阅读说明：本技术 机动车辆轮端机械部件的温度测量方法及相应的装置 (Method for measuring the temperature of a mechanical component at the wheel end of a motor vehicle and corresponding device ) 是由 肯尼斯·C·菲格利 达米恩·约克努克斯 夏洛特·伍 于 2020-09-08 设计创作，主要内容包括：车辆轮端机械部件的温度测量方法,包括以下步骤：使用热传感器以初始测量频率测量部件温度；以初始广播频率广播被测温度；判断最近一次测量的温度是否高于第一预设温度；如果是,将初始广播频率调升至更高广播频率,将初始测量频率调升至更高测量频率；以更高测量频率测量部件温度；以更高广播频率广播被测温度；如果否,则回到使用热传感器以初始测量频率测量部件温度的步骤；在以更高广播频率广播测量的温度以后,判断最近一次测量的温度是否高于第一预设温度；如果是,则回到以更高测量频率对部件执行新的温度测量的步骤；如果否,则将广播频率调降至初始广播频率,将测量频率调降至初始测量频率,然后回到以初始测量频率测量部件温度的步骤。(The temperature measuring method of the vehicle wheel end mechanical component comprises the following steps: measuring a component temperature using a thermal sensor at an initial measurement frequency; broadcasting the measured temperature at an initial broadcast frequency; judging whether the temperature measured last time is higher than a first preset temperature or not; if so, the initial broadcast frequency is adjusted to a higher broadcast frequency, and the initial measurement frequency is adjusted to a higher measurement frequency; measuring the component temperature at a higher measurement frequency; broadcasting the measured temperature at a higher broadcast frequency; if not, returning to the step of measuring the component temperature using the thermal sensor at the initial measurement frequency; after broadcasting the measured temperature at a higher broadcasting frequency, judging whether the last measured temperature is higher than a first preset temperature; if so, returning to the step of performing a new temperature measurement on the component at a higher measurement frequency; if not, the broadcast frequency is adjusted down to the initial broadcast frequency, the measurement frequency is adjusted down to the initial measurement frequency, and then the step of measuring the component temperature at the initial measurement frequency is returned.)

1. A method of measuring the temperature of a mechanical component, such as a wheel end of a motor vehicle, said component being equipped with a thermal sensor, said method comprising the steps of:

-measuring the temperature of the component at an initial measurement frequency using a thermal sensor;

-broadcasting the measured temperature at an initial broadcast frequency;

-determining whether the last measured temperature is above a first preset temperature threshold,

i) if this is the case, changing the broadcast frequency from the initial broadcast frequency to a higher broadcast frequency, changing the measurement frequency from the initial measurement frequency to a higher measurement frequency;

-performing a new temperature measurement on the component at the higher measurement frequency;

-broadcasting the measured temperature at the higher broadcast frequency;

ii) if the temperature measured last time is judged to be less than or equal to the first preset temperature threshold value, keeping the broadcast frequency and the measurement frequency unchanged, and returning to the step of measuring the temperature of the component at the initial measurement frequency by using the thermal sensor;

-determining whether the last measured temperature is above the first preset temperature threshold after broadcasting the measured temperature at the higher broadcasting frequency,

i) if this is the case, the process returns to the step of performing a new temperature measurement on the component at the higher measurement frequency;

ii) if this is not the case, changing the broadcast frequency from the higher broadcast frequency to an initial broadcast frequency, changing the measurement frequency from the higher measurement frequency to an initial measurement frequency, and then returning the process to the step of measuring the temperature of the component at the initial measurement frequency using the thermal sensor.

