USB PD powered compressor / tire repair kit

Abstract

An apparatus for inflating or repairing an optionally inflatable article or product, particularly a tire, preferably a vehicle tire, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a compressor assembly having at least one compressor unit with a compressed air outlet, through which air compressed by the at least one compressor unit, particularly optionally, is supplied or can be supplied. The compressor assembly is configured to be connected to an on-board vehicle data communication port for powering and / or controlling the compressor assembly.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2022 131 721.8, filed November 30, 2022, and German Patent Application No. 10 2023 120 927.2, filed August 7, 2023, entitled "USB-PD Powered Compressor / Tire Repair Kit," the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. [Background technology]

[0002] Tire sealants or sealing liquids for quick repair of inflatable articles or products are known per se. This liquid is introduced into the product or article to be repaired by compressed air, in particular a compressor, penetrates all holes or slits in the product or article, and hardens on contact with air, thereby quickly sealing the product or article. Such sealing liquids are widely used for quick repair of tires, in particular vehicle tires. The following description relates to these situations. However, the description is purely exemplary, focuses on clarity, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0003] Spare tires for vehicles present a number of known problems, most notably their significant size and weight. In particular, when a spare tire is stored in a vehicle, it significantly reduces the available trunk space, and it is often difficult to loosen or remove the tire, especially when the trunk is fully loaded. Therefore, so-called tire repair kits have become commonplace in vehicles and are used in place of the spare tire.

[0004] In addition to the significant size and weight reduction, repairing a tire in the event of a tire puncture has proven to be faster and easier; unlike changing a vehicle tire, the compressor can be easily connected to the vehicle's power outlet, and a container of sealing fluid is then connected to the compressor and the tire valve to perform the repair.

[0005] Compressed air is forced into a container together with the sealing liquid by a compressor, and the sealing liquid is then pumped into the defective tire through a corresponding rising pipe via a valve. The valve can then be switched so that the tire can be inflated by the compressor. Standard functions in the prior art are either pumping air only, for example to inflate a ball or air mattress, or performing air pressure control. In the repair function, the prior art is designed so that the sealant injection and air occur in one step.

[0006] A disadvantage of conventional tire repair kits is that it can be a significant effort just to connect the compressor to the sealing fluid container, typically using valves, diverters, mechanical devices, etc., to pressurize the container and pump the tire sealant from the container to the defective tire. Additionally, conventional tire repair kits can only be used in combination, which can be costly to install and complicated to operate.

[0007] A further disadvantage of conventional tire repair kits is the power supply for the compressor required to dispense the sealant into the defective tire. For example, currently available tire repair sets typically require that the power supply for the tire repair set's associated compressor be supplied via an on-board 12V DC port, such as a universal cigarette lighter plug (see also the definition in standard ANSI / SE J563).

[0008] As vehicle technology and electronics improve, there is a continuing need and potential for improved vehicle accessories that can be associated with these new vehicle systems. As such, the present disclosure relates to a device, e.g., a mini-compressor or inflation device, for delivering air and / or sealant using a pressure source that is powered and / or controlled via a data communication port and cable, e.g., a powered universal serial bus (USB). Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present disclosure relates generally to an electric compressor and tire repair kit substantially as shown in and described with reference to at least one of the drawings, as more fully set forth in the claims. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a tire repair kit, and in particular to an apparatus for dispensing tire sealant from a container using a compressed air source.

[0010] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods described herein will be apparent from the following description of specific examples thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like or similar reference characters refer to like or similar structure. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the devices, systems, and methods described herein. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of characteristic variables of an electric motor suitable as a drive for a compressor assembly according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0012] [Figure 2] 10A-10C are various schematic diagrams illustrating the required filling time of a vehicle tire at different levels of operation of the electric drive of the compressor assembly; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] References to singular items should be understood to include the plural items, and vice versa, unless otherwise specified or apparent from the context. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of joined clauses, sentences, words, etc., unless otherwise specified or apparent from the context. The recitation of ranges of values ​​herein is not intended to be limiting, but instead refers to any and all values ​​included and / or encompassed within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each individual value within such range is incorporated herein as if set forth individually herein. In the following description, it should be understood that terms such as "first," "second," "top," "bottom," "side," "before," "after," etc., are words of convenience and should not be construed as limiting terms. For example, in some examples, a first side is located adjacent to or near a second side, but the terms "first side" and "second side" do not imply a particular order in which these sides are ordered.

