Central tire inflation controller
First Claim
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1. An improved apparatus for maintaining optimum air pressure in the tires of a vehicle having a Central Tire Inflation System, which provides compressed air for inflating the tires of the vehicle, comprising(a) means for determining the speed of a vehicle and transmitting an output signal commensurate therewith to a computer;
- (b) means for determining the acceleration of a vehicle and transmitting an output signal commensurate therewith to the computer;
(c) said computer computing an optimum tire pressure for the vehicle from the signals transmitted by (a) and (b), by a set of empirical equations, and generating an output signal commensurate with said optimum tire pressure;
(d) a pressure controller connected to, and responsive to, the optimum tire pressure signal provided by the computer;
(e) an air supply valve actuated by an input from the pressure controller for inflating the tires;
(f) an air bleed valve actuated by a input from the pressure controller for deflating the tires;
whereby the air pressure in the vehicle'"'"'s tires is maintained at the optimum tire pressure computed by the computer.
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Abstract
A digital computer computes the optimum air pressure in the tires of a vehicle which minimizes fuel consumption, tire wear, and road deterioration, and transmits to a pressurized air supply system an output signal for adjusting the tire pressure to this optimum tire pressure. The computer uses input from sensors including both vehicle speed and acceleration.
48 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An improved apparatus for maintaining optimum air pressure in the tires of a vehicle having a Central Tire Inflation System, which provides compressed air for inflating the tires of the vehicle, comprising
(a) means for determining the speed of a vehicle and transmitting an output signal commensurate therewith to a computer; -
(b) means for determining the acceleration of a vehicle and transmitting an output signal commensurate therewith to the computer; (c) said computer computing an optimum tire pressure for the vehicle from the signals transmitted by (a) and (b), by a set of empirical equations, and generating an output signal commensurate with said optimum tire pressure; (d) a pressure controller connected to, and responsive to, the optimum tire pressure signal provided by the computer; (e) an air supply valve actuated by an input from the pressure controller for inflating the tires; (f) an air bleed valve actuated by a input from the pressure controller for deflating the tires;
whereby the air pressure in the vehicle'"'"'s tires is maintained at the optimum tire pressure computed by the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification