US 12,611,894 B2 · Automatic tire inflation system

Abstract

A system includes a valve coupled to a source of compressed air and a wheel hub. The wheel hub includes a stationary element associated with a wheel of a vehicle, a rotary element configured to rotate with the wheel, a seal therebetween, and a port arranged in the rotary element, wherein a flow path extends from the source to valve, the valve to the seal, the seal to the port, and the port to the wheel. A method includes measuring a pressure of a tire based on a sensor signal, where the tire is mounted to a wheel coupled to a wheel hub of a vehicle, determining whether to inflate or deflate the tire based on the pressure, generating a control signal to control the valve coupled to the tire to achieve an open position, and monitoring the pressure of the tire while the valve is in the open position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a valve coupled to a source of compressed air;
and
a wheel hub comprising:
a stationary element associated with a wheel of a vehicle;
a rotary element configured to rotate with the wheel;
a seal arranged radially between the stationary element and the rotary element, wherein the seal comprises:
a first set of lips to seal a region configured to receive the compressed air;
and
a second set of lips surrounding the first set of lips;
and
a port arranged in the rotary element, wherein a flow path extends from the source to the valve, the valve to the seal, the seal to the port, and the port to the wheel.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic tire inflation system

Life of this patent

Automatic tire inflation system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20