TPMS and RFID
Ireland based tyre management solutions company TyreCheck has received 2.4 million euros from Enterprise Ireland and the Allied Irish Bank Seed Capital Fund, which will be invested into the company’s R&D and international sales capabilities. TyreCheck says the funds will create 11 new jobs.
Transportation safety product marketer and developer Mobile Awareness has launched its latest TPMS product for commercial, off-road and utility vehicles. Called TireStat, the new TPMS features sensors that are mounted externally on the valve stem, allowing air input without sensor removal. This approach, says Mobile Awareness, virtually eliminates the limitations that previously prevented the use of TPMS on fleet vehicles, including costly tyre maintenance, time consuming installations, lost cap mounted sensors and difficulty in roadside service.
One of the less heralded – but no less important – components of the motorsport tyre setup is without doubt the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). BERU f1systems – a company entirely owned by parent company BERU AG, though also a separate financial entity – supplies such devices, along with other components, such as electrical, stress management and composite systems, to world class motorsport competitors in every major Formula, including all the Formula One teams. Tyres & Accessories took the opportunity of the 2008 Motorsport Review to speak with applications engineer, James Shingleton, about how the company is spreading its wings commercially away from the motorsports arena, and how its experience of working in sport has enabled BERU f1systems to offer top-level TPMSs to ultra-high performance cars and commercial vehicles.
Fleet Specialties Co. has launched three new Tire Sentry tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for trucks that use super-single tyres. The TMA-SS series of TPMS are designed to warn drivers of developing pressure related problems before the problem shows up in a tyre blowout; and also help drivers get optimum fuel economy.
Tyre pressure monitoring and asset management producer TireStamp Inc. has announced the addition of two new features to its TireVigil tyre pressure management solution for fleet customers, a system that detects tyre problems, alerts the fleet to them and makes recommendations to the service technician for corrective actions.
The number one issue with other electronic TPMS systems, says TireStamp, is that reprogramming tyres that are changed is difficult and time consuming. TireVigil now directly addresses this problem with a simple yet powerful system. TireVigil Servicing allows a service technician to view the state of a vehicle’s tyres at a glance on any internet enabled computer or hand-held wireless device. Clear images of the vehicle’s tyres are shown, displaying tyre position, tyre pressure and temperature, target tyre pressure, sensor and tyre ID. The tyre make, model and mileage can also be accessed. The tyre technician can enter tyre changes and rotations quickly and easily with a touch on the screen or a click of a mouse. Manual data entry is virtually eliminated, reports TireStamp.
With fuel economy now an integral part of commercial vehicle driver training, Volvo Trucks’ official UK truck importer recently fitted the latest Monityre tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) from Safe Europe plc to one of its driver training vehicles.
“We talk about the importance of having the correct tyre pressures on your vehicle as part of our overall fuel economy training programme. By having the Monityre TPMS fitted to this Volvo FH-440 tractor unit, drivers can literally keep an eye on the Monityre in-cab display while undergoing their full driver training tuition. All participants using this vehicle get to see the tyre pressure monitoring system in operation, which we believe is part and parcel of any driver training programme,” said Andy Collett, Truck Evaluation Manager at Volvo Trucks.
Shanghai Baolong has embarked on a new publicity campaign promoting its commercial vehicle tyre pressure monitoring system (CV TPMS). The system is designed to permanently monitor both the tyre pressure and temperature and warns the driver in the event of a dangerous pressure loss or overheating, making an important contribution to road safety and fuel economy. The system is already available for use as a stand alone system or integrated into all classes of commercial vehicles – including trailers and semi-trailers.
Each battery-powered wheel transmitter installed inside the tyre measures the pressure and temperature every four seconds, together with the individual ID code of the transmitter, these values are sent by RF to the receiver via transceiver at 30-seconds intervals. The receiver evaluates the data, identifies the transmitter and decides whether or not the driver needs to be informed.
UK Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems provider Tyresure has joined TyreSafe, the non-profit making organisation set up in 1992 with the responsibility of raising the awareness of the dangers of defective and worn tyres. As such, Tyresure is the first UK TPMS manufacturer to join forces with TyreSafe, and the company’s technology offers an obvious synergy with TyreSafe’s message of safety through correct tyre pressure.
