Tyre inflation control arrangement
First Claim
1. A tyre pressurisation arrangement on a vehicle in which the pressurisation of the tyre is controlled by a vehicle control unit and the vehicle control unit is notified of a desired tyre pressure or desired tyre volume, the tyre pressurisation arrangement comprising a control valve positioned between a vehicle air supply and the tyre, and a first pressure sensor on a first side of the control valve and a second pressure sensor on a second side of the control valve, and further characterised in that an air flow rate in a supply line to the tyre is established so that the time to pressurise the tyre to the desired tyre pressure/volume is calculable from the air flow rate, or wherein the time taken to pressurise the tyre to an interval pressure/volume is calculable, said interval pressure/volume being between a current tyre pressure/volume and the desired pressure/volume, wherein the air flow rate is calculated by taking the pressure differential between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire pressurization arrangement on a vehicle in which the pressurization of the tire is controlled by a vehicle control unit and the vehicle control unit is notified of a desired tire pressure or desired tire volume. An air flow rate in a supply line to the tire is established so that the time to pressurize the tire to the desired tire pressure/volume is calculable, or the time taken to pressurize the tire to an interval pressure/volume is calculable, said interval pressure/volume being between a current tire pressure/volume and the desired pressure/volume.
25 Citations
8 Claims
- 1. A tyre pressurisation arrangement on a vehicle in which the pressurisation of the tyre is controlled by a vehicle control unit and the vehicle control unit is notified of a desired tyre pressure or desired tyre volume, the tyre pressurisation arrangement comprising a control valve positioned between a vehicle air supply and the tyre, and a first pressure sensor on a first side of the control valve and a second pressure sensor on a second side of the control valve, and further characterised in that an air flow rate in a supply line to the tyre is established so that the time to pressurise the tyre to the desired tyre pressure/volume is calculable from the air flow rate, or wherein the time taken to pressurise the tyre to an interval pressure/volume is calculable, said interval pressure/volume being between a current tyre pressure/volume and the desired pressure/volume, wherein the air flow rate is calculated by taking the pressure differential between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor.
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8. A method of operating a tyre pressurisation arrangement on a vehicle to pressurise a vehicle tyre in which the pressurisation of the tyre is controlled by a vehicle control unit and the vehicle control unit is notified of a desired tyre pressure or desired tyre volume, the arrangement including a control valve between a vehicle air supply and the tyre, and a first pressure sensor and second pressure sensor arranged on each side of the control valve, the method comprising the steps of:
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notifying a vehicle control unit of a desired tyre pressure or desired tyre volume or range thereof; establishing an air flow rate in a supply line to the tyre; measuring a pressure differential between a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor located on opposite sides of a control valve which is located between a vehicle air supply line and the vehicle tyre; calculating an air flow rate based on the measured pressure differential; calculating the time to pressurise the tyre based on the air flow rate; and sending a command from the vehicle control unit to close the control valve when the time to pressurise the tyre is reached.
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Specification