[0014] The terms "about," "approximately," "substantially," and the like, when used in conjunction with numerical values, should be interpreted to indicate a deviation that would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to perform satisfactorily for the intended purpose. Values ​​and / or numerical ranges are provided herein merely as examples and do not constitute limitations on the scope of the present disclosure. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (such as "for example," "etc.", etc.) provided herein is intended merely to better clarify the disclosed examples and does not impose limitations on the scope of the present disclosure. The term "for example" introduces a list of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed examples.

[0015] The term "and / or" means one or more of any of the items in the list connected by "and / or." As an example, "x and / or y" means any element of the ternary set {(x),(y),(x,y)}. In other words, "x and / or y" means "one or both of x and y." As another example, "x, y, and / or z" means any element of the septenary set {(x),(y),(z),(x,y),(x,z),(y,z),(x,y,z)}. In other words, "x, y, and / or z" means "one or more of x, y, and z."

[0016] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates generally to tire repair kits, and more particularly to devices for dispensing tire sealant from a container with a compressed air source.

[0017] This is a self-contained kit for repairing and inflating tires, which includes a small compressor and a container for sealing liquid, and which can be easily stored in a special compartment or in the trunk of a car.

[0018] Devices configured specifically as compressors are suitable for a variety of inflation requirements and are particularly useful as discharge / inflation devices for portable or emergency vehicles, powered and / or controlled via the vehicle's data communication port (e.g., USB).

[0019] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, during inflation or deflation, the condition of the object being inflated, e.g., a vehicle tire, is monitored and / or determined via a data interface in the vehicle USB port. Communication between the compressor and the vehicle electronics system (e.g., RDC or ECU) can cause the compressor to shut off when the recommended tire pressure is reached.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, additional comfort features can be realized, for example, with the assistance of a vehicle entertainment system. For example, the remaining filling time can be calculated and displayed on the inflator screen and / or via the vehicle's user interface display. Alternatively, depending on the filling process, the collection system can predict whether the compressor can be used to repair the tire.

[0021] If necessary, assistance can be immediately requested from a third party. These and other advantages can be achieved by an apparatus for delivering air and / or sealant to a tire of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a pressure source; a dispenser outlet connected to the pressure source; a coupling element; and a control module associated with the coupling element and with the coupler and the pressure source. The coupling element, e.g., a data and / or power cable, is most preferably configured to connect to a vehicle data communication port (e.g., USB or equivalent) to obtain inflation information and / or power. The data communication element is most preferably a powered data communication port, allowing the control module to draw operating power for the dispensing device via the powered data communication port.

[0022] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control module obtains tire fill values ​​from a tire pressure monitoring system and / or other sensor systems such as vehicle load sensors.

[0023] The device can automatically operate (e.g., turn on) when it receives a low tire fill value from the tire pressure monitoring system and automatically stop inflation when it automatically determines adequate fill.

[0024] The present disclosure further includes a method of delivering air and / or sealant to a tire of a vehicle. The method includes connecting a tire filling or repair device to the tire, connecting the tire repair device to a data communication port on the vehicle, and providing power output to the tire repair device via the data communication port on the vehicle. The method can further include automatically monitoring and / or controlling tire pressure via data provided from the vehicle to the tire repair device via the data communication port.

[0025] According to a design variant of the present disclosure, the compressor of the tire repair kit can be connected to the vehicle's on-board power supply via a bit-serial data transmission system, in particular USB, if necessary, and can simultaneously communicate with the vehicle's controller. For this purpose, the controller required for communication is integrated into the USB plug. This allows the vehicle's on-board computer to automatically detect the connected compressor and its characteristics.