On announcing the partnership, Tyresure UK managing director, Ian Smith looked happy to be part of the TyreSafe team. “’We’re delighted to augment TyreSafe’s message and be part of the push to educate the public into safer driving. Human nature being what it is, we know that this sound advice often falls on deaf ears, with people still rarely checking their tyre pressures. Tyresure does it for you, meaning that once you have set your tyres to the correct pressures, it’s impossible to encounter a problem without getting both a visual and audible warning. It’s hopefully something that even the most apathetic driver can do to make themselves safer.”
Tyre safety firm Tyresure has announced its latest technical partnership. The Leicester based company’s sells the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System has been selected for OE fitment in the new Iovan minibus, the vehicle jointly developed by Brecon Coachworks, Swansea University and Irisbus Iveco (UK), and promoted as the UK’s safest minibus.
Every aspect of this new-generation Minibus has been scrutinised to improve safety, comments Tyresure, resulting in over 30 significant improvements being made. Tyresure has supplied its six-wheel monitoring system to allow drivers to keep an eye on all tyre pressures through receiving instantaneous readings on a clear display screen. The driver is alerted should tyre pressure drop even by 1 PSI, ensuring motoring under the safest possible conditions.
Internet based tyre management company TyreCheck has announced the launch of its Work Order Management Module, which will effectively reduce the overall cost of tyres on a fleet whilst also improving the fleets’ availability. By implementing this innovative module a tyre fitter will be able to carry out an inspection on a truck’s tyres, correct pressures and replace any damaged tyres. At the same time any tyre that will need re-grooving in the near future can also be recorded. All these tasks can be carried out both swiftly and efficiently without the use of paper and the results can be immediately available online for reference.
TPMS developer SmarTire Systems Inc has settled its previously pending patent infringement lawsuit against Schrader-Bridgeport International Inc. and Schrader Electronics Ltd. The terms of the August 21, 2008 settlement and license agreement between SmarTire and Schrader are confidential, reports SmarTire.
“We are very pleased with both the financial and non-financial aspects of this settlement and regard it as a positive conclusion to the action undertaken just over a year ago,” commented Dave Warkentin, president of SmarTire. “This should positively impact our business as we continue to vigorously defend our intellectual property rights.”
Morgan Electro Ceramics, a leading manufacturer of electro ceramic material solutions, has developed a “piezoelectric bimorph” suitable for use in automotive tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). To you and me piezoelectric bimorph is a gizmo that enables TPMS manufacturers to design self-energising (battery-less) remote sensors that “accurately measure tyre pressure, with none of the lifetime and disposal issues associated with batteries,” according to the company.
Morgan’s energy-scavenging bimorphs are based on established piezoelectric technology, whereby the movement of the wheel and pressure of the tyre as it hits the ground causes the bimorph to bend and undergo stress, which is then transformed into electrical energy. The bimorphs generate enough electrical energy to power a wireless signal that transmits valuable data about the pressure in the tyre to an on-car receiver.
Tyresure has reduced the price of its “money saving tyre pressure monitoring systems,” which are designed to improve safety and reduce fuel use. The recommended retail price of the unit is now £179.99. According to the company, sales have soared since the product’s UK launch earlier this year. A company statement announcing the price decrease explained that “thousands of motorists are now driving with correctly inflated tyres” as a result of using the system.
Beru f1systems has developed what it calls a cost-effective tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) for touring cars. Specifically for closed-wheel, road car-derived saloons and sports cars, the system provides accurate tyre pressure and temperature information for drivers and engineers to optimise tyre pressures and wear, as well as offering puncture detection. A new feature is the ability to switch wheel positions on the car without having to manually re-assign wheels sensors to different corners of the car. The system available from August 2008, is permitted for race and test in WTCC and dependent on regulations, other national series such as the BTCC (only testing, not race).
“Engineers can now switch wheels without manually allocating wheel sensors,” continues Shingleton. “Switching tyres to balance out wear is common in touring car applications, our solution gives them more time to work on set-up rather than inputting data.”
Germany’s Beru Group have posted sales revenue of 230.4 million euros in the first half of 2008, a 2.77 per cent growth on the corresponding period of 2007. The main sources of revenue, the company reports, were the Aftermarket segment and the Electronics and Sensors division. Profit from ordinary activities (EBIT) reduced 35.2 per cent due to one-time special items and amounted to 15.8 million euros. Excluding the special items, adjusted EBIT amounted to 23.1 million euros, equivalent to an adjusted margin of 10.0 per cent. Beru’s profit of 12.3 million euros during the period was also lower than in the first half of 2007, when profits of 18.5 million euros were achieved.
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