Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Michelin Recherche Et Technique

Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Societe Detechnologie Michelin

Syneco, LLC

Jay Clifford Sinnett

George Phillips O'Brien

John David Adamson

Arthur Richard Metcalf

Harold James

Frank E Gramling

Jack Thiesen

David Myatt

David Bertrand

Patrick Allan Tyndall

Cameron Earl Smith

Pierrick Travert

Elizabeth Hotaling

Arthur Metcalf

George P O'BRIEN

Arthur R Metcalf

David J Myatt

John D Adamson

A toilet plunger having a skirt and reinforced handle portion to prevent the collapse of the plunger and to facilitate a negative pressure being exerted against an obstruction in a toilet.

Toilet plunger

A tire mountable apparatus and a method of fabricating a tire mountable apparatus is disclosed. The tire mountable apparatus includes a first layer, a second layer and a middle layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The tire mountable apparatus further includes an electrical device embedded in the middle layer of the tire mountable apparatus. The middle layer of the tire mountable apparatus completely surrounds the electrical device and is formed from a potting compound, The potting compound does not require exposure to heat, air, moisture, or light to clue and does not require solvent evaporation or outgassing of reaction products to cure. The tire mountable apparatus may be constructed by curing the potting compound between the first layer and the second layer.

Flexible middle layer for RFID patch on tires

Disclosed is an apparatus for providing an RFID device for integration into a tire. A printed circuit board (PCB) is provided with a pair of asymmetric arms forming notches in opposed ends of the PCB. Helically wound antenna elements are positioned in the notches such that the ends of the asymmetric arms are positioned adjacent the nearest approach of the individual helically wound antenna elements.

Spring oriented RFID board

Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for providing an RFID device for integration into a tire. A printed circuit board (PCB) is provided with notches in opposed ends of the PCB that are provided with guide portions as a part of the notches that function as threads to guide an end portion of a matching single pitch helical antenna into appropriately placed vias on the PCB. Threading of the helical antenna is assisted by use of an assembly jig having antenna guiding channels and PCB retaining positioning elements.

In-plane RFID antenna

A piezoelectric triggering mechanism () includes a piezoelectric element (), such as the transducer of a SAW device, that is configured to crack or break upon being subjected to excessive levels of mechanical force or other triggering mechanisms, thus generating a burst of electromagnetic energy. The large impulse of energy can then be conditioned () through resonant circuits or antennas and modulated () with an identification pattern through appropriate structures (such as SAW electrodes) to send a breakage indication signal to a remote receiver (). Piezoelectric elements () may be integrated with a pneumatic tire structure to provide indication upon pressure loss or tire failure. Piezoelectric elements () may also be integrated with safety support features of some tire structures to provide indication of tire operation in a run-flat mode of operation. Related aspects of the present piezoelectric triggering technology employ a piezoelectric element () in a trigger detection method, which may involve detection of such occurrences as breach of security via opening of a sealed access structure or breakage of a glass panel, deployment of an airbag, loss of pressure or excess deflection in a tire, presence of smoke in a given location, and other rupture and sensor applications.

Piezoelectric triggering mechanism

A strain-resistant electrical connection and a method of making the same is provided. An antenna () or other conductive lead is connected to a circuit () in a manner that makes the connection more resistant to mechanical stresses such as movement or rotation of the antenna () or conductive lead relative to the circuit (). The antenna () or conductive lead is at least partially coiled to provide additional ability to withstand mechanical stresses. The antenna () or conductive lead may be encase along with is connected circuit in an elastomeric material.

Robust mounting for RFID transponder antenna

Disclosed ia an apparatus and methodology for detecting tire () rotation by associating a piezoelectric sensor () with an enclosure housing () tire environment related sensors and electronics. The enclosure () may be mounted in a tire () in a location subject to multi-dimensional strain and a signal processor is employed to separate tire rotation information for other types of strain induced signals that may be produced by the piezoelectric sensor ().

