Low-tire indicator for wheeled vehicles

Abstract

The present invention, in certain embodiments, is an apparatus to indicate the presence of an under-pressurized pneumatic tire for a vehicle, including, trailers, tractors, trucks or passenger vehicles. The apparatus comprises a housing, a cap, a shaft, a probe element, a bracket, an electrical switching element an electrically powered alarm. The housing is mounted next to the axle for the wheel of the vehicle. The cap is attached to the housing and has an aperture to receive the shaft. The shaft extends through the cap, and at one end, receives the probe element, and at the other end, holds the bracket upon which the electrical switching element is attached. When a tire loses air pressure, the height of the tire, as well as the vertical distance from the axle to the travelling surface, decreases; as the vertical distance decreases, the probe element contacts the travelling surface and rotates the shaft, bracket and electrical switch. The electrical switch and bracket contact a retaining element, which in certain embodiments is either part of the cap or part of the housing. The contact of the retaining element with the bracket prevents the electrical switch from being subjected to force in excess of what is necessary to activate the switch. When the electrical switch contacts the retaining element, at least one electrically powered alarm is activated thus notifying the operator of the vehicle of the deflated tire.

Description

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001] The present invention relates to an indicator system which advises an operator or driver of the deflation of one or more pneumatic tires on a wheeled vehicle, and more particularly, in certain aspects, an indication device comprising a road-surface-contacting probe, which when engaged, activates an alarm to warn an operator or driver of a deflating tire.2. DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT FILING REFERENCE[0002] This invention was the subject of U.S. Patent Office Disclosure Document Number 461610, filed Sept. 5, 1999, entitled, LOW-TIRE INDICATOR FOR WHEELED VEHICLES.3. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003] Most wheeled vehicles on the road today employ pneumatically-inflated tires. Although tubeless pneumatic tires are superior to former tube-type pneumatic tires in many respects, tubeless pneumatic tires develop slow leaks and, when a complete tire failure occurs, deflate more quickly. Because the seal between the wheel rim and tire may be incomplete, due to deforma...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025] A further object of this invention is to provide a low tire pressure warning system which may be easily installed on to various forms of vehicles after their manufacture.

[0026] A further object of this invention is to provide a low tire pressure warning system of simple, durable construction and operation amenable to low-cost manufacture.

Problems solved by technology

Some prior patent art suggests that a probe element that points forward into the general direction of travel is preferable, but in a catastrophic loss of tire pressure or the instantaneous destruction of the tire, it is possible for the forward-pointing probe to ride along the travelling surface, thus not rotating to engage the switching element and alarm; thus, failing to inform the operator of the tire failure while further damage ensues.

The probe is subjected to a wide variety of harsh forces; in the prior art, the electrical switching elements are therefore subjected to the abrupt and destructive forces the ground-contacting element suffers.

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