[0026] In particular, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for inflating or repairing an inflatable article or product, in particular a tire, preferably a vehicle tire, on demand, the apparatus comprising a compressor assembly having at least one compressor unit with a compressed air outlet, via which air compressed by the at least one compressor unit, in particular on demand, is supplied or can be supplied.

[0027] In particular, the compressor assembly is configured to be connected to an on-board vehicle data communication port to power and / or control the compressor assembly.

[0028] In this regard, the data communications port includes a powered data communications port and further includes a power source configured to connect to the powered data communications port and draw operating power from the powered data communications port.

[0029] Alternatively or additionally, a device according to the present disclosure may further comprise a connecting cable having a plug that mates with the data communication port.

[0030] In this connection, it is conceivable that a control device, in particular in the form of a microchip, is integrated into the plug, the control device being adapted to control the compressor assembly.

[0031] It is therefore generally envisaged that a control device, particularly in the form of a microchip, is associated with the compressor assembly and configured to control the compressor assembly. The control device may be a USB plug or a control device integrated into the compressor assembly.

[0032] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the apparatus further comprises a container for holding a sealing liquid, in particular a tire sealant, and, if necessary, a distribution system configured to fluidly connect the compressed air outlet of the at least one compressor unit to the compressed air inlet of the sealing liquid container.

[0033] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, it is still possible to control the battery voltage. In particular, it is conceivable that the control device can monitor the supply voltage of the vehicle battery in particular, or switch off or otherwise control the compressor if it appears that the battery is overstressed. Alternatively or additionally, a corresponding message can be output to the driver via the control device, whereby the driver is prompted, for example, to start the internal combustion engine to provide sufficient charging voltage.

[0034] Aspects of the present disclosure include changing end-user standards, intuitive operation of tire repair kits via communication devices, creating customer and end-user value, improving performance, reducing costs, improving technical capabilities, and enhancing performance. For example, by providing a 240W USB PD (Power Delivery) onboard power system with a maximum of 48V and 5A, new technical capabilities are created to drive and operate the compressor and tire repair kit. The HMI (Human Machine Interface) not only enables intuitive operation but also improves performance. Furthermore, the USB PD onboard power system provides the option of providing a demand-oriented power supply to the compressor. This significantly reduces the time required to fill a tire. The following describes how this reduction in filling time can be achieved.

[0035] Tire inflation is a dynamic process, and DC motors are designed for specific operating points, so compressors operate outside their technical capabilities in peripheral areas. At the start of inflation, the compressor has no or low back pressure, allowing for higher speeds and higher flow rates without consuming more energy. Higher speeds are achieved by intelligently controlling the compressor's supply voltage via the USB PD plug. At the start, the supply voltage is increased to achieve maximum speed and therefore maximum flow rate. As back pressure increases, tension is gradually reduced to obtain the best speed / torque ratio for reaching the desired tire pressure.

[0036] Human-machine interface / interaction:

[0037] To ensure intuitive handling of the tire repair kit, the USB PD port can also be used to communicate with the vehicle, offering a wide range of possibilities.

[0038] If required, the entire repair kit can be controlled via the HMI touch panel. Instructions for using the compressor / kit can be animated as a step-by-step process, and in some cases individual steps can be confirmed (and clicked) by the customer.

[0039] For example, pressure and temperature data from a vehicle's tires can be used to detect damage and direct the end user to the damaged tire via instructions. The pressure set point allows the compressor to set the required pressure without end user intervention.

[0040] During the test cycle, if tire damage occurs, the compressor could automatically determine the leak rate and notify the end user whether the damage can be repaired or whether roadside assistance should be called. If the damage can be repaired, the integrated kit could automatically begin injecting sealant.

[0041] In the case of manual operation, the individual steps that must be performed can also be displayed via the vehicle display or the compressor's integrated display.