2. A method of measurement according to claim 1, comprising a further step, after broadcasting the measured temperature at a broadcast frequency, of forming a cycle of at least one of the following processes:

-determining whether the measured temperature is above a preset temperature threshold,

i) if so, then the measurement frequency is increased to another measurement frequency, the broadcast frequency is changed to another broadcast frequency, the temperature is measured at the another measurement frequency before a new round of circulation is started, and the temperature is broadcast at the another broadcast frequency;

ii) if not, reducing the measuring frequency and the broadcasting frequency to the previous value, and continuing the step of judging whether the measured temperature is higher than the preset temperature threshold value.

3. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lowest temperature since the last reset of the sensor and the highest temperature since the last reset of the sensor are broadcast together with the measured temperature.

4. The measuring method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor vehicle is a truck, trailer or bus.

5. A temperature measuring device of a mechanical component at a wheel end of a motor vehicle, comprising a processing device connected to a thermal sensor, the processing device performing a measuring method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the processing device communicating with the thermal sensor during the performance of the measuring method to set a measuring frequency and receive a measurement result, the processing device then broadcasting a last measured temperature at a broadcasting frequency and deciding a change of the measuring frequency and the broadcasting frequency based on a comparison between the temperature measurement value and a predetermined threshold value stored in a memory.

6. A measuring device according to claim 5, wherein the processing means is wirelessly connected to a human-machine interface, whereby the driver is informed that a thermal event is imminent.

7. A measuring device according to claim 5, wherein the processing means is wirelessly connected to the communication means so that the remote server can be informed that the measured temperature is above at least one of the preset thresholds for further processing or for warning the driver.

8. The measurement device of claim 7, wherein the remote server communicates with the driver through an application executing on a smartphone.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a measuring apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a measuring apparatus and method for a vehicle.

Background

During the braking process, a large amount of kinetic energy can be converted into heat energy. While this is not a concern in private cars, it can still be a problem in larger vehicles such as trucks, trailers, buses, or trains.

In some instances, the braking of such vehicles can lead to thermal events, thereby threatening the safety of the user and the vehicle. Thermal events have become the pronoun (term) for a wheel end fire (wheel end fire).

Thermal events may be detected by measuring the temperature of the component of interest. However, the duration of the temperature rise that results in the thermal event depends on the product. In some cases, this temperature rise may be quite brief, thereby circumventing the detection of currently used thermal sensors.

Motor vehicles are generally equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system tpms (tire pressure monitoring system) for monitoring tire pressure. Some TPMSs also perform temperature measurements. However, the measured temperature is the temperature of the air inside the tire, which generates heat differently from the mechanical parts of the wheel. In addition, the polling interval (polling interval) of the TPMS is also too long, typically requiring about 30 minutes, and is too long for early detection of thermal events.

Furthermore, tire pressure monitoring systems also include batteries that are designed to last years, embedded in the system. Due to these limitations, it is not possible to reduce both the polling interval and the life of the battery, which is not easy to replace.

There is a real need for a measuring device and method that both allows the temperature of mechanical components to be measured and broadcast with high accuracy when a thermal event is imminent, and also conserves battery usage during the rest of the time.

From the state of the art, the following methods of detecting the temperature rise are known.

The hub alert is a sticker on the hub that changes color if a preset threshold temperature is exceeded. The change in ink color on the decal is gradual due to the chemical reactions involved. Thus, such hub alerting is not a real-time solution since the color change involves a duration of time.

Document WO2005/027065 discloses a wheel end assembly high temperature warning system in connection with a TPMS.

Document CA2200647 discloses a thermal sensor for tractor trailer axles. The disclosed sensor is a thermal sensor disposed between the axle spindle and the hub and brake drum subunit (drum sub assembly).

Document WO2017072143a1 discloses a system and a method for monitoring the temperature and mileage of a hub located in a trailer axle based on measurements of a thermocouple in the axle.

Document EP1256792 discloses a wheel assembly with a temperature indicator. The thermometer is mounted in the hub and initiates wireless communication when the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Document W2015071022 discloses a wheel bearing assembly with a temperature measuring device.

