Automated tire inflation apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for inflating a tire comprising:
- a base configured to support a tire and wheel assembly;
a tire inflation line;
a pressure sensor coupled to the tire inflation line;
an air blast assembly comprising a blast line fluidly coupled to a blast nozzle, wherein the blast nozzle is located on the base and configured to receive pressurized gas from the blast line and to direct pressurized gas when the blast nozzle is in an air blast position relative to a tire and wheel assembly supported on the base;
a device controller functionally coupled to the pressure sensor, the device controller configured tomonitor a pressure of a tire to sense whether an effective tire bead seal has been formed in a tire and wheel assembly supported on the base, andgenerate an air blast control signal when an effective tire bead seal has not been formed in a tire and wheel assembly supported on the base; and
a gas flow controller functionally coupled to the air blast assembly and to the device controller, wherein the gas flow controller is responsive to the air blast control signal to cause an air blast of pressurized gas to be released from the blast nozzle from the air blast position toward the tire and wheel assembly to create an effective tire bead seal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for inflating a tire including a base and a tire inflation line coupled with a pressure sensor. An air blast assembly includes a blast line fluidly coupled to a blast nozzle located on the base and configured to receive and direct pressurized gas from the blast line when the blast nozzle is in an air blast position relative to a tire and wheel assembly supported on the base. A device controller can monitor the pressure of a tire and wheel assembly and sense whether an effective tire bead seal has been formed. The device controller can generate a blast signal when no seal has been formed. A gas flow controller coupled to the air blast assembly and the device controller can be responsive to the blast signal to cause a blast of pressurized gas to be released from the blast nozzle to create an effective tire bead seal.
13 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inflating a tire comprising:
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a base configured to support a tire and wheel assembly; a tire inflation line; a pressure sensor coupled to the tire inflation line; an air blast assembly comprising a blast line fluidly coupled to a blast nozzle, wherein the blast nozzle is located on the base and configured to receive pressurized gas from the blast line and to direct pressurized gas when the blast nozzle is in an air blast position relative to a tire and wheel assembly supported on the base; a device controller functionally coupled to the pressure sensor, the device controller configured to monitor a pressure of a tire to sense whether an effective tire bead seal has been formed in a tire and wheel assembly supported on the base, and generate an air blast control signal when an effective tire bead seal has not been formed in a tire and wheel assembly supported on the base; and a gas flow controller functionally coupled to the air blast assembly and to the device controller, wherein the gas flow controller is responsive to the air blast control signal to cause an air blast of pressurized gas to be released from the blast nozzle from the air blast position toward the tire and wheel assembly to create an effective tire bead seal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling the inflation of a tire using a tire inflation apparatus, the tire inflation apparatus including a device controller and an air blast nozzle coupled to a source of pressurized gas, the method comprising the steps of:
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directing gas into the tire via a tire inflation line; using a pressure monitor coupled to the device controller, automatically monitoring the pressure of the tire to sense whether an effective tire bead seal has been formed in a tire and wheel assembly; generating an air blast control signal from the device controller when an effective tire bead seal has not been formed; and in response to the air blast control signal, automatically releasing an air blast of pressurized gas toward the tire and wheel assembly to create an effective tire bead seal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification