Battery-powered, wheel-mounted tire pressure monitor and inflation system

• US 5,928,444 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fredrick Mark Moran, Gary Burton Shelly, Richard Thomas Loewe
• Original Assignee: Fredrick Mark Moran, Gary Burton Shelly, Richard Thomas Loewe
• Inventors: Shelly, Gary Burton, Moran, Fredrick Mark, Loewe, Richard Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lorin, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US08/484,924
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 152/415, 152/418
• US Class Current: 152/418
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/004 the control being done on the wheel, e.g. using a wheel-mounted reservoir

Abstract

A battery-powered tire pressure monitor and inflation system which is mounted entirely on or within a vehicle wheel, preferably on the inner surface of a wheel cover. The entire system rotates concurrently with the vehicle wheel, thereby eliminating the need for any interconnection between non-rotating and rotating components of the vehicle. The preferred system also incorporates a centrifugal intake valve apparatus, which remains closed until the vehicle wheel exceeds a minimum rotational rate. The centrifugal intake valve closure apparatus thereby prevents fluids or particles from being drawn into the compressor.

Claims

1. A system disposed entirely upon a wheel for maintaining the inflation pressure of a tire mounted on said wheel, above a predetermined minimum pressure, said system comprising:

a) a sensing apparatus disposed upon and carried by said wheel for sensing the inflation pressure of the tire;

b) a compressor apparatus disposed upon and carried by said wheel to be responsive to said sensing apparatus and connected to said tire such that, when said sensing apparatus determines that the inflation pressure of said tire is below said predetermined minimum pressure, said compressor apparatus will pass an inflation fluid into said tire until said sensing apparatus determines that said inflation pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure;

c) an intake valve connected to said compressor apparatus, said intake valve comprising an intake valve inlet through which air is drawn into said compressor apparatus, and further comprising a centrifugal intake valve closure apparatus operative to close off said intake valve inlet when said vehicle wheel is not rotating above a rotational rate that precludes entry of liquids or particles, but operative to open said intake valve inlet when vehicle wheel is rotating at a sufficient rotational rate to expel foreign particles or fluids by centrifugal force; and

d) a battery disposed upon and carried by said wheel, said battery being in direct non-rotating electrical contact with both the sensing apparatus and the compressor apparatus such that the compressor apparatus is automatically activated when the inflation pressure is below said predetermined minimum pressure to thereby pass inflation fluid into said tire and automatically deactivated when said predetermined maximum inflation pressure is exceeded.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said centrifugal intake valve closure apparatus comprises a spring member having a plug attached thereto, said spring member being positioned relative to said intake valve inlet such that, when said vehicle wheel is rotating at said sufficient rotational rate, the force of said spring member will be overcome by the centrifugal force on said plug to move said plug away from said intake valve inlet, and when said vehicle wheel is rotating at less than said sufficient rotational rate, said spring member will force said plug against said intake valve inlet, thereby blocking said intake valve inlet.