TYRE INFLATION CONTROL ARRANGEMENT

• US 20160214441A1
• Filed: 07/24/2014
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGCO International GmbH (AGCO International Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: AGCO International GmbH (AGCO International Holdings BV)
• Inventors: HOELDRICH, Bernhard, PISCHULTI, Christian, PRESTEL, Stefan, SCHMOELZ, Benjamin, KREULICH, Frank, STAEDELE, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,701,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 23/00347 comprising two or more feedthrough
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0039 specially adapted for driven wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/02 Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00

Abstract

A tyre pressurisation arrangement on a vehicle in which the pressurisation of the tyre is controlled by a vehicle control unit and the vehicle control unit is notified of a desired tyre pressure or desired tyre volume. An air flow rate in a supply line to the tyre is established so that the time to pressurise the tyre to the desired tyre pressure/volume is calculable, or the time taken to pressurise the tyre to an interval pressure/volume is calculable, said interval pressure/volume being between a current tyre pressure/volume and the desired pressure/volume.

Claims

1. A tyre pressurisation arrangement on a vehicle in which the pressurisation of the tyre is controlled by a vehicle control unit and the vehicle control unit is notified of a desired tyre pressure or desired tyre volume, characterised in that an air flow rate in a supply line to the tyre is established so that the time to pressurise the tyre to the desired tyre pressure/volume is calculable from the air flow rate, or wherein the time taken to pressurise the tyre to an interval pressure/volume is calculable, said interval pressure/volume being between a current tyre pressure/volume and the desired pressure/volume.

2. The tyre pressurisation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air flow rate is calculated by taking the pressure differential between two points in the arrangement.

3. The tyre pressurisation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the arrangement comprises a restriction and the pressure differential is measured across the restriction.

4. The tyre pressurisation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the arrangement comprises two pressure sensors and the pressure differential is calculated between the two sensors.

5. The tyre pressurisation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the arrangement comprises one pressure sensor and the pressure differential is calculated between the sensor and the ambient pressure.

6. The tyre pressurisation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control unit has access to tyre dimensions of more than one size of tyre.

7. The tyre pressurisation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the arrangement comprises a control valve between the vehicle air supply and the tyre.

8. The tyre pressurisation arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the tyre arrangement comprises a first sensor and second pressure sensor arranged on each side of the control valve.

9. The tyre pressurisation arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first pressure sensor is positioned in the supply line between a front and a rear axle of the vehicle and the second pressure sensor is positioned in the supply line to a left and/or a right tyre of the vehicle.

10. The tyre pressurisation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein if the calculated time to pressurise the tyre to the desired pressure is exceeded, a warning signal is given.

11. The tyre pressurisation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein if the calculated time to pressurise the tyre to the desired pressure is exceeded, the control unit stops deflation or inflation.

12. The tyre pressurisation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control unit is calibrated to take into account the fluid parameters and/or geometry of components within the supply line in the arrangement during calculations.

13. A method of pressurising a tyre on a vehicle, said vehicle having a tyre arrangement comprising an air passage which conducts air from an air supply to the tyre, wherein the pressure differential between two points in the arrangement is measured so that the air flow rate is calculable and wherein when a specific tyre pressure/volume is desired, the time taken to achieve the specific pressure/volume is calculated.

14. The method of pressuring a tyre on a vehicle as claimed in claim 13 wherein the pressure differential is also used to calculate the time taken to achieve an interval tyre pressure/volume, said interval tyre pressure/volume being a value between a current tyre pressure/volume value and the specific pressure/volume.