Abstract: A target tire pressure learning method wherein tire pressure is ascertained via a central pressure sensor. The method of learning a target tire pressure for a tire maintained by a tire pressure maintenance system, having conduit assemblies for conducting fluid to and/or from the tire and a pressure sensor for ascertaining fluid pressure in the conduit assemblies, according to the invention includes ascertaining a current tire pressure with the pressure sensor and designating the current tire pressure as a target tire pressure.

Abstract: The system for checking the pressure of the tires of the wheels (2-5) of a vehicle includes individual wheel-checking devices, each with a pressure sensor and a transmitter (20, 30, 40, 50), a central unit (1) with a common receiver (12) and antenna means (21-25), comprising individual receiving antennae (22-25) associated respectively with the wheel locations (2-5), working with the transmitters (20, 30, 40, 50), and the antenna circuits of the central unit (1) additionally comprise a main antenna (21) for monitoring all the pressure-checking devices (20, 30, 40, 50) and circuits (13) for switching over the common receiver (12) from the main monitoring antenna (21) onto each of the individual acquisition antennae (22-25).

Abstract: A tire inflation pressure monitoring system (10) and a method for monitoring air pressure within a tire (14) are provided. The system (10) includes a tire based unit (18) for sensing air pressure within the tire (14) and for transmitting a pressure signal indicative thereof. The system (10) also includes a vehicle based unit (16) for receiving the pressure signal and for comparing the pressure signal to a predefined pressure range. The vehicle based unit (16) is operable in one of (i) a normal operating mode that outputs an alert signal in response to the air pressure within the tire (14) being outside of the predefined pressure range and (ii) a pressure gauge operating mode that outputs an in-range signal in response to the air pressure within the tire (14) being within the predetermined pressure range.

Abstract: A tire pressure gauge apparatus for securing to a vehicle tire valve stem mounted to a tire valve stem port in a vehicle tire includes an apparatus housing containing a received air chamber for placement in fluid communication with received air from within a vehicle tire and containing a biasing air chamber containing a fixed quantity of biasing air, the chambers being sealingly separated from each other by a pressure equilibration structure which includes a pressure indicator element, the pressure equilibration structure moving within the housing to alter the relative volumes of the two chambers and thus to equalize the pressures of the two chambers, and the pressure indicator element moving relative to the apparatus housing as the equilibration structure moves to equalize chamber pressures to display a tire pressure reading.

Abstract: An air pressure warning device of a vehicle tire has an excessive/deficient amount calculation module (10b) for calculating an excessive/deficient amount on the basis of the difference between a normal air pressure stored in a normal air pressure storage module (10a) and a detected tire air pressure, an informing control module (10c) for controlling an informing module (11) to inform an excessive/deficient state of the tire air pressure determined based on the calculated excessive/deficient amount, and a normal air pressure correction module 10e for increasing the readout normal air pressure by a predetermined value when an expressway traveling detection module (10d) detects that the vehicle is on an expressway.

Abstract: An automatic tire gauge for indicating levels of air pressure within a tire. The inventive device includes a cylindrical housing having a closed upper end an open lower end. The open lower end is internally threaded for mating with external threads on a standard tire valve stem. An outer portion of the cylindrical housing is transparent. A mounting bracket is disposed inwardly of the open lower end of the cylindrical housing. The mounting bracket has a protrusion extending downwardly therefrom for contacting a valve needle of the standard tire valve stem. A calibrated spring is secured to and extends upwardly from the mounting bracket. The spring has a calibrated tension corresponding to a specific tire pressure. A pressure indicator is secured to an upper free end of the calibrated spring. The pressure indicator comprises a cylindrical member disposed interiorly of the cylindrical housing. The cylindrical member has pressure indicating indicia thereon.

Abstract: Method and apparatus (200) for monitoring vehicle tire pressure and warning the driver when a low tire inflation pressure condition occurs includes transponder tags (220a . . . 220d, 300, 300a) and associated sensors (e.g., pressure, temperature) for each tire and a monitor (230a . . . 230d, 400 disposed in close proximity to each tire (204a . . . 204d). In this case manner, a low-powered radio transmission can take place between each tire tag and an associated one of the monitors. Each monitor is connected to a vehicle data bus 206, 430) for communicating, preferably bi-directionally, with a computer (208), and a central display (212) provides visual (or audible) warnings to the operator of the vehicle. The system is simple in operation, economical to manufacture, easy to install, and highly reliable, and conforms to standards established for heavy vehicles, and can be used on passenger car applications as well.

Abstract: A transmitter includes a main body and a valve stem. The main body has a resin casing, which includes a cylinder. A metal cylindrical collar is inserted in the cylinder. An inserting section of the valve stem is inserted in the collar, and a nut is fastened to a threaded portion of the inserting section. Accordingly, the cylinder and the collar are clamped between a step of the valve stem and the nut. The fastening force of the nut is applied mainly to the collar, thus barely affecting the cylinder. As a result, the valve stem is reliably attached to the main body in a stable manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device which indicates the safety limits of the air pressure in each one of the pneumatic tires of a vehicle by transmitting appropriate information from the wheels to the driving control board. Transmission of information is based on the capacitive coupling between rotating and non-rotating conductive annular surfaces (2-5, 12-19, 72-75) which are mounted into channels of insulated bases (6-9) fixed in the available space between the bearing flange, the braking system and the wheel bearings (66) and are forming cylindrical and plane capacitors. An electronic circuit incorporates these capacitors as basic elements for its operation, and also an AC bridge (20) to give an automatic compensation by measuring the differential capacitance for each pair of the wheels to avoid faulty indication due to causes like humidity, temperature, etc. Also a simple electronic circuit can be used for each one of the wheels.

