Vehicle wheel including self-inflating mechanism
First Claim
1. A pressurizing mechanism for a wheel, comprising:
- a wheel having a substantially radially extending bore formed therein and a high pressure air reservoir for storing air for inflating a tire mounted on the wheel;
a piston which is movable in the bore in response to centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the wheel acting thereon;
a variable volume compression chamber which is sealingly defined in the bore between radially outer ends of the bore and the piston;
biasing means for urging the piston radially inward;
outlet valve means for transmitting air from the compression chamber into the reservoir when the piston is moved radially outward against the biasing means by the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the wheel; and
inlet valve means for transmitting air from the atmosphere into the compression chamber to replenish the air in the chamber when the piston is moved radially inward by the biasing means, the inlet valve means having a passageway which communicates with the atmosphere and opens into the chamber radially outward of said outer end of the piston and a valve element which is capable of movement upwardly towards the passageway.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reservoir is formed in a wheel of a vehicle for storing high pressure air for inflating a tire mounted on the wheel. A regulating valve communicates the reservoir with the tire when the air pressure in the tire drops below a predetermined value to maintain the tire fully inflated. A mechanism for automatically replenishing the high pressure air in the reservoir includes a radially extending bore formed in the wheel, and a piston which is sealingly movable in the bore. A variable volume compression chamber is defined in the bore between the radially outer ends of the bore and the piston. When the vehicle is stopped, a relatively weak spring urges the piston to a radially innermost position in which an inlet check valve opens to allow communication of the chamber with the atmosphere so that the chamber can be filled with fresh air. When the vehicle accelerates above a predetermined speed, the piston is moved radially outward against the spring by centrifugal force to compress the air in the chamber, and an outlet check valve opens to allow communication of the chamber with the reservoir so that compressed air can be pumped into the reservoir.
52 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A pressurizing mechanism for a wheel, comprising:
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a wheel having a substantially radially extending bore formed therein and a high pressure air reservoir for storing air for inflating a tire mounted on the wheel; a piston which is movable in the bore in response to centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the wheel acting thereon; a variable volume compression chamber which is sealingly defined in the bore between radially outer ends of the bore and the piston; biasing means for urging the piston radially inward; outlet valve means for transmitting air from the compression chamber into the reservoir when the piston is moved radially outward against the biasing means by the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the wheel; and inlet valve means for transmitting air from the atmosphere into the compression chamber to replenish the air in the chamber when the piston is moved radially inward by the biasing means, the inlet valve means having a passageway which communicates with the atmosphere and opens into the chamber radially outward of said outer end of the piston and a valve element which is capable of movement upwardly towards the passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A wheel for mounting a tire thereon, comprising:
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a high pressure air reservoir for storing air for inflating a tire; regulating valve means for communicating the reservoir with the tire when the pressure in the tire drops below a predetermined value; a substantially radially extending bore; a piston which is movable in the bore; a variable volume compression chamber which is sealingly defined in the bore between radially outer ends of the bore and the piston; biasing means for urging the piston radially inward; outlet valve means for transmitting air from the compression chamber into the reservoir when the piston is moved radially outward against the biasing means by centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the wheel; and inlet valve means for transmitting air from the atmosphere into the compression chamber to replenish the air in the chamber when the piston is moved radially inward by the biasing means. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification