Air maintenance tire pump simulator
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorsCheng-Hsiung Lin, Frank George Licari, Robin Lamgaday, Arun Kumar Byatarayanapura Gopala
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An air maintenance tire pump simulator that simulates the environment of an air maintenance tire system is provided. The simulator includes at least one pneumatic cylinder, a structure that forms a closed cavity, and a pneumatic conduit extending between and fluidly connecting the pneumatic cylinder and the closed cavity. A cam is operably connected to a motor, and is also operably connected to the pneumatic cylinder. Engagement of the motor actuates rotation of the cam, which in turn actuates operation of the pneumatic cylinder to increase a pressure in the closed cavity. A method of simulating an air maintenance tire system is also provided.
Claims16
An air maintenance tire pump simulator comprising:
- at least one pneumatic cylinder;
- a structure that forms a closed cavity;
- a pneumatic conduit extending between and fluidly connecting the at least one pneumatic cylinder and the structure that forms a closed cavity;
- a motor;
- and
- a cam being operably connected to the motor, and being operably connected to the at least one pneumatic cylinder, whereby engagement of the motor actuates rotation of the cam, thereby actuating operation of the at least one pneumatic cylinder to increase a pressure in the closed cavity.
A method of simulating an air maintenance tire system, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one pneumatic cylinder;
- providing a structure that forms a closed cavity;
- connecting a pneumatic conduit to the at least one pneumatic cylinder and to the structure that forms a closed cavity;
- providing a motor;
- operably connecting a cam to the motor;
- operably connecting the cam to the at least one pneumatic cylinder;
- engaging the motor to actuate rotation of the cam;
- and
- actuating the at least one pneumatic cylinder upon rotation of the cam to increase a pressure in the closed cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.