[0042] Intelligent Control:

[0043] Based on the calculated air loss, the compressor can activate tire overfill via a specified target pressure to compensate for the pressure drop between compressor shutdown (to remove and store in the vehicle) and vehicle startup, thereby increasing the probability of repair since the tire pressure level then approximately corresponds to the target pressure at startup.

[0044] Based on information obtained from the vehicle (e.g., a stored target pressure), the compressor can use tire temperature information to adjust the correct temperature-compensated cold tire pressure. Thus, when refilling a warm tire, temperature compensation can ensure that the subsequent cold tire pressure is automatically set, eliminating the need for the user to perform subsequent tire pressure checks on the cold tire.

[0045] Furthermore, via the contact loop, the compressor can check the connection to the tire valve and / or check the compressor / sealant reservoir / tire valve to prevent unintentional compressor start-up.

[0046] The pressure reduction can also be triggered automatically by an electronically controlled release valve. This is advantageous, for example, when the defective tire has not yet been fully vented and existing residual tire pressure would interfere with the delivery of sealant to the tire. The compressor can then fully vent the tire before commencing the pumping operation, thereby preventing backpressure during sealant injection.

[0047] Customer benefit (OEM):

[0048] By using a USB PD-powered tire repair kit, OEMs only need to install an on-board power supply for the external device, saving costs by eliminating the 12V on-board power supply.

[0049] A tire repair kit with the above-mentioned options can contribute to improving safety by setting new standards in flat tire support, as the correct tire pressure is set and sealing means are only used if necessary, thereby adjusting the flat tire.

[0050] End-user benefits (passenger vehicle drivers):

[0051] For the end user, this means a total worry-free package: they receive the necessary information and instructions from the kit or vehicle display to properly repair a flat tire and feel at ease while doing so.

[0052] A tire pressure can be preset by the user via the HMI, which then becomes a stop signal to the compressor, at which point the compressor automatically turns off.

[0053] Repeated stops can be provided in the refill process: when hot compressed air enters the cold tire and cools there, the tire pressure already reached drops below the target value. The compressor can then go through several more short filling cycles to compensate for this pressure drop by sequential redirection.

[0054] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus, in particular for inflating or repairing an inflatable article or product, in particular a tire, preferably a vehicle tire, on demand, the apparatus comprising a compressor assembly having at least one compressor unit with a compressed air outlet, via which air compressed by the at least one compressor unit, in particular on demand, is supplied or can be supplied.

[0055] The compressor assembly is configured to be connected to an in-vehicle USB port via a connection cable having a USB PD plug for supplying power to the compressor assembly.

[0056] In other words, instead of a regular 12V connector (cigarette lighter), which is usually an SE J563 plug or a standard SAE J563 can, according to this aspect of the disclosure the compressor assembly, and in particular the electric drive of the compressor assembly, is powered via a USB cable (USB = Universal Serial Bus) and a corresponding on-board USB connection.

[0057] In particular, this is a USB PD plug and the corresponding in-car USB port.

[0058] USB PD is a specification for providing power to compatible end users via the live plug and leads of a USB cable. Regarding USB PD (Universal Serial Bus Power Delivery), there is a protocol that negotiates how much power an eMarker-equipped cable (integrated chip) can transmit over the cable. In this case, the onboard power supply provides available voltage and current values ​​to the consumer (here, the compressor assembly's driver). The consumer, specifically the control device, typically a microchip, integrated into the compressor assembly's USB PD plug selects a corresponding voltage and current combination, and thus a power profile, from the available voltages and currents provided by the onboard power supply and requests this profile from the onboard power supply and the onboard USB port, respectively.

[0059] The USB PD plug or corresponding in-vehicle USB port is preferably a plug or port according to USB PD Profile Version 3.1. USB PD Version 3.1 defines voltage levels of 28V, 36V, and 48V, each at 5A. At 48V and 5A, this corresponds to a calculated power output of 240W. Therefore, USB PD opens up new possibilities, particularly for powering compressor assemblies for portable devices (tire repair kits) for inflating or repairing vehicle tires as needed.

