Pump Water Management for Tire Inflation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In tire inflation applications, there is a need to prevent incompressible liquids from being pumped into the tire, as liquid contamination is common due to the use of water-laden ambient air, and existing systems are inadequate in managing water and solid particulates within the gaseous stream.
Innovation Solution
A contaminant extraction mechanism that includes a housing with an inlet and outlets, a selection mechanism, and a sealing member that selectively opens to expel contaminants, allowing water and solid particulates to be removed from the gaseous stream and vented to the ambient environment, or collected in a reservoir, while maintaining the passage of gas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If water-laden ambient air is used as the fluid source for tire inflation, then the pump can operate with ambient air, but liquid contamination enters the tire
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes liquid contaminants (water and solid particulates) from the gaseous stream using a separation mechanism that divides the fluid stream into gas and liquid/solid components, allowing only gas to pass through to the tire while expelling liquids separately
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary separation mechanism and extraction system between the pump outlet and the tire that acts as a mediator to filter out liquid contaminants while allowing gas to pass through, preventing liquid contamination without blocking the inflation process
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a separation mechanism is added to remove contaminants, then liquid contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the separation mechanism and extraction system to perform multiple functions simultaneously: separating gas from liquid/solid components, preventing contamination of the tire, and maintaining efficient gas flow, thereby reducing the need for additional separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction mechanism is designed to automatically expel liquid contaminants without requiring external intervention or complex control systems, with the separation and expulsion processes occurring passively or through simple active mechanisms already integrated into the pump system
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
Effectively removes contaminants from the gaseous stream, preventing liquid contamination in tire inflation systems and ensuring efficient gas flow by utilizing a passive or actively driven system that adjusts thermal and flow properties of the stream.
Implementation Method 1
A pump with water management. The pump includes a drive mechanism including an arcuate bearing surface and an eccentric mass, a pump mechanism including a pump chamber and an actuating element, and a force translator coupling the arcuate bearing surface to the actuating element
Implementation Method 2
a pump mechanism including a pump chamber and an actuating element, and a force translator coupling the arcuate bearing surface to the actuating element
Data Source
AI summary
A pumping system configured to pump fluid from the ambient environment to a target reservoir, the pumping system including: a fluid pump configured to statically mount to a rotating surface, the pump configured to rotate about an axis of rotation; a pump reservoir statically coupled to the fluid pump and configured to fluidly couple to the target reservoir, the pump reservoir including a collection area defined along a portion of the pump reservoir radially outward of the axis of rotation; and a liquid separation member arranged along a portion of the collection area, the liquid separation member including a membrane configured to preferentially permit liquid flow therethrough.