Tire maintenance device

Abstract

A tire maintenance device (1) is provided, comprising a monitoring module (2) for monitoring the condition of a tire; an inflation module (4) for inflating or deflating the tire; a repair module (5) for filling the tire with a sealant; and the control module (3) is used for maintaining the tires according to the signals from the monitoring module (2). A method of servicing a tire is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to a tire maintenance device, in particular to an integrated tire maintenance device which can automatically or manually detect, inflate or repair a tire. Background Art

[0002] Tires play an important role during the operation of devices (such as vehicles) using tires. However, tires are prone to failure during operation, for example, leakage, damage and / or wear may occur. The failure of the tire will significantly affect the safe operation of the device, and will be dangerous for a moving vehicle in particular. In the prior art, a detection system, such as a TPM, is provided to monitor the status of the tire. The detection system can monitor the pressure of the tire in real time. If the monitored pressure is abnormal, it can provide a signal or alarm to the user. A tire repair device is also provided in the art. When a user finds that the tire is damaged and a leak occurs, the user can use the tire repair device to repair the tire. However, the user needs to determine the status of the tire before using the tire repair device. In some cases, the user may need to manually inflate the tire after repairing the tire. These steps are inconvenient for the user.

[0003] Some tire maintenance kits are provided in the art, but their operation is very complicated. The user must make an effort to learn or receive training to learn the operation of the kit. Sometimes the user may not use the tire maintenance kit correctly and fail to repair the tire. Such improper use may cause safety risks to the user.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a more convenient and intelligent tire maintenance device. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present application provides a tire maintenance device, which can automatically detect whether the tire needs to be inflated, deflated or repaired when connected to the tire, thereby realizing automatic maintenance of the tire.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present application, a tire maintenance device is provided, comprising: a monitoring module for monitoring the status of a tire, the status including the pressure of the tire; an inflation module for inflating or deflating the tire; a repair module for filling a sealant into the tire; and a control module for maintaining the tire based on a signal from the monitoring module.

[0007] In another embodiment of the present application, the signal includes a pressure signal indicating a tire pressure, and when the pressure is lower than a threshold pressure, the control module controls the inflation module to inflate the tire.

[0008] In another embodiment of the present application, when the pressure is greater than a threshold pressure, the control module controls the inflation module to deflate the tire.

[0009] In another embodiment of the present application, the inflation module includes a release device, which will be activated to deflate the tire when the pressure is greater than a threshold pressure.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present application, the release device is a closed pressure valve, which will open when the pressure is greater than a threshold pressure.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present application, the control module further determines whether the tire has a puncture, and when a puncture is determined, the control module controls the repair module to repair the tire.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present application, determining whether the tire has a puncture is based on changes in tire pressure and / or a status of a pump in an inflation module.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present application, the control module further determines the leakage level of the tire based on a record table mapping the leakage amount and the leakage level.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present application, the control module further determines whether the tire has been successfully repaired.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present application, a display module for displaying tire status is also included.

[0016] In another embodiment of the present application, a connecting tube for connecting to a valve core of a tire is also included, and a sensor is disposed in the connecting tube or the valve core for measuring pressure.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present application, a valve is provided near the end of the connecting tube for selectively connecting the interior of the tire to the tire maintenance device.

[0018] The present application also provides a method for maintaining a tire, comprising: providing a tire maintenance device, which includes a control module; the control module automatically determines an action on the tire, the action being selected from inflation, deflation and / or filling with sealant.

[0019] In another embodiment of the present application, the control module maintains the tire by controlling the inflation module and / or the repair module based on the signal of the monitoring module.

[0020] In another embodiment of the present application, the monitoring module monitors the status of the tire, including the pressure of the tire.

[0021] In another embodiment of the present application, the tire is inflated or deflated by an inflation module.

[0022] In another embodiment of the present application, the repair module is used to fill a sealant into a tire.

[0023] In another embodiment of the present application, further comprising the step of determining, by the control module, whether the tire has a puncture based on a change in pressure in the tire and / or an operation of a pump in the inflation module.

[0024] In another embodiment of the present application, the control module further determines the leakage level of the tire according to an index table mapping leakage amount / unit time and spike size. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 Detailed Description of the Invention An embodiment of a tire maintenance device is shown in exemplary views.

[0026] Figure 2 is a table showing the change in pressure when spikes of different sizes are present in the tire.

[0027] Figure 3 is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a control module.

[0028] Figure 4 Embodiments of an inflation module and a repair module of the present application are shown.

[0029] Figure 5 is an embodiment of an end portion of a connecting pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Although the drawings show the embodiments of the present application, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the drawings. Various modifications are possible through the teachings of the present invention, and these modifications should be within the scope of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 1 is an exemplary view of the tire maintenance device of the present application. The tire maintenance device 1 may include a monitoring module 2, a control module 3, an inflation module 4 and a repair module 5. The tire maintenance device 1 may also include a display module 6. The monitoring module 2 is used to monitor the state of the tire, including but not limited to the internal pressure of the tire. The monitoring module 2 transmits a signal about the pressure to the control module 3. The control module 3 controls the inflation module 4, the repair module 5 and / or the display module 6 according to the signal. All of these modules can be arranged in a housing, so that a compact design can be achieved. A connecting tube 7 is provided to connect the tire maintenance device to the tire. Therefore, when the user connects the tire maintenance device to the tire, the device will automatically maintain the tire.

[0032] Taking a tire for a car as an example, the normal pressure of the tire is about 2.5 bar. Therefore, the threshold value of the tire will be 2.5 bar. The abnormal state of the tire can be determined by comparing the pressure of the tire with the threshold value. It can be understood that the normal pressure will be different for tires used in different situations. Therefore, the threshold value can be changed depending on the use of the tire. In one embodiment, the tire maintenance device allows the user to select the type of vehicle using the tire. The control device then determines the threshold value based on the selection. In the advanced mode, the user is allowed to input the threshold value into the tire maintenance device. The following description will take a car tire as an example.

[0033] When the tire maintenance device is connected to the tire, the monitoring module will monitor the pressure of the tire. If the pressure exceeds 2.5 bar, the inflation module will deflate the tire until the pressure drops to 2.5 bar. The inflation module includes a release device, which will be activated to deflate the tire when the pressure is greater than a threshold pressure, which is 2.5 bar in this embodiment. If the detected pressure is lower than the threshold pressure, the control module will activate the inflation module to inflate the tire until the pressure in the tire reaches 2.5 bar. The control module also determines whether the tire has a puncture based on the pressure change of the tire. If a puncture is determined, the control module will control the repair module to repair the tire.

[0034] The modules are described in more detail below.

[0035] Monitoring module 2 The monitoring module 2 may include electronic, mechanical and / or chemical devices for detecting tire pressure. In one embodiment, a pressure sensor is provided at the end of the connecting tube or valve core. The pressure sensor may be arranged in other locations, such as in the housing of the tire maintenance device, as long as the pressure sensor can detect the pressure of the tire. When the tube is connected to the tire, the tire will be in fluid communication with the tire so that the pressure sensor will continuously detect the internal pressure of the tire at predetermined intervals. The detected pressure value is sent to the control module. It is understood that the pressure sensor may be an electronic sensor, a mechanical sensor or even an intelligent chemical coating.

[0036] The monitoring module 2 may be provided with a sending module, such as an RFID module. Some tires are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPM). In this case, the monitoring module 2 may communicate with the TPM via RFID to obtain the pressure of the tire.

[0037] Control module 3 The control module 3 is connected to other modules. The monitoring module 2 provides a signal to the control module 3. The signal includes a pressure signal. The state of the tire will be determined by the control module 3 based on the signal, such as an overpressure state, an underpressure state, or a puncture state. For example, with respect to a car tire, the normal pressure is about 2.5 bar. Therefore, the threshold value is set to 2.5 bar. As mentioned above, the threshold value may vary depending on the type of tire. If the detected pressure exceeds 2.5 bar, the control module will control the inflation module to deflate the tire until the tire pressure drops to 2.5 bar.

