Onboard Tire Inflation System with Bidirectional Compressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural vehicles face challenges in rapidly adjusting tire air pressure from a low field-ready pressure to a high road-ready pressure due to the time-consuming process of inflation and deflation, which affects soil compaction and transportation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A wheel and tire assembly with an integrated inflation system featuring a compressor arrangement that transfers air between a storage chamber and an inflation chamber, allowing for rapid pressure changes without adding or discharging air from the system, using a bidirectional compressor and valve to increase or decrease pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If tire air pressure is reduced for field operation, then soil compaction is reduced and field productivity is improved, but tire pressure is insufficient for efficient road travel
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts tire pressure between two states: low pressure for field operation to reduce soil compaction, and high pressure for road travel to improve efficiency. The compressor arrangement allows the tire to transition between these pressure states as needed.
2Speed
If tire air pressure is increased for road travel, then transportation speed and efficiency are improved, but soil compaction increases when operating in fields
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts tire pressure between two states: high pressure for road travel to improve transportation speed and efficiency, and low pressure for field operation to reduce soil compaction. The compressor arrangement enables rapid transitions between these pressure states.
3Stress or pressure
If conventional inflation methods are used to change tire pressure, then pressure adjustment is achieved, but the time required for inflation and deflation is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-charges a storage chamber to high pressure before it is needed. When rapid inflation is required, the compressor transfers this pre-compressed air from the storage chamber to the tire, eliminating the time-consuming process of compressing air from atmospheric pressure at the moment of inflation.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage chamber acts as an intermediary reservoir between the compressor and the tire. It stores pre-compressed air that can be rapidly transferred to the tire when needed, serving as a buffer that decouples the compression process from the inflation process.
4Loss of time
If a storage chamber with pre-compressed air is used, then rapid inflation is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage chamber serves multiple functions: it acts as a reservoir for pre-compressed air for rapid inflation, and it also serves as a deflation path by allowing air to be transferred back from the tire to the storage chamber. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the inflation and deflation functions into a single compressor arrangement that can transfer air bidirectionally between the storage chamber and the tire. This combining of functions reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate inflation and deflation systems.
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
Enables quick and efficient adjustment of tire pressure, reducing soil compaction in fields and improving transportation speed on roads, by maintaining a closed air storage system that can increase pressure without external air addition and decrease without discharge.
Implementation Method 1
A compressor arrangement communicated with both the storage chamber and the inflation chamber. The compressor arrangement is configured to transfer air between the storage chamber and the inflation chamber.
Data Source
AI summary
An onboard inflation system for a vehicle such as an agricultural vehicle is disclosed, including a tire mounted on a wheel to form a wheel and tire assembly. The tire includes a tread portion and a tire cavity including an inflation chamber adjacent the tread portion of the tire. A storage chamber is carried by at least one of the wheel and the tire. A compressor arrangement is communicated with both the storage chamber and the inflation chamber. The compressor arrangement is configured to transfer air between the storage chamber and the inflation chamber.