Patent ID: 7225668

Claim:
A wheel-mounted air pressure measuring device, comprising: a wheel assembly comprising a rigid wheel member ( 2 ) and a pneumatic tire ( 1 ) mounted thereto; said rigid wheel member ( 1 ) comprising a centrally located hub member ( 5 ), a wheel rim member ( 6 ), and a plurality of wheel spoke members ( 4 ); wherein each of said plurality of wheel spoke members ( 4 ) extends from said centrally located hub member ( 5 ) to said wheel rim member ( 6 ); and wherein each of said plurality of wheel spoke members ( 4 ) is rigidly attached to said centrally located hub member ( 5 ) and is rigidly attached to said wheel rim member ( 6 ); and further comprising valve means ( 8 ) for selectively introducing pressurized air into, and containing pressurized air within, an interior cavity of said pneumatic tire ( 1 ); wherein said valve means ( 8 ) comprises a valve stem disposed at a first location on said wheel rim member ( 6 ); and further comprising a pressure gauge ( 3 ) disposed within a recess ( 11 ) in said hub member ( 5 ); and a hollow conduit ( 18 ) inside a first wheel spoke ( 4 a ) of said plurality of wheel spoke members ( 4 ), said hollow conduit ( 18 ) having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said hollow conduit ( 18 ) opens into said recess ( 11 ) in said hub member ( 5 ), and wherein said second end of said hollow conduit ( 18 ) extends through said wheel rim member ( 6 ) into said interior cavity of said pneumatic tire ( 1 ); said pressure gauge ( 3 ) comprising a gauge housing ( 10 ) and an opening ( 17 ) in said gauge housing; and further comprising means ( 13 ) for securing said gauge ( 3 ) within said recess ( 11 ); and means ( 16 ) for pneumatically sealing said gauge housing ( 10 ) within said recess ( 11 ).