WHEEL-MOUNTED AIR COMPRESSOR AND METHODS OF USE

• US 20110129360A1
• Filed: 11/23/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dan A. Clinciu
• Original Assignee: Dan A. Clinciu
• Inventors: Clinciu, Dan A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,435,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/126 the pumps being mounted on the wheel rims
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/133 activated by centrifugal force
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/01 the means being mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/06 Mobile combinations
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/22 Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49236 Fluid pump or compressor making

Abstract

The disclosure is generally directed to a wheel-mounted, centrifugally activated, air compressor that will automatically inflate an inflatable vehicle tire back to the proper pressure level when small under-inflation situations occur (e.g., the occurrence of small-to-medium air leaks in a tire). Moreover, the device can be easily attach or fitted into the design of a steel or aluminum wheel, or fitted into a hubcap without modifying the standard design of the wheel-hub assembly. The wheel-mounted device includes a mounting base, cylinder assemblies, and spring-biased centrifugal arms, and is designed to convert changes in the centrifugal force felt by the centrifugal arms as wheel rotation accelerates or decelerates/stops into varying force exerted on positive-displacement pistons. This in turn actuates positive-displacement pumping action at the cylinder assemblies, each of which can provide a short burst of pressurized air into the charging line connected into the associated tire with each compressive stroke.

Claims

1. An air-compressor for mounting and use on a wheel, comprising:

a mounting base,

wherein said mounting base is adapted to be coupled to the wheel rim of a wheel that comprises an inflatable tire;

a first and a second air-compressor cylinder assembly, each said air-compressor cylinder assembly fixedly coupled to said mounting base and including;

a cylinder housing,

an air-intake valve that is spring-biased to be normally in the closed position,

an air-discharge valve that is spring-biased to be normally in the closed position,

a piston diametrically sized to closely fit inside of the bore of said cylinder housing, said piston coupled to a piston connecting rod, and

a spring mechanically biased to oppose the compression piston stroke from said piston inserted into said cylinder bore;

a first and a second centrifugal arm, each said centrifugal arm associated with said first and second cylinder housings, respectively, and including;

a rotatable coupling at one end to said mounting base,

a rotatable piston-drive coupling to an associated piston connecting rod,

an inertial weight disposed on the opposite end relative to said end rotatably coupled to said mounting base,

an elongated aperture disposed on the end associated with said inertial weight, and

a coupling point adapted to receive one end of a biasing mechanism that is fixedly coupled to said mounting base and adapted to oppose centrifugal forces exerted against said inertial-weighted end of said centrifugal arm;

a connecting arm, centrally disposed on and rotatably coupled to said mounting base,

wherein each end of said connecting arm is slidably coupled to the elongated aperture of a centrifugal arm;

a first and a second air-discharge line, each coupled on one end to said first and second cylinder housing, respectively, and each coupled on the other end to a common pressure-relief valve;

a third air-discharge line coupled on one end to said pressure-relief valve and coupled on the other end to a quick-disconnect coupling adapted to couple to an inflatable-tire valve; and

a counter-balance weight of substantially the same mass as said third air-discharge line and said quick-disconnect,

wherein said counter-balance weight is disposed on said mounting base on the opposite side relative to said third air-discharge line and said quick-disconnect such that the potential for harmonics during wheel rotation are mitigated.

2. The air compressor of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure housing that is sized and shaped to cover the air-compressor components on said mounting base such that said enclosed air compressor is detachably mountable over the rim of a wheel.

3. The air compressor of claim 2, wherein said enclosure housing is coupled to said mounting base and said wheel rim using a plurality of fasteners selected from the group comprising metal clips and threaded fasteners.

4. The air compressor of claim 2, wherein said enclosure housing further comprises at least one centrifugally activated vent port, each said centrifugally activated vent port comprising:

at least one pivotable vent port cover,

wherein each of said pivotable vent port covers'"'"' pivot point is fixed on said enclosure housing, and

wherein each of said pivotable vent port covers has a centrifugal weight coupled to the distal end of said pivotable vent covers, relative to the portion that actually covers a port opening in said enclosure housing; and

at least one port-closing spring,

wherein each said port-closing spring is coupled to the centrifugal-weighted end of at least one said pivotable vent port cover, and biases said pivotable vent port cover in the closed position.

5. The air compressor of claim 4, wherein each of said vent port openings of said enclosure housing has air-filter media adapted to entrap dust and other debris from the incoming air stream during wheel-rotating operations.

