US 10,471,783 B2Granted

Regulator and method of regulating the pressure level of a motor vehicle tire

OwnerTommy A. Worth, Michael Henryinventors

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Abstract

A vehicle-tire pressure-level regulator has a pressure vent cooperable with an actuator for pressure release and a pump for pressure recovery. The actuator and the pump motor are respectively electronically controlled to adjust the tire pressure in relation to high and low thresholds above and below a desired operating pressure throughout a race. The pressure vent does not operate if an accelerometer detects that the tire is distorted because the vehicle is turning. If the vehicle is not turning and the high pressure threshold is reached, the vent is opened. If the low pressure threshold is reached the pump is activated until the tire is restored to the desired operating pressure. Operation of the vent may be controlled to provide different rates of outlet flow as real-time pressure may require. Operation of the vent may be prevented if a transient pressure spike occurs.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A regulator for controlling a pressure-level of a vehicle-tire, the regulator comprising:

an accelerometer detecting a status of vehicle-turning forces on the tire;
a normally-closed pressure vent disposed in a discrete pneumatic path between the tire and atmospheric air;
a sensor detecting a real-time pressure level of the tire;
a signal representative of a high threshold pressure level of the tire;
a controller adapted to cause said normally-closed pressure vent:
to remain closed during a detected said presence of vehicle-turning forces on the tire;
and
to be open during a simultaneous occurrence of both a detected said real-time pressure level of the tire being higher than said high threshold pressure level of the tire and a lack of a detected said presence of vehicle-turning forces on the tire;
said normally-closed pressure vent comprising a two-position valve, a first of said two positions providing a first predetermined rate of outlet flow and a second of said two positions providing a second predetermined rate of outlet flow greater than said first predetermined rate of flow;
the regulator further comprising another signal representative of a higher threshold pressure level of the tire than said high threshold pressure level of the tire;
and
said controller being further adapted to cause said normally-closed pressure vent to be open in said second position during a simultaneous occurrence of both a detected said real-time pressure level of the tire being higher than said higher threshold pressure level of the tire and said lack of a detected said presence of vehicle-turning forces on the tire.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/626,408Filed 19 Jun 2017 · continuation in part
Priority: 9 Dec 2016
Published: US 2018/0339560 A129 Nov 2018
Granted: 12 Nov 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B60C 23/00372
Comprising rotational joints between vehicle-mounted pressure sources and the tyres: characterised by fluid diagrams
B60C 23/00354
Comprising rotational joints between vehicle-mounted pressure sources and the tyres: details of valves
B60C 23/10
Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles;…:…
B60C
Vehicle tyres