Tire pressure maintenance system
First Claim
1. A tire pressure maintenance system, comprising:
- a pressure sensor for measuring gas pressure in said tire and providing a pressure signal representative of said gas pressure;
a control device responsive to said pressure signal and to provide a control signal; and
a gas transfer mechanism including a micromechanical pump responsive to said control signal for transferring gas into said tire from a location external to said tire, said micromechanical pump including,a pumping chamber;
an air transfer chamber;
a flexible membrane separating said air pumping chamber from said air transfer chamber;
a first valve between said air transfer chamber and a location external to said tire;
a second valve between said air transfer chamber and a location internal to said tire; and
a third valve between said pumping chamber and a location internal to said tire.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas transfer system is provided for establishing or maintaining a predetermined gas pressure within a plenum, such as a tire. In an exemplary embodiment, the gas transfer system includes a power source, a pressure sensor, a control unit, and a gas transfer mechanism. Preferably, a gas transfer mechanism includes a micromechanical device, comprising one or more pumping units that transfer gas from one pressure zone to another. In one embodiment, pumping is accomplished, in part, by heating the gas within a sealable chamber of a pumping unit to cause the pressure of the gas to increase. In another embodiment, the change in pressure of the gas caused by compression of a tire provides a pumping force. Valves are provided for regulating movement of the gas through the gas transfer mechanism and can include electromechanical valves responsive to signals from the control unit, or passively biased valves responsive to applied gas pressure.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A tire pressure maintenance system, comprising:
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a pressure sensor for measuring gas pressure in said tire and providing a pressure signal representative of said gas pressure; a control device responsive to said pressure signal and to provide a control signal; and a gas transfer mechanism including a micromechanical pump responsive to said control signal for transferring gas into said tire from a location external to said tire, said micromechanical pump including, a pumping chamber; an air transfer chamber; a flexible membrane separating said air pumping chamber from said air transfer chamber; a first valve between said air transfer chamber and a location external to said tire; a second valve between said air transfer chamber and a location internal to said tire; and a third valve between said pumping chamber and a location internal to said tire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification