engaged with the slots (<NUM>), wherein the slots (<NUM>) are arcuate and are designed to engage arcuate protrusions of a bar (<NUM>) of the valve stem (<NUM>) of the clamp-in type valve (<NUM>) such that the valve stem (<NUM>) is pivotably engaged with the housing (<NUM>), and
wherein the arms (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the first fitting (<NUM>) protrude from an upper surface (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) and the first fitting (<NUM>) is positioned between and spaced apart from the two arms (<NUM>, <NUM>) and is spaced apart from the inner surface of the web portion (<NUM>).