METHOD FOR STORING TIRE PRESSURE AND TIRE TEMPERATURE VALUES OF VEHICLE TIRES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for storing tire pressure and tire temperature values ​​of vehicle tires.

[0002] Tire sensor modules or tire modules are known for monitoring tire conditions, in particular tire pressure or tire temperature, of tires of a commercial vehicle. These tire sensor modules are arranged, for example, inside a tire. Such tire sensor modules are designed to detect a tire pressure in a position-specific manner, process it, and transmit it to an electronic control unit (ECU) of a monitoring system. The control unit receives the data telegram via a receiver module of the monitoring system and, depending on limit values, issues a warning signal to the driver, for example, if a tire pressure below a limit value is detected on one of the tires. An example of such a tire sensor module is disclosed in DE 102 43 441 A1.

[0003] There are a variety of tire pressure monitoring systems available that can detect pressure losses.

[0004] DE 101 44 326 A1 and US2010 / 132445 A1 disclose known tire pressure monitoring systems.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing a method with which tire pressure monitoring systems are improved.

[0006] The task is solved using a procedure with the following steps: a) Providing vehicle tires, each with a tire module, wherein the tire module comprises at least one tire pressure sensor, b) Regularly measuring the tire pressure at predetermined time intervals, c) Transmitting the individual pressure values ​​to a storage unit on the tire module, d) Assigning the respective pressure value to a defined pressure interval, e) Storing the respective measured pressure values ​​with a counter system on the storage unit, wherein the counter system records the frequency of pressure values ​​in the respectively defined pressure interval, f) Initiating an assessment of a specific tire property or a specific vehicle property.

[0007] One advantage of the process is that the use of the new method significantly improves conventional tire pressure monitoring systems.

[0008] The new method makes it particularly easy to record and evaluate the pressure history of individual vehicle tires.

[0009] In this way, it is easy to determine whether the vehicle tire has been driven particularly frequently with too low tire pressure.

[0010] If a vehicle tire is operated with under-inflation for extended periods, the tire assessment may indicate that the tire's lifespan will be shortened. It could also mean that the tire is no longer suitable for retreading.

[0011] In an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the tire module comprises a temperature sensor, wherein a regular measurement of the temperature values ​​takes place at predetermined time intervals, wherein an assignment of the respective temperature value to a defined temperature interval takes place, wherein a storage of the respective measured temperature values ​​takes place on the storage unit with a counter system, wherein the counter system records the frequency of temperature values ​​in the respectively defined temperature interval, wherein an evaluation of a frequency distribution of the measured temperature values ​​takes place with an evaluation algorithm.

[0012] By recording the temperature history of the vehicle tire, a statement can also be made about the tire's durability.

[0013] When assessing the vehicle's characteristics, it could be the case that a vehicle brake is defective and has caused correspondingly high tire temperatures.

[0014] In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the measured pressure ranges comprise a total range between approximately 50% and approximately 130% of a nominal pressure of the vehicle tire, wherein the defined pressure intervals lie in a range between approximately 3% and approximately 6% of the nominal pressure.

[0015] This makes it easy to determine a frequency distribution for the measured pressure values.

[0016] This also reduces the required size of the storage unit to an optimum.

[0017] In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the temperature ranges cover a total range between approximately 250 Kelvin and approximately 400 Kelvin, wherein the defined temperature intervals lie in a range between approximately 4 and 10 Kelvin, preferably approximately 5 Kelvin.

[0018] This allows a simple frequency distribution to be created for the measured temperature values.

[0019] In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that a further interval is provided for measured values ​​above or below the total range.

[0020] Normally, the measured values ​​above and below the total range will be a small number.

[0021] In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the counter system takes into account the length of time between the measuring intervals for the pressure and / or temperature value.

[0022] This ensures that the frequency distribution is not distorted if the time intervals for the measurement intervals change in between.

[0023] In a further advantageous development of the invention, the memory capacity of the counter system is designed for the expected service life of the vehicle tires. Especially for commercial vehicle tires, the memory capacity should be sufficiently large, as these can have a mileage of up to 300,000 km.

[0024] In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the meter systems are read out and evaluated via an external reading device.

[0025] The external reading device can be a smartphone, for example, with the meter system being read via a Bluetooth connection.

[0026] In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that during the tire assessment a statement is made regarding the remaining reliable durability of the vehicle tire.

[0027] This allows a fleet operator, for example, to quickly determine when certain vehicle tires need to be replaced in the future.

[0028] In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that during the tire assessment a statement is made as to whether the vehicle tire is suitable for retreading of the tread.

[0029] In this way, certain vehicle tires can be excluded from retreading without further testing.

[0030] In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the tire module is arranged on the inside of a vehicle tire, wherein the temperature sensor detects the temperature values ​​of the tread and / or the sidewalls.

[0031] The temperature in the tread or on the sidewall is a direct measure of the temperature at the belt edge of the tire.

[0032] Monitoring the temperature values ​​of the tread and sidewalls of the vehicle tire is particularly important for estimating tire life.