Abstract: A diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator is fixedly fastened to the air nozzle of a vehicle tire for indicating a low pressure of the tire. A flexible diaphragm is mounted in a receiving chamber in the casing of the tire pressure indicator. A push rod is connected to the flexible diaphragm for being moved up and down with the diaphragm subject to the status of the tire pressure of the vehicle tire. A sleeve is mounted in the receiving chamber and is around the push rod. A spring is sleeved onto the push rod.

Abstract: A pressure indicating device of a tube-less tire of a motor vehicle is on a position surrounded by the tire and faced outward for ease of reading. The device comprises an integral pipe formed in a rim being in communication between the device and the tire so that the pressure of the tire is represented on the device by communicating air through the pipe. Hence, before starting the vehicle, the driver may know the condition of each tire by visually inspecting a reading of the pressure indicating device. Once the reading of one device is abnormal, the driver can take a suitable action, i.e., replacing tire, accordingly.

Abstract: A system for measuring the pressure in a rotating tire and transmitting the information via magnetic pulses to a sensor pickup located near the tire, but on a non-rotating part of the vehicle, for transmittal via wire to a micro controller for conversion to air pressure units and display.

Abstract: A tire pressure gauge is provided. The tire pressure gauge is mounted on a rim of a wheel or on a hub of the wheel. An interconnection is made to the valve stem of the wheel. The interconnection includes a tap that directs pressure from the interconnection via a tube or conduit to the gauge. The interconnection can provide continuous pressure to the gauge or can be actuated by the movement of an operator at a predetermined inspection time. The gauge can be mechanical or electronic.

Abstract: A tire pressure gauge apparatus for securing to a vehicle tire valve stem mounted to a tire valve stem port in a vehicle tire includes an apparatus housing containing a received air chamber for placement in fluid communication with received air from within a vehicle tire and containing a biasing air chamber containing a fixed quantity of biasing air, the chambers being sealingly separated from each other by a pressure equilibration structure which includes a pressure indicator element, the pressure equilibration structure moving within the housing to alter the relative volumes of the two chambers and thus to equalize the pressures of the two chambers, and the pressure indicator element moving relative to the apparatus housing as the equilibration structure moves to equalize chamber pressures to display a tire pressure reading.

Abstract: A method of testing a tire wherein a tire/wheel assembly (10), including the test tire (22) on which tire-related measurements are taken during multiple test runs. The pressure within the test tire (22) is maintained at a desired test pressure throughout the multiple test with a pressure-controlling device (20) mounted on the tire/wheel assembly (10). The pressure-controlling device (20) measures actual tire pressure, compares the measured tire pressure to the desired test pressure, and adjusts the tire pressure accordingly. Usually, there will be increase in tire pressure due to increased temperature during latter test runs whereby the adjustment can be performed by releasing fluid from the tire opening by, for example, opening a normally closed solenoid valve (48) to bleed air from the tire (22). The releasing step may be performed when the tire/wheel assembly (10) is at rest between test runs, in which case the pressure-controlling device (20) could include a motion detector.

Abstract: A tire pressure indication system for a single or dual wheel tire assembly includes a pair of analog/digital readout pressure gauges and associated valve stems for individually monitoring and pressurizing the tire or tires of the wheel assembly. The tire pressure indication system may be attached to the outside wheel of the dual wheel assembly by a bracket structure mounted to the outside wheel with an adhesive tape or other suitable fastener. The tire pressure indication system provides for a tire pressure indication system that can be easily mounted to the wheel tire assembly without the use of a hubcap or other similar mounting structure.

Abstract: A tire characteristic monitoring method allows automatic programming of tire position information in a remote tire pressure monitoring system (10). The method includes, from a remotely located exciter (16) using a primary coil (18) to transmit a relatively low frequency signal to a secondary coil (L1) of a tire monitor (12) associated with a tire of a vehicle. The method further includes the step of, at the tire monitor, in response to the relatively low frequency signal, transmitting a relatively high transmitting signal to convey data. The data are received at the exciter and subsequently loaded into a receiving unit (14) of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rim drop section dented in a shape of a ring is provided on an inner side of a bead seat section of a rim for holding a bead section of a tire. Furthermore, a recessed section is provided on this rim drop section, and a detecting device main body of a tire air pressure detecting device is accommodated in this recessed section. When a tire is assembled on a cast wheel by utilizing a tire changer or the like, or when the tire is removed from the cast wheel, the bead sections of the tire are prevented from interfering with an air pressure sensor, and damaging of the air pressure sensor is prevented.

Abstract: A wheel balancing system for the reduction of vehicle wheel and pneumatic tire assembly vibrations with the capacity to determine and selectively adjust the pneumatic tire's pressure simultaneously with wheel balancing. The balancing system includes a drive for rotating the tire and wheel assembly; a sensing system for the selective determination of vibration causation and correction information; a pneumatic system for the adjustment of the pneumatic tire's pressure; a control system for instituting the determined vibration corrections and pressure adjustments; as well as a communication system for receiving, transmitting and presenting data or instructions. The sensing system is responsive to the wheel balancing systems operational status, the wheel and tire assembly's operational status, wireless or network communications and input from the user. The control system includes automatic provisions for safety, convenience, time efficiency, balancing and pressure adjustment.

Abstract: A tire pressure indicator comprises a set of pressure gauges respectively installed in the tires of a vehicle, and receiver circuit means installed in the vehicle adjacent to the tires. Each pressure gauge includes a power supplying device, a pressure-sensing unit, and a transmitter circuit. The power-supplying device has a self-generating voltage unit formed by a piezoelectric element, a spring element, and a weight. The spring element is vibrated when the tires of the vehicle are in motion, thereby causing the piezoelectric element to generate power supply. The pressure-sensing unit includes a capacitor means formed by a motion member, a conductive member, and a converting circuit.