Self-Inflating Tire Peristaltic Pump Groove Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Normal air diffusion leads to reduced tire pressure over time, requiring frequent driver intervention to maintain optimal tire pressure, which affects fuel economy, tire life, and vehicle handling performance.
Innovation Solution
A self-inflating tire system featuring an annular air tube-receiving groove within the tire carcass with a U-shaped configuration and a passageway extending from the groove to the tire cavity, utilizing a peristaltic pump assembly that includes an annular air tube, inlet, and outlet devices to automatically maintain tire pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a Tire Pressure Monitoring System is used to warn drivers, then tire pressure can be monitored, but driver intervention is still required to re-inflate tires
Solution Approach 1:
The tire system incorporates a self-inflating mechanism with a peristaltic pump assembly that automatically detects and compensates for pressure losses without driver intervention. The pump assembly includes an air tube receiving groove, expansion chamber, and passageway system that enables autonomous air intake and delivery to maintain optimal tire pressure.
2Productivity
If tire pressure is not maintained, then fuel economy and tire life are reduced, but continuous monitoring and manual intervention are required
Solution Approach 1:
The peristaltic pump assembly operates continuously or periodically to maintain tire pressure, ensuring optimal fuel economy and tire life without interruption. The system includes an air tube that extends through the tire cavity and a passageway system that enables continuous air delivery to compensate for gradual pressure losses over time.
3Extent of automation
If a self-inflating mechanism is incorporated, then driver intervention is eliminated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peristaltic pump assembly is nested within the tire structure, with the air tube receiving groove, expansion chamber, and passageway system integrated into the tire wall. The air tube is positioned within the tire cavity, and the outlet device is embedded in the tire structure, creating a compact self-contained system that minimizes additional complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the passageway extends through the tire carcass wall, then air delivery is enabled, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The passageway is positioned at a specific location in the tire carcass wall where structural requirements are optimized. The outlet device is positioned within the groove, and the passageway terminates at a controlled distance from the tire cavity, maintaining localized air delivery capability while preserving the overall structural integrity of the tire carcass wall.
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 effectively maintains tire pressure without driver intervention, enhancing fuel efficiency, tire longevity, and vehicle handling by automatically compensating for pressure losses over time.
Implementation Method 1
a self-inflating tire system featuring an annular air tube-receiving groove within the tire carcass with a U-shaped configuration and a passageway extending from the groove to the tire cavity, utilizing a peristaltic pump assembly that includes an annular air tube, inlet, and outlet devices to automatically maintain tire pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A tire for a self-inflating tire system includes an annular air tube-receiving groove formed within a tire carcass wall at a prescribed radial location. The groove has an access opening, a primary internal groove chamber dimensioned and profiled for close receipt of an annular air-pump tube. A secondary expansion chamber of the groove communicates with the internal groove chamber for operationally receiving a flattened air-pump tube extended portion during tire operation. A passageway is located at a prescribed outlet location along the annular air tube-receiving groove, the passageway extending from the groove to an axially inward terminal end within the tire carcass wall separated from a tire inner liner by a removable wall partition of reduced sectional thickness.