[0038] Alternatively, the deflation can be accomplished by an inflation module that is independent of the control module. For example, the inflation module includes a closed pressure valve that is closed in a normal state but opens when the pressure exceeds 2.5 bar. Therefore, if the tire pressure exceeds 2.5 bar, the closed pressure valve will automatically open to release the air in the tire.

[0039] If the pressure of the tire is lower than 2.5 bar, the control module 3 will activate the inflation module to inflate the tire until the pressure inside the tire reaches 2.5 bar. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inflation module includes a pump for pumping air into the tire. If the tire is not punctured, the pressure inside the tire will not change after inflation. Therefore, if a pressure drop is detected after inflation, the control module 3 can determine that there is a puncture in the tire. Preferably, depending on the amount of leakage, the control module can further determine the leakage level of the tire. The amount of leakage can be calculated by the pressure drop per unit time.

[0040] Figure 2 Data on pressure changes during spike testing of tires are shown. In this example, the sample tire has a volume of about 41 liters. Several sizes of spikes have been tested. At the beginning, the tire is in good condition and has no punctures. Then spikes of different sizes are formed in the tire. For example, when a spike with a diameter of about 2 mm is formed in the tire. The pressure in the tire drops by 0.01 bar in 10 seconds, and drops by 0.03 bar in 20 seconds, and drops by 0.04 bar in 30 seconds. For a spike with a diameter of about 3 mm, the pressure in the tire drops by 0.08 bar in 10 seconds, and drops by 0.14 bar in 20 seconds, and drops by 0.20 bar in 30 seconds. For a spike with a diameter of about 4 mm, the pressure in the tire drops by 0.15 bar in 10 seconds, and drops by 0.26 bar in 20 seconds, and drops by 0.35 bar in 30 seconds. For a spike with a diameter of about 6 mm, the pressure in the tire drops by 0.20 bar in 10 seconds, 0.34 bar in 20 seconds, and 0.44 bar in 30 seconds. For a spike with a diameter of about 8 mm, the pressure in the tire drops by 0.23 bar in 10 seconds, 0.34 bar in 20 seconds, and 0.45 bar in 30 seconds.

[0041] Therefore, for a particular type of tire, the spike size can be approximately determined based on the pressure drop detected within a predetermined time period. Therefore, based on experimental data, an index table of leakage amounts and spike sizes for a particular type of tire can be generated and stored in the control module. When a puncture is detected, the control module will use the index table to determine the size of the spike in the tire. Therefore, a repair strategy can be determined by the control module based on the spike size. For example, the control system can determine the amount of sealant to be injected into the tire. If the spike size is too large to be repaired by injecting sealant, the control module can issue a signal to replace the tire.

[0042] In addition to determining the spike size by pressure changes, the spike size can also be determined by monitoring the operation of the pump in the inflation module. Generally, when inflating a tire, the control module will stop the operation of the inflation module when the pressure in the tire reaches a threshold value (for example, 2.5 bar). For a tire without a puncture, the pump in the inflation module will stop operating. For a tire with a puncture, the tire pressure will drop due to the puncture, for example to 2.4 bar within ten seconds. The control module must then start the operation of the inflation module to inflate the tire until the tire pressure reaches 2.5 bar. If the tire is not repaired, this cycle will continue. Therefore, by detecting the activity status of the pump, it can be determined whether the tire has a puncture.

[0043] Alternatively, a puncture may be determined by comparing the amount of air pumped by the inflation module and the amount required to inflate the tire. For a given tire of a particular volume, the amount of air required to inflate the tire from a detected pressure to a threshold pressure may be calculated before the inflation module begins to inflate the tire. Upon starting the inflation module, the amount of air pumped by the inflation module over a period of time may be calculated. Thus, the difference between the amount of air required and the amount of air pumped may be used to determine if there is a puncture in the tire and the size of the spike in the tire. For example, in the absence of a puncture, it takes 5 minutes to inflate an empty 41L tire to 2.5 bar. Thus, if the time to inflate the tire to 2.5 bar is higher than 5 minutes, it may be determined that the tire has a leak, e.g., the tire has a puncture. The time difference may be used to calculate the size of the spike.

