Compact valve system for self-inflating tire

A self-inflating tire assembly comprising:

• a. a tire having a tire cavity, a first and second sidewall extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region;
• b. said tire having an air passageway, the air passageway having an inlet end and an outlet end and being operative to allow a portion of the air passageway near a tire footprint to substantially close the passageway, wherein the outlet end of the air passageway is in fluid communication with the tire cavity;
• c. a valve device connected to an end of the air passageway, the valve device including an insert mounted in the tire, wherein a valve body is mounted within the valve insert;
• wherein the valve body has an interior chamber, said interior chamber having a first hole in fluid communication with the end of the air passageway, and a channel in fluid communication with the ambient air.

A self-inflating tire assembly comprising:

• a. a tire having a tire cavity, a first and second sidewall extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region;
• b. said tire having a first and second air passageway, said first and second air passageways having an inlet end and an outlet end and being operative to allow a portion of the air passageway near a tire footprint to substantially close the passageway, wherein the outlet ends of the first and second air passageways are in fluid communication with the tire cavity;
• c. a valve device connected to the inlet ends of the first and second air passageway, the valve device including an insert mounted in the tire, wherein a valve body is mounted within the valve insert;
• wherein the valve body has a first, second and third chamber, said first chamber having a first hole in fluid communication with the inlet end of the first air passageway, said second chamber having a second hole in fluid communication with the inlet end of the second air passageway and a third chamber in fluid communication with the ambient air;
• d. wherein a first and second check valve is positioned in the first and second chamber to prevent back flow of fluid from the respective first and second air passageway into the respective first and second chamber;
• e. wherein a pressure membrane is received within the valve body, and positioned to open and close the third chamber.

A valve device for a tire, the valve device comprising:

• a. an insert mounted in the tire, a valve body mounted within the valve insert;
• wherein the valve body has a first, second and third chamber, wherein a first and second check valve is positioned in the first and second chamber;
• b. wherein a pressure membrane is received within the valve body, and positioned to open and close the third chamber;
• c. said pressure membrane is in fluid communication with the tire cavity and the third chamber of the valve body;
• d. wherein a spring is received within the third chamber and is positioned to exert force upon the pressure membrane to bias the pressure membrane position relative to the channel in the open position.

A valve device for a tire, the valve device comprising:

• a. an insert mounted in the tire, a valve body mounted within the valve insert;
• wherein the valve body has a single chamber
• b. wherein a pressure membrane is received within chamber of the valve body, and positioned to open and close a channel in fluid communication with the outside air;
• c. said pressure membrane being in fluid communication with the tire
• d. wherein a spring is received within the chamber and is positioned to exert force upon the pressure membrane to bias the pressure membrane position relative to the channel in the open position.