6. The air compressor of claim 1, wherein said counter-balance weight is an effective amount of tubing substantially equal to the amount and mass of said third air-discharge line and said quick-disconnect.

7. The air compressor of claim 1, wherein said coupling of said mounting base to said wheel rim is accomplished using a plurality of fasteners selected from the group comprising metal clips adapted to create an interference fit with said wheel rim and threaded fasteners.

8. The air compressor of claim 7, wherein the plurality of fasteners used to secure said mounting base to said wheel rim is a plurality of metal clips, and further comprising a spring retention ring in conjunction with said plurality of metal clips, said spring retention ring coupled to the interior side of each metal clip in order to exert outward force to enhance the coupling to said wheel rim.

9. The air compressor of claim 1, further comprising a first and a second centrifugal-arm-travel-limit member, each associated with said first and second centrifugal arms, respectively,

wherein each said centrifugal-arm-travel limit-member is fixedly coupled to said mounting base.

10. The air compressor of claim 1, wherein said pressure-relief valve comprises:

a first air chamber,

wherein said first air chamber has connection points for two air-supply lines and has a connection point for an air-discharge line;

a second air chamber,

wherein said second air chamber has at least one opening to the atmosphere;

a valve disc and an associated valve seat,

wherein said first and second air chambers are isolated from each other when said valve disc is fully seated in said valve seat;

an adjustable valve-seat-tension assembly comprising a spring disposed to exert seating force on said valve disc, a spring-compression interface member, and a spring-tension-adjustment screw,

wherein said spring tension can be adjusted to change the pressure-relief-valve-opening setpoint; and

a bearing surface disposed above said first and second air chambers and around the housing of said adjustable valve-seat-tension assembly,

wherein said bearing surface and said housing of said adjustable valve-seat-tension assembly are adapted to receive and be rotatably coupled to the center mounting aperture of said connecting arm;

wherein said pressure-relief valve is adapted to direct excess air pressure from said first air chamber to said second air chamber when said valve disc is lifted against said spring tension.

11. The air compressor of claim 1, wherein said quick-disconnect device comprises:

a quick-disconnect fitting member,

wherein said quick-disconnect fitting is fixedly and sealingly coupled to said third air-discharge line;

a coupling nut;

a flexible air-line segment inserted through said coupling nut,

wherein said flexible air-line segment has an end flange adapted to sealingly couple with said coupling nut when said coupling nut is fully engaged with a tire fill valve; and

an air-seal member,

wherein said air-seal member is disposed between the interior of said quick-disconnect fitting member and said flexible air-line segment;

wherein the end of said flexible air-line segment not coupled with said coupling nut is inserted through said quick-disconnect fitting member, including said air-seal member, and is inserted partially into the interior of said third air-discharge line; and

wherein said flexible air-line segment is adapted to establish a sealed, interference fit with said third air-discharge line during normal operations, yet allow said flexible air-line segment to be pulled away from said third air-discharge line in the event said mounting base separates from said wheel during rotating operations.

12. The air compressor of claim 11, wherein said air-seal member is comprised of rubber or an elastomer.

20. A method of using a wheel-mounted, centrifugally activated air-compressor, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a wheel-mounted, centrifugally activated air-compressor according to claim 1;

installing said wheel-mounted, centrifugally activated air-compressor onto a wheel rim, with said wheel rim having an inflatable tire installed around it;

directly or indirectly connecting said wheel-mounted, centrifugally activated air-compressor'"'"'s air-discharge line to said tire'"'"'s fill valve; and

using said wheel with said installed wheel-mounted, centrifugally activated air-compressor by causing said wheel to rotate and stop at various intervals.

13. A method of making an air-compressor for mounting and use on a wheel, comprising the steps of:

providing a mounting base,

wherein said mounting base is adapted to be coupled to the wheel rim of a wheel that comprises an inflatable tire;

providing a first and a second air-compressor cylinder assembly, each said air-compressor cylinder assembly fixedly coupled to said mounting base and including;

a cylinder housing,

an air-intake valve that is spring-biased to be normally in the closed position,

an air-discharge valve that is spring-biased to be normally in the closed position,

a piston diametrically sized to closely fit inside of the bore of said cylinder housing, said piston coupled to a piston connecting rod, and

a spring mechanically biased to oppose the compression piston stroke from said piston inserted into said cylinder bore;

