# US 12,000,522 B2 · Combined air system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,522 B2 - Document ID: US12000522B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/938,098 - Filed: 2022-10-05 - Published: 2024-04-11 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-10-05 - Assignees: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC - Inventors: Jonathan David Salerno - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000522B2 ## CPC - F16L 7/00: Supporting pipes or cables inside other pipes or sleeves, e.g. for enabling pipes or cables to be inserted or withdrawn from under roads or railways without interruption of traffic (sleeves for supporting pipes, cables or protective tubing, between relatively movable points F16L3/01) - B60C 23/003: {comprising rotational joints between vehicle-mounted pressure sources and the tyres} - B60G 17/0155: {pneumatic unit} - B60S 5/046: {using electrical or electronical means} - F16L 11/20: Double-walled hoses - B60C 29/064: {Hose connections for pneumatic tyres, e.g. to spare wheels} - F16L 41/03: comprising junction pieces for four or more pipe members - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An apparatus can include a first tube. The apparatus can include a manifold coupled to the first tube. The manifold can have an opening. The apparatus can include a second tube at least partially disposed in the first tube. The second tube can enter the first tube via the opening of the manifold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a first hose comprising a first hose front end and a first hose rear end, the first hose rear end to couple with a first fluid controller, the first fluid controller to provide a first gas to or receive the first gas from a first object coupled with the first hose via the first hose front end, the first gas having a first pressure; a manifold coupled with the first hose, the manifold comprising an opening; a second hose comprising a second hose front end and a second hose rear end, the second hose rear end to couple with a second fluid controller, the second fluid controller to provide a second gas to or receive the second gas from a second object coupled with the second hose via the second hose front end, the second gas having a second pressure, the second pressure greater than the first pressure, the second hose at least partially disposed in the first hose, the second hose to enter the first hose via the opening of the manifold, and the second hose front end disposed at the first hose front end and exposed at the first hose front end; and a support structure disposed in the first hose, the support structure defining an aperture to receive at least a portion of the second hose, the support structure to position the portion of the second hose at a desired position within the first hose. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: the first hose comprising an internal wall; and the support structure to fix the portion of the second hose at a radial position relative to the internal wall of the first hose. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: the first hose comprising an internal wall; and the support structure comprising a support body and a plurality of support members extending radially from the support body, the plurality of support members to position the support body at a position radially away from the internal wall of the first hose. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: a plurality of support structures disposed in the first hose, the plurality of support structures disposed intermittently between the opening and the first hose front end, the plurality of support structures include the support structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support structure positions the portion of the second hose centrally within the first hose. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support structure is disposed in the first hose proximate to the first hose front end to position the second hose front end centrally within the first hose front end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: the first hose to provide a first volume of gas at the first pressure; the second hose to provide a second volume of gas at the second pressure, the first volume of gas greater than the second volume of gas. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: the first hose comprising a first wall thickness; the second hose having a second wall thickness, the first wall thickness less than the second wall thickness, the second wall thickness to withstand a higher pressure than the first wall thickness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: the manifold disposed closer to the first hose rear end than the first hose front end, the manifold in line with the first hose. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: the first hose comprising a front portion and a rear portion; and the manifold comprising a first manifold end and a second manifold end, the first manifold end coupled with the front portion of the first hose and the second manifold end coupled with the rear portion of the first hose. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: the first hose comprising a front portion and a back portion, the front portion comprising the first hose front end and the back portion comprising the first hose rear end; and the manifold comprising a first manifold end and a second manifold end, the opening disposed approximately halfway between the first manifold end and the second manifold end, the first manifold end to couple with the front portion of the first hose and the second manifold end to couple with the back portion of the first hose; and a front portion of the second hose to enter the first hose via the opening and extend along the front portion of the first hose. ### Claim 12 A method, comprising: coupling a manifold with a first hose, the manifold comprising an opening and the first hose comprising a first hose front end and a first hose rear end, the first hose rear end to couple with a first fluid controller, the first fluid controller to provide a first gas to or receive the first gas from a first object coupled with the first hose via the first hose front end, the first gas having a first pressure; inserting a second hose at least partially into the first hose via the opening of the manifold, the second hose having a second hose front end and a second hose rear end, the second hose rear end to couple with a second fluid controller, the second fluid controller to provide a second gas to or receive the second gas from a second object coupled with the second hose via the second hose front end, the second gas having a second pressure, the second pressure greater than the first pressure; positioning the second hose front end at the first hose front end to be exposed at the first hose front end; disposing a support structure in the first hose, the support structure defining an aperture to receive at least a portion of the second hose; and positioning the portion of the second hose at a desired position within the first hose via the support structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising: fixing the portion of the second hose at a radial position relative to an internal wall of the first hose via the support structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the support structure comprises a support body and a plurality of support members, the plurality of support members extending radially from the support body toward an internal wall of the first hose, the method comprising: positioning the support body at a position radially away from the internal wall of the first hose. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising: sealing the opening around the second hose to prevent air from escaping the first hose. ### Claim 16 A vehicle, comprising: a combined air system, the combined air system comprising: a first hose comprising a first hose front end and a first hose rear end; a manifold coupled with the first hose, the manifold comprising an opening; and a second hose comprising a second hose front end and a second hose rear end, the second hose at least partially disposed in the first hose, the second hose to enter the first hose via the opening of the manifold, and the second hose front end disposed at the first hose front end and exposed at the first hose front end; and a support structure disposed in the first hose, the support structure defining an aperture to receive at least a portion of the second hose, the support structure to position the portion of the second hose at a desired position within the first hose; a first air source to couple with the first hose rear end of the first hose, the first air source to provide a first gas to or receive the first gas from a first object coupled with the first hose via the first hose front end, the first gas having a first pressure; and a second air source to couple with the second hose rear end of the second hose, the second air source to provide a second gas to or receive a second gas from a second object coupled with the second hose via the second hose front end, the second gas having a second pressure, the second pressure greater than the first pressure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, comprising: the second object, the second object comprising a suspension system, the second air source to supply air at the second pressure to the suspension system via the second hose. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, comprising: the second object, the second object comprising a tire, the second hose to provide the second gas with the second pressure air to the tire. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the combined air system comprises: the first hose comprising a front portion and a back portion, the front portion comprising the first hose front end and the back portion comprising the first hose rear end; the second hose comprising a second hose back end to couple with the second air source; and the manifold comprising a first manifold end and a second manifold end, the opening disposed approximately halfway between the first manifold end and the second manifold end, the first manifold end to couple with the front portion of the first hose and the second manifold end to couple with the back portion of the first hose; and a front portion of the second hose to enter the first hose via the opening and extend along the front portion of the first hose. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the first hose provides the first gas at the first pressure and a first volume and the second hose provides the second gas at the second pressure and a second volume, the second volume less than the first volume.