Tire inflation system

• US 9,039,386 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aperia Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aperia Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Richardson, Brandon, Carlberg, David, Shelander, Agustus
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertheaud, Peter J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Plakkoottam, Dominick L
• Application Number:
  US14/198,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20140186195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 417/211, 417/221, 417/231, 417/233, 152/419, 152/421
• US Class Current: 417/221
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/001 Devices for manually or automatically controlling or distributing tyre pressure whilst the vehicle is moving
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/127 the pumps being mounted on the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/137 comprising cam driven pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/043 characterised by the inflation control means or the drive of the air pressure system
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 3/06 using pendulums
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/01 the means being mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/08 Regulating by delivery pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 9/04 the means being cams, eccentrics or pin-and-slot mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 9/042 the means being cams
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 25/00 Adaptations of pumps for special use of pumps for elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/1485 the rotation being unlimited with respect to driving means with a fluid connection between inertia member and rotating driving means F16F15/167
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/08 for interconverting rotary motion and reciprocating motion F16H23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/00 Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/18 Structural association of electric generators with mechanical driving motors, e.g. with turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86002 Fluid pressure responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2107 Follower
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2117 Power generating-type flywheel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2128 Damping using swinging masses, e.g., pendulum type, etc.

Abstract

A tire inflation system including a drive mechanism having a rotational axis, a pump cavity positioned a radial distance away from the axis of rotation, and a force translator coupling the rotational axis to the pump cavity. The drive mechanism includes a cam comprising an arcuate bearing surface having a non-uniform curvature, the cam rotatable about the rotational axis, and an eccentric mass couple to the cam that offsets a center of mass of the drive mechanism from the rotational axis. The pump cavity is rotatably coupled to the cam, wherein the pump cavity includes an actuating element and a chamber. The force translator couples the arcuate bearing surface to the actuating element, wherein the force translator includes an axis having an arcuate position fixed to an arcuate position of the pump cavity.

Claims

1. A tire inflation system configured to mount to and inflate a tire supported by a wheel comprising:

a housing configured to statically couple to the wheel;

a drive mechanism that rotates relative to the housing, the drive mechanism having a rotational axis, the drive mechanism comprising;

a) a cam comprising an arcuate bearing surface having a non-uniform curvature, the cam rotatable about the rotational axis; and

b) an eccentric mass coupled to the cam that offsets a center of mass of the drive mechanism from the rotational axis and operable between;

a first mode, wherein the eccentric mass is substantially statically coupled to the cam; and

a second mode, wherein the eccentric mass is configured to rotate relative to the cam;

a pump cavity statically mounted to the housing positioned a radial distance away from the axis of rotation and rotatably coupled to the drive mechanism, such that the pump cavity rotates relative to the cam, the pump cavity comprising an actuating element and a chamber; and

a force translator coupling the arcuate bearing surface to the actuating element, the force translator comprising an axis having an arcuate position about the rotational axis fixed to an arcuate position of the pump cavity about the rotational axis, such that the force translator rotates with the pump cavity about the drive mechanism.

2. The tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein the axis of the force translator comprises a second rotation axis, wherein an arcuate position of the second rotation axis about the rotational axis is fixed relative to the arcuate position of the pump cavity about the rotational axis.

3. The tire inflation system of claim 2, wherein the force translator comprises a roller in non-slip contact with the arcuate bearing surface of the cam.

4. The tire inflation system of claim 3, wherein the force translator further comprises a piston rotatably connected to the rotation axis, wherein the actuating element comprises the piston.

5. The tire inflation system of claim 4, wherein the actuating element comprises a diaphragm.

6. The tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein the arcuate bearing surface has a first section having high curvature adjacent a second section having low curvature.

7. The tire inflation system of claim 6, wherein the arcuate bearing surface further comprises a third section between the first and second sections, the third section having curvature varying from a low curvature proximal the second section to a high curvature proximal the first section.

8. The tire inflation system of claim 7, wherein the arcuate bearing surface comprises an outer perimeter of the cam.

9. The tire inflation system of claim 6, further comprising a torque stabilization mechanism configured to accommodate a force of the actuating element on the cam during a return stroke.

10. The tire inflation system of claim 9, wherein the drive mechanism further comprises a mass couple operable in:

a coupled mode wherein the mass couple connects the eccentric mass to the cam; and

a decoupled mode wherein the mass couple disconnects the eccentric mass from the cam.