providing a first and a second centrifugal arm, each said centrifugal arm associated with said first and second cylinder housings, respectively, and including;

a rotatable coupling at one end to said mounting base,

a rotatable piston-drive coupling to an associated piston connecting rod,

an inertial weight disposed on the opposite end relative to said end rotatably coupled to said mounting base,

an elongated aperture disposed on the end associated with said inertial weight, and

a coupling point adapted to receive one end of a biasing mechanism that is fixedly coupled to said mounting base and adapted to oppose centrifugal forces exerted against said inertial-weighted end of said centrifugal arm;

providing a connecting arm, centrally disposed on and rotatably coupled to said mounting base,

wherein each end of said connecting arm is slidably coupled to the elongated aperture of a centrifugal arm;

providing a pressure-relief valve;

providing a first and a second air-discharge line, each coupled on one end to said first and second cylinder housing, respectively, and each coupled on the other end to said pressure-relief valve;

providing a third air-discharge line coupled on one end to said pressure-relief valve and coupled on the other end to a quick-disconnect coupling adapted to couple to an inflatable-tire valve; and

providing a counter-balance weight of substantially the same mass as said third air-discharge line and said quick-disconnect,

wherein said counter-balance weight is disposed on said mounting base on the opposite side relative to said third air-discharge line and said quick-disconnect such that the potential for harmonics during wheel rotation are mitigated.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing an enclosure housing that is sized and shaped to cover the air-compressor components on said mounting base such that said enclosed air compressor is detachably mountable over the rim of a wheel.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing said enclosure housing with at least one centrifugally activated vent port, each said centrifugally activated vent port comprising:

at least one pivotable vent port cover,

wherein each of said pivotable vent port covers'"'"' pivot point is fixed on said enclosure housing, and

wherein each of said pivotable vent port covers has a centrifugal weight coupled to the distal end of said pivotable vent covers, relative to the portion that actually covers a port opening in said enclosure housing; and

at least one port-closing spring,

wherein each said port-closing spring is coupled to the centrifugal-weighted end of at least one said pivotable vent port cover, and biases said pivotable vent port cover in the closed position.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing, for each of said port openings of said enclosure housing, air-filter media adapted to entrap dust and other debris from the incoming air stream during wheel-rotating operations.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said counter-balance weight is an effective amount of tubing substantially equal to the amount and mass of said third air-discharge line and said quick-disconnect.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein providing said pressure-relief valve comprises the steps of:

providing a first air chamber,

wherein said first air chamber has connection points for two air-supply lines and has a connection point for an air-discharge line;

providing a second air chamber,

wherein said second air chamber has at least one opening to the atmosphere;

providing a valve disc and an associated valve seat,

wherein said first and second air chambers are isolated from each other when said valve disc is fully seated in said valve seat;

providing an adjustable valve-seat-tension assembly comprising a spring disposed to exert seating force on said valve disc, a spring-compression interface member, and a spring-tension-adjustment screw,

wherein said spring tension can be adjusted to change the pressure-relief-valve-opening setpoint; and

providing a bearing surface disposed above said first and second air chambers and around the housing of said adjustable valve-seat-tension assembly,

wherein said bearing surface and said housing of said adjustable valve-seat-tension assembly are adapted to receive and be rotatably coupled to the center mounting aperture of said connecting arm;

wherein said pressure-relief valve is adapted to direct excess air pressure from said first air chamber to said second air chamber when said valve disc is lifted against said spring tension.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein providing said quick-disconnect device comprises the steps of:

providing a quick-disconnect fitting member,

wherein said quick-disconnect fitting is fixedly and sealingly coupled to said third air-discharge line;

providing a coupling nut;

providing a flexible air-line segment inserted through said coupling nut,

wherein said flexible air-line segment has an end flange adapted to sealingly couple with said coupling nut when said coupling nut is fully engaged with a tire fill valve; and

providing an air-seal member,

wherein said air-seal member is disposed between the interior of said quick-disconnect fitting member and said flexible air-line segment;

wherein the end of said flexible air-line segment not coupled with said coupling nut is inserted through said quick-disconnect fitting member, including said air-seal member, and is inserted partially into the interior of said third air-discharge line; and

wherein said flexible air-line segment is adapted to establish a sealed, interference fit with said third air-discharge line during normal operations, yet allow said flexible air-line segment to be pulled away from said third air-discharge line in the event said mounting base separates from said wheel during rotating operations.