Self-Inflating Tire Regulator with Flexible Air Passageway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tires naturally lose air pressure over time, requiring frequent driver intervention to maintain recommended pressure, which affects fuel economy, tire life, and vehicle handling performance, and existing self-inflating tire solutions are not fully autonomous.
Innovation Solution
A self-inflating tire assembly with a regulator device and air passageway system that uses a flexible membrane to control air flow, connecting to an inlet filter assembly and pump passageway, allowing the tire to self-inflate by drawing in outside air when pressure falls below a threshold, mimicking a peristaltic pump mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a self-inflating mechanism is implemented, then driver intervention is eliminated and tire pressure is automatically maintained, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The tire assembly performs self-inflation through a regulator device that automatically detects tire pressure and opens the air passageway when pressure falls below the threshold, eliminating the need for external intervention or complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic pressure sensing and control systems with a purely mechanical regulator device that uses elastic deformation of the air passageway and pressure-driven opening/closing mechanisms to achieve automatic inflation
2Reliability
If continuous air intake is implemented to maintain pressure, then tire pressure stability is improved, but air consumption increases leading to energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator device operates periodically rather than continuously - the air passageway opens only when tire pressure drops below the threshold and closes when pressure is restored, minimizing unnecessary air intake and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator device incorporates a feedback mechanism where the elastic air passageway responds to tire pressure changes, automatically opening to intake air when pressure is low and closing when pressure is restored, thereby maintaining optimal pressure with minimal air consumption
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 pressure loss through continuous air intake and distribution.
Implementation Method 1
A pressure membrane is mounted in the interior chamber and positioned to open and close the outlet port mounted in the interior chamber, wherein the pressure membrane is in fluid communication with the tire cavity pressure
Implementation Method 2
an air passageway having an inlet end and an outlet end, the air passageway being composed of or established by a flexible material operative to open and close when the tire rotates... mimicking a peristaltic pump mechanism
Data Source
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AI summary
A self-inflating tire assembly comprising a tire (12) having a tire cavity (40), first and second sidewalls (15) extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region and an air passageway (43) having an inlet end and an outlet end is disclosed. The air passageway is composed of or established by a flexible material operative to open and close when the tire rotates. The inlet end is connected to an outlet port of a regulator device (300) and the outlet end is in fluid communication with the tire cavity (40). The regulator device (300) comprises a regulator body having an interior chamber (320). A pressure membrane (550) is mounted in the interior chamber and positioned to open and close the outlet port mounted in the interior chamber, wherein the pressure membrane is in fluid communication with the tire cavity (40). The body of the regulator device (300) is connected to a first flexible duct (400) having an internal passageway, wherein the first flexible duct has a first end connected to an inlet filter assembly (450), wherein the inlet filter assembly (450) is in fluid communication with outside air supply, and wherein a second end of the first flexible duct is connected to an opening of the interior chamber of the regulator device (300).