[0060] A further aspect of the present disclosure disclosed and claimed herein relates to a corresponding compressor assembly connectable to an onboard vehicle power source via a USB PD connection, with a particular focus here being on minimizing the required fill time, i.e., the amount of time the compressor assembly or the electric drive of the compressor assembly must be operating to refill a vehicle tire to a desired target pressure.

[0061] The problem with powering the compressor assembly via a USB connection is that according to the USB protocol, a control device (microchip) integrated into the on-board power supply or the on-board USB port and the compressor assembly, and / or in particular the USB PD plug of the compressor assembly, negotiates the voltage and current combination and therefore the power (profile) to be supplied by the on-board power supply of the compressor assembly.

[0062] However, the electric drive of the compressor assembly is typically an electric motor, which has a current consumption demand that is dependent on the torque generated by the electric motor, and in particular, when the electric motor is started, the current consumption demand is relatively high.

[0063] In this case, the USB protocol requires a constant voltage of, for example, 12 V, and increases the current (current intensity) provided by the on-board power supply over the operation period of the electric drive of the compressor assembly, which results in a relatively long charging time for the compressor assembly.

[0064] Therefore, in accordance with an embodiment of the device according to the present disclosure, a control device, particularly in the form of a microchip, is integrated into the USB PD plug of the compressor assembly, and is configured to communicate with the on-board USB port and / or on-board power supply, preferably via a corresponding USB protocol, and to establish the power profile (current and voltage values) provided by the on-board USB port or on-board power supply to the compressor assembly.

[0065] According to a design variant, and in particular in this connection, the control device, which is preferably integrated into the USB PD plug, is configured to query or request a power profile corresponding to a constant power over time from the vehicle USB port and / or the vehicle power supply, at least during or over the operation of the compressor assembly.

[0066] In particular, the control device integrated into the USB PD plug is preferably configured to continuously query or request from the vehicle USB port and / or the vehicle power source, at least during or over the operation of the compressor assembly, the maximum power that can be provided by the vehicle USB port and / or the vehicle power source, or a previously determined or determinable power that is optimal for the compressor assembly and / or for the desired filling time, in particular a power of at least 65 W, preferably at least 100 W, more preferably at least 140 W, and particularly preferably at least 240 W.

[0067] According to a preferred implementation of the present disclosure, the compressor assembly comprises an electric drive and a control device associated with the drive, the control device associated with the drive being configured to provide the compressor assembly drive with the current intensity required to operate the drive when the voltage is adjusted accordingly, starting from a time-constant power provided by the vehicle USB port and / or the vehicle power supply, continuously querying or requesting, at least during or over the operation period of the compressor assembly drive, the vehicle USB port and / or the vehicle power supply,

[0068] In this regard, in particular, the drive device has a current consumption demand that depends on the torque generated by the drive device. Preferably, a control device associated with the drive device is configured to continuously query or request the on-board USB port and / or on-board power source and, in response, provide a current to the drive device of the compressor assembly corresponding to the current consumption demand of the drive device while adjusting the voltage starting from the time-constant power provided by the on-board USB port and / or on-board power source.

[0069] The controller and / or step-down converter device associated with the drive device is preferably configured to provide current to the drive device corresponding to the current consumption demands of the drive device, while regulating the voltage, particularly based on pulse width modulation.

[0070] Preferably, the inductance of the buck converter is the motor's structural inductance (motor coil), so that the buck converter does not operate without a separate coil, thereby saving components.

[0071] Electronically controlled pulse width modulation allows the starting current spikes to be smoothed below the critical level of the power supply (safety stop), which in particular allows the compressor to be started against tire back pressure without additional mechanical starting assistance.

[0072] The present disclosure further relates to a method of operating a compressor assembly to minimize the fill time of an inflatable article or product, particularly a compressor assembly of an apparatus for inflating or repairing vehicle tires, particularly when the compressor assembly is connected to an on-board USB port via a connecting cable having a USB PD plug for supplying power to the compressor assembly.

[0073] In the method according to the present disclosure, the constant power provided is preferably continuously divided into a voltage value and a current value, the current value corresponding to the current value of the current corresponding to the current consumption demand of the drive device.

[0074] In the method, the current current consumption demand of the drive device can further be detected indirectly or directly. Preferably, the current current consumption demand of the drive device is determined at least indirectly via the inductance of the drive device. For example, the current consumption demand of the drive device can be determined at least indirectly via the inductance of the drive device in real time or near real time.

[0075] 1 shows a schematic characteristic map of an electric motor suitable as a drive for a compressor assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, where the X-axis (horizontal axis) plots the torque (torque) generated by the electric motor, and the Y-axis (vertical axis) specifically shows the current consumption demand (current (A)) of the electric motor.

[0076] In particular, in FIG. 2, it can be seen that there is a relative current consumption demand of the electric motor when the electric motor is "starting up."

[0077] Various refill scenarios, particularly for vehicle tires, are shown in Figure 2. The X-axis (horizontal axis) of Figure 2 shows the filling time, i.e. the time it takes to inflate the vehicle tire to a corresponding target pressure of, for example, 3.5 bar.

[0078] The right vertical axis shows the charging pressure (pressure) in millibars. The left vertical axis of the graph shown in Figure 2 plots the current consumption demand of the electric drive of the compressor assembly.

[0079] The black line shown in Figure 2 reflects a scenario in which the compressor assembly's electric drive is supplied with a constant 12V voltage throughout the operation of the electric assembly. The black dotted line in Figure 2 shows the corresponding current consumption demand of the electric drive operating at a constant 12V.

[0080] In operation of this electric drive, the filling time for filling a vehicle tire to a total target pressure of 3.5 bar amounts to approximately 200 seconds.

[0081] The characteristic curve shown in blue in FIG. 2 reflects a scenario in which the electric drive of the compressor assembly is driven according to the method of the present disclosure.

[0082] In this method, a maximum available power of, for example, 100 W is continuously requested from the on-board power supply. The (constant) power of 100 W provided by the on-board power supply is divided into a corresponding current value and a corresponding voltage value.

[0083] In particular, in the method according to the present disclosure, a voltage is supplied depending on the current consumption demand of the electric drive, and it is found that at any given time, the product of the current consumption value and the voltage value corresponds to a constant power of 100 W provided by the on-board power supply.

[0084] In particular, it can be seen that the method according to the present disclosure allows the filling time to be significantly reduced, in particular here to a value of about 110 seconds, for example to achieve a target pressure of 3.5 bar in an inflated or refilled vehicle tire.

[0085] Although the present method and / or system has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present method and / or system. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, blocks and / or components of the disclosed examples may be combined, divided, rearranged, and / or otherwise modified. Therefore, the present method and / or system is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Instead, the present method and / or system includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims, both literally and under the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. 1. A device for inflating or repairing tires, comprising: a compressor assembly having at least one compressor unit with a compressed air outlet configured to output air compressed by the at least one compressor unit; The apparatus, wherein the compressor assembly is configured to be connected to an on-board vehicle data communication port to power and / or control the compressor assembly.

2. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the data communication port comprises a powered data communication port, and further comprising: a power source configured to connect to the powered data communication port and draw operating power from the powered data communication port.

3. 10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a connecting cable having a plug that mates with the data communication port.

4. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the compressor assembly is configured to communicate with a human machine interface (HMI) device via the plug to enable a user to communicate with the compressor assembly or a computer program for the compressor assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a control device is integrated into the plug, the control device being configured to control the compressor assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a controller is associated with the compressor assembly and configured to control the compressor assembly, the controller being an integrated controller of the compressor assembly.

7. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to execute a test cycle in which, if tire damage occurs, the compressor assembly automatically determines a leak rate and notifies a user whether the tire damage can be repaired or whether roadside assistance should be called, and the control device is particularly configured to automatically initiate injection of sealant when it is determined during the test cycle that the tire damage can be repaired.

8. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to operate the compressor assembly to overfill the tire at a specified target pressure based specifically on calculated air loss to compensate for pressure drop between shutting down the compressor assembly and starting the vehicle.

9. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to use temperature information from a tire based on information obtained from the vehicle, in particular information regarding a stored target pressure, to operate the compressor assembly so that the correct temperature compensated cold tire pressure is automatically set.

10. 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to check the fluid connection to or between the compressor assembly, the sealant reservoir and the tire valve via a contact loop, and in particular to prevent unintentional start-up of the compressor assembly.

11. 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to depressurize the tire, in particular automatically, via an electronically controlled release valve, and the control device is configured to completely vent the tire before starting the pumping operation, in particular to prevent back pressure of the sealant injection.

12. The device comprises: a container for holding a sealing liquid, in particular a tire sealant; a distribution system configured to fluidly connect the compressed air outlet of the at least one compressor unit to a compressed air inlet of an inflatable article or product, in particular a tire, or to the sealing liquid container as required; The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

13. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressor assembly is configured to be connected to an on-board USB port via a connection cable having a USB PD plug for supplying power to the compressor assembly.

14. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a controller is integrated into the USB PD plug and configured to communicate with the vehicle USB port or vehicle power source and to establish a power profile provided by the vehicle USB port or vehicle power source to the compressor assembly.

15. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to query or request a power profile from the vehicle USB port or the vehicle power source corresponding to constant power over time, at least during or over the duration of operation of the compressor assembly.

16. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to continuously query or request from the vehicle USB port or the vehicle power source the maximum power that can be provided by the vehicle USB port or the vehicle power source at least during or for the duration of operation of the compressor assembly.

17. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to continuously query or request at least 65 W of power from the vehicle USB port or the vehicle power source at least during or for the duration of operation of the compressor assembly.

18. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the compressor assembly comprises an electric drive and a controller associated with the drive, the controller associated with the drive configured to provide the drive of the compressor assembly with a current strength required to operate the drive when the vehicle USB port or the onboard power source is continuously queried or requested, at least during or throughout the operation of the drive of the compressor assembly, and the voltage is adjusted accordingly starting from the time-constant power provided by the vehicle USB port or the onboard power source.

19. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drive device has a current consumption demand that depends on a torque generated by the drive device, and the control device associated with the drive device is configured to continuously query or request the vehicle USB port or the vehicle power source and provide the drive device with a current that corresponds to the current consumption demand of the drive device while adjusting the voltage accordingly, starting from the time-constant power provided by the vehicle USB port or the vehicle power source.

20. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the control device associated with the drive device comprises a step-down converter device configured to continuously query or request the vehicle USB port or the vehicle power source and provide a current to the drive device corresponding to the current consumption demand of the drive device while adjusting the voltage accordingly starting from the time-constant power provided by the vehicle USB port or the vehicle power source.

21. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the control device or the step-down converter device associated with the drive device is configured to provide the drive device with a current corresponding to the current consumption demand of the drive device while regulating the voltage, particularly based on pulse width modulation.

22. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller associated with the drive device is configured to provide a current corresponding to the current consumption demand of the drive device, taking into account a current consumption demand of the drive device.

23. The device of claim 3 , wherein the plug is a USB plug or a USB PD plug.

24. The device of claim 4 , wherein the HMI device is an in-vehicle dashboard.

25. 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the controller is integrated into the USB PD plug.

26. 10. A method of operating a compressor assembly of an apparatus for inflating or repairing an inflatable article or product as needed, in particular an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising: The compressor assembly comprises an electric drive and a control device associated with the drive, and the compressor assembly is provided with a constant power over time, and the method comprises the following method steps: dividing the constant power provided continuously into a voltage value and a current value, the current value corresponding to a current value corresponding to the current consumption demand of the drive device; A method comprising:

27. The method comprises the following method steps: determining, directly or indirectly, the current current consumption demand of the drive device; 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

28. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the current consumption demand of the drive device is determined in real time or near real time at least indirectly via an inductance of the drive device.

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