US 11,915,530 B2
Wheel end monitoring apparatus, fastener, and method
Benjamin Mortensen, Camas, WA (US); Brian Bove, Portland, OR (US); Kaustubh Deshmukh, Hillsboro, OR (US); and Timothy James Reddington, II, Vancouver, WA (US)
Assigned to Consolidated Metco, Inc., Vancouver, WA (US)
Filed by Consolidated Metco, Inc., Vancouver, WA (US)
Filed on Oct. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/065,985.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/912,955, filed on Oct. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0110620 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. G01M 17/013 (2006.01); G07C 5/00 (2006.01); G07C 5/08 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01); B60B 3/16 (2006.01); B60B 27/00 (2006.01)
CPC G07C 5/008 (2013.01) [G01M 17/013 (2013.01); G07C 5/0816 (2013.01); H02K 7/1846 (2013.01); B60B 3/16 (2013.01); B60B 27/0015 (2013.01); B60B 27/0068 (2013.01)] 32 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wheel end monitoring apparatus for a vehicle, the wheel end monitoring apparatus comprising:
a wheel hub configured to receive a wheel rim and be clamped therewith;
a stud and a nut of the wheel hub, the nut operable to threadingly engage the stud and clamp the wheel hub and wheel rim together which elongates the stud;
an internal compartment of the stud;
a power source, at least one sensor, and communication circuitry that are operably coupled;
wherein the power source, at least one sensor, and communication circuitry are rotatable with the clamped wheel hub and wheel rim;
wherein the stud includes a displacement member in the internal compartment;
wherein the at least one sensor includes a first sensor in the internal compartment of the stud, the first sensor configured to detect a distance in the internal compartment between the first sensor and the displacement member;
wherein the distance in the internal compartment between the first sensor and the displacement member increases with elongation of the stud;
the at least one sensor configured to detect at least one property of the clamped wheel hub and the wheel rim based at least in part upon the distance between the first sensor and the distance member in the internal compartment, the at least one property indicative of the clamping of the clamped wheel hub and the wheel rim; and
the communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate data associated with the at least one property to an external device.