A TPMS valve for commercial vehicles and an assembled TPMS sensor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a TPMS valve for commercial vehicles and a TPMS sensor subassembly. The valve is provided with a valve body, a valve seat and a sensor subassembly. The valve body and the valve seat are separate components from each other. The valve is installed on the vehicle rim through the valve seat. The valve body is provided with an installation position for the valve core. The valve body and the valve seat are combined and connected to form a communicating air flow passage. A cavity is formed at the combined connection of the valve body and the valve seat, which is located outside the vehicle rim and close to the vehicle rim. The sensor subassembly is arranged in this cavity, and this cavity communicates with the air flow passage of the valve or is located on this air flow passage. The commercial vehicle TPMS and the valve of the present invention integrate the TPMS sensor and the rim valve. Installing it on the rim not only ensures reliable communication but also has a large connection strength, is not easily lost or stolen, and effectively avoids the functional and structural defects of the current commercial vehicle TPMS system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a TPMS sensor for commercial vehicles, a valve stem, and an assembly of the TPMS sensor. Background Art

[0002] The TPMS system has become a mandatory standard for automobiles. Its function is to detect the tire pressure and temperature throughout the driving process of the vehicle in real time to ensure the safe driving of the vehicle. At present, the installation types of sensors (signal acquisition and transmission units) in the TPMS system for commercial vehicles are as follows: 1. (Built-in type) The TPMS sensor is mounted on the tail of the rim valve stem and installed on the vehicle rim together with the valve stem (the TPMS sensor is inside the vehicle rim). 2. (External type) The TPMS sensor is mounted on a dedicated external valve stem and then connected to the mouth of the rim valve stem by a thread together with the external valve stem (the TPMS sensor is outside the vehicle rim). Each of the above two mounting methods has its own advantages in use, but both have functional or structural defects.

[0003] Due to the diverse body sizes and tire configurations of commercial vehicles (trucks, buses, and engineering vehicles), the distance between most wheels and the cab console is relatively large, and the distance between the sensor (signal transmitting unit) of the TPMS system and the vehicle console receiver (signal receiving and processing unit) is relatively large. This requires the transmitting unit to stably maintain a strong radio frequency output signal during vehicle driving. Currently, in the built-in TPMS system used by commercial vehicle manufacturers and the aftermarket for installation, repair, and replacement, since the sensor is placed inside the tire, its radio frequency signal is significantly weakened due to the shielding effect of the metal rim, resulting in high power consumption of the sensor's built-in power supply and unstable radio frequency signal transmission. In the external TPMS system, since the sensor is placed outside the rim, although the above defects can be avoided, due to the loading structure and connection method, the sensor is likely to be lost or easily stolen due to loose connection during vehicle driving. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a TPMS valve stem for commercial vehicles, which places the radio frequency signal acquisition and transmission unit sensor inside the rim valve stem structure to form an integral body with the valve stem, and the sensor is outside the rim during installation, effectively avoiding the defects that the signal of the currently used built-in sensor is affected by rim shielding and the external type is easy to lose and be stolen. To this end, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] A TPMS valve for commercial vehicles, characterized in that the valve is provided with a valve body, a valve seat and a sensor assembly. The valve body and the valve seat are separate components from each other. The valve is installed on the vehicle rim through the valve seat, and the valve body is provided with an installation part for the valve core. The valve body and the valve seat are combined and connected to form a communicating air flow channel. A cavity is formed at the combined connection of the valve body and the valve seat, which is located outside and close to the vehicle rim. The sensor assembly is arranged in this cavity, and this cavity is communicated with or is on the air flow channel of the valve.

[0006] Further, the antenna of the sensor assembly can use the valve body as its extended antenna.

[0007] Further, the antenna of the sensor assembly is welded on the valve seat.

[0008] Further, a threaded connection structure is provided at the tail of the valve seat. The valve seat has a groove for setting a gasket, and the valve is tightly installed on the rim through the upper side wall of the groove, the fastener connected to the threaded connection structure and the gasket.

[0009] Further, the valve seat and the rim are insulated from each other.

[0010] Further, the valve body and the valve seat are connected by threads and locked with thread sealant, and the valve body and the valve seat are also sealed with a sealing ring.

[0011] Further, the sensor assembly is pressed by a limiting spring above to maintain air ventilation between its upper part and the top wall of the cavity. Multiple support protrusions are provided at the bottom of the sensor assembly. The support protrusions maintain the radial position of the sensor assembly and support the bottom of the sensor assembly away from the bottom wall of the cavity to maintain air ventilation. The gap between the side wall of the cavity and the side of the sensor assembly provides a side air flow channel. They jointly constitute the air flow channel in the cavity and are communicated with the air flow channels of the valve body and the valve seat.

[0012] Further, the pressing spring is a left-handed spring, and the spring end face is in a sliding friction state when the valve body and the valve seat are screwed together.

