Tire pressure control system and components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11225111-B2
Application number	US-201615757539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2016
Priority date	Sep 16, 2015
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

A compressor unit (38) for supplying pressurized medium to a tire mounted on a vehicle wheel rim (34), having a compressor (58) for exerting pressure on a fluid medium that is to be conveyed into the tire. The compressor unit (38) is dimensioned to be accommodated in a center bore (44) of the vehicle wheel rim (34) when the vehicle wheel rim (34) is in the mounted state on a wheel hub (62); and the compressor (58) can be driven by a drive unit (56) positioned in the vicinity of the center bore (44) of the vehicle wheel rim (34). The compressor unit (38) is usable with a vehicle wheel rim (34) having a pressurized medium supply device (22) for a tire that is mounted on the vehicle wheel rim (34), as well as a vehicle having a vehicle wheel that includes such a vehicle wheel rim (34).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A compressor unit ( 38 ) for supplying fluid medium to a tire ( 54 ) mounted on a vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) comprising:
a compressor ( 58 ) for exerting pressure on a fluid medium that is to be conveyed into the tire ( 54 ), the compressor comprising a reciprocating piston having opposing piston ends fixed together and each within a working chamber, wherein the reciprocating piston is embodied as a double piston, which has two opposing piston sections ( 88 - 1 and 88 - 2 ) that are accommodated so that they are each able to move in a cylinder ( 92 );
a drive unit ( 56 ) driving the compressor ( 58 ); and
an eccentric coupling connecting the drive unit ( 56 ) to the reciprocating piston, wherein the reciprocating piston includes a sliding guide extending perpendicular to a reciprocation direction of the reciprocating piston, and the eccentric coupling comprises a slider movable within the sliding guide;
wherein the compressor unit ( 38 ) is dimensioned to be accommodated in a center bore ( 44 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) when the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) is in the mounted state on a wheel hub ( 62 ), with the drive unit ( 56 ) positioned in the vicinity of the center bore ( 44 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ).

2. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the compressor unit ( 38 ) is embodied as modular and includes a module housing ( 64 ) for a precisely fit placement in the vicinity of the center bore ( 44 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ).

3. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the module housing ( 64 ) is configured to insert into the center bore ( 44 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ).

4. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the height of the module housing ( 64 ) is smaller than its diameter.

5. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the compressor unit ( 38 ) includes a longitudinal axis, which in the state in which the compressor unit ( 38 ) is accommodated in the center bore ( 44 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ), coincides with a center axis ( 36 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ).

6. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the drive unit ( 56 ) is part of the compressor unit ( 38 ) and includes an electric motor ( 72 ).

7. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating piston is embodied as a flat piston.

8. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the flat piston is arranged, in relation to a longitudinal axis of the compressor unit ( 38 ) in the compressor ( 58 ), so that its radial dimension is greater than its axial dimension.

9. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 7 , wherein in the state in which the compressor unit ( 38 ) is accommodated in the center bore ( 44 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ), a movement direction of the reciprocating piston ( 86 ; 140 ) extends perpendicular to a center axis ( 36 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ).

10. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the eccentric coupling comprises an of an eccentric coupling drive ( 82 ) in which an eccentric ( 76 ) connected to a drive shaft ( 74 ) is coupled to the reciprocating piston ( 86 ).

11. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 10 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft ( 74 ) coincides with a center axis ( 36 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ).

12. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the reciprocating piston is accommodated in moving fashion in the cylinder ( 92 ).

13. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the cylinder ( 92 ) is formed by the module housing ( 64 ).

14. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 12 , wherein an intake valve ( 95 ) and/or an exhaust valve ( 96 ) of the compressor ( 58 ) is at least partially embedded in the cylinder ( 92 ).

15. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 12 , wherein an intake valve ( 95 ) of the compressor ( 58 ) includes a sealing element ( 122 ), which is mounted on the reciprocating piston and is forced open by the movement of the reciprocating piston during its intake stroke.

16. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the reciprocating piston has a lubricant depot ( 112 ) for lubricating the reciprocating piston in the cylinder ( 92 ).

17. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the compressor ( 58 ) includes at least two working chambers ( 94 ).

18. The compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the double piston has a length that is a multiple of its width.

19. A vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) comprising:
a pressurized medium supply device ( 22 ) for the tire ( 54 ) mounted on the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ), wherein the pressurized medium supply device ( 22 ) includes the compressor unit ( 38 ) according to claim 1 accommodated in the center bore ( 44 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ).

20. The vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) according to claim 19 , wherein the pressurized medium supply device ( 22 ) includes a pressurized medium path ( 162 ), which extends from the compressor unit ( 38 ) to a pressurized medium inlet into the tire ( 54 ).

21. The vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) according to claim 20 , wherein a check valve positioned on the compressor unit ( 38 ) is integrated into the pressurized medium path ( 162 ).

22. The vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) according to claim 20 , wherein the pressurized medium path ( 162 ), at least in some sections, is routed in the form of a conduit inside a spoke ( 48 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ).

23. The vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) according to claim 20 , wherein a tire valve that can be connected to an external pressurized medium source is coupled to the pressurized medium path ( 162 ).

24. The vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) according to claim 19 , wherein the pressurized medium supply device ( 22 ) can be supplied with energy from a vehicle-mounted energy source ( 28 ) when the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) is in the mounted state on the wheel hub ( 62 ) of a vehicle ( 10 ).

25. The vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) according to claim 19 , wherein a sensor device ( 174 ) is positioned on the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) and is connected via a signal line ( 176 ) to the pressurized medium supply device ( 22 ).

26. The vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) according to claim 25 , wherein the signal line ( 176 ), at least in some sections, is routed inside a pressurized medium path ( 162 ).

27. The vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) according to claim 19 , wherein the pressurized medium supply device ( 22 ) includes a control module ( 160 ) for controlling the drive unit ( 56 ) of the compressor unit ( 38 ).

28. The vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) according to claim 19 , wherein a connection ( 170 ), via which the pressurized medium supply device ( 22 ) can be supplied with energy and which can be connected to an external energy source, is positioned on the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ).

29. The vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) according to claim 19 , wherein the pressurized medium supply device ( 22 ) includes a sealant reservoir ( 178 ) for storing a tire sealant ( 180 ).

30. The vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) according to claim 29 , wherein the sealant reservoir ( 178 ) includes an annular chamber positioned in the center bore ( 44 ) of the vehicle wheel rim ( 34 ) and is encompassing the compressor unit ( 38 ).

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works
• Kt Projektentwicklungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Spindler Martin P
• Tsiberidis Konstantinos

Classifications

• B60C23/137

  comprising cam driven pistons · CPC title

• F04B35/01

  the means being mechanical · CPC title

• F04C18/22

  of internal-axis type with equidirectional movement of co-operating members at the points of engagement, or with one of the co-operating members being stationary, the inner member having more teeth or tooth equivalents than the outer member · CPC title

• B60C23/04

  mounted on the wheel or tyre · CPC title

• B60C23/004

  the control being done on the wheel, e.g. using a wheel-mounted reservoir · CPC title