[0033] A continuously measured excessive temperature of the tread and thus the belt edge has a negative impact on tire durability.

[0034] The invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. It shows: Fig. 1 : A vehicle tire with a tire module in a side view. Fig. 2: The sensors, the storage unit and the external reader. Fig. 3 : An example of the measured temperature history.

[0035] The Fig. 1 shows an example embodiment.

[0036] The vehicle 6 is shown in a side view. A tire module 5 is arranged on the inside of the tire 6, which contains, among other things, a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor.

[0037] The tire pressure and temperature are measured regularly, for example every two minutes, by the sensors.

[0038] The Figure 2 shows schematically how the pressure and temperature sensor 2 continuously measures the tire pressure P and the temperature T.

[0039] Both measured values ​​are recorded using a counter system on tire module 5.

[0040] The meter system includes a storage unit 1 with which the pressure history and the temperature history are recorded and evaluated.

[0041] The storage unit 1 can be read with an external reader 2.

[0042] This could be a smartphone, for example.

[0043] The Figure 3 shows an example of a frequency distribution of measured temperature values. The temperature in Kelvin is plotted on the x-axis (3). The respective number is plotted on the y-axis (4). The temperature ranges, for example, have an interval size between 4 and 10 Kelvin. The temperature range between value A and value B could, for example, include temperatures from 250 to 255 Kelvin. Whenever a temperature value is measured in this range, the corresponding counter is incremented by 1.

[0044] The respective storage intervals can also be adapted to the tire, for example to take into account whether it is a passenger car tire or a commercial vehicle tire.

[0045] The histogram provided in this way can be used to quickly determine whether the vehicle tire has been operated very frequently at a high temperature.

[0046] If this statement can be made using the histogram, it can also be concluded that the tire's service life will be significantly shorter. For example, it could be stated that the tire's service life will only be a maximum of six months, instead of the normally expected two years.

[0047] The evaluation of the pressure history of the vehicle tire would be analogous to the histogram in the Figure 3 take place.

[0048] The pressure ranges would, for example, include interval sizes from 3 to 6% of the nominal pressure. For measured values ​​above the total range as well as measured values ​​below the total range, an additional interval is made available. Ideally, the intervals are small and the total range is large. The interval size is selected depending on the total memory area available. For each regular measurement, the counter in whose temperature or pressure range the measurement lies is incremented by a defined value. If the measuring intervals always have the same time interval, the defined value can be 1. If different measuring intervals are available, the defined value depends on the length of the respective measuring interval, so that the value is linear to the length of the measuring interval. If, for example, two measuring intervals are possible in the sensor, the lengths of which are 16 or 24 hours.128 seconds, the respective counter value could be increased by 1 or 8 per measurement. The counters have sufficient memory for the expected tire life. List of reference symbols

[0049] 1Storage unit 2Pressure and temperature sensor on the tire module 3x-axis: Temperature in Kelvin 4y-axis: Counter 5Tire module 6Vehicle tire A to BBelow the temperature range of approx. 250 Kelvin H to IAbove the temperature range of approx. 400 Kelvin pTire pressure TTemperature

Claims

1. Method for storing tyre pressure values of vehicle tyres (6), having at least the following steps: a) providing vehicle tyres (6), each having a tyre module (5), the tyre module (5) comprising at least one tyre pressure sensor, b) regularly measuring the tyre pressure at predefined time intervals, characterized by c) transmitting the individual pressure values to a memory unit (1) on the tyre module (5), d) assigning the respective pressure value to a defined pressure interval, e) storing the respective measured pressure values with a counter system on the memory unit (1), the counter system being used to record the frequency of pressure values in the respectively defined pressure interval, f) initiating an assessment in relation to a specific tyre property or in relation to a specific vehicle property.

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tyre module (5) comprises a temperature sensor, the temperature values being regularly measured at predefined time intervals, the respective temperature value being assigned to a defined temperature interval, the respective measured temperature values being stored with a counter system on the memory unit, the counter system being used to record the frequency of temperature values in the respectively defined temperature interval, a frequency distribution of the measured temperature values being evaluated with an evaluation algorithm.

3. Method according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measured pressure ranges comprise an overall range between about 40% and about 150% of a nominal pressure of the vehicle tyre (6), the defined pressure intervals lying in a range between 3% and 6% of the nominal pressure.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature ranges cover an overall range between about 200 kelvins and about 450 kelvins, the defined temperature intervals lying in a range between 4 and 10 kelvins, preferably about 5 kelvins.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further interval is respectively provided for measured values above or below the overall range.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the counter system takes into account the length of time between the measuring intervals for the pressure and / or temperature value.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the memory size of the counter system is designed for the expected lifetime of the vehicle tyre.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the counter systems are read and evaluated by an external reader (2).

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the tyre assessment, a statement is made concerning the still remaining reliable durability of the vehicle tyre (6).

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the tyre assessment, a statement is made as to whether the vehicle tyre (6) is suitable for retreading.

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tyre module (5) is arranged on a tyre inner side of a vehicle tyre (6), the temperature sensor recording the temperature values of the tread and / or of the sidewalls.