Central tyre inflation system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11155126-B2
Application number	US-201615579127-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2016
Priority date	Jun 1, 2015
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

A controller for controlling a pneumatic control valve (PCV) in a central tire inflation system (CTIS). The controller includes an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving a supply-side pressure signal. The electronic processor is configured to control a first control valve (VINSS) to generate a pneumatic control signal for changing an operating state of a pneumatic control valve (PCV). The electronic processor also monitors the supply-side pressure signal and identifies a change in the operating state of the pneumatic control valve (PCV) in dependence on a change in the supply-side pressure. The electronic processor is configured to output a first valve close signal upon determining that the pneumatic control valve (PCV) has changed operating state. Also provided is a CTIS incorporating a controller; to a vehicle; and to a method of controlling a pneumatic control valve (PCV).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A controller for controlling a pneumatic control latching valve, the controller comprising:
an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving a supply-side pressure signal; and
an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein;
the electronic processor being configured to control a first control valve to generate a pneumatic control signal that changes an operating state of a pneumatic control latching valve, the electronic processor being configured to output a first valve open signal to open the first control valve to initiate the pneumatic control signal and thereby change the operating state of the pneumatic control latching valve, and to output a first valve close signal to close the first control valve to terminate said pneumatic control signal and cause the pneumatic control latching valve to latch;
wherein the electronic processor is configured to monitor the supply-side pressure signal and to identify a change in the operating state of the pneumatic control latching valve in dependence on a change in the supply-side pressure;
the electronic processor being configured to output said first valve close signal upon determining that the pneumatic control latching valve has changed operating state thereby terminating the pneumatic control signal and causing the pneumatic control latching valve to latch in the changed operating state.

2. A controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first valve close signal is output if the change in the operating state of the pneumatic control latching valve is not detected within a predefined time period.

3. A controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the change in the supply-side pressure comprises: a change which is greater than or equal to a defined threshold; or a change which is greater than or equal to a defined proportional change; or change in the rate of change of the supply-side pressure.

4. A controller as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to detect the change in the supply-side pressure within a prescribed time period.

5. A controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to identify when the pneumatic control latching valve changes operating state in dependence on detection of a decrease in the supply-side pressure.

6. A controller as claimed in claim 1 configured to control an operating state of a plurality of said pneumatic control latching valves.

7. A controller as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to control two or more of said pneumatic control latching valves simultaneously; or to control two or more of said pneumatic control latching valves sequentially.

8. A central tire inflation system (CTIS) for a vehicle, the CTIS comprising:
a supply line for supplying compressed air to a tire;
a pneumatic control latching valve operable in at least first and second operating states to control the supply of compressed air from the supply line to the tire;
a first control valve connected to a first compressed air source; and
a controller having an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving a supply-side pressure signal, and an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein;
wherein the electronic processor is configured to control the first control valve to generate the pneumatic control signal that changes the operating state of a pneumatic control latching valve, the electronic processor being configured to output a first valve open signal to open the first control valve to initiate the pneumatic control signal and thereby change the operating state of the pneumatic control latching valve; and to output a first valve close signal to the first control valve to terminate the pneumatic control signal and cause the pneumatic control latching valve to latch;
wherein the electronic processor is configured to monitor the supply-side pressure signal and to identify a change in the operating state of the pneumatic control valve in dependence on a change in the supply-side pressure; and
wherein the electronic processor is configured to output the first valve close signal upon determining that the pneumatic control latching valve has changed operating state thereby terminating the pneumatic control signal and causing the pneumatic control latching valve to latch in the changed operating state.

9. A CTIS as claimed in claim 8 comprising a pressure sensor for generating said supply-side pressure signal.

10. A CTIS as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the pneumatic control latching valve is in a closed state in said first operating state and in an open state in said second operating state.

11. A CTIS as claimed in claim 8 comprising a second control valve connected to a second compressed air source; wherein the electronic processor is configured to output a second valve open signal to open the second control valve to supply compressed air from the second compressed air source to the tire.

12. A CTIS as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the second valve open signal is output in dependence on identification of the change from said first operating state to said second operating state.

13. A CTIS as claimed in claim 8 comprising a plurality of said pneumatic control latching valves each configured to control the supply of compressed air to a respective tire.

14. A CTIS as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to control two or more of said pneumatic control latching valves simultaneously; or to control two or more of said pneumatic control latching valves sequentially.

15. A vehicle comprising a CTIS as claimed in claim 8 .

16. A method of controlling an operating state of a pneumatic control latching valve disposed in a supply line, the method comprising:
generating a pneumatic control signal for changing an operating state of the pneumatic control latching valve;
monitoring a supply-side pressure; and
determining that the pneumatic control latching valve has changed operating state in dependence on detection of a change in the supply-side pressure;
wherein the pneumatic control signal is terminated upon determining that the pneumatic control latching valve has changed operating state thereby causing the pneumatic valve to latch in the changed operating state.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 comprising opening a first control valve to initiate the pneumatic control signal; and closing the first control valve to terminate said pneumatic control signal.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 comprising closing the first control valve upon determining that the pneumatic control latching valve has changed operating state.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17 comprising closing the first control valve if the change in the operating state of the pneumatic control latching valve is not detected within a predefined time period.

20. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that when executed by one or more electronic processors causes the one or more electronic processors to carry out the method of claim 16 .

Assignees

• Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

Inventors

• King Paul

Classifications

• B60C23/00354

  Details of valves · CPC title

• B60C23/00372 Primary

  characterised by fluid diagrams · CPC title

• F16K37/0091 Primary

  by measuring fluid parameters · CPC title

• F16K15/20

  specially designed for inflatable bodies, e.g. tyres (connecting valves to inflatable bodies B60C29/00) · CPC title

• B60C23/003 Primary

  comprising rotational joints between vehicle-mounted pressure sources and the tyres · CPC title