Tire pressure control system

Abstract

The invention relates to a tire pressure control system mounted on a vehicle, which enables the automatic inflation or deflation of each tire through a closed‐loop established on every tire for which pressure regulation is desired Specifically, the invention is characterized by comprising a first solenoid valve (30), which opens the line and inflates the tire (L) upon a signal from the electronic control unit (60) when there is a difference between the target pressure stored in the electronic control unit (60) and the pressure measured by the tire pressure sensor (50); and / or a second solenoid valve (70), which reduces pressure by venting air from the tire (L) upon a signal from the electronic control unit (60) when there is excess pressure.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TIRE PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEM

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The invention relates to a tire pressure control system that is mounted on a vehicle and automatically inflates or deflates each tire through a closed-loop established on every tire for which pressure control is desired.

[0005] Specifically, the invention relates to a tire pressure control system comprising a solenoid valve which is activated by a signal from the electronic control unit to open the line and inflate the tire in case of a detected pressure difference between the target pressure value stored in the electronic control unit and the pressure measured by the tire pressure sensor; and / or a second solenoid valve which is activated by a signal from the electronic control unit to vent air from the tire in case of excess pressure, thereby reducing the pressure.

[0006] STATE OF THE ART

[0007] Tire air pressure, in the simplest terms, refers to the level of air pressure inside the tires. Inflating the tires of a military vehicle in accordance with the recommended pressure values is one of the most essential aspects of tire maintenance. Properly inflated tires not only wear less but also contribute to driving safety. Low tire pressure directly impacts braking distance and may cause delayed steering response and deterioration in road handling. Additionally, low pressure in the tires may disturb the balance between the wheels, leading to uneven wear and tear at different points, ultimately shortening the tire lifespan and even causing blowouts while driving. Today, systems exist that measure and adjust tire pressures via pneumatic valves and are controlled using open-loop control system algorithms. In this current practice, a pilot pressure signal is sequentially transmitted to each tire valve via a manifold for pressure measurement. Then the returned pressure is read again at the manifold and the tire pressure is calculated. If inflation is needed, the relevant inflation line is activated via the manifold, and the tires are inflated. For deflation, the tire valve's exhaust is activated using a pilot pressure to reduce tire pressure. After measuring pressure through the manifold, the system attempts to calculate the time required to reach the target pressure and continues the inflation or deflation process accordingly.

[0008] In the existing method, tire pressures are estimated through pilot signals sent to pneumatic valves mounted on the wheels. Initially, each tire is measured sequentially. Once tire pressures are established, the tires are inflated via pneumatic tubes fed from a compressor through a central tire inflation system manifold. For deflation, air is released through the tire valve using a pilot signal.

[0009] However, the current system is not closed-loop. Instead, it begins by sending a pilot signal to the tire valves through the manifold to measure pressure and estimate inflation / deflation times. As a result, the system operates with a complex algorithm, making it prone to malfunctions due to unforeseen differences in the system. Additionally, in the current practice, measuring each tire's pressure one by one by sending pneumatic signals sequentially increases inflation and deflation times. Thus, the current design does not allow for an active tire inflation option. It also prolongs operational durations.

[0010] Moreover, the pressure signal is sent from the manifold to the tire valves for pressure measurement. Since there are pressure losses in the lines, differences arise between the actual pressure in the tires and the pressure measured at the manifold. The current wheel valves operate entirely pneumatically and mechanically, requiring highly sensitive design due to their functional roles. When grease is used in the tire complex for sealing punctures, rising temperatures cause the grease to become more fluid, potentially reaching the valves and causing failures.

[0011] Additionally, in the current technique, the wheel valves are mounted on the outer surface of the rim, exposing them to harsh environmental conditions. Furthermore, operating the system in water is risky. During amphibious mode or watercrossing operations where wheels contact the bottom, the system must be turned off by the user. If forgotten, it may lead to system failure.

[0012] As a result, addressing the presently defined problems in the state of the art and the inefficiency of current solutions necessitates the development of a new, economic, practical, and functional tire pressure control system in the relevant technical field.

[0013] OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

[0014] This invention relates to a tire pressure regulation and measuring system that automatically inflates or deflates the tires using a closed-loop control system, developed to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and bring new advantages to the related technical field.

[0015] The most important objective of the invention is to provide real-time monitoring of tire pressures. Tire pressures are continuously measured using integrated wireless electronic pressure sensors communicating via radio frequency. Thus, tire pressures are displayed in real-time, not based on previously measured values. Tire blowouts can be detected. Also, since pressure measurement is done continuously before inflation or deflation is required, time spent measuring each tire individually is reduced. Deflation duration is significantly shortened as exhaust on wheel valves is not required. Another key objective is to enhance vehicle braking performance. As deflation and inflation durations are shortened, active pressure control systems can be integrated. In emergency braking situations, this ensures higher braking and traction performance. Another objective of the invention is to prevent many of the faults observed in central tire inflation systems over time. Since wheel valves are not in use, they are not affected by the flowing grease caused by tire heating, thus preventing many long-term failures. Another objective is to allow simpler control of tire pressures. With its closed-loop capability, the system eliminates the need for complex algorithms, thereby simplifying tire pressure control. Additionally, unforeseen differences (e.g., higher back pressure, line lengths, different tire types, sealing technologies, etc.) may cause errors in the current system, leading to improper operation.

[0016] Another objective is to allow operation during amphibious or wet conditions without requiring the user to manually disable the system, as wheel valves are removed from the system. Also, since the wheel valves are not exposed to environmental conditions, the system is protected from external factors.

[0017] Another key objective is to obtain more accurate pressure readings by measuring tire pressure directly at the tire instead of the manifold. In the new system, the pressure sensor is mounted directly on the tire. In contrast, the previous design measured pressure through pilot signals read at the manifold, creating pressure loss and falsely high readings.

[0018] The structural and characteristic features of the invention, as well as all its advantages, will be understood more clearly through the drawings and the detailed description in reference to these drawings. Therefore, evaluations should be made by taking into account these figures and detailed explanations.

[0019] DRAWINGS TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE INVENTION

[0020] FIGURE 1: A schematic view of the tire pressure control system subject to the invention. REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0021] 10. Relay Valve

[0022] 20. Tank

[0023] 30. First Solenoid Valve

[0024] 40. One-Way Valve

[0025] 50. Pressure Sensor

[0026] 60. Control Unit

[0027] 70. Second Solenoid Valve

[0028] 80. Wheel Hub

[0029] L. Tire

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] This detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of the tire pressure control system solely to promote better understanding of the subject and without any limiting effect.

[0032] Figure 1 shows the tire pressure control system subject to the invention. The invention comprises a relay valve (10), tank (20), one-way valve (40), tire (L), wireless pressure sensor (50), control unit (60), and electronically operated first (30) and second (70) solenoid valves.

[0033] In the invention, the pressure sensor (50) inside the tire (L) continuously measures the air pressure. The pressure sensor (50) operates on battery power and does not require any wiring interface, making it easy to integrate into the vehicle. Additionally, the pressure sensor (50) communicates with the control unit (60) via known wireless communication protocols. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pressure sensor (50) communicates with the control unit (60) via radio frequency signal. While communicating, the pressure sensor (50) transmits the real-time measured pressure value to the control unit (60). Thus, the control unit (60) receives the tire pressure data in real-time via the pressure sensor (50) and can automatically adjust the tire (L) pressure to a predefined value. The control unit (60) operates electronically and contains the necessary pressure values and control algorithms. The first (30) and second (70) solenoid valves are controlled by the control unit (60), allowing one-way control of the airflow through them.

[0034] Based on the information from the pressure sensor (50), when the control unit (60) sends an inflation signal, the first solenoid valve (30) is opened, triggering the signal line of the relay valve (10). The relay valve (10) maintains pressurized air ready in the tank (20) and directs it directly to the tire (L). The one-way valve (40) allows the pressurized air to pass through a passage on the wheel hub (80) and into the tire (L), thus inflating it.

[0035] In the deflation case, the control unit (60) sends a signal to the second solenoid valve (70), causing the system to exhaust air, thereby lowering the pressure in the tire (L). During inflation in the invention, data is continuously collected from the radio frequency pressure sensor (50), and via closed-loop control, forwarded to the control unit (60). If a difference is detected between the recorded target pressure in the control unit (60) and the measured value, the first solenoid valve (30) keeps the line open and continues the inflation process. Once the desired pressure is reached, signal transmission is ceased. The required pressurized air is supplied by the pre-filled tank (20). In this invention, each tire has its own valve group, making it possible to inflate and deflate the tires individually. For example, if the vehicle has 8 tires, 8 sensors can be added to monitor each line independently.

[0036] The control unit (60) can store necessary pressure values and contain warnings for different road and load conditions and various speeds. Therefore, optimal driving efficiency and performance are maintained. Additionally, as an alternative, the driver can manually increase or decrease the pressure of the tires (L). The scope of protection of this application is defined in the claims section and cannot be restricted to the examples illustrated above. It is evident that a person skilled in the art can implement the innovation using similar structures and / or apply it in other related fields using similar purpose variations. Therefore, such implementations will evidently lack novelty and particularly the criteria for overcoming the state of the art.

Claims

CLAIMS1- The invention relates to a tire pressure regulation and measuring system that automatically inflates or deflates the tire using a closed-loop control system, characterized by; comprising a first solenoid valve (30) which opens the line and inflates the tire (L) when a pressure difference is detected between the target pressure recorded in the control unit (60) and the pressure measured by the tire pressure sensor (50) and a signal is sent by the control unit (60); and / or a second solenoid valve (70) which deflates the tire (L) by venting air from it when excess pressure is detected and a signal is sent by the control unit (60).2- A tire pressure control system according to claim 1, characterized by; comprising an electronic control unit (60) that electronically controls the system and stores required pressures and system usage algorithms.3- A tire pressure control system according to claim 1, characterized by; comprising a tire pressure sensor (50) that continuously measures the air pressure of the tire (L) and communicates with the control unit (60) via radio frequency.4- A tire pressure control system according to claim 1, characterized by; comprising a relay valve (10) that keeps pressurized air ready and directs it directly to the tire (L).5- A tire pressure control system according to claim 1, characterized by; comprising a tank (20) that stores the pressurized air.6- A tire pressure control system according to claim 1, characterized by; comprising a one-way valve (40) that transmits the pressurized air through the passage on the wheel hub (80) to the tire (L).

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