Engine drive air compressor with frame storage tank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11760141-B2
Application number	US-201916680271-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2019
Priority date	Nov 11, 2019
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing a tire pressure enhancing device for increasing the air pressure of tires mounted on a vehicle. For example, an air compressor may be coupled to an engine of a vehicle to compress air. The compressed air is then stored in the frame of the vehicle. The compressed air may be transferred to each tire through a hose via an access point in the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
an air storage tank incorporated within a vehicle structural frame;
an air compressor to generate compressed air, wherein the air compressor is coupled to provide the compressed air to the air storage tank for storage in the air storage tank;
an access point coupled with the air storage tank within the vehicle structural frame; and
a plurality of hoses transporting the compressed air comprising a first type of hose connecting the air compressor to the air storage tank, and a second type of hose connecting the air storage tank to a tire of the vehicle;
wherein in response to a control signal, the compressed air travels from the air storage tank, via the access point, to the tire through the second type of hose.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the access point is one of a plurality of access points, and the vehicle further comprises: the plurality of access points incorporated with the vehicle structural frame, wherein a supply hose is coupled with a second access point of the plurality of access points to transport the compressed air from the vehicle structural frame to a component of the vehicle via the hose.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , further comprises:
an intermediate hose, wherein the intermediate hose is placed between the air storage tank and the access point to transfer the compressed air from the air compressor to the vehicle structural frame.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the air storage tank comprises an airtight bladder disposed within a frame rail or tube of the vehicle structural frame.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the air storage tank comprises an airtight portion of the vehicle structural frame.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprises:
an interface, wherein the interface is placed at a control panel coupled with the vehicle, and wherein the interface displays an indication of the compressed air generated by the air compressor.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the air compressor is coupled to a motor, and the vehicle is an electric vehicle (EV), wherein the air compressor is coupled to the motor to power the air compressor to generate the compressed air that is used to fill the air storage tank and ultimately inflate the tire of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the air compressor is coupled to an internal combustion engine, wherein the air compressor is coupled to the internal combustion engine to power the air compressor to generate the compressed air that is used to fill the air storage tank and ultimately inflate the tire of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprises:
a frame storage tank pressure monitoring sensor, wherein the frame storage tank pressure monitoring sensor compares a current measured pressure of the compressed air in the air storage tank to a threshold pressure or threshold pressure range to determine whether the air storage tank is within an acceptable range.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , further comprises:
an actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to provide compressed air from the air compressor when the air storage tank is under pressure.

11. A vehicle structural frame of a vehicle comprising:
an air storage tank incorporated within the vehicle structural frame;
an air compressor to generate compressed air, wherein the air compressor is coupled to provide the compressed air to the air storage tank for storage in the air storage tank;
an access point coupled with the air storage tank within the vehicle structural frame; and
a plurality of hoses transporting the compressed air comprising a first type of hose connecting the air compressor to the air storage tank, and a second type of hose connecting the air storage tank to a tire of the vehicle;
wherein in response to a control signal, the compressed air travels from the air storage tank, via the access point, to the tire through the second type of hose.

12. The vehicle structural frame of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle structural frame is communicatively coupled with a tire, and the hose is coupled with a second access point to transport the compressed air from the vehicle structural frame to the tire via the hose.

13. The vehicle structural frame of claim 12 , further comprises:
a supply hose, wherein the supply hose is placed between the air storage tank and the access point to transfer the compressed air from the air compressor to the vehicle structural frame.

14. The vehicle structural frame of claim 11 , wherein the air storage tank comprises an airtight bladder disposed within a frame rail or tube of the vehicle structural frame.

15. The vehicle structural frame of claim 11 , wherein the air storage tank comprises an airtight portion of the vehicle structural frame.

16. The vehicle structural frame of claim 11 , further comprises:
an interface, wherein the interface is placed at a control panel associated with the vehicle structural frame, and wherein the interface displays an indication of the compressed air generated by the air compressor.

17. The vehicle structural frame of claim 11 , wherein the air compressor is coupled to a motor of the vehicle, and the-vehicle is an electric vehicle (EV), wherein the air compressor is coupled to the motor to power the air compressor to generate the compressed air that is used to fill the air storage tank and ultimately inflate the tire of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle structural frame of claim 11 , wherein the air compressor is coupled to an internal combustion engine, wherein the air compressor is coupled to the internal combustion engine to power the air compressor to generate the compressed air that is used to fill the air storage tank and ultimately inflate the tire of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle structural frame of claim 11 , further comprises:
a frame storage tank pressure monitoring sensor, wherein the frame storage tank pressure monitoring sensor compares a current measured pressure of the compressed air in the air storage tank to a threshold pressure or threshold pressure range to determine whether the air storage tank is within an acceptable range.

20. The vehicle structural frame of claim 18 , further comprises:
an actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to provide the compressed air from the air compressor when the air storage tank is under pressure.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Wuerthele Stuart Roger
• Williams Paxton S

Classifications

• B60C23/16 Primary

  Arrangement of air tanks mounted on vehicles · CPC title

• B60C29/064

  Hose connections for pneumatic tyres, e.g. to spare wheels · CPC title

• B60C23/0433

  Radio signals · CPC title

• G01L19/083

  electrical · CPC title

• B60L1/003

  to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors · CPC title