[0044] Figure 3 is a logic diagram of the control module. In step 100, when the tire maintenance device is started, the module is started. The device will be initialized in step 101, where the control module can determine whether the other modules are in the correct state. If an abnormal situation is detected, the control module can give a corresponding indication. For example, if the sealant bottle is not installed in the tire repair unit, the control module can issue instructions or instructions to the user through the display module. When the tire maintenance device is connected to the tire, the control module will move to step 102.

[0045] The pressure of the tire will be detected and transmitted to the control module. Different methods can be used to generate a signal about the tire pressure. For example, for a tire with a TPM system, a pressure sensor is already mounted on the tire and the information about the pressure can be transmitted via a wireless transmitter. Therefore, the tire maintenance device can communicate with the wireless transmitter, for example via RFID, to obtain information about the pressure. In cases where TPM data is not preferred, or in cases where the tire does not have a TPM system, the pressure of the tire can be detected by a sensor of the tire maintenance device. The sensor is included in the monitoring module. After connecting the connecting tube to the tire, the sensor can detect the pressure of the tire, and the measured value will be transmitted to the control module.

[0046] In step 102, the control module compares the detected pressure with a threshold value. In this embodiment, the threshold value is 2.5 bar. It is understood that the threshold value may vary depending on the tire type and / or different applications. Preferably, a control panel is provided so that the user can input or select an appropriate threshold value. If the tire pressure is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the control module will proceed to step 109, otherwise the control module will proceed to step 103.

[0047] In step 109, the control module determines whether the tire pressure is greater than a threshold pressure. If the tire pressure is greater than the threshold pressure, the tire needs to be deflated. In this regard, step 111 is executed. If the tire pressure is equal to the threshold pressure, it indicates that the tire is in good condition, and the tire maintenance module will proceed to step 110.

[0048] Step 111 is a deflation operation. The air in the tire can be discharged to the environment through a valve in the tire maintenance device. The valve can be a normally closed pressure valve. The valve is connected to a connection pipe and can be opened by activation of the control module. Therefore, in step 111, the control module activates the valve so that the air in the tire can be released. When the pressure in the tire reaches 2.5 bar, that is, step 112, the valve will be closed, that is, step 113.

[0049] In another embodiment, the valve may be a pressure reducing valve that will automatically open when the pressure is above a threshold value (e.g., 2.5 bar). The pressure reducing valve may be of a type known in the art. In this regard, when the connecting tube is connected to a tire having a pressure exceeding the threshold pressure, the valve will automatically open to deflate the tire. In this regard, the deflation operation may not require the involvement of the control module.

[0050] If the tire pressure is less than the threshold pressure in step 102, then step 103 will occur. In step 103, it will be determined whether there is a puncture, such as a spike in the tire. As described above, a spike in the tire can be determined by detecting a pressure change within a predetermined time period. In this embodiment, the predetermined time period is 10 seconds. If a pressure drop is detected within 10 seconds, it is determined that the tire has a puncture. The leakage level will be determined based on the index table. If the tire is found to have a puncture, the control module will initiate a repair module in step 105 to inject sealant into the tire. The control module will then move to step 104. If no puncture is determined in the tire, the control module will directly go to step 104.

[0051] In step 104, an inflation operation is performed to inflate the tire. The tire is inflated to a threshold pressure, for example 2.5 bar. Step 106 will determine whether the inflation is complete. If the pressure reaches 2.5 bar, the control module will stop the inflation module in step 107. However, if the tire pressure cannot reach 2.5 bar within a predetermined time period, it may indicate that the tire has not been successfully repaired. The predetermined time period may be, for example, 20 minutes. It will be understood that the predetermined time period will be determined by the volume of the tire and the power of the pump in the inflation module. A failure occurs when the puncture in the tire is too large to be repaired by injecting sealant. In this case, the control module will issue a tire failure signal and a tire replacement will be required in step 108.

