GB2392889A

GB2392889A - Tyre with electronic tag

Info

Publication number: GB2392889A
Application number: GB0221450A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Osman
Original assignee: SMARTRONICS Ltd
Current assignee: SMARTRONICS Ltd
Priority date: 2002-09-16
Filing date: 2002-09-16
Publication date: 2004-03-17
Also published as: AU2003263331A1; GB0221450D0; WO2004024474A1

Abstract

Apparatus for tagging a tyre comprises the electronic tag 2 and a compartment 4 which is formed in the tyre or in a housing 6 which is attachable to the tyre, the compartment 4 accommodating the tag 2 with some play. The compartment 4 has passages 8 communicating with the tyre interior for pressure equalisation. The housing 6 is located beneath the tread central region.

Description

1 2392889

ELECTRONIC TYRE TAG

This invention relates to electronic tyre tags which are used to identify a tyre and thereby assist in 5 recording its service history.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known to embed an electronic tag in a tyre, so 10 that the tag can be scanned during the life of the tyre and the tyre identified so that its service history can be documented. Once a tyre has been tagged, it is possible to record the tyre's history from the manufacturing process through to the end of its working 15 life when it is scrapped. This enables tyre companies to manage warranty and maintenance issues more effectively, resulting in reduced costs and improved customer care. Such tags were initially applied to commercial vehicles, but are equally applicable to 20 passenger car Lyres.

If the electronic tyre tag is embedded in the tyre itself, the structure of the tyre may be weakened, so that the tyre can fail prematurely, and such failure 25 can be catastrophic (a tyre blow-out). In view of this problem, the applicant developed a system for attaching an electronic tag to the inside surface of a tyre.

Whether the tag is embedded in or attached to the tyre, 30 the harsh operational environment of the tyre reduces the service life of the tag. Consequently, conventional tags have to be made extremely rugged, which increases their cost.

STATEMENTS OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for tagging a tyre 5 comprising an electronic tag and a compartment which is formed in the tyre or in a housing which is attachable to the tyre, the compartment accommodating the tag with some play.

10 Preferably, the housing comprises a patch which is attachable to the tyre.

Preferably at least part of the housing is flexible.

15 Preferably, the housing is attachable to the tyre by adhesive, hot vulcanising or a conventional puncture repair process.

Preferably, the housing is attachable to an inside wall 20 of the tyre.

Preferably, the housing is attached beneath the tyre tread. Most preferably, the housing is attached beneath the central region of the tyre tread.

Alternatively, the housing may be attached to or formed in the tyre bead.

According to a second aspect of the present invention 30 there is provided a housing for attaching an electronic tag to a tyre, the housing defining a compartment which is larger than the tag which it is intended to house.

Preferably, the compartment is between 1 and 5 mm wider than the tag. Most preferably the compartment is approximately 2 mm wider than the tag.

5 Preferably, the compartment is between 1 and 5 mm thicker than the tag. Most preferably, the compartment is approximately 2 mm thicker than the tag.

Preferably, the compartment comprises a pocket formed 10 in the housing.

Preferably, the housing is provided with at least one flow passage which maintains the compartment at the same pressure as the inside of the Lyre. Preferably, 15 the flow passage is provided adjacent an edge of the compartment. Most preferably, four equidistantly spaced flow passages are provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an electronic tag; and Figure 2 shows a housing having a compartment in which the electronic tag is housed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The environment within a tyre is extremely harsh and is not well documented. Thus, if electronic components of

a tag are to be exposed to the environment of a Lyre it is important to protect the electronics from the environment and conditions within the tyre. The electronics of a Lyre consist of an ASIC which stores 5 data and communicates via an antenna (the antenna is made of copper wire less than the diameter of a human hair). Protecting the electronics is achieved by encapsulating it in a plastic housing filled with potting compound. The resulting electronic tag is 10 known as a "pill".

Referring to Figure 1, the electronic tag comprises a disc which may be of any appropriate size to be accommodated within a Lyre but in a preferred 15 embodiment has a thickness Y of between 2 and 4 mm and a diameter X of between 15 and 40 mm.

Referring to Figure 2, the electronic tag is fitted into a compartment 4 formed in a housing comprising a 20 patch 6. The compartment has a greater diameter and thickness than the electronic tag 2 by an amount a. In a preferred embodiment is approximately 2 mm.

The patch 6 is similar to patches used to repair 25 punctures in commercial Lyres or passenger car Lyres and may be fitted to the Lyre using either hot vulcanising or traditional repair processes. In addition to having a compartment 4, four equidistantly spaced openings 8 are provided through the material of 30 the patch 6 at the periphery of the compartment 4, so that the compartment 4 is maintained in fluid communication with the environment surrounding the patch.

In use, the electronic tag 2 is inserted into the compartment 4 of the patch 6 and the patch 6 is attached, for example by hot vulcanizing, to an inside surface of a Lyre beneath the tread. Most preferably, 5 the patch is located directly beneath the centreline of the tread, since the curvature of the inside wall of the Lyre at this point is likely to be smaller than elsewhere beneath the tread. Furthermore, in this central position, centrifugal forces acting on the 10 patch as the tyre rotates, are most likely to force the patch with a substantially equal pressure against the inside surface of the tyre.

When the Lyre is fitted and inflated to a predetermined 15 pressure, if the compartment 4 was air tight, it would be crushed. This is avoided by use of the holes 8 through the material of the patch 6.

In early test samples, the electronic tag 2 was a tight 20 fit within the compartment 4. In extensive testing of such patches, results were encouraging with failure rates of under 2t in initial tests on a batch of 224 Lyres. However, in accordance with the present invention, the electronic tag is received with some 25 play within the compartment 4, and in tests of such patches applied to passenger car Lyres there was approximately a tenfold improvement in failure rates.

Although the present invention has been illustrated 30 with reference to a patch which is fixed to an inside surface of a Lyre, the concept of an oversized compartment to accommodate an electronic tag could be applied to an embodiment in which the electronic tag is embedded within an oversized compartment formed within

the material of the tyre. For example the compartment may be cut into the tyre and the electronic tag inserted afterwards from the inside of the tyre. If necessary the open end of the compartment may be sealed 5 with a patch, such as a conventional tyre repair patch.

Alternatively, the compartment may be formed within the material of the tyre. For example, it could be formed between the carcass and the tyre tread, during 10 manufacture of the tyre. In order to provide the required play in the compartment, the electronic tag may be inserted into an oversized housing which is then incorporated into the tyre during the manufacturing process. The oversized housing may be airtight and may 15 comprise a rigid outer shell and a resilient inner liner to provide shock absorption for the electronic tag. For example, the outer shell could be made from rigid plastic material and the inner liner could be made from rubber or nitrite material.

Claims

1. Apparatus for tagging a tyre comprising an electronic tag and a compartment which is formed in the 5 tyre or in a housing which is attachable to the tyre, the compartment accommodating the tag with some play.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the housing comprises a patch which is attachable to the 10 tyre.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which at least part of the housing is flexible.

15

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the housing is attachable to the tyre by a conventional puncture repair process.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding 20 claims, in which the housing is attachable to an inside surface of the tyre.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the housing is attached beneath the tyre tread.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which the housing is attached beneath the central region of the tyre tread.

30

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the compartment is between 1 and 5 mm wider than the tag.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the compartment is approximately 2 mm wider than the tag.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding 5 claims, in which the compartment is between 1 and 5 mm thicker than the tag.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the compartment is approximately 2 mm thicker than the tag.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the compartment comprises a pocket formed in the housing or in the tyre.

15

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the housing is provided with at least one flow passage which extends between the compartment and the outside of the housing.

20

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which four equidistantly spaced flow passages are provided around the periphery of the compartment.

15. A housing for attaching an electronic tag to a 25 Lyre, the housing defining a compartment which is larger than the tag which it is intended to house.

16. Apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.