Abstract: In a remote tire monitor system, radio frequency (RF) signals including tire data are transmitted from a plurality of tire monitors at wheels of a vehicle. At an RF receiver, the signals are received and tire data is detected. The RF signals are detected at a receiving RF detector associated with the transmitting tire monitor. The receiving RF detector produces a transmission indication in response to the received RF signals. A control unit is coupled to the RF receiver and the RF detector. The control unit receives the tire data and the transmission indication and associates a position of the transmitting tire monitor with the tire data in response to transmission indication. This permits automatic update of the position of tire monitors on the vehicle.

Abstract: In a remote tire monitor system, radio frequency (RF) signals including tire data are transmitted from a plurality of tire monitors at wheels of a vehicle. At an RF receiver, the signals are received and tire data is detected. The RF signals are detected at a receiving RF detector associated with the transmitting tire monitor. The receiving RF detector produces a transmission indication in response to the received RF signals. A control unit is coupled to the RF receiver and the RF detector. The control unit receives the tire data and the transmission indication and associates a position of the transmitting tire monitor with the tire data in response to transmission indication. This permits automatic update of the position of tire monitors on the vehicle.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body having a passageway and first and second oppositely facing valve seats that extend around the passageway. First and second valve elements are positioned in the passageway to seal against the respective valve seats, and a spring biases the first valve element to the closed position against the first valve seat. The valve seats are spaced sufficiently closely together along the passageway that the first valve element, when positioned against the first valve seat, holds the second valve element away from the second valve seat. For this reason, the spring also biases the second valve element away from the second valve seat.

Abstract: In a remote tire monitor system, radio frequency (RF) signals including tire data are transmitted from a plurality of tire monitors at wheels of a vehicle. At an RF receiver, the signals are received and tire data is detected. The RF signals are detected at a receiving RF detector associated with the transmitting tire monitor. The receiving RF detector produces a transmission indication in response to the received RF signals. A control unit is coupled to the RF receiver and the RF detector. The control unit receives the tire data and the transmission indication and associates a position of the transmitting tire monitor with the tire data in response to transmission indication. This permits automatic update of the position of tire monitors on the vehicle.

Abstract: A remote tire monitoring system (10) includes tire monitors (12) positioned at respective wheels of a vehicle (V) for transmitting radio signals modulated by tire data and modulation means positioned above near the tire monitors for imposing a secondary modulation on the radio signals. A receiver (14) receives the radio signals and recovers the tire data (26) from the radio signals and associates the tire monitor with the respective wheels of the vehicle using the secondary modulation.

Abstract: In a remote tire monitor system, radio frequency (RF) signals including tire data are transmitted from a plurality of tire monitors at wheels of a vehicle. At an RF receiver, the signals are received and tire data is detected. The RF signals are detected at a receiving RF detector associated with the transmitting tire monitor. The receiving RF detector produces a transmission indication in response to the received RF signals. A control unit is coupled to the RF receiver and the RF detector. The control unit receives the tire data and the transmission indication and associates a position of the transmitting tire monitor with the tire data in response to transmission indication. This permits automatic update of the position of tire monitors on the vehicle.

Abstract: A remote tire monitoring system (10) includes tire monitors (12) positioned at respective wheels of a vehicle (V) for transmitting radio signals modulated by tire data and modulation means positioned above near the tire monitors for imposing a secondary modulation on the radio signals. A receiver (14) receives the radio signals and recovers the tire data (26) from the radio signals and associates the tire monitor with the respective wheels of the vehicle using the secondary modulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating data in a remote tire pressure monitoring system (10) which includes a plurality of transmitters (12) associated with tires (T(1), T(2), T(3), and T(4)) of a vehicle (V) and a receiver (14) in radio communication with the plurality of transmitters. At each tire, data is collected (82), the data being representative of a tire characteristic, such as tire pressure. Data representative of the tire characteristic is transmitted (86). After a time delay (94, 96) next data are transmitted (98) until a predetermined number of data words have been transmitted. The time delay for each respective data word is defined according to a repeating pattern common to the plurality of tires so that data words are transmitted during a plurality of aperiodic time windows.

Abstract: A remote tire monitoring system (10) includes tire monitors (12) positioned at respective wheels of a vehicle (V) for transmitting radio signals modulated by tire data and modulation means positioned above near the tire monitors for imposing a secondary modulation on the radio signals. A receiver (14) receives the radio signals and recovers the tire data (26) from the radio signals and associates the tire monitor with the respective wheels of the vehicle using the secondary modulation.

Abstract: A remote tire monitoring system (10) includes tire monitors (12) positioned at respective wheels of a vehicle (V) for transmitting radio signals modulated by tire data and modulation means positioned above near the tire monitors for imposing a secondary modulation on the radio signals. A receiver (14) receives the radio signals and recovers the tire data (26) from the radio signals and associates the tire monitor with the respective wheels of the vehicle using the secondary modulation.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes a pressure spike attenuator that is installed between the pump and fuel rail inlet of the system. This pressure spike attenuator includes an expandable pressure vessel having a sidewall that is corrugated in cross-section to facilitate volumetric expansion of the pressure vessel. A solenoid valve includes a tapered needle that is moved between an opened and a closed position. In the opened position, the fuel pump, the pressure vessel, and the fuel rail are all in fluid communication with one another. In the closed position, the pressure vessel is isolated from both the fuel pump and the fuel rail, and the fuel rail is isolated from both the fuel pump and the pressure vessel.

Abstract: An air conditioning charging valve includes a valve body that receives a valve element in an interference fit. The valve element is slideable by a charging tool from an opened positioned, in which a refrigerant fluid may be charged into an air conditioning system via the charge valve, and a closed position, in which the valve element forms a leak free, metal-to-metal seal against a valve seat carried by the valve body.

Abstract: An air conditioner access fitting includes a valve body having a threaded bore and an annular valve seat extending around the bore. A twist-to-open valve is disposed in the bore and threadedly engaged with the valve body. The valve includes a valve element configured to form a metal-to-metal seal with the valve seat. A valve core is disposed in a second bore formed in the twist-to-open valve, and the valve core operates selectively to open and close a flow path extending through the second bore. The valve body further includes a quick connect shoulder disposed around the bore. An associated service fitting includes a quick release mechanism, a wrench for rotating the twist-to-open valve, and a valve core depressor for opening the valve core.

Abstract: A tire monitor (100) for use in a remote tire monitor system (1000) includes an accelerometer (902, 904, 906) for detecting acceleration of the tire monitor. Position information for the tire monitor is determined in response to the acceleration. In this manner, tire position information is determined automatically to allow the system to display tire characteristic data such as air pressure in conjunction with tire position.

Abstract: A snap-in tire valve includes a valve body surrounded in part by a resilient element that forms an annular sealing surface configured to snap in place into a valve opening of a wheel. A tire pressure radio-frequency sending unit is mounted to the valve body, and a column extends from the sending unit. The region between the resilient element and the pressure sending unit defines an expansion volume that receives displaced portions of the resilient element during snap-in insertion of the valve body into a wheel opening, thereby facilitating insertion. Preferably the column defines a central passageway to facilitate insertion using standard insertion tools. In one version, two batteries are included in the sending unit, disposed on opposite sides of the column.

Abstract: A jet pump includes a jet pump nozzle and a pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve includes an inlet, a valve seat around the inlet, and an unregulated outlet downstream of the valve seat. A valve member is mounted in the valve body to move between a closed position and an open position, and a spring reacts against the valve body to bias the valve member to the closed position. The valve seat defines a first area A1, the valve member defines a second area A2, and the ratio A2/A1 is selected to provide a hysteresis between opening and closing pressures as measured at the inlet of at least 6 psi. This hysteresis improves efficiency of operation of the jet pump nozzle.

Abstract: A remote tire pressure monitoring system includes a sending unit for each monitored tire, and the sending units transmit RF signals, each including an identifier ID(i) and a pressure indicator P(i). A receiver operates in a learn mode in which the receiver associates specific identifiers either with the vehicle or with specific tires. During the learn mode the vehicle is driven at a speed above a threshold speed, such as thirty miles an hour, and identifiers are associated with either the vehicle or the respective tires of the vehicle only if they persist for a selected number of signals or frames during the learning period. In one example, the tires are inflated with different pressures according to a predetermined pattern, and the pressure indicators of the receive signals are used to associate individual tire positions with the respective sending units.

Abstract: A snap-in tire valve includes a valve body surrounded in part by a resilient element that forms an annular sealing surface configured to snap in place into a valve opening of a wheel. A tire pressure radio-frequency sending unit is mounted to the valve body, and a column extends from the sending unit. The region between the resilient element and the pressure sending unit defines an expansion volume that receives displaced portions of the resilient element during snap-in insertion of the valve body into a wheel opening, thereby facilitating insertion. Preferably the column defines a central passageway to facilitate insertion using standard insertion tools. In one version, two batteries are included in the sending unit, disposed on opposite sides of the column.

Abstract: A system which monitors a vehicle's tire pressures and displays real-time pressure values on a dashboard display while the vehicle is on the road. An electronic unit with pressure sensor, roll switch, reed switch, tilt switch, battery and control electronic, mounted to the valve stem inside each tire uses the pressure sensor to periodically measure the tire pressure, and uses a transmitter to transmit the measured pressure values, via RF transmission, to a dashboard mounted receiver. The receiver controls a display which indicates to the driver the real-time tire pressure in each wheel. the display also indicates an alarm condition when the tire pressure falls below certain predefined thresholds. The pressure values are compensated for temperature changes inside the tire, and also may be compensated for altitude changes.

Abstract: A system for indicating low tire pressure in vehicles, in which each vehicle wheel has a transmitter (100) with a unique code. A central receiver (200) in the vehicle is taught, at manufacture, to recognize the codes for the respective transmitters (100) for the vehicle, and also a common transmitter code, in the event one of the transmitters (102) needs to be replaced. During vehicle operation and maintenance, when the tires are rotated, the system can be recalibrated to relearn the locations of the transmitters. The transmitters (100) employ surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices (110). An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) encoder (130) in each transmitter (100) is programmed at manufacture, in accordance with its unique code, to send its information at different intervals, to avoid clash between two or more transmitters (100) on the vehicle. The transmitters (100) are powered by long-life batteries.