System and method for maintaining target pressure in conjunction with gravity-driven automatic tire pumping mechanisms
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving (1) first data associated with one of usage data and sensor data and (2) tire data for a target tire;
determining, via a processor, and based on the first data, a pump parameter that will provide a desired inflation level for the target tire according to the tire data; and
adjusting a pump positioned at a distal end of the target tire away from a tire axis and according to the pump parameter, such that rotational motion of the target tire about the tire axis causes gravity to move an element of the pump in a first direction at a first rotational position to yield a first stroke, and causes gravity to move the element in a second direction at a second rotational position to yield a second stroke, wherein the first stroke and the second stroke perform one of (1) pumping a gas into the target tire to the desired inflation level and (2) generating electricity to electrically power the pump the pump the gas into the target tire, wherein the pump comprises a plurality of masses, and wherein the pump is adjusted by fixing one or more masses of the plurality of masses in place preventing the one or more masses from moving as part of the first stroke or the second stroke.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for gravity-driven pumps, gravity-driven power generators that power electric pumps, as well as various supporting concepts, mechanisms, and approaches. As a tire rotates around an axle, the pull of gravity varies for a given point on the tire. While gravity is always pulling ‘down’, the force relative to a fixed point on the tire changes. Gravity-driven pumps exploit these changes in gravitational force to do work. Automatic, gravity-driven pumps can be used to inflate tires to offset the natural gas leakage of modern tires, and can maintain tire pressure and inflation within a desired or optimal range. As different conditions are met, pump parameters are determined which can adjust the pumps. Such conditions include driving patterns, load, and temperature, and resulting adjustments include turning on and off pumps, varying stroke length, and varying the number of strokes required.
9 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving (1) first data associated with one of usage data and sensor data and (2) tire data for a target tire; determining, via a processor, and based on the first data, a pump parameter that will provide a desired inflation level for the target tire according to the tire data; and adjusting a pump positioned at a distal end of the target tire away from a tire axis and according to the pump parameter, such that rotational motion of the target tire about the tire axis causes gravity to move an element of the pump in a first direction at a first rotational position to yield a first stroke, and causes gravity to move the element in a second direction at a second rotational position to yield a second stroke, wherein the first stroke and the second stroke perform one of (1) pumping a gas into the target tire to the desired inflation level and (2) generating electricity to electrically power the pump the pump the gas into the target tire, wherein the pump comprises a plurality of masses, and wherein the pump is adjusted by fixing one or more masses of the plurality of masses in place preventing the one or more masses from moving as part of the first stroke or the second stroke. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a pump fixedly attached to a target tire; a processor; and a computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising; receiving (1) first data associated with one of usage data and sensor data and (2) tire data for a target tire; determining, based on the first data, a pump parameter that will provide a desired inflation level for the target tire according to the tire data; and adjusting a pump positioned at a distal end of the target tire away from a tire axis and according to the pump parameter, such that rotational motion of the target tire about the tire axis causes gravity to move an element of the pump in a first direction at a first rotational position to yield a first stroke, and causes gravity to move the element in a second direction at a second rotational position to yield a second stroke, wherein the first stroke and the second stroke perform one of (1) pumping a gas into the target tire to the desired inflation level and (2) generating electricity to electrically power the pump the pump the gas into the target tire, wherein the pump comprises a plurality of masses, and wherein the pump is adjusted by fixing one or more masses of the plurality of masses in place preventing the one or more masses from moving as part of the first stroke or the second stroke. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable storage device having instructions stored which, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
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receiving (1) first data associated with one of usage data and sensor data and (2) tire data for a target tire; determining, based on the first data, a pump parameter that will provide a desired inflation level for the target tire according to the tire data; and adjusting a pump positioned at a distal end of the target tire away from a tire axis and according to the pump parameter, such that rotational motion of the target tire about the tire axis causes gravity to move an element of the pump in a first direction at a first rotational position to yield a first stroke, and causes gravity to move the element in a second direction at a second rotational position to yield a second stroke, wherein the first stroke and the second stroke perform one of (1) pumping a gas into the target tire to the desired inflation level and (2) generating electricity to electrically power the pump the pump the gas into the target tire wherein the pump comprises a plurality of masses, and wherein the pump is adjusted by fixing one or more masses of the plurality of masses in place preventing the one or more masses from moving as part of the first stroke or the second stroke. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification