Tire inflation system apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method of inflating a tire, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an air supply source in fluid communication with said tire by means of a pneumatic conduit;
providing a tire pressure retention valve in said pneumatic conduit adjacent to said tire;
determining an inflation pressure of the tire with a step-up procedure, whereby air bursts of a generally predetermined volume are communicated from said air supply source to a portion of the pneumatic conduit between the air supply source and said tire pressure retention valve;
inflating said tire with an extended-pulse procedure, whereby extended bursts of air are communicated from said air supply source to the tire; and
performing a shut-down sequence once a predetermined target inflation pressure in said tire is reached, whereby over-inflation of the tire generally is prevented by said method steps.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire inflation system includes an air supply source in selective fluid communication with a tire via a pneumatic conduit. A method of inflating the system includes providing a tire pressure retention valve in the pneumatic conduit adjacent to the tire. An inflation pressure of the tire is determined with a step-up procedure, in which air bursts are communicated from the air supply source to a portion of the pneumatic conduit between the air supply source and the tire pressure retention valve. The volume of at least one selected communicated air burst is related to a volume of a section of the conduit. The tire is inflated with an extended-pulse procedure, in which extended bursts of air are communicated from the air supply source to the tire. A shut-down sequence is performed once a predetermined target inflation pressure in the tire is reached.
95 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of inflating a tire, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an air supply source in fluid communication with said tire by means of a pneumatic conduit; providing a tire pressure retention valve in said pneumatic conduit adjacent to said tire; determining an inflation pressure of the tire with a step-up procedure, whereby air bursts of a generally predetermined volume are communicated from said air supply source to a portion of the pneumatic conduit between the air supply source and said tire pressure retention valve; inflating said tire with an extended-pulse procedure, whereby extended bursts of air are communicated from said air supply source to the tire; and performing a shut-down sequence once a predetermined target inflation pressure in said tire is reached, whereby over-inflation of the tire generally is prevented by said method steps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification