Passive pressure regulation mechanism

• US 9,222,473 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aperia Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aperia Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Richardson, Brandon
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertheaud, Peter J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Plakkoottam, Dominick L
• Application Number:
  US13/797,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20140093402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 pump system including a drive mechanism that provides a pumping force, a primary pump including a first pump cavity, an actuating element in reciprocal relation with the first pump cavity, and an outlet fluidly connected to a reservoir, a force translator that facilitates pump force transfer from the drive mechanism to the actuating element, a pressure regulation mechanism including a reciprocating pump that includes a pump chamber including an inlet manifold fluidly connected to the reservoir, a valve located within the inlet manifold, and a reciprocating element in reciprocal relation with the pump chamber. The pressure regulation mechanism preferably passively ceases force transfer from the drive mechanism to the primary pump based on the pressure of the reservoir.

Claims

1. A pump system, comprising:

a drive mechanism;

a first reciprocating pump having a first reciprocating area, the first pump chamber having a first outlet fluidly connected to a reservoir;

a second reciprocating pump having a second reciprocating area larger than the first reciprocating area;

a fluid manifold fluidly connecting the first reciprocating pump, the second reciprocating pump, and the reservoir;

a valve having an opening pressure and a closing pressure lower than the opening pressure, the valve located within the fluid manifold and operable between;

an open mode when a reservoir pressure exceeds the opening pressure, wherein the valve permits fluid flow from the reservoir to the first and second reciprocating pumps; and

a closed mode when the reservoir pressure is below the closing pressure, wherein the valve prevents fluid flow from the reservoir to the first and second reciprocating pumps;

a pressure regulation mechanism comprising a first and second force translator in fixed relation, the first and second force translator configured to actuate the first and second reciprocating areas, respectively, the pressure regulation mechanism operable between;

a pumping mode when the valve is in the closed mode, wherein the first force translator is connected to the drive mechanism; and

a non-pumping mode when the valve is in the open mode, wherein the first force translator is decoupled from the drive mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure regulation mechanism further comprises a frame that retains the first and second force translators in fixed relation.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the frame is located in a first position relative to the drive mechanism in the pumping mode and in a second position relative to the drive mechanism in the non-pumping mode, wherein the first position is different from the second position.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein an outlet of the second reciprocating pump is fluidly connected to an inlet of the first reciprocating pump.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second reciprocating pumps comprise a first and second volume, respectively, wherein the first and second volumes are substantially insignificant relative to a reservoir volume.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a first direction of a first compression stroke of the first reciprocating pump differs from a second direction of a second compression stroke of the second reciprocating pump.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first and second reciprocating pumps are substantially equally radially distributed about the pump system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a snap action valve.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the snap action valve comprises:

a valve body;

a valve member;

a spring biasing the valve body against the valve member, the spring having a spring constant defining the opening pressure;

a first volume defined between the valve body and valve member, the first volume having a first pressurization area normal to a direction of spring force application;

a second volume defined between the valve body and valve member, the second volume having a second pressurization area normal to the direction of spring force application;

a reservoir channel fluidly connecting the first volume with the reservoir;

a manifold channel defined within the valve body and fluidly connected to the second reciprocating pump;

wherein the valve is operable between;

an open position when a pressure force generated by a pressure within the first volume overcomes the spring force applied by the spring on the valve body, wherein the valve member is located distal the valve body, wherein the valve body and valve member cooperatively define a connection channel fluidly connecting the first volume with the second volume; and

a closed position when the pressure force is lower than the spring force, wherein the valve member and valve body cooperatively seal the connection channel, wherein the valve member substantially seals the manifold channel.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the valve member comprises a symmetric cross section comprising a stem configured to fit within the manifold channel, a first overhang extending from the stem, and a second overhang extending from the first overhang;

wherein the valve body comprises a complimentary cross section to the valve member cross section, comprising a first step defining the manifold channel, a second step extending from the first step, and walls extending from the second step;

wherein the first volume is defined between the second step and the second overhang, wherein the second volume is defined between the first step and the first overhang, wherein the connection channel is defined between a transition from the first overhang to the second overhang and a transition between the first step to the second step.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the valve further comprises:

a first gasket located within the connection channel that forms a first substantially fluid impermeable seal with the valve member in the closed mode; and

a second fluid impermeable seal defined between the second overhang and the walls.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a timing mechanism fluidly coupling the second volume to an ambient environment.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the timing mechanism comprises a timing channel having a cross section selected based on a desired leak rate.

14. A tire pressurization system comprising:

a drive mechanism that provides a pumping force;

a primary pump comprising a first pump cavity, an actuating element in reciprocal relation with the first pump cavity, and an outlet fluidly connected to a tire;

a force translator that facilitates pump force transfer from the drive mechanism to the actuating element;

a pressure regulation mechanism comprising a reciprocating pump, the reciprocating pump comprising;

a) a pump chamber comprising an inlet manifold fluidly connected to the tire;

b) a valve located within the inlet manifold, the valve having an opening pressure and a closing pressure, the valve operable between;

an open mode when a tire pressure exceeds the opening pressure, wherein the valve permits fluid flow from the tire into the pump chamber; and

a closed mode when the tire pressure is below the closing pressure, wherein the valve prevents fluid flow from the tire into the pump chamber; and

c) a reciprocating element in reciprocal relation with the pump chamber, the reciprocating element operable between;

a pressurized position located a first distance from a closed end of the first pump cavity, wherein the reciprocating element ceases force application from the drive mechanism to the actuating element, wherein the reciprocating element is in the pressurized position when the valve is in the open mode; and

a depressurized position located a second distance from the closed end of the first pump cavity, the second distance shorter than the first distance, wherein the reciprocating element permits force application to the actuating element, wherein the reciprocating element is in the depressurized position when the valve is in the closed mode.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the reciprocating element ceases pumping force generation in the pressurized position.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the pumping force is derived from relative motion between the drive mechanism and the primary pump, wherein a position of the reciprocating pump is statically fixed to a position of the primary pump, wherein the reciprocating element is statically connected to the drive mechanism in the pressurized position is disconnected from the drive mechanism in the depressurized position.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the reciprocating element comprises a piston.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein drive mechanism comprises a groove, wherein the piston extends into the groove in the pressurized position and is retracted from the groove in the depressurized position.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the force translator is operable between:

a pumping position when the reciprocating element is in the depressurized position, wherein the force translator is connected between the actuating element and the drive mechanism; and

a non-pumping position when the reciprocating element is in the pressurized position, wherein the force translator is disconnected from the drive mechanism, wherein the reciprocating element is connected to the force translator and retains the force translator in the non-pumping position.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the force translator, pump chamber, and drive mechanism share a common plane when the force translator is in the pumping position.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the non-pumping position of the force translator is in a second plane separate from the common plane.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the reciprocating element comprises a piston that applies a decoupling force to the force translator in a direction normal to the common plane to retain the force translator in the non-pumping position.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the pressure regulation mechanism further comprises a frame statically connecting the reciprocating element and the force translator in fixed relation.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the drive mechanism comprises:

a rotational axis;

a cam comprising an arcuate bearing surface, the cam rotatable about the rotational axis; and

an eccentric mass coupled to the cam that offsets a center of mass of the drive mechanism from the rotational axis;

wherein the primary pump is rotatably coupled to the rotational axis a radial distance from the rotational axis;

wherein the force translator comprises a roller in non-slip contact with the arcuate bearing surface and in sliding contact with the actuating element when in the pumping position.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the pump chamber and the reciprocating element share the common plane in the pressurized and depressurized positions.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the pumping position and non-pumping position are substantially aligned along an actuation axis of the actuating element.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the primary pump comprises a second reciprocating pump, wherein the pump cavity comprises a second pump chamber and the actuating element comprises a second reciprocating element.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first reciprocating element comprises a first reciprocating area and the second reciprocating element comprises a second reciprocating area smaller than the first reciprocating area, wherein the inlet manifold and valve are fluidly connected to the primary pump and permits fluid flow into the primary pump in the open mode.