Device and method for dealing with phenomena of loss of pressure and running flat with vehicle tires

• US 20050045259A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Hottebart, Francois, Pompier, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 7,287,565 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/415
• 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 23/004 the control being done on the wheel, e.g. using a wheel-mounted reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 29/062 for filling a tyre with particular materials, e.g. liquids B60C5/004, B60C5/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10495 Pneumatic tire or inner tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10666 Automatic sealing of punctures [e.g., self-healing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10729 with reinflating means

Abstract

A centralized device for dealing with the phenomena of loss of pressure and running flat with a vehicle tire, comprising a means external to the mounted assembly, permanently fixed to the vehicle and able to inject or otherwise bring into the internal cavity of the tire at least one active product, also external to the mounted assembly, and able to treat the phenomena of loss of pressure and ultimately running flat.

Claims

1. A centralized device for dealing with phenomena of pressure loss and running flat with a vehicle tire, comprising a means for bringing into the internal cavity of the tire at least one active product, said means being external to the mounted assembly and permanently fixed to a vehicle, and said active product also being external to the mounted assembly, and said active product is selected from the group consisting of sealing products and lubricating products.

2. The device according to claim 1, in which said external means further comprises a means for bringing an adapted additive, and said means for bringing an adapted additive being external to the mounted assembly.

3. The device according to claim 2, in which said adapted additive comprises an agent adapted for improving:

the conditions of injection of said active product, the action of said active product, and the conditions of dealing with the pressure loss and ultimately running flat.

4. The device according claim 3, in which said adapted additive comprises a cleaning agent.

5. The device according claim 3, in which said adapted additive comprises an anti-corrosion agent.

6. The device according claim 3, in which said adapted additive comprises a cooling agent.

7. The device according to claim 1, in which said external means comprises, outside the mounted assembly, at least one reservoir or a source of a active product intended to be injected or otherwise brought into the internal cavity of the tire in the event of pressure loss or running flat.

8. The device according to claim 7, in which said external means further comprises a means for bringing at least said active product into the internal cavity of the tire in the event of pressure loss or running flat.

9. The device according to claim 8, in which said means for bringing at least one active product further comprises bringing a material selected from the group consisting of air, an inert gas, and a non-toxic hydrocarbon, and said product is not detrimental to the environment and is non-flammable in the compressed state.

10. The device according to claim 1, in which said external means comprises a source of cooling product intended to be brought into the internal cavity of the tire in the event of running flat.

11. The device according to claim 1, in which said external means further comprises:

a means for measuring the a representative characteristic of the internal air of the tire, generating at least one “

representative signal”

on the state of the air in the internal cavity of the tire,

a means for controlling said bringing means comprising at least a memory, a comparator, and a control program, and said control program is adapted to;

receive and process a pressure signal;

compare said pressure signal with a pressure reference loaded in said memory; and

decide on, and program, according to the result of said comparison, the bringing into the tire of a product.

12. The device according to claim 11, in which said pressure reference comprises information in terms of a pressure value, a difference in pressure with respect to a reference pressure, and the rate of pressure variation with time.

13. The device according to claim 11, in which the means for measuring said characteristic of the internal air of the tire and generating the pressure signal are affixed to mounted assembly.

14. The device according to claim 11, in which the means for measuring the characteristics of the internal air in the tire and generating the pressure signal, are situated outside the mounted assembly.

15. The device according to claim 11, in which said means for generating the pressure signal incorporates a means for measuring the temperature of the air in the internal cavity of the tire and its change over time.

16. The device according to claim 1, in which said means for bringing at least one active product comprises a source of compressed gas, at least one pipe and at least one valves, wherein said pipes and valves form a connection circuit between said source and the interior of the internal cavity of said tire.

17. The device according to claim 16, in which said source of compressed gas further comprises a reservoir of a compressed gas which is not detrimental to the environment.

18. The device according to claim 16, in which said compressed gas generator comprises a compressor.

19. The device according to claim 18, in which said compressor is adapted to supply inflation air and cooling air to the tire.

20. The device according to claim 1, comprising a centralized system for inflating at least one tire on a vehicle comprising:

a central control unit;

a gas compressor;

a pressure device regulating device for maintaining the pressure at a predetermined value;

a pneumatic connection between said compressor, said pressure regulation device and the internal cavity of said tire; and

said device further comprises

at least one active product reservoir connected by pipes and valves to said centralized system;

a memory and a program in said central unit both adapted to manage and implement variable combinations of inflation air, active product and adapted additive.

21. A method for dealing with phenomena of loss of pressure and running flat with a tire on a vehicle comprising the steps of:

measuring a representative characteristic of the internal air of the tire,

generating a pressure signal on the state of the inflation air in the internal cavity of the tire,

feeding a compressed gas and at least one active product into the internal cavity of a tire;

controlling said feeding with at least a memory, a comparator and a control program by the sub-steps of;

receiving and processing said pressure signal;

comparing said pressure signal with a pressure reference loaded in said memory; and

controlling said feeding step according to said program.

22. The method according to claim 21, in which said pressure reference comprises information in terms of pressure value, difference in pressure with respect to a reference pressure, and rate of pressure variation.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the sub-step of the feeding a predetermined dose of active sealing product into the internal cavity of said tire when the result of the said comparison step is abnormal.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the sub-step of said control means transmitting a puncture alarm to a vehicle driver.

25. The method according to claim 23, in which said comparing step is abnormal when the difference between said pressure signal and said reference pressure is greater than a given threshold.

26. The method according to claim 23, in which said comparing step is abnormal the result of is abnormal when the variation in said pressure signal measured over a given time is greater than a given threshold.

27. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the sub-step the control means supplying a predetermined dose of active lubricating product into the internal cavity of said tire when said comparing step indicates a condition of flat-running.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the sub-step of said control means transmitting a flat-running alarm to a vehicle driver.

29. The method according to claim 27, in which the control means supplies a flow of cooling gas into the internal cavity of said tire.

30. The method according to claim 27, in which said representative characteristic comprises a temperature of the air in the internal cavity of the tire and further comprising the sub-steps of:

transmitting said temperature to said control means,

comparing in said control means said temperature to a predetermined threshold, and

supplying a dose of lubricant when said temperature exceeds said threshold.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising the sub-steps of:

comparing in said control means said temperature to a second predetermined threshold

transmitting an alarm requesting immediate stoppage transmitted to the driver of the vehicle when said temperature exceeds said second threshold.