Air pressure control system

• US 9,481,215 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2016
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Reiss
• Original Assignee: Brian Reiss
• Inventors: Reiss, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwari, Maceeh
• Application Number:
  US15/054,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20160176244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 249 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/002 by monitoring conditions other than tyre pressure or deformation
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/004 the control being done on the wheel, e.g. using a wheel-mounted reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

A system for controlling bicycle tire air pressure on the go is provided. The system has a wheel mounted portion and a control unit in communication with one another. The wheel mounted portion attached to each wheel has a gas source, manifold, regulator to control air flow into and out of the tire, and a communication device. The control unit monitors air pressure in each tire, and has a user interface allowing input of a higher or lower tire pressure. Based on user input, the control unit instructs operation of the wheel mounted portion, controlling pressure within the tire.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a tire pressure comprising:

a control unit; and

a first and second wheel mounted portion, each wheel mounted portion comprising;

a manifold attached to a hub of a wheel;

a compressed gas source, wherein the gas source is a compressed gas canister, having an outlet connected to the manifold, the compressed gas canister connected to the wheel by the manifold;

an air line extending from the manifold in fluid communication with the compressed gas source through the manifold, the air line attachable to a stem of the wheel;

a pressure sensor in communication with the air line configured to measure a pressure within the tire;

a regulator configured to allow gas to exit the stem of the tire, and configured to allow gas from the compressed gas source to flow into the tire; and

a transceiver configured to send a data from the pressure sensor relating to the pressure within the tire, and configured to receive a signal instructing the regulator action;

wherein the control unit comprises;

a second transceiver in communication with the transceiver of each of the first and second wheel mounted portions; and

a user interface in communication with the microprocessor allowing an input instructing an increase in tire pressure and an input instructing a decrease in tire pressure;

a microprocessor in communication with the transceiver of the control unit programmed and configured to communicate operating signals through the transceiver to the regulator of each wheel mounted portion to either decrease pressure in the tire by releasing gas in the tire through the stem, or increase pressure in the tire by allowing gas from the gas source into the stem in response to input from the user interface.

2. The system for controlling a tire pressure of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of gas sources on the first and second wheel mounted portion each of the plurality of gas sources being a compressed gas canister.

3. The system for controlling a tire pressure of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of gas canisters is threadedly attached to the manifold of each of the first and second wheel mounted portion.

4. The system for controlling a tire pressure of claim 1 further comprising three gas sources on each of the first and second wheel mounted portion.

5. The system for controlling a tire pressure of claim 4 wherein the three gas sources are arranged in a triangle about the hub of the wheel.

6. The system for controlling a tire pressure of claim 1 wherein the control unit is mounted on a steering structure of a vehicle.

7. The system for controlling a tire pressure of claim 1 wherein the control unit is a mobile wireless computing device.

8. A system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure comprising:

a control unit; and

a first and second wheel mounted portion, each wheel mounted portion comprising;

a manifold attached to a hub of a bicycle wheel;

a compressed gas source, wherein the gas source is a compressed gas canister, having an outlet connected to the manifold, the compressed gas canister connected to the bicycle wheel by the manifold;

an air line extending from the manifold in fluid communication with the compressed gas source through the manifold, the air line attachable to a stem of the wheel;

a regulator configured to allow gas to exit the tire, and configured to allow gas from the compressed gas source to flow into the tire; and

wherein the control unit comprises;

a user interface in communication with the microprocessor allowing an input instructing an increase in tire pressure and an input instructing a decrease in tire pressure; and

a microprocessor in communication with regulator, programmed and configured to receive a signal input from the user interface, and configured to communicate operating signals to the regulator of each wheel mounted portion to either decrease pressure in the tire, or increase pressure in the tire in response to input from the user interface.

9. The system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of gas sources on the first and second wheel mounted portion each of the plurality of gas sources being a compressed gas canister.

10. The system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of gas canisters is threadedly attached to the manifold of each of the first and second wheel mounted portion.

11. The system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure of claim 8 wherein the bicycle wheel is an alloy wheel comprising three spokes, and wherein the gas cylinder is positioned within one of the three spokes.

12. The system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure of claim 11 wherein the air line is positioned within one of the three spokes.

13. The system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure of claim 8 wherein the control unit is mounted on a steering structure of a vehicle.

14. The system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure of claim 8 wherein the control unit is a mobile wireless computing device.

16. The system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of gas sources on the first and second wheel mounted portion each of the plurality of gas sources being a compressed gas canister.

17. The system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of gas canisters is threadedly attached to the manifold of each of the first and second wheel mounted portion.

18. The system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure of claim 8 wherein the bicycle wheel is an alloy wheel comprising three spokes, and wherein the gas cylinder is positioned within one of the three spokes.

19. The system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure of claim 11 wherein the air line is positioned within one of the three spokes.

20. The system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure of claim 8 wherein the control unit is mounted on a steering structure of a vehicle.

15. A system for controlling a bicycle tire pressure comprising:

a control unit; and

a first and second wheel mounted portion, each wheel mounted portion comprising;

a manifold attached to a hub of a bicycle wheel;

a compressed gas source, wherein the gas source is a compressed gas canister, having an outlet connected to the manifold, the compressed gas canister connected to the bicycle wheel by the manifold;

an air line extending from the manifold in fluid communication with the compressed gas source through the manifold, the air line attachable to a stem of the wheel;

a pressure sensor in communication with the air line configured to measure a pressure within the tire;

a regulator configured to allow gas to exit the stem of the tire, and configured to allow gas from the compressed gas source to flow into the tire; and

a transceiver configured to send a data from the pressure sensor relating to the pressure within the tire, and configured to receive a signal instructing the regulator action;

wherein the control unit comprises;

a second transceiver in communication with the transceiver of each of the first and second wheel mounted portions;

a microprocessor in communication with the second transceiver programmed and configured to receive a signal input from the pressure sensor and convert this input to a pressure reading;

a display in communication with the microprocessor, the display configured to provide a visual indication of the pressure within the tire as converted by the microprocessor; and

a user interface in communication with the microprocessor allowing an input instructing an increase in tire pressure and an input instructing a decrease in tire pressure;

wherein the microprocessor is further programmed and configured to communicate operating signals through the transceiver to the regulator of each wheel mounted portion to either decrease pressure in the tire by releasing gas in the tire through the stem, or increase pressure in the tire by allowing gas from the gas source into the stem in response to input from the user interface.