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US 11,130,370 B2Granted
Fuel efficiency system for a vehicle
AssigneePACCAR Inc
InventorRichard Bryan Wood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Vehicle systems and components are set forth, which aim to reduce rolling friction caused in part by the contact between the vehicle's tires and the ground surface over which the vehicle is traversing. These systems and/or components thereof may increase the overall fuel efficiency of a vehicle. In the examples provided, the systems and/or components change the tread contact patch of one or more tires during movement of the vehicle.
Claims20
A method for increasing the efficiency of a vehicle having at least one wheel in contact with a ground surface, the wheel including a tubeless tire mounted to a rim and forming an inner cavity, the tubeless tire having sidewalls that extend outwardly from the rim to shoulders that are interconnected via a tread at a crown area of the tubeless tire, the method comprising:
- sensing at least one vehicle operational parameter selected from a group comprising of vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, vehicle deceleration, vehicle yaw, and vehicle roll;
- and
- adjusting the tread of the tubeless tire from a first contact patch having a first width contacting the ground surface to a second contact patch spaced inwardly from the first contact patch having a second width contacting the ground surface based on the sensed vehicle operational parameter, the adjusting the tread of the tubeless tire including:
- adjusting a volume of a sealed cavity defined by a first plate sealing a first end of a bellows, a second plate sealing a second end of the bellows, and the bellows being distinct from the first plate and the second plate of an actuator within the inner cavity of the tubeless tire, the adjusting the volume of the sealed cavity of the actuator including:
- applying a first force through the first plate to an inner surface of the tubeless tire by inflating the bellows with a gas pushing the gas against a first plate, and applying a second force to the rim by the second plate to the rim by inflating the bellows with the gas pushing the gas against the second plate.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- sensing at least one vehicle operational parameter selected from a group comprising of vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, vehicle deceleration, vehicle yaw, and vehicle roll;
- adjusting a ground contact surface of a tubeless tire from a first width to a second width based on the at least one vehicle operational parameter, adjusting the ground contact surface including:
- adjusting a pressure in a sealed cavity of an actuator defined by a first plate, a second plate, and a bellows distinct from the first plate and the second plate of the actuator positioned within an interior cavity of the tubeless tire, adjusting the pressure by utilizing a valve in fluid communication with the sealed cavity of the actuator, the second width being different from the first width, the adjusting the pressure in the sealed cavity of the actuator including:
- applying a first force to a rim on which the tubeless tire is mounted through a first plate of the actuator physically contacting the rim by introducing a gas into the sealed cavity through the valve such that the first plate applies the first force to the rim in a first direction;
- and
- applying a second force to an inner surface of the tubeless tire through a second plate of the actuator physically contacting the inner surface of the tubeless tire by introducing the gas into the sealed cavity through the valve moving the second plate in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- adjusting a ground contact surface of a tubeless tire from a first width to a second width based on at least one vehicle operation parameter, and adjusting profiles of shoulders of the tubeless tire based on the at least one vehicle operation parameter, the adjusting the ground contact surface and the adjusting the profiles of the shoulders including:
- adjusting a pressure in a sealed cavity of a bellows within an inner cavity of the tubeless tire, the adjusting the pressure in the sealed cavity including:
- applying a first force to a rim on which the tubeless tire is mounted by a first plate distinct from the bellows and coupled to a first end of the bellows by inflating the bellows with a gas pushing the gas against the first plate, the first plate sealing a first end of the bellows and physically contacting the rim;
- and
- applying a second force to an inside surface of the tubeless tire through a second plate distinct from the bellows by inflating the bellows with the gas pushing the gas against the second plate, the second plate sealing a second end of the bellows and physically contacting the inner surface of the tubeless tire.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.