AUTOMATED TIRE INFLATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system for automatically inflating a tire mounted on a vehicle, the system comprising:
- means for determining a location of a valve stem of the tire;
an air supply; and
a robotic arm for inflating the tire, the robotic arm attaching to the located valve stem based on the determined valve stem location and supplying air to the tire from the air supply;
whereby the valve stem is located and the robotic arm attaches to the valve stem based on the determined valve stem location, inflates the tire and detaches from the tire upon determining that a predetermined tire air pressure is attained.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automatically inflating tires mounted on a vehicle without requiring the occupants of the vehicle from leaving the interior of the vehicle. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a system for automatically inflating a tire of a vehicle. The system determines a location of a valve stem of the tire and a robotic arm for inflating the tire. The robotic arm attaches to the located valve stem based on the determined valve stem location. The robotic arm supplies air to the tire from an air supply. The valve stem is located and the robotic arm attaches to the valve stem based on the determined valve stem location, inflates the tire and detaches from the tire upon determining that a predetermined tire air pressure is attained.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for automatically inflating a tire mounted on a vehicle, the system comprising:
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means for determining a location of a valve stem of the tire; an air supply; and a robotic arm for inflating the tire, the robotic arm attaching to the located valve stem based on the determined valve stem location and supplying air to the tire from the air supply; whereby the valve stem is located and the robotic arm attaches to the valve stem based on the determined valve stem location, inflates the tire and detaches from the tire upon determining that a predetermined tire air pressure is attained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of automatically inflating a tire mounted on a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a location of a valve stem of the tire; attaching a robotic arm to the valve stem based on the determined valve stem location; supplying air to the tire by the robotic arm from an air supply, the robotic arm supplying air to a level sufficient to attain a predetermined tire air pressure; and detaching the robotic arm from the valve stem. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An air station for automatically inflating a tire mounted on a vehicle, the air station comprising:
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an enclosure housing; means for determining a location of a valve stem of the tire; an air supply; means for immobilizing the vehicle when inflating the tire of the vehicle; and a robotic arm for inflating the tire, the robotic arm attaching to the located valve stem based on the determined valve stem location and supplying air to the tire from the air supply; whereby the vehicle is positioned in the enclosure, the valve stem is located and the robotic arm attaches to the valve stem based on the determined valve stem location, inflates the tire and detaches from the tire upon determining that a predetermined tire air pressure is attained. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification