Tire inflation system
First Claim
1. For use with a vehicle having at least two tires, a system for varying the pressure in said tires to obtain a user selected tire deflection comprising:
- a source of fluid pressure,means for fluidly connecting said pressure source to the tires comprising a fluid conduit means and a first valve means connected in series in said fluid conduit means between said pressure source and said tire which, upon actuation, fluidly connects said fluid source to the tires,a second valve means connected to said conduit means which, upon actuation, exhausts fluid pressure from the tires,first means for measuring a parameter representative of tire load,second means for measuring a pressure representative of the tire pressure,means for selecting between at least two different tire deflection levels,means responsive to said first and second measuring means and said selecting means for selectively actuating said first or second valve means to obtain the selected tire deflection level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention discloses a system for varying the inflation pressure in the tires of a vehicle in order to obtain an operator selected tire deflection. The system includes a source of pressure which is fluidly connected through an inflation valve to the tires which, upon actuation, increases the tire pressure. Conversely, a deflation valve is also connected to the tire and, upon actuation, exhausts fluid from the tires thus decreasing the tire pressure. A pressure sensor detects the pressure representative of the pressure within the tires and a further sensor detects the vehicle load while a switch arrangement allows the operator to select between at least two different tire deflection levels. An electronic control unit receives input signals from the pressure and further sensors as well as from the switch arrangement and selectively actuates the inflation or deflation valves until a tire pressure corresponding to the desired tire deflection is obtained.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. For use with a vehicle having at least two tires, a system for varying the pressure in said tires to obtain a user selected tire deflection comprising:
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a source of fluid pressure, means for fluidly connecting said pressure source to the tires comprising a fluid conduit means and a first valve means connected in series in said fluid conduit means between said pressure source and said tire which, upon actuation, fluidly connects said fluid source to the tires, a second valve means connected to said conduit means which, upon actuation, exhausts fluid pressure from the tires, first means for measuring a parameter representative of tire load, second means for measuring a pressure representative of the tire pressure, means for selecting between at least two different tire deflection levels, means responsive to said first and second measuring means and said selecting means for selectively actuating said first or second valve means to obtain the selected tire deflection level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. For use with a vehicle having at least a front tire and a rear tire, a system for independently varying the pressure in each said tires to obtain a user selected tire deflection comprising:
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a source of fluid pressure, means for fluidly connecting said pressure source to the tires comprising a fluid conduit means and a pair of first valve means, one first valve means connected in series in said fluid conduit means between said pressure source and each said tire which, upon actuation, fluidly connects said fluid source to its associated tire, a pair of second valve means, one valve means connected to said conduit means for each tire which, upon actuation, exhausts fluid pressure from its associated tire, first means for measuring a parameter representative of tire load for each tire, second means for measuring a pressure representative of tire pressure for each tire, means for selecting between at least two different tire deflection levels, means responsive to said first and second measuring means and said selecting means for selectively actuating said first or second valve means to obtain the selected tire deflection level in each tire.
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Specification