Tire pressure control system

• US 9,566,833 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swindell, Jeffrey L.
• Original Assignee: Swindell, Jeffrey L.
• Inventors: Swindell, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanaman, Frank
• Application Number:
  US14/697,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20150314655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 23/004 the control being done on the wheel, e.g. using a wheel-mounted reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/16 Arrangement of air tanks mounted on vehicles

Abstract

A tire pressure control system includes a tire mounted on a wheel that is connected to an axle, with pneumatic fittings communicating with an interior of this tire. A digital pressure switch has a pair of pneumatic lines that extend from it. These pneumatic lines connect to the pneumatic fittings so that the digital pressure switch communicates with the tire. An electronic solenoid valve communicates with the digital pressure switch by electrical connection to communicate with the interior of the tire. The electronic solenoid valve operates in a corresponding relationship to the interior of the tire so gas above a set pressure can pass to atmosphere. A battery assembly powers and activates the digital pressure switch, and further powers the electronic solenoid valve through the digital pressure switch. A housing houses the digital pressure switch, the electronic solenoid valve, and the battery assembly.

Claims

1. In combination, a vehicle and a tire pressure control system for the vehicle, comprising:

an axle;

a tire mounted on a wheel, the wheel rotatably connected to the axle;

a pair of pneumatic fittings in fluid communication with an interior of the tire;

a selectively adjustable digital pressure switch;

an electronic solenoid valve, the electronic solenoid valve in electrical communication with the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch by electrical connection so that the electronic solenoid valve is in fluid communication with the interior of the tire, wherein the electronic solenoid valve is selectively operated by the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch in corresponding relation to the interior of the tire to enable gas above a set pressure to pass to atmosphere;

a pair of pneumatic lines, the pneumatic lines extending respectively from the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch and the electronic solenoid valve, the pair of pneumatic lines being removably connected to their respective pneumatic fittings such that the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch communicates with the tire;

a battery assembly, the battery in communication with the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch to power the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch and the solenoid valve through the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch, wherein the battery assembly distributes electrical charges to activate the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch to selectively operate the electronic solenoid valve; and

a housing, the housing being removably secured within the axle, wherein the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch, the electronic solenoid valve, and the battery assembly are housed within the housing.

2. The tire pressure control system according to claim 1, wherein each pneumatic fitting out of the pair of pneumatic fittings is an assembly that includes a male fitting and a female fitting.

3. The tire pressure control system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection includes electrical wires.

4. The tire pressure control system according to claim 1, wherein the battery assembly further comprises a battery terminal connector.

5. The tire pressure control system according to claim 1, wherein the battery assembly further comprises an on/off switch for selective operation.

6. The tire pressure control system according to claim 1, wherein the housing is removably secured within the axle by a mounting configured for pinning the housing to the axle.

7. A pressure control device adapted for mounting within an axle of a moving vehicle, the pressure control device consisting of:

a pair of pneumatic fittings adapted to be in fluid communication with a fluid;

a selectively adjustable digital pressure switch;

an electronic solenoid valve, the electronic solenoid valve in electrical communication with the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch by electrical connection so that the electronic solenoid valve is in fluid communication with the interior of the tire, wherein the electronic solenoid valve is selectively operated by the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch in corresponding relation to the interior of the tire to enable gas above a set pressure to pass to atmosphere;

a pair of pneumatic lines, the pneumatic lines extending respectively from the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch and the electronic solenoid valve, the pair of pneumatic lines being removably connected to their respective pneumatic fittings such that the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch communicates with the tire;

a battery assembly, the battery in communication with the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch to power the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch and the solenoid valve through the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch, wherein the battery assembly distributes electrical charges to activate the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch to selectively operate the electronic solenoid valve; and

a housing, wherein the selectively adjustable digital pressure switch, the electronic solenoid valve, and the battery assembly are housed within the housing.

8. The tire pressure control system according to claim 7, wherein the housing includes a mounting configured for pinning the housing within the axle.