Maintenance of proper tire inflation pressure thru active material actuation
First Claim
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1. A tire presenting and adapted to selectively modify an inflation pressure, said tire comprising:
- a structural component at least partially defining a confined space, wherein a quantity of air is retained to produce an inflation pressure upon the component; and
at least one active material element operable to undergo a reversible change in a fundamental property when exposed to or occluded from an activation signal, wherein the element is formed of an active material selected from the group consisting essentially of shape memory alloys, electroactive polymers, magnetostrictives, and magnetorheological elastomers,said change being operable to sense the pressure, and/or modify the pressure by increasing or reducing the quantity.
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Abstract
An adaptive tire utilizing active material actuation to sense and/or modify an excessive and/or low inflation pressure, so as to autonomously maintain proper inflation pressure.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A tire presenting and adapted to selectively modify an inflation pressure, said tire comprising:
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a structural component at least partially defining a confined space, wherein a quantity of air is retained to produce an inflation pressure upon the component; and at least one active material element operable to undergo a reversible change in a fundamental property when exposed to or occluded from an activation signal, wherein the element is formed of an active material selected from the group consisting essentially of shape memory alloys, electroactive polymers, magnetostrictives, and magnetorheological elastomers, said change being operable to sense the pressure, and/or modify the pressure by increasing or reducing the quantity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An autonomous tire inflation system adapted for use with a vehicle, said system comprising:
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a tire having a structural component at least partially defining a confined space, wherein a quantity of air is retained to produce a first inflation pressure upon the component; at least one active material element drivenly coupled to the component, and operable to undergo a reversible change in a fundamental property when exposed to or occluded from an activation signal, wherein the element is formed of an active material selected from the group consisting essentially of shape memory alloys, electroactive polymers, magnetostrictives, and magnetorheological elastomers; a signal source operable to produce the signal; an input device operable to receive an input; and a controller communicatively coupled to the source, element, and device, and configured to cause the change when the input is received, said change being operable to modify the pressure by increasing or reducing the quantity. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of autonomously maintaining a proper inflation pressure within a tire, said method comprising:
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a. determining an excessive or low pressure greater or less than the proper pressure respectively; b. activating an active material element, when the excessive or low pressure is determined, wherein the element is formed of an active material selected from the group consisting essentially of shape memory alloys, electroactive polymers, magnetostrictives, and magnetorheological elastomers; c. causing air to leave the tire, when an excessive pressure is determined, or enter the tire, when a low pressure is determined, as a result of activating the element; d. determining the proper pressure; and e. deactivating the element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification