Tire management system and method
First Claim
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1. A system for managing pressure in a vehicle having a compressed air source, an exhaust port, a manifold fluidly connected to the compressed air source and the exhaust port, an electronic control unit, and a tire, comprising:
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a normally-closed intake valve operated by the electronic control unit, wherein the intake valve is located upstream of the tire and coupled to the manifold and to the compressed air source, wherein the intake valve operates in a pulsing configuration when the tire pressure falls below a first target pressure by a predetermined amount;
an exhaust valve operated by the electronic control unit, wherein the exhaust valve is located downstream of the manifold and coupled to the manifold and to the exhaust port, the exhaust valve operable between;
an open configuration when the vehicle is in a key-off state;
a pulsing configuration when the tire pressure rises above a second target pressure by a predetermined amount; and
a check valve located between the tire and the manifold, wherein the check valve is configured to seal in a first direction when the tire pressure falls below an upstream pressure by a first predetermined amount and in a second direction when the tire pressure rises above an upstream pressure by a second predetermined amount, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction and toward the tire.
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Abstract
A tire management system includes a control valve and a check valve. A method for managing a tire includes: determining a pressure parameter value, determining an operational parameter for a valve based on the pressure parameter value, and controlling the valve based on the operational parameter.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for managing pressure in a vehicle having a compressed air source, an exhaust port, a manifold fluidly connected to the compressed air source and the exhaust port, an electronic control unit, and a tire, comprising:
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a normally-closed intake valve operated by the electronic control unit, wherein the intake valve is located upstream of the tire and coupled to the manifold and to the compressed air source, wherein the intake valve operates in a pulsing configuration when the tire pressure falls below a first target pressure by a predetermined amount;an exhaust valve operated by the electronic control unit, wherein the exhaust valve is located downstream of the manifold and coupled to the manifold and to the exhaust port, the exhaust valve operable between;
an open configuration when the vehicle is in a key-off state;
a pulsing configuration when the tire pressure rises above a second target pressure by a predetermined amount; anda check valve located between the tire and the manifold, wherein the check valve is configured to seal in a first direction when the tire pressure falls below an upstream pressure by a first predetermined amount and in a second direction when the tire pressure rises above an upstream pressure by a second predetermined amount, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction and toward the tire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for managing pressure in a vehicle having a compressed air source, an exhaust port, a manifold fluidly connected to the compressed air source and the exhaust port, an intake valve coupled to the manifold and the compressed air source, an exhaust valve coupled to the manifold and the exhaust port, a tire, a check valve located between the manifold and the tire, and an electronic control unit, the method comprising:
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dynamically determining a difference between a tire pressure and a target pressure; determining an operational mode for the intake valve based on the difference and a key on/off state, wherein the operational mode of the intake valve comprises; a normally-closed mode; a pulsing mode when the tire pressure falls below a target pressure by a first predetermined amount, wherein the pulsing mode prevents the check valve from sealing; determining an operational mode for the exhaust valve based on the difference, wherein the operational mode of the exhaust valve comprises; an open mode when the vehicle is in a key-off state; a pulsing mode when the tire pressure rises above a target pressure by a second predetermined amount, wherein the pulsing mode prevents the check valve from sealing; assigning the prescribed operational modes to the intake valve and the exhaust valve in the electronic control unit; and activating the operational modes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for tire pressure management for a vehicle, the method comprising:
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determining a deflated target tire pressure for a tire, the tire fluidly connected to an exhaust port by an exhaust valve and a passive check valve arranged between the tire and the exhaust valve, the passive check valve configured to close in response to a system-side pressure dropping below a tire-side pressure; during vehicle operation, deflating the tire by cycling the exhaust valve between an open and closed position at a predetermined frequency until a monitored tire pressure substantially matches the deflated target tire pressure; and in response to a shutoff event, sealing the passive check valve by opening the exhaust valve and purging the system-side pressure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification