System and method for tire rims configured to receive gravity-based devices

• US 10,105,999 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelliaire LLC
• Original Assignee: Intelliaire LLC
• Inventors: McClellan, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charleston, Jean W
• Application Number:
  US15/210,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20170015157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 152415, 152417, 152418, 152419, 152427
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/12 Appurtenances, e.g. lining bands
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/06 Signalling devices actuated by deformation of the tyre , e.g. tyre mounted deformation sensors or indirect determination of tyre deformation based on wheel speed, wheel-centre to ground distance or inclination of wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/126 the pumps being mounted on the wheel rims
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/131 activated by force of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 29/02 Connection to rims
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/14 Casings; Enclosures; Supports
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/06 Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1846 structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts

Abstract

Systems and methods for accommodating gravity based devices within wheel rims. An exemplary method includes identifying a number of the gravity based devices to be contained within the wheel, identifying a type of each of the gravity based devices to be contained within the wheel, identifying, based on the type and the number of the gravity based devices, a location where each of the gravity based devices are to be installed within the wheel (i.e., the air hole locations), and generating holes in the rim, where the number of the holes equals the number of the gravity based devices, and where for each air hole location in the air hole locations a single hole in the holes is generated.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a tire rim with an outer surface onto which an inflatable tire can be installed, wherein the tire rim has;

a first hole for an inflation stem; and

a second hole for fixedly attaching a pump, wherein the pump is configured to pump air into the inflatable tire via rotational motion of the tire rim about an axis, the rotational motion causing gravity to move a pump element of the pump in a first direction at a first rotational position, to yield a first pump stroke, and causes gravity to move the pump element in a second direction at a second rotational position, to yield a second pump stroke, wherein the first pump stroke and the second pump stroke pump a gas into the inflatable tire through the second hole; and

a mounting channel in the tire rim into which the pump can be inserted and attached, such that the pump, when inserted, is flush with the outer surface of the tire rim.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the inflatable tire.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second hole is specific to a type of the pump.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the tire rim has a third hole for fixedly attaching a second pump, wherein the second pump pumps air into the inflatable tire using a gravity initiated pump stroke.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the pump and the second pump have distinct stroke lengths.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tire rim has a gravity-based electrical generated fixedly attached.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the pump uses the first pump stroke and the second pump stroke to generate electricity when the gas is not pumped into the inflatable tire.