Tire management system and method

• US 10,688,836 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2019
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aktv8 LLC
• Original Assignee: Aktv8 LLC
• Inventors: Coombs, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Kotter, Kip T
• Application Number:
  US16/398,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20190255892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/001 Devices for manually or automatically controlling or distributing tyre pressure whilst the vehicle is moving
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/002 by monitoring conditions other than tyre pressure or deformation
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00336 on the axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00372 characterised by fluid diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/007 having multiple wheels arranged side by side
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/00 Engines characterised by provision of pumps for charging or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10222 Exhaust gas recirculation [EGR]; Positive crankcase ventilation [PCV]; Additional air admission, lubricant or fuel vapour admission
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10229 the intake system acting as a vacuum or overpressure source for auxiliary devices, e.g. brake systems; Vacuum chambers air storage chamber F02B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/1038 for temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/207 and combined with other valves, e.g. safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/26 operating in either direction

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.

Claims

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:

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 rises above an upstream pressure by a threshold amount and in a second direction when the tire pressure falls below an upstream pressure by a second threshold amount, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction and toward the tire.