System and method for gravity-driven automatic tire pumps
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a tire rim being distal to an axis of the tire rim; and
a pump fixedly attached to an interior radial surface portion of the tire rim at a distal end of the tire rim which is away from a tire axis such that the pump itself rotates with the interior radial surface portion of the tire rim as the tire rim rotates, wherein rotational motion of the tire rim about the tire axis allows gravity to move a pump element in a first direction from a first position to a second position to yield a pump stroke, wherein the pump stroke pumps a gas into a volumetric container supported by pressure different from an ambient pressure outside of the volumetric container, the volumetric container mounted to the tire rim, 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 pump stroke.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are arranged in connection with gravity-driven pumps configured in tires, 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. The work can be driving a pump, or generating electrical power to drive a traditional electric pump or other electrical components. A gravity-driven pump is different from an automatic pump that operates using centrifugal force due to rotation of a tire. 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.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a tire rim being distal to an axis of the tire rim; and a pump fixedly attached to an interior radial surface portion of the tire rim at a distal end of the tire rim which is away from a tire axis such that the pump itself rotates with the interior radial surface portion of the tire rim as the tire rim rotates, wherein rotational motion of the tire rim about the tire axis allows gravity to move a pump element in a first direction from a first position to a second position to yield a pump stroke, wherein the pump stroke pumps a gas into a volumetric container supported by pressure different from an ambient pressure outside of the volumetric container, the volumetric container mounted to the tire rim, 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 pump stroke. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-readable storage device having instructions stored which, when executed by a computing device, causes the computing device to perform operations comprising:
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receiving, from a sensor associated with a tire, an indication of pressure within the tire; determining, based on usage data, a target tire pressure for the tire; and initiating a pump fixedly attached to an interior radial portion of a tire rim, such that rotational motion of the tire about an axis causes 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 move air from one chamber into another chamber, thereby moving air associated with the tire until the target tire pressure is reached, 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 pump stroke or the second pump stroke.
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20. A method comprising:
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receiving usage data and a tire type for a target tire; determining, via a processor, and based on the usage data, a range of pump parameters that will provide inflation for the target tire according to the tire type; and adjusting a pump fixedly attached to an interior radial portion of a tire rim according to the pump parameters, such that rotational motion of the target tire about an axis causes 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 move air from one chamber into another chamber, 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 as part of the first pump stroke or the second pump stroke. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification