Automatic tire pressurizing system
First Claim
1. Pneumatic tire pressurizing means for automatically pressurizing a load-bearing tire during the rotation thereof, comprising a pump housing, an attaching base for attaching said pump housing to the interior surface of a tire at a location adjacent the exterior road contact surface of the tire, conduit means for supplying air from outside the tire to said pump housing, pump means in said pump housing for drawing air through said conduit means and for pressurizing the air for delivery to the interior of the tire, said pump housing and pump meams being entirely inside the tire and attached to the tire only by said attaching base, said pump means including an actuating member supported for movement relative to said pump housing in a direction generally radial with respect to the tire between a radially inward first position and a radially outward second position, and first biasing means for urging said actuating member toward said first position, wherein said pump housing is deflected from a circular orbital path around a rotating tire when said pump housing enters the flattened load-bearing portion on which a load-bearing tire rests, said first biasing means yielding to centrifugal force and inertia acting on said actuating member when said pump housing is deflected from a circular orbit to permit said actuating member to follow a different orbital path from said pump housing such that said pump housing and said actuating member are moved relative to one another toward said second position against the force of said first biasing means, said actuating member being subsequently returned to said first position by said first biasing means, whereby reciprocating relative motion is induced between said pump housing and said actuating member to operate said pump means during each rotational orbit of the tire.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire pressurizing system is provided for automatically pressurizing a pneumatic tire. The system employs centrifugal force to actuate a pump which is attached to the interior of the tire. Centrifugal force causes a pump actuating member to follow a different orbital path around a rotating tire from the path of the pump housing, which is attached to the tire. The difference is due to the flexing of the tire in the load bearing "footprint" area. The result is reciprocation of the actuating member, which in turn operates a pump. Piston and diaphragm pump embodiments are disclosed. An automatic pressure regulator is also provided.
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Citations
17 Claims
- 1. Pneumatic tire pressurizing means for automatically pressurizing a load-bearing tire during the rotation thereof, comprising a pump housing, an attaching base for attaching said pump housing to the interior surface of a tire at a location adjacent the exterior road contact surface of the tire, conduit means for supplying air from outside the tire to said pump housing, pump means in said pump housing for drawing air through said conduit means and for pressurizing the air for delivery to the interior of the tire, said pump housing and pump meams being entirely inside the tire and attached to the tire only by said attaching base, said pump means including an actuating member supported for movement relative to said pump housing in a direction generally radial with respect to the tire between a radially inward first position and a radially outward second position, and first biasing means for urging said actuating member toward said first position, wherein said pump housing is deflected from a circular orbital path around a rotating tire when said pump housing enters the flattened load-bearing portion on which a load-bearing tire rests, said first biasing means yielding to centrifugal force and inertia acting on said actuating member when said pump housing is deflected from a circular orbit to permit said actuating member to follow a different orbital path from said pump housing such that said pump housing and said actuating member are moved relative to one another toward said second position against the force of said first biasing means, said actuating member being subsequently returned to said first position by said first biasing means, whereby reciprocating relative motion is induced between said pump housing and said actuating member to operate said pump means during each rotational orbit of the tire.
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16. A method of pressurizing a pneumatic tire during rotation thereof while the tire is supporting a load, using a pump means which includes a pump housing and which is actuated by relative movement between the pump housing and an acutating member supported for movement relative to the pump housing, comprising the steps of:
- attaching said pump housing to the interior surface of a tire by means of an attaching base on said pump housing, locating said attaching base adjacent the exterior road contact surface of the tire such that the pump housing and pump means are entirely inside the tire and are attached to the tire only by said attaching base, providing a supply of air from outside the tire to said pump means, orienting the actuating member which is movable to actuate said pump means for movement in a direction generally radial with respect to the tire between a radially inward first position and a radially outward second position, urging said actuating member toward said first position using yieldable first biasing means, rotating the tire while the tire supports a load such that a flattened load-bearing portion of the tire periphery exists, carrying said pump housing and actuating member around with the rotating tire such that the pump housing follows a non-circular orbital path which deflects the pump housing from a circular orbit at the flattened load-bearing portion, permitting the actuating member to follow a different orbital path from the pump housing in response to centrifugal force and inertia which causes the pump housing and the actuating member to move relative to one another toward said second position against the force of the first biasing means, and subsequently returning said actuating member to said first position by the force of said first biasing means, whereby reciprocating relative motion is induced between the pump housing and the actuating member to operate the pump means during each rotational orbit of the tire.
- View Dependent Claims (17)
Specification