[0052] Optionally, the control module may move to step 102 after step 107 to ensure whether the tire is in good condition.

[0053] Inflatable module The inflation module 4 comprises a pump connected to a connection pipe 7. When the pump is activated, compressed air will be generated to inflate the tire. The inflation module also comprises a deflation device, such as a valve as described above. If necessary, the air in the tire can be released from the valve.

[0054] Repair Module The repair module 5 comprises a sealant bottle and a pump. The pump can be the same pump in the inflation module. The sealant bottle has an inlet and an outlet. During repair, the pump will input compressed air into the sealant bottle through the inlet, and the sealant will be discharged into the tire through the outlet.

[0055] The inflation module 4 and the repair module 5 can be integrated into a module 200, which includes an inlet 201 and an outlet 202. Figure 4As shown, it includes a pump, a sealant bottle and a three-way solenoid valve 203. The solenoid valve is controlled by a control module so that the module 200 can be used as an inflation module or a repair module. When the pump is connected to the sealant bottle, the module 200 is a repair module. When the sealant bottle is bypassed, the module 200 is an inflation module. A release port 204 may be provided so that when the outlet 202 is connected to the release port 204, the module 200 can be used for deflation.

[0056] Display module 6 A display module is provided to display the status of the device and the tire. For example, the display module may include a display that can display the real-time pressure and real-time temperature of the tire. Status such as inflation operation, repair operation, etc. can be displayed. The display module may include an alarm light to indicate abnormal conditions of the tire and / or the tire maintenance device. An audible alarm device may also be used.

[0057] Connecting pipe The connecting pipe may be a common pipe available in the art.

[0058] despite this, Figure 5 Detailed Description of the Invention ... is a modified embodiment of a connecting tube which is provided for illustrative purposes and not for limiting purposes.

[0059] Figure 5 301 is a cross-sectional view of the end of the connecting tube. The end 301 will be connected to the valve core of the tire using methods known in the art, such as using a threaded connection (not shown). A solenoid valve 304 is provided in the tube to separate the left side 306 and the second side 305. The solenoid valve is a normally closed valve. The second side 305 will be connected to the tire. A sensor 302 is provided on the second side 305. Therefore, when the connecting tube is connected to the tire, the second side 305 is in communication with the tire. Therefore, the sensor 302 can detect the pressure in the tire. In this way, the release of air in the tire can be minimized.

[0060] If the pressure detected by sensor 302 is less than or greater than the threshold pressure, the control module will activate solenoid valve 304 to open solenoid valve 304 so that the tire maintenance device is connected to the tire. Therefore, inflation, deflation and / or repair steps can be taken. Optionally, another pressure sensor 303 is provided on the left side 306 so that the solenoid valve 304 is activated when the pressure on the left side is substantially equal to the pressure on the right side, which can avoid impact on the tire maintenance device.

[0061] In one embodiment of the present application, the tire maintenance device provides the user with several different operating modes, such as automatic mode, guided mode or manual mode, so that the user can make a selection. In automatic mode, the tire maintenance device will automatically complete the maintenance of the tire. The user only needs to connect the connecting tube to the valve core of the tire, and the tire maintenance device will automatically detect the pressure of the tire and will take corresponding actions. It can be understood that the tire maintenance device can be operated by a battery, or by electricity generated by the car, or even by the power grid. In guided mode, the control module will issue a selection to the user, for example, through a display module, and guide the user to complete the maintenance. In manual mode, the user can select steps, such as inflation steps, deflation steps, and repair steps. This will be beneficial to experienced users. If he / she determines that there is a puncture in the tire, the repair step (i.e., step 105) can be directly performed.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present application, the tire maintenance device may include a client application that can be installed in a smart mobile phone / tablet computer. In this regard, the tire maintenance device will be provided with a wireless connection module, such as WIFI or Bluetooth, so that the smart mobile phone or tablet computer can communicate with the tire maintenance device and / or control the tire maintenance device.

[0063] The present application also provides a method for automatically maintaining tires. First, the pressure of the tire is detected. The detection can be performed by a sensor integrated in the tire or a sensor connected to the tire. The state of the tire is determined based on the detected value: if the pressure exceeds the threshold pressure, a deflation operation will be performed to make the pressure in the tire appropriate; if the tire is below the threshold pressure, an inflation operation will be performed; if the tire has a puncture, a sealant is injected into the tire to repair the tire. In a preferred embodiment of the present application, it also includes a step of determining whether the tire has been successfully repaired. If the tire has not been repaired, a fault signal can be given or another repair attempt can be performed.

[0064] Although the above detailed description shows, describes and points out novel features applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, permutations and changes in the form and details of the illustrated apparatus or method may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, the various features and processes described above may be used independently of each other or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and sub-combinations are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Many of the embodiments described above include similar components, and therefore, these similar components may be interchangeable in different embodiments.

[0065] Although the present invention is disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and / or uses, as well as obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific disclosure of the preferred embodiments herein.

Claims

1. A tire maintenance device, the tire maintenance device being connected to a tire via a connecting pipe and comprising: a monitoring module for monitoring a status of a tire, the status including a pressure of the tire; an inflation module for inflating or deflating the tire; a repair module for filling a sealant into said tire; a control module for maintaining the tire based on signals from the monitoring module; a connecting tube for connecting to the valve core of the tire, the connecting tube including an end portion, a solenoid valve disposed in the end portion for separating a left side from a second side, the second side being connected to the tire, and a first sensor disposed on the second side for measuring the pressure, a second pressure sensor disposed on the left side, so that when the pressure on the left side is substantially equal to the pressure on the second side, the solenoid valve is activated to avoid impact on the tire maintenance device; wherein the control module determines whether the tire has a puncture, and when a puncture is determined, the control module controls the repair module to repair the tire, and the determination of whether the tire has a puncture is based on the state of the pump in the inflation module; During inflation, the pump in the inflation module discharges air to the tire through the connecting tube; During repair, a pump in the inflation module discharges sealant through the connecting tube to the tire; wherein the repair module and the inflation module are integrated into one module, the module comprising the pump, the sealant bottle, a three-way solenoid valve, an inlet, an outlet and a release port, the pump being coupled to the inlet, the sealant bottle being coupled to the outlet, the three-way solenoid valve being coupled between the pump and the sealant bottle, and the three-way solenoid valve being coupled between the release port and the outlet; and Wherein, the three-way solenoid valve is controlled by the control module so that the module can be used as the inflation module or the repair module, when the pump is connected to the sealant bottle through the three-way solenoid valve, the module is used as a repair module, and when the pump is connected to the outlet through the three-way solenoid valve and the sealant bottle is bypassed, the module is used as an inflation module, and when the release port is connected to the outlet through the three-way solenoid valve, the module is used for deflation.

2. The tire maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The signal includes a pressure signal indicative of a pressure of the tire, and the control module controls the inflation module to inflate the tire when the pressure is below a threshold pressure.

3. The tire maintenance device according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the pressure is greater than a threshold pressure, the control module controls the inflation module to deflate the tire.

4. The tire maintenance device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inflation module includes a release device that will be activated to deflate the tire when the pressure is greater than a threshold pressure.

5. The tire maintenance device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The release device is a closing pressure valve which will open when the pressure is greater than a threshold pressure.

6. The tire maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Determining whether the tire has a puncture is based on a change in pressure of the tire.

7. The tire maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control module also determines a leak level of the tire based on a table mapping leak amounts and leak levels.

8. The tire maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control module also determines whether the tire has been successfully repaired.

9. The tire maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tire maintenance device further includes a display module for displaying a status of the tire.

10. The tire maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tire maintenance device further comprises a wireless connection module for communicating with a smart mobile phone or a tablet computer, whereby the tire maintenance device can be controlled by the smart mobile phone or the tablet computer.

11. The tire maintenance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tire maintenance device also includes an automatic mode, a guided mode or a manual mode. In the automatic mode, the tire maintenance device will automatically complete the maintenance of the tire. In the guided mode, the control module will give the user a selection, such as through the display module, and guide the user to complete the maintenance. In the manual mode, the user can select individual steps, such as an inflation step, a deflation step, and a repair step.

12. A method for maintaining a tire, comprising: Providing a tire maintenance device including a control module; Connecting the tire maintenance device to the tire via a connecting pipe; The control module automatically determines an action to be taken on the tire, the action being selected from the group consisting of inflation, deflation, and / or filling with sealant; wherein when it is determined that the tire has a puncture, the control module controls the repair module to fill the tire with sealant, the control module controls the inflation module to inflate the tire, and the control module determines whether the tire has a puncture based on the operation of the pump in the inflation module during the inflation action; During inflation, the pump in the inflation module discharges air to the tire through the connecting tube; During repair, a pump in the inflation module discharges sealant through the connecting tube to the tire; wherein the repair module and the inflation module are integrated into one module, the module comprising the pump, the sealant bottle, a three-way solenoid valve, an inlet, an outlet and a release port, the pump being coupled to the inlet, the sealant bottle being coupled to the outlet, the three-way solenoid valve being coupled between the pump and the sealant bottle, and the three-way solenoid valve being coupled between the release port and the outlet; wherein the three-way solenoid valve is controlled by the control module so that the module can be used as the inflation module or the repair module, the module is used as a repair module when the pump is coupled to the sealant bottle through the three-way solenoid valve, and the module is used as an inflation module when the pump is coupled to the outlet through the three-way solenoid valve and the sealant bottle is bypassed, and the module is used for deflation when the release port is coupled to the outlet through the three-way solenoid valve; and Wherein, the connecting pipe includes an end portion, a solenoid valve is arranged in the end portion for separating a left side and a second side, the second side is connected to the tire, and a first sensor is arranged on the second side for measuring pressure, and a second pressure sensor is arranged on the left side, so that when the pressure on the left side is substantially equal to the pressure on the second side, the solenoid valve is activated to avoid impact on the tire maintenance device.

13. The method for maintaining a tire according to claim 12, characterized in that: The control module maintains the tire by controlling the inflation module and / or the repair module based on a signal from the monitoring module.

14. The method for maintaining a tire according to claim 13, characterized in that: The monitoring module monitors the status of the tire, including the pressure of the tire.

15. The method for maintaining a tire according to claim 13, characterized in that: The tire is inflated or deflated by the inflation module.

16. The method for maintaining a tire according to claim 13, characterized in that: The repair module is used to fill a sealant into the tire.

17. The method for maintaining a tire according to claim 13, characterized in that: The method further includes the step of determining, by the control module, whether the tire has a puncture based on changes in pressure in the tire and / or operation of a pump in the inflation module.

18. The method for maintaining a tire according to claim 13, characterized in that: The control module also determines a leak level of the tire based on an index table that maps leak volume per unit time and spike size.

19. The method for maintaining a tire according to claim 13, characterized in that: The tire maintenance device also includes an automatic mode, a guided mode or a manual mode. In the automatic mode, the tire maintenance device will automatically complete the maintenance of the tire. In the guided mode, the control module will, for example, give the user a selection through the display module and guide the user to complete the maintenance. In the manual mode, the user can select individual steps, such as an inflation step, a deflation step, and a repair step.

20. The method for maintaining a tire according to claim 13, characterized in that: The tire maintenance device further includes a wireless connection module for communicating with a smart phone or a tablet computer, whereby the tire maintenance device can be controlled by the smart phone or the tablet computer.

Images