Apparatus for pressurizing tires to a desired level

• US 4,456,038 A
• Filed: 03/25/1981
• Issued: 06/26/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Service Station Products Co. (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hennessy Industries Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Gwaltney, Robert E., Holladay, Jim L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bokan, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US06/247,609
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 152/415, 141/38, 141/65, 141/66, 141/95, 141/198, 141/192, 137/224, 137/102, 137/487.5, 137/624.11, 73/146.2, 73/146.5, 73/714, 340/58, 340/626, 364/509, 364/510
• US Class Current: 141/95
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/046 using electrical or electronical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2544 Supply and exhaust type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/36 With pressure-responsive pressure-control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

Apparatus for rapidly achieving a desired pressure level in a tire by gas flow through a port in the tire such as the valve stem including a conduit having one end for connection to a source of gas under pressure and another end for connection to the inflation port. Valves are utilized for selectively closing and opening the conduit and for venting the conduit to the atmosphere. A selector whereby a desired pressure level to be achieved within the tire is provided as is a pressure level sensor which is connected to the conduit. A control in the form of a microprocessor digitally operates the valves to thereby provide for rapid inflation of the tire inasmuch as substantially full source pressure is applied to the tire to thereby provide a high pressure differential and increased gas flow.

Claims

1. Apparatus for rapidly achieving a desired pressure level in a tire by gas flow through a port in the tire such as a valve stem comprising:

a conduit having one end for connection to a source of gas under pressure and another end for connection to the inflation port of a tire, the path between said conduit and the inflation port being susceptable to leakage;

a valve means for selectively (a) closing and opening said conduit and (b) for venting said conduit to the atmosphere;

means for selecting a desired pressure level less than the pressure level of said source;

pressure level sensing means connected to said conduit; and

control means responsive to said sensing means and to said selecting means for digitally operating said valve means to apply gas under pressure substantially at the pressure level of said source to the tire port throughout an inflation cycle, for relieving pressure in the tire at a level in excess of said desired pressure level and for closing said conduit when said desired pressure level is attained, said control means further including means for detecting leakage in said path after said desired pressure level is attained and in response thereto, digitally operating said valve means to maintain the pressure level at said desired pressure level notwithstanding such leakage.

2. Apparatus for rapidly achieving a desired pressure level in a tire by gas flow through a port in the tire such as a valve stem comprising:

a conduit having one end for connection to a source of gas under pressure and another end for connection to the inflation port of a tire;

a valve means for selectively (a) closing and opening said conduit and (b) for venting said conduit to the atmosphere;

means for selecting a desired pressure level less than the pressure level of said source;

pressure level sensing means connected to said conduit;

control means responsive to said sensing means and to said selecting means for digitally operating said valve means to apply gas under pressure substantially at the pressure level of said source to the tire port throughout an inflation cycle, and for relieving pressure in the tire at a level in excess of said desired pressure level; and

additional selecting means for selecting a bead seat mode when a tire to be connected to said conduit another end requires that its beads be seated on a wheel on which it is mounted,

said control means being further responsive to said additional selecting means when a bead seat mode is selected to first operate said valves to achieve a pressure level within the tire of sufficiently high magnitude to seat the tire bead and then operate said valves to achieve said desired pressure level within the tire.

3. Apparatus for rapidly achieving a desired pressure level in a tire by gas flow through a port in the tire such as a valve stem comprising:

a conduit having one end for connection to a source of gas under pressure and another end for connection to the inflation port of a tire;

a valve means for selectively (a) closing and opening said conduit and (b) for venting said conduit to the atmosphere;

means for selecting a desired pressure level less than the pressure level of said source;

pressure level sensing means connected to said conduit; and

control means responsive to said sensing means and to said selecting means for digitally operating said valve means to apply gas under pressure substantially at the pressure level of said source to the tire port throughout an inflation cycle, and for relieving pressure in the tire at a level in excess of said desired pressure level, said control means being operable in a coarse mode and fine mode, and including means operable during at least said coarse mode for calculating variable time periods for which said valve means should be operated in response to pressure level changes sensed by said pressure level sensing means at differing times in an inflation cycle.

4. Apparatus for rapidly achieving a desired pressure level in a tire by gas flow through a port in the tire such as a valve stem comprising:

a conduit having one end for connection to a source of gas under pressure and another end for connection to the inflation port of a tire;

gas control means for controlling gas flow through said conduit;

first means for selecting a desired pressure level less than the pressure level of said source;

second means for selecting a bead seat mode when a tire to be connected to said conduit another end requires that its beads be seated on a wheel on which it is mounted;

pressure level sensing means connected to said conduit; and

means responsive to said sensing means and to both said selecting means for operating said gas control means to apply gas to the tire port to first achieve a pressure level within the tire sufficient to seat the beads thereof and then achieve said desired pressure level within the tire.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said gas control means comprises at least one valve and said operating means digitally operates said valve.

6. Apparatus for rapidly achieving a desired pressure level in a tire by gas flow through a port in the tire such as a valve stem comprising:

a conduit having one end for connection to a source of gas under pressure and another end for connection to the inflation port of a tire;

a valve for selectively closing and opening said conduit;

means for selecting a desired pressure level less than the pressure level of said source;

pressure level sensing means connected to said conduit; and

control means responsive to said sensing means and to said selecting means for digitally and sequentially opening and closing said valve for predetermined time periods to apply gas under pressure substantially at the pressure level of said source to the tire port throughout an inflation cycle until said desired pressure level is achieved, said control means being operable to provide a coarse inflation mode followed by a fine inflation mode and further including means for determining whether a tire to be inflated is a relatively small tire and for causing said control means to skip said coarse inflation mode.