Tire inflation method

• US 6,561,017 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Corporation (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beverly, James A., Claussen, Stephen P., Stacer, Daryl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dickens, Charlene
• Application Number:
  US10/004,751
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/462, 731/465, 731/468, 340/442-448, 152/419, 152/415
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00372 characterised by fluid diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

A method of inflating a tire, or vehicle tire, that minimizes the amount of time needed for same is disclosed. The method of inflating a tire with a tire pressure management system includes introducing continuous fluid flow of a fluid into the tire, ascertaining the dynamic pressure of the fluid during said introducing continuous fluid flow, terminating continuous fluid flow when the dynamic pressure exceeds or equals a predetermined amount, and introducing pulsed fluid flow of the fluid into the tire.

Claims

1. Method of inflating a tire with a tire pressure management system comprising:

introducing continuous fluid flow of a fluid from a fluid source into the tire through a fluid control circuit;

ascertaining the dynamic pressure of the fluid during said introducing continuous fluid flow using a sensor disposed in a conduit of said fluid control circuit;

terminating continuous fluid flow when the dynamic pressure exceeds or equals a predetermined amount; and

introducing pulsed fluid flow of the fluid from said fluid source into the tire through said fluid control circuit.

2. Method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount substantially equals a target pressure.

3. Method of claim 1, further comprising:

ascertaining a static pressure of fluid in the tire prior to said introducing continuous fluid flow; and

initiating an alarm when the static pressure is less than a second predetermined amount.

4. Method of claim 3, wherein the second predetermined amount substantially equals ninety percent of the predetermined amount.

5. Method of claim 1, further comprising initiating an alarm if a duration of said inflating exceeds a predetermined time.

6. Method of claim 1, further comprising ascertaining a source pressure of said fluid source if a duration of said introducing continuous fluid flow exceeds a predetermined time.

7. Method of claim 6, further comprising initiating an alarm if the dynamic pressure is less than the source pressure offset by an offset amount.

8. Method of claim 1, further comprising ascertaining a static pressure of fluid in the tire prior or subsequent to said introducing pulsed fluid flow.

9. Method of claim 8, further comprising terminating pulsed fluid flow when the static pressure exceeds a second predetermined amount.

10. Method of claim 9, wherein the second predetermined amount substantially equals a target pressure.

11. Method of inflating a tire with a tire pressure management system comprising:

introducing continuous fluid flow of a fluid from a fluid source into the tire through a fluid control circuit;

ascertaining the dynamic pressure of the fluid during said introducing continuous fluid flow using a sensor disposed in a conduit of said fluid control circuit;

terminating continuous fluid flow when the dynamic pressure exceeds or equals a predetermined amount;

pausing after terminating continuous fluid flow until the fluid attains a static pressure as measured by said sensor; and

determining whether the static pressure exceeds a second predetermined amount.

12. Method of claim 11, wherein one or both of the predetermined amount and the second predetermined amount substantially equal a target pressure.

13. Method of claim 11, further comprising:

ascertaining a static pressure of fluid in the tire prior to said introducing continuous fluid flow; and

initiating an alarm when the static pressure is less than a third predetermined amount.

14. Method of claim 13, wherein the third predetermined amount substantially equals ninety percent of the predetermined amount.

15. Method of claim 11, further comprising initiating an alarm if a duration of said inflating exceeds a predetermined time.

16. Method of claim 11, further comprising introducing pulsed fluid flow of the fluid into the tire if the static pressure does not exceed the second predetermined amount.

17. Method of claim 11, further comprising ascertaining a source pressure of said fluid source if a duration of said introducing continuous fluid flow exceeds a predetermined time.

18. Method of claim 17, further comprising initiating an alarm if the dynamic pressure is less than the source pressure offset by an offset amount.

19. Method of claim 16, further comprising terminating pulsed fluid flow when the static pressure exceeds a third predetermined amount.

20. Method of claim 19, wherein the third predetermined amount substantially equals a target pressure.