Air Maintenance Tire With Pump Passageway and Filter Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tires naturally lose air pressure over time, leading to reduced fuel economy, tire life, and vehicle handling performance, and existing Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems require driver intervention for re-inflation.
Innovation Solution
A tire design incorporating a pump passageway and valve assembly that maintains air pressure through a filter assembly, where the filter is secured to the tire and connected to the valve via a tube made of rubber with a Shore D hardness greater than 40, allowing for automatic air flow and pressure regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter assembly is mounted in the tire to filter outside air before entering the system, then air quality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is nested within a pocket formed in the tire structure itself, integrating the filtration system into the existing tire anatomy rather than adding external components. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining air filtering functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter assembly acts as an intermediary component between the outside environment and the tire air system, filtering air before it enters the tire through the pump passageway. This mediator approach improves air quality without requiring complex external filtration systems.
2Strength
If the tube connecting filter outlet to valve inlet is made of rubber with Shore D hardness greater than 40, then the tube strength is improved, but the ease of assembly worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber composition parameters are specifically controlled with Shore D hardness greater than 40, optimizing the balance between strength and assembly ease. This parameter specification ensures the tube is strong enough to withstand tire pressures while remaining sufficiently flexible for assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The tube is made of a composite rubber composition that combines strength and flexibility properties. This composite material approach allows the tube to meet both strength requirements and assembly ease requirements simultaneously.
3Extent of automation
If the pump passageway is positioned within a bending region of the tire to open and close as the tire rotates, then the automation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump passageway is positioned within a bending region of the tire, utilizing the dynamic deformation of the tire during rotation to automatically open and close the passageway. This dynamic approach enables automated air pumping without additional mechanical components, reducing device complexity while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tire's own bending motion during rotation serves to operate the pump passageway, eliminating the need for external actuators or control mechanisms. The system uses the tire's natural deformation to automate the air pumping process.
4Ease of manufacture
If the pocket area is made larger than the filter housing area, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the volume of the tire structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tire structure is segmented to create a dedicated pocket region for the filter assembly, allowing the pocket to be larger than the filter housing for easier assembly. This segmentation isolates the filtration system within a specific volume without significantly increasing the overall tire volume.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system maintains optimal tire pressure without driver intervention, enhancing fuel efficiency, tire longevity, and vehicle performance by automatically compensating for air pressure loss.
Implementation Method 1
a filter assembly mounted in the pocket, said filter assembly being in air flow communication with the valve assembly
Implementation Method 2
a tube connects the filter outlet assembly to the inlet of the valve assembly; wherein the tube is made of a rubber composition having a shore D hardness greater than 40
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a tire (12) having a tread portion (38), a pair of sidewalls (32) extending radially inward from the tread portion (38) to join with a respective bead (34) and a supporting carcass for the tread portion (38) and the sidewalls (32). The tire (12) further comprises a pump passageway (42) positioned within a bending region of the tire (12), the pump passageway (42) being operative to open and close as the tire (12) rotates; a valve assembly (200) in fluid communication with the pump passageway (42); a pocket (400) formed in the tire (12); and a filter assembly (300) mounted in the pocket (300), said filter assembly (300) being in air flow communication with the valve assembly (200). The valve assembly (200) has an inlet (202), the filter assembly (300) has an outlet, and a tube connects the filter outlet to the inlet (202) of the valve assembly (200). The tube is made of a rubber composition having a shore D hardness greater than 40 as measured by ASTM-D2240.