Tire pressure maintenance device
First Claim
1. A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure of an interior of a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel being rotatably connected to a stationary member of a vehicle wheel assembly and defining an axis of rotation, the device comprising:
- at least one magnetic element being mounted on the stationary member at a radial distance from the axis of rotation, the magnetic element producing a magnetic field wherein the magnetic element produces at least one of two opposing forces;
a magnetically driven air compressor being mounted on the wheel and being radially disposed from the axis of rotation relative to the magnetic element to transit the magnetic field during each revolution of the wheel, the compressor being in fluid communication with the atmosphere and the interior of the tire, the compressor being operative to intake air from the atmosphere and to output compressed air to the interior of the tire in response to transiting the magnetic field wherein the compressor includes a flexible compression chamber defining a variable chamber volume; and
means for regulating output pressure of the compressor to the desired inflation pressure;
an actuator being operative to increase and decrease the chamber volume, the actuator being operative to effect an intake stroke to increase chamber volume and thereby intake air from the environment through an intake check valve, the actuator further being operative to effect an output stroke to decrease chamber volume and thereby expel air through an output check valve; and
means for applying first and second opposing forces alternately to the actuator, one of the first and second opposing forces increasing the volume of the flexible chamber and the other of the first and second opposing forces decreasing the volume of the flexible chamber, at least one of the first and second opposing forces being produced upon transit of the compressor through the magnetic field.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure within a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle which includes a microcompressor having a flexible compression chamber and a magnetic element not on the wheel. As the compressor passes the magnet each wheel revolution, a small amount of atmospheric air is pumped into the tire, if needed. The magnet and the compressor need no other contact with the vehicle or the wheel and require no energy source on the wheel. An alternative embodiment uses an electrical coil on the wheel to pass the magnet inducing a voltage that drives a compressor on the wheel. As the coil passes the electromagnet it provides a split transformer that transfers electrical power to the wheel and permits two-way pulse data communication between the wheel and the vehicle.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure of an interior of a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel being rotatably connected to a stationary member of a vehicle wheel assembly and defining an axis of rotation, the device comprising:
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at least one magnetic element being mounted on the stationary member at a radial distance from the axis of rotation, the magnetic element producing a magnetic field wherein the magnetic element produces at least one of two opposing forces; a magnetically driven air compressor being mounted on the wheel and being radially disposed from the axis of rotation relative to the magnetic element to transit the magnetic field during each revolution of the wheel, the compressor being in fluid communication with the atmosphere and the interior of the tire, the compressor being operative to intake air from the atmosphere and to output compressed air to the interior of the tire in response to transiting the magnetic field wherein the compressor includes a flexible compression chamber defining a variable chamber volume; and means for regulating output pressure of the compressor to the desired inflation pressure; an actuator being operative to increase and decrease the chamber volume, the actuator being operative to effect an intake stroke to increase chamber volume and thereby intake air from the environment through an intake check valve, the actuator further being operative to effect an output stroke to decrease chamber volume and thereby expel air through an output check valve; and means for applying first and second opposing forces alternately to the actuator, one of the first and second opposing forces increasing the volume of the flexible chamber and the other of the first and second opposing forces decreasing the volume of the flexible chamber, at least one of the first and second opposing forces being produced upon transit of the compressor through the magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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26. A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure of an interior of a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel being rotatably connected to a stationary member of a vehicle wheel assembly and defining an axis of rotation, the device comprising:
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at least one magnetic element being mounted on the stationary member at a radial distance from the axis of rotation, the magnetic element producing a magnetic field; a magnetically driven air compressor being mounted on the wheel and being radially disposed from the axis of rotation relative to the magnetic element to transit the magnetic field during each revolution of the wheel, the compressor being in fluid communication with the atmosphere and the interior of the tire, the compressor being operative to intake air from the atmosphere and to output compressed air to the interior of the tire in response to transiting the magnetic field, the compressor comprising; a compression chamber defining a variable chamber volume; a magnetic actuator being operative to cause an increase and decrease in the chamber volume, the actuator effecting an intake stroke to increase chamber volume and thereby intake air from the environment through an intake check valve, the actuator effecting an output stroke to decrease chamber volume and thereby expel air through an output check valve; and means for applying first and second opposing forces to the actuator, one of the first and second opposing forces increasing the chamber volume and the other of the first and second opposing forces decreasing the chamber volume, at least one of the first and second opposing forces being cyclically produced upon cyclical transit of the magnetic actuator through the magnetic field; and a means for regulating the tire inflation pressure to the desired tire inflation pressure by at least one of; using a maximum compressor output pressure that is set or adjusted to the desired tire inflation pressure; and using a pressure relief valve assembly that allows compressor output air to flow into the tire when the pressure of the compressor output air exceeds the tire inflation pressure and is below the desired tire inflation pressure and disables air from flowing to the tire when the compressor output pressure exceeds the desired tire inflation pressure.
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31. A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure of an interior of a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel being rotatably connected to a stationary member of a vehicle wheel assembly and defining an axis of rotation, the device comprising:
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at least one magnetic element being mounted on the stationary member at a radial distance from the axis of rotation, the magnetic element producing a magnetic field; a magnetically driven air compressor being mounted on the wheel and being radially disposed from the axis of rotation relative to the magnetic element to transit the magnetic field during each revolution of the wheel, the compressor being in fluid communication with the atmosphere and the interior of the tire, the compressor being operative to intake air from the atmosphere and to output compressed air to the interior of the tire in response to transiting the magnetic field; and means for regulating output pressure of the compressor to the desired inflation pressure.
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32. A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure of an interior of a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel being rotatably connected to a stationary member of a vehicle wheel assembly and defining an axis of rotation, the device comprising:
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at least one magnetic element being mounted on the stationary member at a radial distance from the axis of rotation, the magnetic element producing a magnetic field; a magnetically driven air compressor being mounted on the wheel and being radially disposed from the axis of rotation relative to the magnetic element to transit the magnetic field during each revolution of the wheel, the compressor being in fluid communication with the atmosphere and the interior of the tire, the compressor being operative to intake air from the atmosphere and to output compressed air to the interior of the tire in response to transiting the magnetic field; means for regulating output pressure of the compressor to the desired inflation pressure; a compression chamber defining a variable chamber volume; an actuator being operative to increase and decrease the chamber volume, the actuator being operative to effect an intake stroke to increase chamber volume and thereby intake air from the environment through an intake check valve, the actuator further being operative to effect an output stroke to decrease chamber volume and thereby expel air through an output check valve; and means for applying first and second opposing forces alternately to the actuator, one of the first and second opposing forces increasing the chamber volume and the other of the first and second opposing forces decreasing the chamber volume, at least one of the first and second opposing forces being produced upon transit of the compressor through the magnetic field wherein the compressor includes an intake port and a centrifugal valve, the intake port being in fluid communication with the atmosphere, the centrifugal valve being operative to shut off all air entry into the compressor through the intake port while the wheel is rotating below a predetermined speed.
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Specification