11. The tire inflation system of claim 10, wherein the mass couple couples to an interior bearing surface of the cam, wherein:

in the coupled mode, the mass couple is statically coupled to an interior bearing surface of the cam, and

in the decoupled mode, the mass couple is rotatably coupled to the interior bearing surface.

12. The tire inflation system of claim 10, wherein the torque stabilizing mechanism comprises a profiled channel defined between the interior bearing surface and the mass couple, the profiled channel having a low clearance section and a high clearance section, the torque stabilizing mechanism further comprising a mobile element having a dimension substantially equal to the low clearance section and smaller than the high clearance section, the mobile element located within the profiled channel, wherein the torque stabilizing mechanism switches the mass couple between:

the coupled mode, wherein the mobile element is located in the low clearance section and retains a position of the mass couple with the interior bearing surface; and

the decoupled mode, wherein the mobile element is located in the high clearance section and permits relative motion between the mass couple and the interior bearing surface.

13. The tire inflation system of claim 12, wherein the high clearance section is substantially radially aligned with the first section of the arcuate bearing surface.

14. The tire inflation system of claim 1, further comprising a second pump cavity comprising a second actuating element and a second chamber;

and a second force translator coupling the arcuate bearing surface to the second actuating element, the second force translator comprising a second axis having a second arcuate position fixed to an arcuate position of the second pump cavity.

15. The tire inflation system of claim 14, further comprising a passive pressure regulation system comprising a passive valve fluidly connected to a reservoir, the reservoir fluidly connected to an outlet of the first pump cavity, the passive valve having a opening threshold pressure and a closing threshold pressure lower than the opening threshold pressure, the passive valve operable between:

an open mode in response to a reservoir pressure exceeding the opening threshold pressure, wherein the passive valve permits fluid flow from the reservoir; and

a closed mode in response to a reservoir pressure falling below the closing threshold pressure, wherein the passive valve prevents fluid flow from the reservoir.

16. The tire inflation system of claim 15, wherein the passive pressure regulation system further comprises a fluid manifold fluidly connecting the first pump cavity, the second pump cavity, and a reservoir fluidly coupled to the first and second pump cavities, wherein the passive valve is located within the fluid manifold, wherein:

in the open mode, the passive valve permits fluid flow from the reservoir to the first and second pump cavities; and

in the closed mode, the passive valve prevents fluid flow from the reservoir to the first and second pump cavities.

17. The tire inflation system of claim 16, wherein the second actuating element comprises a larger actuating area than the first actuating element.

18. The tire inflation system of claim 17, wherein an inlet to the first pump cavity is fluidly connected to an outlet from the second pump cavity.

19. The tire inflation system of claim 16, further comprising a frame statically connecting the first axis with the second axis, the frame operable between:

a pumping position wherein the frame places the first force translator in non-slip contact with the arcuate bearing surface, wherein the second force translator is connected to the arcuate bearing surface through the first force translator and the frame; and

a non-pumping position, wherein the frame disconnects the first force translator from the arcuate bearing surface and slidably couples the second force translator to the arcuate bearing surface.

20. The tire inflation system of claim 19, wherein a frame center is located at a first radial position in the pumping position and at a second radial position in the non-pumping position, wherein the first radial position is different from the second radial position.

21. The tire inflation system of claim 19, wherein the second pump cavity is operable between:

a compressed position wherein the second actuating element is substantially proximal a closed end of the second chamber;

a recovered position wherein the second actuating element is located at a first position distal a closed end of the second chamber; and

a pressurized position wherein the second actuating element is located at a second position distal the chamber, the second position further from the chamber than the first position, wherein the second actuating element is placed in the pressurized position in response to a pressure of the reservoir surpassing the opening pressure, wherein the frame is placed in the non-pumping position when the second pump cavity is placed in the pressurized position.

22. The tire inflation system of claim 1, further comprising the housing coupled to the drive mechanism and the pump cavity, the housing configured to statically mount to a rotating surface, the rotating surface configured to rotate relative to a gravity vector.

23. The tire inflation system of claim 22, comprising a relief valve operable between an open state wherein the relief valve fluidly connects a reservoir to a housing interior, the reservoir fluidly connected to an outlet of the pump cavity, and a closed state wherein the relief valve substantially prevents fluid flow from the reservoir to the housing interior.

24. The tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein the eccentric mass comprises a first and a second piece, the eccentric mass operable between:

a pumping mode wherein the first piece is adjacent the second piece; and

a non-pumping mode wherein the first piece is distal the second piece.