[0013] Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a TPMS sensor assembly suitable for installation in the valve, which is suitable for installation inside the valve, can avoid being stolen, and at the same time can not hinder the smooth air flow inside the valve. For this purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0014] A TPMS sensor subassembly suitable for installation in a valve stem, characterized by comprising a housing, a package body and an internal circuit board. The top of the housing has a spring limiting part. The bottom of the sensor subassembly has a plurality of support protrusions. The sensor subassembly is also provided with a vent hole communicating with the electronic devices in the circuit board.

[0015] Further, a claw part is formed on the side of the housing. The side of the package body is snap-connected with the claw part of the housing. A side vent groove is formed between the claws. The housing has a vent hole at its top.

[0016] Due to the adoption of the technical solution of the present invention, the TPMS for commercial vehicles and the valve stem of the present invention integrate the TPMS sensor and the rim valve stem into one whole. Installed on the rim, it not only ensures reliable communication but also has a large connection strength, is not easy to be lost and stolen, and effectively avoids the functional and structural defects of the current TPMS system for commercial vehicles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic half-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 It is a schematic half-sectional view of the valve stem body.

[0019] Figure 3 It is a schematic half-sectional view of the sensor subassembly.

[0020] Figure 4 It is a schematic half-sectional view of the valve stem seat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to the drawings. The TPMS valve stem provided by the present invention is provided with a valve stem body 2, a valve stem seat 3 and a sensor subassembly 1. The valve stem body 2 and the valve stem seat 3 are separate components from each other. The valve stem is installed on the vehicle rim 100 through the valve stem seat 3. The valve stem body 2 is provided with an installation part for the valve core 200. The valve core 200 is installed in the front part of the valve stem body 2. The valve stem body 2 and the valve stem seat 3 are combined and connected to form a communicating air flow channel 500. A cavity 400 is formed at the combined connection part of the valve stem body 2 and the valve stem seat 3, which is located outside the vehicle rim 100 and close to the vehicle rim 100. The sensor subassembly 1 is arranged in the cavity 400, and the cavity 400 communicates with the air flow channel 500 of the valve stem or is located on the air flow channel 500.

[0022] The sensor subassembly is mainly a circuit board and its packaging body, forming a module suitable for installation in the cavity 500. Such as Figure 1 、 2As shown in the figure, the sensor assembly 1 is integrally composed of an electronic component battery 11, a PCB board 13, an antenna 14, and a chip 15 encapsulated by a low-pressure injection molding body 12 and installed in a claw-shaped plastic housing 16. A boss 161 is provided at the top of the housing 16, and a sensor air inlet 163 is provided on the boss 161. The cylindrical section of the housing is formed into a 4-lobe claw shape, and the claw spacing forms a constant ventilation groove 162 using the wall thickness of the housing. Four evenly distributed support feet 121 are provided at the bottom of the low-pressure injection molding body 12, which together with the ventilation groove 161 form an air flow channel between the sensor assembly 1 and the valve stem seat 3. The radio frequency of the sensor 1 can adopt FSK or PPM modulation methods.

[0023] As Figure 1 , 2 shown in the figure, the valve stem body 2 is provided with an axial through hole 27. The outer shape of the bottom end of the body 2 is a hexagonal column and a cylinder. The hexagonal column 26 is used to assemble with the valve seat 3 using an ordinary wrench. The inner hole at the bottom end of the body 2 is a stepped cylindrical shape. The upper inner cylindrical hole 21 is used to place the sensor limit spring 8. The middle inner cylindrical part 22 is provided with an internal thread 25 for the assembly design with the valve stem seat 3. The lower inner cylindrical part 23 is the sealing surface of the "O" - ring seal 7, and the 15° bevel 24 provided on the inner cylindrical part 23 is the assembly lead-in section for the "O" - ring seal 7.

[0024] As Figure 1 , 4 shown in the figure, the valve stem seat 3 is provided with an axial through hole 39. The outer circle at the upper end of the seat 3 is provided with an external thread 31 for assembling with the internal thread 25 of the body 2. A notch 34 is provided at the outer circle end for the limit and welding of the antenna 14. A groove 35 is also provided on the outer circle of the upper end of the seat 3 below the external thread 31 as the installation position for the "O" - ring seal 7. The upper end of the seat 3 is provided with inner cylindrical holes 32 and 33 for installing the sensor assembly 1. The unilateral clearance between the inner hole diameter of the inner cylindrical hole 33 and the maximum outer diameter of the low - pressure injection molding body 12 of the sensor assembly 1 is ≥0.2mm. The inner cylindrical holes 32, 33 and their bottom, as well as the stepped cylindrical inner hole of the body 2, form a cavity 500 for installing the sensor assembly. The lower end of this cavity 500 communicates with the axial through hole 39 of the valve stem seat 3, and the upper end communicates with the axial through hole 27 of the body 2, forming the connection of the air flow channel. The rod part of the valve stem seat 3 is provided with an installation groove 38 for the valve stem seal 4. An external thread 36 is provided at the tail end of the valve stem seat 3 for installing a hexagon nut 6, and a tail hexagonal hole 37 is also provided for using an internal hexagon wrench during the assembly of the seat 3 and the body 2.

[0025] As Figure 1As shown in the figure, the sensor assembly 1 of the present invention is located in the cavity formed by the valve stem body 2 and the valve stem seat 3. Its antenna 14 is led out and welded at the notch 34 of the seat 3 (antenna welding point 9), so that the seat 3 and the body 2 also form an extended antenna of the sensor 1. The left-handed limit spring 8 is sleeved on the boss 161 of the housing 16 of the sensor 1 and placed in the inner cylindrical hole 21 of the body 2. When the body 2 and the seat 3 are screwed together, the end face of the left-handed limit spring 8 is in a sliding friction state with small resistance. The limit spring 8 prevents the sensor assembly 1 from moving within the valve stem at high speed of the rim. The pressure of the limit spring 8 not only limits the position of the sensor assembly 1 in the cavity 500 formed by the body 2 and the seat 3, but also ensures a constant air flow channel between the upper plane of the sensor housing 16 and the inner plane of the body 2. The cooperation between the support feet 121 and the bottom 331 of the inner hole of the seat 3 ensures a stable gap between the bottom of the sensor assembly and the bottom 331 of the cavity. The aforementioned claw-shaped spacing forms a constant ventilation groove 162 by using the wall thickness of the housing, so that the axial through hole of the body 2 and the axial through hole of the seat 3 are connected through, and the sensing chip 15 above the PCB board 13 receives tire pressure and temperature information in a timely manner through the air inlet hole 163. The inner circumferential hole 23 and the 15° bevel 24 of the body 2 of the present invention and the "O" - ring groove 35 and the "O" - ring seal 7 of the seat 3 constitute the assembly seal between the body 2 and the seat 3. The inner thread 25 of the body 2 and the outer thread 31 of the seat 3 are locked with thread sealant to form a secondary seal between the body 2 and the seat 3. And the body and the seat are sealed and locked by screwing and sealing at the part where the cavity is formed, and their connection strength is much greater than the connection strength between the conventional external sensor and the body. When the commercial vehicle valve stem is installed on the rim, a plastic gasket 5 is placed on the lower side wall of the card slot 38, and the valve stem seal ring 4 is placed between the upper side wall of the card slot 38 and the outer side of the rim and between the bottom wall of the card slot and the rim. The valve stem seal ring 4 and the plastic gasket 5 constitute an insulating belt between the valve stem and the rim to prevent the metal rim from interfering with the sensor radio frequency signal.

[0026] As an alternative, various methods such as opening air holes in components can also form a connected air flow channel.

[0027] The above are only specific embodiments of the present invention, but the structural features of the present invention are not limited thereto. Any changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention are covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A TPMS valve for commercial vehicles, characterized in that The valve stem is provided with a valve stem body, a valve stem seat and a sensor assembly. The valve stem body and the valve stem seat are separate components from each other. The valve stem is installed on the vehicle rim through the valve stem seat, and the valve stem body is provided with an installation part for the valve core. The valve stem body and the valve stem seat are combined and connected to form a communicated air flow channel. A cavity located outside and close to the vehicle rim is formed at the combined connection part of the valve stem body and the valve stem seat. The sensor assembly is arranged in this cavity, and this cavity communicates with the air flow channel of the valve stem or is located on this air flow channel. The sensor assembly is pressed by the upper limiting spring to maintain ventilation and penetration between the upper part of the sensor assembly and the top wall of the cavity. Multiple support protrusions are arranged at the bottom of the sensor assembly. The support protrusions maintain the radial position of the sensor assembly and support the bottom of the sensor assembly away from the bottom wall of the cavity to maintain ventilation and penetration. The gap between the side wall of the cavity and the side surface of the sensor assembly provides a side air flow channel, so as to jointly form an air flow channel in the cavity and communicate with the air flow channels of the valve stem body and the valve stem seat. Insulation is provided between the valve stem seat and the rim.

2. The TPMS valve for commercial vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that The antenna of the sensor assembly can use the valve stem body as its extended antenna.

3. A TPMS valve for commercial vehicles according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The antenna of the sensor assembly is welded on the valve stem seat.

4. The TPMS valve for commercial vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that A threaded connection structure is arranged at the tail of the valve stem seat. The valve stem seat has a clamping groove for setting a gasket, and the valve stem is tightly installed on the rim through the cooperation of the upper side wall of the clamping groove, a fastener and a gasket connected to the threaded connection structure.

5. The TPMS valve for commercial vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that The valve stem body and the valve stem seat are connected by threads and locked with thread sealant, and the valve stem body and the valve stem seat are further sealed with a sealing ring.

6. The TPMS valve for commercial vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that The limiting spring is a left-handed spring, and the spring end face is in a sliding friction state when the valve stem body and the valve stem seat are screwed together.

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