Snap-in Inlet for Air Maintenance Tire Sidewall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air maintenance systems for tires require large and difficult-to-access inlet and outlet devices that cause structural disruption in the sidewall and are challenging to repair, as they are not easily affixed to the pump air tube, leading to inefficiencies in maintaining tire pressure without driver intervention.
Innovation Solution
A peristaltic pump assembly with a snap-in inlet attachment system, featuring a T-shaped inlet portal and tubular conduits with snap-in ribs, which connect quickly and easily to sockets on the inlet housing, allowing air to be routed through a flexible air tube within the sidewall groove to maintain tire pressure with minimal structural disruption and ease of repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large inlet and outlet devices are used in air maintenance systems, then tire pressure maintenance function is achieved, but structural disruption in sidewall increases and accessibility for repair decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet and outlet devices are divided into separate, modular components that can be independently accessed and repaired. The inlet conduit and outlet conduit are distinct elements that can be serviced separately without disrupting the entire tire structure, enabling easier maintenance while maintaining reliable pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet and outlet devices are extracted from the traditional embedded positioning and repositioned to be more accessible. The conduits are routed through the bead region and sidewall in a manner that allows external access to connection points, enabling repair personnel to service the components without cutting into or significantly disrupting the tire sidewall structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If inlet and outlet devices are embedded in tire sidewall, then structural integrity is maintained, but accessibility for repair and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet and outlet conduits are positioned in the bead region and routed along the sidewall in a manner that creates external access points. Rather than embedding devices deep within the sidewall cross-section, the system uses the longitudinal dimension of the tire, allowing maintenance personnel to access connection points at the bead area while the conduits traverse the sidewall internally, thus preserving sidewall integrity while enabling maintenance.
3Productivity
If traditional inlet and outlet devices are used, then air flow function is achieved, but device complexity and difficulty of attachment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air delivery system is segmented into distinct functional modules: inlet conduit, outlet conduit, and connection fittings. Each component has a simplified geometry optimized for its specific function, reducing manufacturing complexity. The modular design allows for easier assembly and attachment compared to integrated traditional devices.
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 solution enables efficient and automatic maintenance of tire pressure with reduced structural impact and improved accessibility for repair, ensuring consistent tire performance without requiring driver intervention.
Implementation Method 1
an elongate sidewall air passageway incorporated within a first tire sidewall, operatively located to compress segment by segment from an expanded diameter to a substantially reduced diameter responsive to a bending strain introduced into the first sidewall from a rolling tire footprint; whereby forcing air segment by segment along the sidewall air passageway
Data Source
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AI summary
A pneumatic tire having a tire cavity (28) defined by an inner liner (26), an air inlet housing (92) affixed to the inner liner (26) and a first sidewall (16) having an elongate sidewall air passageway (32) therein is disclosed. An elongate tubular inlet conduit (66) extends between the sidewall air passageway (32) and the inlet housing (92), the inlet conduit (66) having an internal air passageway (68) operative to route inlet air from within the inlet housing (92) to the sidewall air passageway (32). An air intake conduit (76) extends through the first sidewall (16) to the inner liner (26), the air intake conduit (76) being coupled to the air inlet housing (92) and operative to route air from outside the tire (12) through the first sidewall (16) and into the air inlet housing (92). In one option, the inlet conduit (66) and the air intake conduit (76) each engage into respective first and second elongate sockets formed by the inlet housing (92) whereby establishing respective air flow communication into the inlet housing (92), and the inlet conduit (66) and the intake conduit (76) and the first and second sockets, respectively, have mutually engaging latching detent means. In a second option, the inlet conduit (66) attaches to and detaches from the inlet housing (92) by close axial insertion into and axial withdrawal, respectively, from an elongate first socket formed by the inlet housing (92), and the air intake conduit (76) attaches and detaches to the inlet housing (92) by a close insertion into and an axial withdrawal from, respectively, an elongate second socket formed by the inlet housing (92). Also, a method of assembling an air maintenance inlet assembly into a tire (12) is disclosed. The tire (12) is preferably an air maintenance tire.