None of these devices allow for finer temperature sensing when the temperature reaches a predetermined threshold, thereby detecting an impending thermal event, while also ensuring that the battery is spared the rest of the time. The technical problem is not yet solved.

Disclosure of Invention

One aspect of the invention is a method for measuring the temperature of a mechanical component, such as a wheel end of a motor vehicle, said component being equipped with a thermal sensor, said method comprising the steps of:

-measuring the temperature of the component at an initial measurement frequency using a thermal sensor;

-broadcasting the measured temperature at an initial broadcast frequency;

-determining (/ determining) (determining) whether the temperature of the last (/ last) (last) measurement is above a first preset temperature threshold,

-if this is the case (/ is this), changing the broadcast frequency from the initial broadcast frequency to a higher broadcast frequency, changing the measurement frequency from the initial measurement frequency to a higher measurement frequency;

-performing a new temperature measurement on the component at the higher measurement frequency;

-broadcasting the measured temperature at the higher broadcast frequency;

-if it is determined that the last measured temperature is less than or equal to the first preset temperature threshold, keeping the broadcast frequency and the measurement frequency unchanged, and going back to (/ then back to) (resetting) the step of measuring the temperature of the component at the initial measurement frequency using the thermal sensor;

-after broadcasting the measured temperature at the higher broadcasting frequency, determining whether the last measured temperature is higher than the first preset temperature threshold

-if this is the case, the process goes back to the step of performing a new temperature measurement on said component at said higher measurement frequency;

-if this is not the case, changing the broadcast frequency from the higher broadcast frequency to an initial broadcast frequency, changing the measurement frequency from the higher measurement frequency to an initial measurement frequency, and then returning to the step of measuring the temperature of the component at the initial measurement frequency using the thermal sensor.

The measurement method further comprises a subsequent step, after broadcasting the measured temperature at the broadcasting frequency, forming at least one cycle of the following intervals:

-determining whether the measured temperature is above a preset temperature threshold

If so, increasing the measurement frequency to another measurement frequency, changing the broadcast frequency to another broadcast frequency, measuring the temperature at the another measurement frequency, and broadcasting the temperature at the another broadcast frequency before starting a new round of the loop;

if not, adjusting the measuring frequency and the broadcasting frequency to the previous value, and continuing to judge whether the measured temperature is higher than the preset temperature threshold value.

The lowest temperature since the sensor was last reset and the highest temperature since the sensor was last reset are broadcast along with the measured temperature.

The wheels may be motor vehicles such as trucks, trailers or buses, motorcycles or trains.

Another aspect of the invention is a temperature measurement device (measurement device) for a mechanical component, such as a wheel end of a motor vehicle, comprising a processing means connected to a memory and a thermal sensor. The processing means performs the measurement method described above. In the course of executing the measuring method, the processing device communicates with the thermal sensor to set a measuring frequency and receive measuring results (measurements); the processing means then broadcasts the last measured temperature at the broadcast frequency and decides (/ determines) (determining) the alteration of the measurement frequency and the broadcast frequency based on a comparison between the temperature measurement value and a preset threshold value stored in the memory.

The processing device may be wirelessly connected to the human machine interface, thereby informing the driver that a thermal event is imminent.

The processing means may be wirelessly connected to the communication means so that the remote server can be informed that the measured temperature is above at least one preset threshold for further processing or for warning the driver.

The remote server may communicate with the driver through an application executing on the smartphone.

Drawings

The invention may be better understood by studying the following detailed description of several embodiments considered by way of purely non-limiting example and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the main steps of the measurement process in a first embodiment of the invention;

fig. 2 shows the main steps of the measuring process according to the second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows the main steps of the measuring method according to the invention in a first embodiment.

In a first step 1, the sensor measures the temperature of its attached component at an initial measurement frequency M1, and in a second step 2 the measured temperature Tcurrent is broadcast at an initial broadcast frequency B1.

