Valve stem-based pressure regulator system for an air maintenance tire and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9259981-B2
Application number	US-201314071901-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2013
Priority date	Nov 5, 2013
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

An air maintenance tire assembly and method of operation includes a pressurized air supply assembly for supplying pressurized air to a tire cavity through an elongate outward projecting, valve stem passageway. An elongate centrally disposed shaft within the valve stem reciprocally moves axially in the valve stem internal air passageway between a passageway-opening axial position and a passageway-closing axial position. A pressure regulator is provided to move the elongate shaft axially between the passageway-opening and passageway-closing positions responsive to a detected air pressure level within the tire cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air maintenance tire assembly comprising:
a tire having a tire cavity bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region;
air pumping means for generating pressurized air for maintaining air pressure within the tire cavity at a preset pressure level;
the tire having an elongate valve stem projecting outward from the tire cavity and operative to admit pressurized air into the cavity through a valve stem internal air passageway;
an elongate shaft having an longitudinal axis, the shaft reciprocally moveable axially within the valve stem internal air passageway between a passageway-opening axial position and a passageway-closing axial position;
a pressure regulator operative to move the elongate shaft axially between the passageway-opening and passageway-closing positions responsive to a detected air pressure level within the tire cavity;
wherein the pressure regulator comprises:
a pressure measuring sensor for measuring a tire cavity pressure level;
transmission means for transmitting a control signal responsive to the measured tire cavity pressure level; and
valve means for moving the elongate shaft axially between the passageway-opening and passageway-closing positions responsive to the control signal.

2. An air maintenance tire assembly comprising:
a tire having a tire cavity bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region;
air pumping means for generating pressurized air for maintaining air pressure within the tire cavity at a preset pressure level;
the tire having an elongate valve stem projecting outward from the tire cavity and operative to admit pressurized air into the cavity through a valve stem internal air passageway;
an elongate shaft having an longitudinal axis, the shaft reciprocally moveable axially within the valve stem internal air passageway between a passageway-opening axial position and a passageway-closing axial position;
a pressure regulator operative to move the elongate shaft axially between the passageway-opening and passageway-closing positions responsive to a detected air pressure level within the tire cavity,
wherein the pressure regulator is coupled to an inward end of the elongate shaft.

3. The air maintenance tire assembly of claim 2 , wherein further comprising a sealing ring member mounted to and substantially surrounding the elongate shaft proximate to an inward end of the elongate shaft, the sealing ring member substantially obstructing the valve stem air passageway within the valve stem responsive to an axial movement of the elongate valve shaft to close a flow of air through the valve stem internal air passageway.

4. The air maintenance tire assembly of claim 2 , wherein the regulator further comprises:
a regulator housing having an enclosed air chamber positioned for air flow communication with the valve stem internal air passageway, the regulator housing air chamber operative to receive pressurized air from the valve stem internal air passageway;
a regulator housing opening for directing pressurized air from the regulator housing chamber into the tire cavity; and
a moveable regulator housing sealing member mounted to the regulator housing and operative to selectively open and close the regulator housing opening responsive to a presence and absence of pressurized air within the regulator housing air chamber.

5. The air maintenance tire assembly of claim 2 , wherein the valve stem is sized and configured to extend from the tire through an aperture extending through a rim body supporting the tire; and the regulator housing having mounting means operative to mount the regulator housing to an inward-facing surface of the rim body.

6. The air maintenance tire assembly of claim 5 , wherein the air pumping means comprises:
a first sidewall of the tire having an elongate sidewall air passageway therein operatively located to compress segment by segment from an expanded diameter to a substantially reduced diameter responsive to a bending strain introduced into the first sidewall from a rolling tire footprint; whereby forcing air segment by segment along the sidewall air passageway; and
a connecting air passageway connected at opposite ends with the sidewall air passageway and with the valve stem internal air passageway, the connecting air passageway operative to direct air forced along the sidewall air passageway into the valve stem internal passageway as the tire rolls over a ground surface.

7. The air maintenance tire assembly of claim 2 , wherein the air pumping means comprises:
a first sidewall of the tire having an elongate sidewall air passageway therein operatively located to compress segment by segment from an expanded diameter to a substantially reduced diameter responsive to a bending strain introduced into the first sidewall from a rolling tire footprint; whereby forcing air segment by segment along the sidewall air passageway; and
a connecting air passageway connected at opposite ends with the sidewall air passageway and with the valve stem internal air passageway, the connecting air passageway operative to direct air forced along the sidewall air passageway into the valve stem internal passageway as the tire rolls over a ground surface.

8. An air maintenance tire assembly comprising:
a tire having a tire cavity bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region;
air pumping means for generating pressurized air for maintaining air pressure within the tire cavity at a preset pressure level;
the tire having an elongate valve stem projecting outward from the tire cavity and operative to admit pressurized air into the cavity through a valve stem internal air passageway;
an elongate shaft having an longitudinal axis, the shaft reciprocally moveable axially in a radial direction within the valve stem internal air passageway between a passageway-opening axial position and a passageway-closing axial position;
a pressure regulator operative to move the elongate shaft axially between the passageway-opening and passageway-closing positions responsive to a detected air pressure level within the tire cavity;
wherein the pressure regulator comprises a regulator housing coupled to a radially inward end of the elongate shaft and positioned to receive air flow from the valve stem internal air passageway within an internal regulator housing chamber;
and wherein the pressure regulator having valve means for moving the elongate shaft axially between the passageway-opening and the passageway-closing positions responsive to the detected air pressure level within the tire cavity.

9. The air maintenance tire assembly of claim 8 , wherein the pressure regulator further comprises:
a pressure measuring sensor for measuring a tire cavity pressure level;
transmission means for transmitting a control signal to the valve means responsive to the measured tire cavity pressure level; and
wherein the control signal is operable to switch the valve means between open and closed positions.

10. The air maintenance tire assembly of claim 8 , wherein the regulator housing comprises:
a regulator housing opening for directing pressurized air from the regulator housing chamber into the tire cavity; and
a moveable regulator housing sealing member mounted to the regulator housing and operative to selectively open and close the regulator housing opening responsive to a presence and absence of pressurized air within the regulator housing air chamber.

11. The air maintenance tire assembly of claim 8 , wherein the valve stem is sized and configured to extend from the tire through an aperture extending through a rim body supporting the tire; and the regulator housing having mounti

Assignees

• Goodyear Tire & Rubber

Inventors

• Durr Michael Joseph

Classifications

• B29D30/0061 Primary

  Accessories, details or auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60C23/12 Primary

  operated by a running wheel · CPC title

• Y10T152/10495

  Pneumatic tire or inner tube · CPC title

• B60C23/135

  activated due to tyre deformation · CPC title

• B60C23/123 Primary

  Elongate peristaltic pumps · CPC title