Use of piezoelectric sensor attached to electronics package housing

Disclosed are apparatus and methodologies for protecting tire electronics from electrical discharge damage during a tire inspection procedure. Aspects of different embodiments of the disclosed subject matter relate to various techniques for providing protection from high-voltage discharge for tire electronics devices. Exemplary techniques disclosed correspond to methodologies for preventing contact with a high-voltage source, controlling conditions produced by contact with high-voltage sources, or nullifying effects of contact with high-voltage sources.

Method and apparatus for preventing damage to electronics during tire inspection

A strain-resistant electrical connection and a method of making the same is provided. A wire or other conductive lead is connected to a circuit in a manner that makes the connection more resistant to mechanical stresses such as movement or rotation of the lead relative to the circuit. A material is configured around the lead and near the point of connection to the circuit so as to create a region of decreasing flexibility or graduated stiffness near the point of connection. In certain embodiments, the lead may also be coiled or otherwise shaped to provide additional ability to withstand mechanical stresses.

Strain-resistant electrical connection

Disclosed is a methodology for deriving data related to various selected tire () conditions. One or more sensors are analyzed in a manner similar to that of analyzing an electro-cardiogram taken from a human patient in order to determine selected operational characteristics of the monitored tires (). Analysis of the signal waveforms may involve analysis of a single waveform and/or comparison of paired waveforms originating for sensors associated with a single tire or paired tires ().

Flex signature for tire condition

A tire assembly with integrated power generation features includes one or more piezoelectric devices configured to generate electric charge therein upon being subjected to mechanical strains associated with flexure of tire or wheel components. The piezoelectric device may be incorporated in a variety of tire structures and in many different locations. In pneumatic tire structures, the piezoelectric device and related electronics may be embedded in crown or sidewall locations among such selected components as the exterior tread portion, first and second steel belts of a belt package, carcass, cap ply portion, inner liner, zone base, etc. The piezoelectric device with optional rubber casing may also be attached to such locations as the inner liner and tire exterior. Piezoelectric devices may also be integrated with a tire and safety support combination that is configured to operate in an extended mobility mode when the tire structure loses air pressure. Piezoelectric devices may alternatively be integrated with a non-pneumatic structurally supported tire such as one including a reinforced annular band, a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the annular band, a mounting band at the inner end of the web spokes and a tread portion disposed on the annular band.

System and method for generating electric power from a rotating tire's mechanical energy

A bridge patch for use with a tire is provided. The bridge patch modifies the magnitude, orientation, or both of the mechanical forces, and particularly the stress-strain relationship, imparted by the inner liner of a tire in order to obtain the desired stress-strain relationship for operating an electromechanical transducer element attached to the bridge patch. The bridge patch includes at least one pad configured for attachment to the inner liner of the tire, and a bridge member attached to the pad and separated from contact with the tire. In certain embodiments, bridge patch includes a bridge member that is arch-shaped and is connected to two pads, one each located on the ends of the bridge member.

Bridge patch for electromechanical transducer elements in tire assemblies

A strain-resistant electrical connection and a method of making the same is provided. A wire or other conductive lead is connected to a circuit in a manner that makes the connection more resistant to mechanical stresses such as movement or rotation of the lead relative to the circuit. A material is configured around the lead and near the point of connection to the circuit so as to create a region of decreasing flexibility or graduated stiffness near the point of connection. In certain embodiments, the lead may also be coiled or otherwise shaped to provide additional ability to withstand mechanical stresses. In other embodiments, additional elements may be provided to assist in controlling the stiffness near the connection point.

Graduated stiffness for electrical connections in tires

A method of making a mounting patch for mounting an electronic assembly in the inner liner or a pneumatic tire includes the steps of providing a power source, embedding the power source into a quantity of uncured rubber, and curing the uncured rubber by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the uncured rubber such that the power source is secured in the rubber. The provided power source may correspond to one or more batteries. Additional components that may be incorporated with the mounting assembly may include at least one conductive element, which may also be embedded into the quantity of uncured rubber. An antenna may be configured with undulations to allow longitudinal stretching of the antenna and then also embedded into the quantity of uncured rubber. A preferably non-conductive adhesive layer may be applied to selected portion of the power source, conductive element, and/or the antenna before the step of embedding in the uncured rubber.

Growing community of inventors

Greenville, SC, United States of America

Jay Clifford Sinnett