Vehicle tire inflation system and a method of control
First Claim
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1. A tire inflation system for a vehicle comprising:
- a first gas supply configured to provide a first compressed gas mixture;
a second gas supply configured to provide a second compressed gas mixture having a greater concentration of nitrogen than the first compressed gas mixture; and
a switching valve fluidly coupled to the first and second gas supplies; and
a tire maintenance system disposed on the vehicle that fluidly couples the switching valve to a vehicle tire;
wherein the switching valve provides the second compressed gas mixture to the tire maintenance system to inflate the vehicle tire when a pressure of the second compressed gas mixture is greater than a second gas mixture threshold pressure value and provides the first compressed gas mixture to the tire maintenance system to inflate the vehicle tire when the pressure of the second compressed gas mixture is not greater than the second gas mixture threshold pressure value.
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Abstract
A tire inflation system and a method of control. The tire inflation system includes the first gas supply and a second gas supply. The first gas supply is configured to provide a first compressed gas mixture. The second gas supply is configured to provide a second compressed gas mixture having a greater concentration of nitrogen than the first compressed gas mixture. The first or second compressed gas mixtures may be provided to inflate a vehicle tire.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tire inflation system for a vehicle comprising:
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a first gas supply configured to provide a first compressed gas mixture; a second gas supply configured to provide a second compressed gas mixture having a greater concentration of nitrogen than the first compressed gas mixture; and a switching valve fluidly coupled to the first and second gas supplies; and a tire maintenance system disposed on the vehicle that fluidly couples the switching valve to a vehicle tire; wherein the switching valve provides the second compressed gas mixture to the tire maintenance system to inflate the vehicle tire when a pressure of the second compressed gas mixture is greater than a second gas mixture threshold pressure value and provides the first compressed gas mixture to the tire maintenance system to inflate the vehicle tire when the pressure of the second compressed gas mixture is not greater than the second gas mixture threshold pressure value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A tire inflation system for a vehicle comprising:
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a pressurized gas supply system that is disposed on the vehicle and includes; a first compressed gas supply that provides compressed air; a nitrogen generation module that receives compressed air from the first compressed gas supply and outputs a second compressed gas mixture having a greater concentration of nitrogen than that of the compressed air; and a switching valve having a first input that receives compressed air from the first compressed gas supply and a second input that receives the second compressed gas mixture; wherein the switching valve outputs compressed air when in a first position and outputs the second compressed gas mixture when in a second position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling a tire inflation system for a vehicle comprising:
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providing a pressurized gas supply system having a first gas supply configured to provide a first compressed gas mixture and a second gas supply configured to provide a second compressed gas mixture having a greater concentration of nitrogen than the first compressed gas mixture; determining whether inflation of a tire is desired; providing the second compressed gas mixture to inflate the tire when inflation of the tire is desired and a pressure of the second compressed gas mixture exceeds a second gas mixture threshold pressure value; and providing the first compressed gas mixture to inflate the tire when inflation of the tire is desired, pressure of the second compressed gas mixture does not exceed the second gas mixture threshold pressure value, and a pressure of the first compressed gas mixture exceeds a first gas mixture threshold pressure value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification