Tire inflation system with peristaltic pump

• US 10,052,923 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2013
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Power, Michael Andrew, Keeney, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coolman, Vaughn
• Application Number:
  US14/011,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20150059947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,820 Days
• Field of Search: 152418, 152419, 152421
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/127 the pumps being mounted on the hubs

Abstract

A tire inflation system having a peristaltic pump. The peristaltic pump may output a pressurized gas when a flexible tube of the peristaltic pump rotates with a wheel end assembly about an axis.

Claims

1. A tire inflation system comprising:

a spindle that extends along an axis;

a wheel end assembly that is rotatably disposed on the spindle and configured to rotate about the axis with respect to the spindle, wherein the wheel end assembly has an axle shaft that extends through a hole in the spindle, the axle shaft having an axle flange disposed at a distal end;

a peristaltic pump that includes;

a flexible tube that rotates about the axis with the wheel end assembly, wherein the axle shaft rotates the flexible tube about the axis and the peristaltic pump is disposed between the axle flange and the spindle such that the flexible tube is spaced apart from the spindle; and

a displacement member that is disposed proximate the spindle, wherein the flexible tube is occluded by deformation of the flexible tube by the displacement member when the flexible tube rotates about the axis, thereby causing the peristaltic pump to output a pressurized gas; and

a conduit that supplies the pressurized gas from the peristaltic pump to a tire.

2. The tire inflation system of claim 1 wherein the displacement member includes a mounting member that is fixedly positioned with respect to the spindle and a roller that is disposed on the mounting member and configured to rotate about a roller axis, wherein the roller axis is stationary with respect to the axis.

3. The tire inflation system of claim 2 wherein the mounting member has a mounting hole that receives the spindle and wherein the mounting member extends continuously around an external surface of the spindle.

4. The tire inflation system of claim 2 wherein the flexible tube is occluded by the roller as the flexible tube moves with respect to the roller axis.

5. The tire inflation system of claim 2 wherein the roller axis is spaced apart from the axis.

6. The tire inflation system of claim 2 wherein the displacement member further comprises a biasing member that biases the roller toward the flexible tube.

7. The tire inflation system of claim 2 wherein the roller axis extends substantially perpendicular to the axis.

8. The tire inflation system of claim 1 wherein the wheel end assembly further comprises a hub that is rotatably disposed on the spindle and fixedly positioned with respect to the axle flange, wherein the peristaltic pump is disposed on the hub.

9. A tire inflation system comprising:

a spindle having a hole;

an axle shaft that extends through the hole and that is configured to rotate about an axis with respect to the spindle, wherein the axle shaft includes an axle flange disposed proximate a distal end;

a peristaltic pump that is disposed proximate the axle flange and includes;

a flexible tube that rotates about the axis with the axle shaft; and

a displacement member that extends around the spindle, wherein the flexible tube is occluded by deformation of the flexible tube by the displacement member when the flexible tube rotates about the axis, thereby causing the peristaltic pump to output a pressurized gas; and

a conduit that supplies the pressurized gas from the peristaltic pump to a tire.

10. The tire inflation system of claim 9 wherein the displacement member is disposed on the spindle and includes a roller that is configured to rotate about a roller axis, wherein the roller axis is stationary with respect to the axis.

11. The tire inflation system of claim 10 wherein the roller is disposed between the spindle and the flexible tube, wherein the roller axis extends substantially parallel to the axis.

12. The tire inflation system of claim 9 wherein the displacement member further comprises a mounting member that is fixedly disposed on the spindle, wherein the mounting member has a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, and a mounting hole that extends from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the spindle is disposed in the mounting hole.

13. The tire inflation system of claim 12 wherein the displacement member includes a pair of rollers that are disposed proximate the second surface, wherein the spindle is disposed between the pair of rollers.

14. The tire inflation system of claim 9 wherein the axle flange has an axle flange hole and wherein the conduit extends through the axle flange hole.

15. A tire inflation system comprising:

a spindle that extends along an axis;

a hub that is rotatably disposed on the spindle and configured to rotate about the axis, wherein the hub further comprises a hub hole;

a peristaltic pump that is disposed proximate the hub and includes;

a flexible tube that rotates about the axis with the hub; and

a displacement member that is mounted to the spindle, wherein the displacement member includes a roller that rotates about a roller axis that does not move with respect to the axis, and the flexible tube is occluded by deformation of the flexible tube by the roller when the flexible tube rotates about the axis and about the displacement member, thereby causing the peristaltic pump to output a pressurized gas; and

a conduit that supplies the pressurized gas from the peristaltic pump to a tire, wherein the conduit extends through the hub hole.

16. The tire inflation system of claim 15 wherein the roller axis is stationary with respect to the spindle.

17. The tire inflation system of claim 15 wherein the roller is disposed between the spindle and the flexible tube, wherein the roller axis extends substantially parallel to the axis.

18. The tire inflation system of claim 15 wherein the displacement member further comprises a mounting member that is fixedly disposed on the spindle and that supports the roller between a distal end of the spindle and the flexible tube.

19. The tire inflation system of claim 15 wherein the roller is disposed between the spindle and the flexible tube.