Self contained tire inflator

An apparatus for inflating a tire, comprising:

• a rechargeable electric storage for providing electrical power;
• an air compressor comprising a piston;
• an DC motor mechanically coupled to the air compressor to provide operational force on the piston of the air compressor, the DC motor electrically coupled to the rechargeable electric storage to provide the electrical power to operate the DC motor;
• an air pressure sensor for sensing a measured air pressure;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled between the rechargeable electric storage and the DC motor to send the electrical power from the rechargeable electric storage to the DC motor and power the DC motor when the air pressure sensor indicates the measured air pressure is below a pressure threshold and wherein the controller reverses a polarity of the electrical power to the DC motor from the rechargeable electric storage to the DC motor to operate the air compressor in a reverse direction when the air pressure sensor indicates the measured air pressure is above a pressure threshold, thereby deflating the tire.

An apparatus for inflating a tire, comprising:

• a rechargeable electric storage for providing electrical power;
• an air compressor comprising a piston;
• an electric motor mechanically coupled to the air compressor to provide operational force on the piston of the air compressor, the electric motor electrically coupled to the rechargeable electric storage to provide the electrical power to operate the electric motor;
• an air valve operatively connected between the air compressor and an atmospheric opening in the tire;
• an air pressure sensor for sensing a measured air pressure;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to the pressure sensor and operatively coupled between the rechargeable electric storage and the electric motor to send the electrical power from the rechargeable electric storage to the electric motor and power the electric motor when the air pressure sensor indicates the measured air pressure is below a pressure threshold and wherein the controller activates the air valve to reverse air flow from the air compressor when the air pressure sensor indicates the measured air pressure is above a pressure threshold, thereby deflating the tire.

An apparatus for inflating a tubeless tire, comprising:

• a rechargeable electric storage for providing electrical power;
• an air compressor comprising a piston;
• an electric motor mechanically coupled to the air compressor to provide operational force on the piston of the air compressor, the electric motor electrically coupled to the rechargeable electric storage to provide the electrical power to operate the electric motor;
• an air pressure sensor for sensing a measured air pressure;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled between the rechargeable electric storage and the electric motor to send the electrical power from the rechargeable electric storage to the electric motor and power the electric motor when the air pressure sensor indicates the measured air pressure is below a pressure threshold;
• wherein the apparatus further comprises a box for housing within the box at least the rechargeable electric storage, the electric motor, the air compressor, the air pressure sensor and the controller and wherein the box is disposed within a pressure cavity of the tubeless tire for inflating the tubeless tire, wherein the box is mounted using a shrink wrap on an outer circumference of an inside surface on a rim of the tubeless tire within the pressure cavity of the tubeless tire;
• and
• at least one counterweight mounted on the outer circumference of the inside surface on the rim of the tubeless tire of a weight and a location in balance with the box.

A tire inflation system for an associated vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of wheels, each wheel comprising a rim and a tubeless tire mounted on an outer circumference of the rim to form a pressure cavity between the tubeless tire and the rim;
• wherein each of the plurality of wheels further comprises:
• an air compressor comprising a piston, the air compressor mounted at the outer circumference of the rim inside the tubeless tire between the tubeless tire and the outer circumference of the rim to pump air with the piston into the pressure cavity between the tubeless tire and the rim;
• an electric motor mechanically coupled to the air compressor to provide operational force on the piston of the air compressor, the electric motor also mounted at the outer circumference of the rim inside the tubeless tire between the tubeless tire and the outer circumference of the rim;
• an electrical storage mounted at the outer circumference of the rim inside the tubeless tire between the tubeless tire and the outer circumference of the rim and electrically coupled to the electric motor to provide electrical power to operate the electric motor;
• a vent through the rim operatively coupled to communicate atmospheric air with the air compressor between atmospheric pressure outside of the wheel and the pressure cavity between the tubeless tire and the rim;
• an air pressure sensor mounted to the rim to sense inside the pressure cavity;
• a wireless radio and antenna;
• and
• a tire controller mounted at the outer circumference of the rim inside the pressure cavity of the tubeless tire and operatively coupled to the electrical storage and the air pressure sensor and the electric motor to control delivery of the electrical power from the electrical storage to the electric motor and operate the air compressor;
• and
• a central module comprising a central wireless radio wirelessly coupled to the wireless radio and antenna associated with each of the plurality of wheels, wherein the central module comprises a central controller for receiving via the wireless radio and antenna of each tire controller associated with each of the plurality of wheels acceleration data and a tire ID and storing in memory to compare with past acceleration data of each tire ID and self-learn a determination of where tires have moved to a new location on the associated vehicle.