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Maintenance of proper tire inflation pressure thru active material actuation

  • US 8,344,868 B2
  • Filed: 06/22/2009
  • Issued: 01/01/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2008
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
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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