Air Maintenance Tire Peristaltic Pumping Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tires naturally lose air pressure over time, leading to reduced fuel economy, tire life, and vehicle performance, and existing Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems require driver intervention for re-inflation.
Innovation Solution
An air maintenance tire assembly with a peristaltic pump system and valve housing that maintains air pressure by using a deformable tube within the tire sidewall to pump air into the tire cavity, featuring a check valve and relief valve to control air flow and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a Tire Pressure Monitoring System is used to warn drivers of low tire pressure, then drivers can be alerted to re-inflate tires, but driver intervention is still required and tire pressure is not automatically maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The tire assembly serves itself by incorporating an air pumping means that automatically detects and compensates for pressure loss. The system monitors its own pressure status and autonomously replenishes air without external intervention, making the tire self-maintaining rather than merely self-monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by continuously maintaining pressure within the normal range through automatic inflation. Rather than waiting for pressure to drop below thresholds and then alerting the driver, the air pumping means proactively prevents pressure loss by automatically adding air when pressure decreases.
2Extent of automation
If air pumping means is incorporated to automatically maintain tire pressure, then driver intervention is eliminated, but device complexity increases with additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The air pumping means is integrated with the existing valve stem assembly, combining the function of pressure monitoring and automatic inflation into a single unified component. This merging approach automates pressure maintenance while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by utilizing the valve stem's existing structure and passageways.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve stem assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as both the pressure monitoring point and the delivery mechanism for the air pumping means. The internal passageway of the valve stem is utilized for both normal inflation operations and the automatic pressure maintenance function, reducing the need for separate dedicated components.
3Productivity
If a deformable tube is used within the tire sidewall for air pumping, then air can be pumped into the tire cavity during rotation, but the tube undergoes repeated bending and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is designed to be flexible and dynamically adapt to the bending and deformation that occurs during tire rotation. Rather than being a rigid structure, the tube flexes with the tire's movement, allowing it to function effectively in the dynamic environment of a rotating tire while maintaining its structural integrity through repeated deformation cycles.
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 automatically maintains tire pressure without driver intervention, enhancing fuel efficiency, tire longevity, and vehicle handling by continuously pumping air into the tire cavity as it rotates.
Implementation Method 1
The groove deforms segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the first sidewall bending region within the rolling tire footprint
Implementation Method 2
The valve housing includes a check valve for maintaining air pressure in the tire cavity at the preset pressure level
Data Source
AI summary
An air maintenance tire assembly includes a tire having a tire cavity bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region, an air pump for generating pressurized air for maintaining air pressure within the tire cavity at a preset pressure level, and a valve housing disposed adjacent an outward end of the valve stem and operative to selectively open and close pressurized air flow from the valve stem internal passageway into the tire cavity. The first sidewall has at least one bending region operatively bending within a rolling tire footprint and a sidewall groove defined by groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall. The groove deforms segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the first sidewall bending region within the rolling tire footprint.