FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates to a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, a TPMS module includes a housing within which a pressure measuring device and a transmission device are provided. In known systems, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,234,919, the pressure measuring housing is attached to a tire valve and installed inside the tire to be monitored. The housing is shaped to be adjacent to, i.e., rest on, an interior rim well.

It is important that the housing be adjacent the interior wheel rim well for reliability purposes. An issue arises, however, with respect to the differing geometries of the interior rim wells of various wheels and/or rims. In addition, there are differently shaped tire valves for various tire, rim and wheel combinations. Accordingly, the valve and rim/wheel geometries may combine to prevent the TPMS module from being able to contact the interior rim well. Further, a bolt-in TPMS module must meet customer-specified residual torque specifications in order to resist sensor clocking and/or lift during high centrifugal loading.

A known solution to the foregoing issues implements a variable angle TPMS sensor module that can adjust the angle of the module with respect to the wheel rim. A metal-to-metal contact bolt joint is typically used in order to resist the static and dynamic loads applied to the sensor during its time in service.

What is needed, however, is a better tire pressure measuring assembly to address the shortcomings of known systems.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is a tire monitoring module, comprising: a sensor body having an opening defined therein and receiving surfaces provided adjacent the opening; and a valve comprising: a distal portion; a coupling portion; a plurality of arcuate surfaces provided on the coupling portion; and a set of gripping structures disposed on coupling portion arcuate surface. The valve is provided in the sensor body opening and arranged such that the gripping structures couple to the sensor body arcuate receiving surfaces to maintain a fixed relationship of the valve to the sensor body.

In one aspect, each set of gripping structures comprises a plurality of gripping teeth. In one aspect, each gripping tooth in the plurality of gripping teeth comprises a linear protrusion extending from the arcuate surface. In one aspect, the linear protrusions on the tab arcuate surfaces are parallel to one another and are equidistantly distributed.

In one aspect, the gripping structures deform the sensor body arcuate receiving surfaces and engage therewith.

In another aspect of the present disclosure there is a tire monitoring module, comprising: a sensor body having an opening defined therein and two arcuate receiving surfaces provided adjacent the opening; a valve having a distal portion and a coupling portion; a plurality of opposed arcuate surfaces provided on the coupling portion; and a plurality of gripping teeth disposed on the arcuate surface. The valve is provided in the sensor body opening and arranged such that the gripping teeth on the coupling portion arcuate surfaces couple to the sensor body arcuate receiving surfaces.

