Internal tire and/or wheel monitoring device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237896-A1
Application number	US-202117166534-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 3, 2021
Priority date	Feb 4, 2020
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring a tire and/or a wheel including a sensor system; a wireless communication interface; a processor connected to the sensor system and the wireless communication interface; a power source; and a mounting system for attaching the apparatus to a wheel. The mounting system is configured to allow movement of the sensor system relative to the wheel in use.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for monitoring at least one of a tire and a wheel, the apparatus comprising:
a sensor system; a wireless communication interface; a processor connected to the sensor system and the wireless communication interface; a power source; and a mounting system for attaching the apparatus to a wheel and configured to allow movement of the sensor system relative to the wheel in use.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the movement of the sensor system relative to the wheel in use is rotation about an axis.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting system is configured to attach the apparatus inside a tire.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting system defines a track around a wheel and the sensor system can translate along the track.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting system comprises a carriage for engaging a circumferential track provided on the wheel.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting system comprises a hoop-shaped band for mounting around a wheel, such that the hoop-shaped band can rotate about the wheel in use.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting system is configured to allow the sensor system to move relative to the wheel under the action of gravity so as to maintain the sensor system at a bottom of the wheel in use at least for wheel rotation speeds less than 60 revolutions per minute.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises at least one of: a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a capacitance sensor, an optical sensor, a radio frequency sensor, an infrared sensor, a range sensor and an ultrasound sensor.

9 . A system comprising:
a wheel; a tire affixed to the wheel; and the apparatus according to claim 1 positioned inside the tire.

10 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein in use and with the wheel at rest the sensor system is positioned at the bottom of the wheel under the action of gravity.

11 . An aircraft including the system according to claim 9 .

12 . A method of monitoring a tire on a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a sensor system inside the tire and mounted for movement relative to the tire; measuring a parameter of the tire using the sensor system; and using the measured parameter to determine a characteristic of the tire or the vehicle.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the measuring the parameter takes place when the sensor system is positioned at a bottom of a wheel on which the tire is mounted.

14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the measuring the parameter takes place during rotation of the wheel and comprises measuring the parameter for at least one complete rotation of the wheel.

15 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the parameter comprises a distance and the characteristic comprises a vehicle loading.

16 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the parameter comprises gas pressure and gas temperature and the characteristic comprises temperature-compensated tire pressure.

17 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the parameter comprises acceleration and the characteristic comprises a landing force.

18 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the parameter comprises tire temperature and the characteristic comprises a tire condition.

19 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the parameter comprises a reflection of an emitted signal by the tire and the characteristic comprises a tire condition.

20 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the parameter comprises a distance and the characteristic comprises a tire tread depth.

21 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising taking action based on the characteristic.

22 . An aircraft tire monitoring system comprising:
a wheel; a tire mounted on the wheel; a range sensor positioned inside the tire and configured for movement relative to the tire; and a processing system configured to:
receive a measurement of a deflection of the tire from the range sensor; and
determine an aircraft loading based on the received deflection.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Ltd

Inventors

• Bill Andrew

Classifications

• B64C25/36

  Arrangements or adaptations of wheels, tyres or axles in general · CPC title

• B60C23/0488

  Movement sensor, e.g. for sensing angular speed, acceleration or centripetal force · CPC title

• B60C23/0447 Primary

  Wheel or tyre mounted circuits · CPC title

• B60C23/0486

  comprising additional sensors in the wheel or tyre mounted monitoring device, e.g. movement sensors, microphones or earth magnetic field sensors · CPC title

• B64F5/60

  Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems · CPC title