In one particular embodiment, the minimum temperature Tmin since the last product reset (reset) and the maximum temperature Tmax since the last product reset are broadcast along with the last measured temperature Tcurrent. After a damaged bearing is detected, a reset is performed on the product. After the damaged bearing is replaced, the product can be refitted on a new wheel or still remain on the old wheel. In the case of a reset, the memory is deleted and the history of the temperature measurement is no longer present.

In one embodiment, the product is a TPMS-like device that fits on a wheel rim (wheel rim).

In a third step 3, it is determined (determined) whether the last measured temperature Tcurrent is higher than a first preset temperature threshold T1. If this is the case, the measurement frequency is changed from the initial measurement frequency M1 to a higher measurement frequency M2. Similarly, the broadcast frequency is also changed from the initial broadcast frequency B1 to a higher broadcast frequency B2.

During a fourth step 4 the sensor performs a new temperature measurement on its attached component at said higher measurement frequency M2 and broadcasts the measured temperature Tcurrent at said higher broadcast frequency B2 in a fifth step 5. It is to be understood that steps 4 and 5 occur after a certain time has elapsed since the time of measurement of step 1 and the broadcast of step 2, said certain time depending on said higher measurement frequency M2 and said higher broadcast frequency B2, respectively.

If it is judged in step 3 that the last measured temperature Tcurrent is equal to or less than the first preset temperature threshold T1, the broadcast frequency and the measurement frequency are kept unchanged, the procedure returns to step 1, and then step 2, and after a specified time has elapsed since the previous measurement of step 1 and the previous broadcast of step 2, a new measurement and a new broadcast are performed. The specific time depends on the initial measurement frequency M1 and the initial broadcast frequency B1.

After step 5, the routine continues to step 6 to determine whether the temperature Tcurrent measured the last time is higher than a first preset temperature threshold T1. If this is the case, the procedure goes back to step 4. If this is not the case, the measurement frequency is changed from the higher measurement frequency M2 to the initial measurement frequency M1. Similarly, the broadcast frequency is also changed from the higher broadcast frequency B2 to the initial broadcast frequency B1. The procedure then returns to step 1, followed by step 2, and new measurements and new broadcasts are performed after a certain time has elapsed since the previous measurement of step 1 and the previous broadcast of step 2. The specific time depends on the initial measurement frequency M1 and the initial broadcast frequency B1, respectively.

The above described procedure enables the frequency of the measurement and broadcast to be adjusted up when the measured temperature is above a threshold. By judiciously selecting the threshold, the temperature rise can be detected with high accuracy, while energy conservation and high efficiency are maintained for the rest of the time.

It can be seen that the program is kept in the middle of the cycle of measuring and broadcasting at a higher frequency until the temperature falls below the first preset threshold T1.

The number of temperature thresholds and the number of changes in measurement and broadcast frequencies may be increased until real-time monitoring is achieved.

Fig. 2 shows the main steps of the measurement method according to the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the method comprises two thresholds and two frequency changes.

During a first step 1, the sensor measures the temperature of its attached component at an initial measurement frequency M1, and in a second step 2 the measured temperature Tcurrent is broadcast at an initial broadcast frequency B1.

In one particular embodiment, the minimum temperature Tmin since the last product reset and the maximum temperature Tmax since the last product reset are broadcast along with the last measured temperature Tcurrent.

In a third step 3, it is determined whether the last measured temperature Tcurrent is higher than a first preset temperature threshold T1. If this is the case, the measurement frequency is changed from the initial measurement frequency M1 to a higher measurement frequency M2. Similarly, the broadcast frequency is also changed from the initial broadcast frequency B1 to a higher broadcast frequency B2.

During a fourth step 4, the sensor performs a new temperature measurement on its attached component at said higher measurement frequency M2, and broadcasts the measured temperature Tcurrent at said higher broadcast frequency B2 in a fifth step 5. It is to be understood that steps 4 and 5 occur after a certain time has elapsed since the time of measurement of step 1 and the broadcast of step 2, said certain time depending on said higher measurement frequency M2 and said higher broadcast frequency B2, respectively.

If it is judged in step 3 that the last measured temperature Tcurrent is equal to or less than the first preset temperature threshold value T1, the broadcast frequency and the measurement frequency are kept unchanged, the procedure returns to step 1, and then step 2, and a new measurement and a new broadcast are performed after a specified time has elapsed since the previous measurement of step 1 and the previous broadcast of step 2. The specific time depends on the initial measurement frequency M1 and the initial broadcast frequency B1.

After step 5, the program continues to a sixth step 6, where it is determined whether the last measured temperature Tcurrent is higher than a second preset temperature threshold T2. If this is the case, the measuring frequency is changed from the higher measuring frequency M2 to a second higher measuring frequency M3. Similarly, the broadcast frequency is also changed from the higher broadcast frequency B2 to a second higher broadcast frequency B3. The program then continues with a seventh step 7.

If it is determined in step 6 that the temperature Tcurrent measured last time is less than or equal to the second preset temperature threshold T2, all frequencies are kept unchanged, and the process returns to step 3.

In step 7 the sensor performs a new temperature measurement on its attached component at said second higher measurement frequency M3, and then in an eighth step 8 broadcasts the measured temperature Tcurrent at said second higher broadcast frequency B3. It is to be understood that steps 7 and 8 occur after a certain time has elapsed since the time of the measurement of step 4 and the broadcast of step 5, said certain time depending on said second higher measurement frequency M3 and said second higher broadcast frequency B3, respectively.

After step 8, the program continues to ninth step 9, where it is determined whether the last measured temperature Tcurrent is still above the second preset temperature threshold T2. If this is the case, the procedure goes back to step 7. If this is not the case, the measuring frequency is changed from the second higher measuring frequency M3 to the higher measuring frequency M2. Similarly, the broadcast frequency is also changed from the second higher broadcast frequency B3 to the higher broadcast frequency B2. The program then returns to step 4, followed by step 5, where a new measurement and a new broadcast are performed after a specified time has elapsed since the time of the previous measurement of step 7 and the previous broadcast of step 8. The specific time depends on the higher measurement frequency M2 and the higher broadcast frequency B2.

The second embodiment of the above procedure enables the measurement and broadcast frequencies to be adjusted continuously higher also when the measured temperature rises above a continuous (set) threshold. By judiciously selecting the threshold value, it is possible to detect the temperature rise with higher and higher accuracy, while still maintaining energy-saving efficiency for the rest of the time.

It can be seen that the program is kept in cycles of measurement and broadcast at increasing frequency until the temperature falls below the different preset thresholds T1 and T2.

As described above, the present embodiment gives two thresholds and two frequency changes, however, a greater number of thresholds and a greater number of frequency changes are also within the scope of the present invention.

The measuring device of the invention comprises a thermal sensor, embedded in or attached to the product, connected to a processing device, which is connected to a memory.

The processing means performs the measurement method described above. In the execution process, the processing device is communicated with the thermal sensor, is used for setting the measuring frequency and receiving the measuring result, and broadcasts at the broadcasting frequency in a wireless mode.

The processing means decides on the alteration of the measurement frequency and the broadcast frequency based on a comparison between the temperature measurement value and a preset threshold value stored in the memory.

In one embodiment, the processing device is wirelessly connected to a human machine interface (hmi) to notify the driver that a thermal event is imminent.

In another embodiment, the processing device is wirelessly connected to the communication device to inform the remote server that the measured temperature is above at least one predetermined threshold for further processing or to alert the driver. In a particular embodiment, the remote server communicates with the driver through an application downloaded to the smartphone.

The preset temperature threshold is stored in the product during product configuration (/ build/set). This configuration is done before the product is used in a vehicle, necessary for the use of the product.