Magneto-Rheological Elastomer Wheel Assemblies With Dynamic Tire Pressure Control

• US 20100314015A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Rodenbeck, Phillip David
• Granted Patent: US 8,176,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/418
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/005 Magnets integrated within the tyre structure
• 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 23/10 Arrangement of tyre-inflating pumps mounted on vehicles

Abstract

A wheel assembly includes a magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) assembly disposed between a rim and a tire assembly. The MRE assembly may be configured to adjust a tire pressure within a chamber between the rim and the tire assembly when a magnetic field is applied to the MRE assembly.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly comprising:

a magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) assembly disposed between a rim and a tire assembly configured to adjust a tire pressure within a chamber between the rim and the tire assembly when a magnetic field is applied to the MRE assembly.

2. The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein multiple MRE assemblies are disposed within the wheel assembly, each MRE assembly capable of independently adjusting the tire pressure.

3. The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein an electromagnet configured to produce an adjustable magnetic field is disposed about the MRE assembly.

4. The wheel assembly of claim 3 wherein a magnetic shield is disposed proximate the electromagnet to at least partially surround a portion of the electromagnet.

5. The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the MRE assembly is adjustable in response to feedback from condition sensors.

6. The wheel assembly of claim 5 wherein the condition sensors comprise external road sensors, internal vehicle sensors and/or operator preferences and combinations thereof.

7. A wheel assembly comprising:

a rim;

a tire assembly disposed around the rim; and

a magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) assembly disposed between the rim and the tire assembly, wherein when the MRE assembly is subjected to a magnetic field, the MRE assembly exerts a force on the tire assembly.

8. The wheel assembly of claim 7 wherein the MRE assembly comprises an electromagnet disposed internal an MRE pillar comprising a side wall and a top edge.

9. The wheel assembly of claim 8 wherein the tire assembly comprises a chamber with a tire pressure disposed between an outer tire and an inner tire.

10. The wheel assembly of claim 9 wherein a contact surface of the top edge of the MRE pillar engages an inner tire of the tire assembly.

11. The wheel assembly of claim 7 wherein multiple MRE assemblies are disposed within the wheel assembly, each MRE assembly capable of independently adjusting an pressure.

12. The wheel assembly of claim 7 wherein the MRE assembly is adjustable in response to feedback from condition sensors.

13. The wheel assembly of claim 12 wherein the condition sensors comprise at least a tire pressure monitoring system.

14. The wheel assembly of claim 13 wherein the condition sensors further comprise external road sensors, internal vehicle sensors, and/or operator preferences.

15. The wheel assembly of claim 7 wherein multiple MRE assemblies engage the inner tire about the wheel assembly.

16. A vehicle with a dynamically adjustable tire pressure system, the vehicle comprising:

a wheel assembly having a rim, a tire assembly and a magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) assembly between the rim and the tire assembly, the MRE assembly comprising an electromagnet and an MRE pillar; and

,

a feedback control system in communication with a condition sensor and the MRE assembly, wherein when the feedback control system receives feedback signals from the condition sensor that a tire pressure is outside a preset range, the feedback control system produces a control signal to control an output of the electromagnet.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the condition sensors comprise at least a tire pressure monitoring system.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the condition sensors may include external road sensors, internal vehicle sensors and/or operator preferences.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the feedback control system requests operator permission before adjusting the tire pressure.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein multiple wheel assemblies comprise MRE assemblies, each wheel assembly being independently configured to adjust its tire pressure.