Dynamic rotary inflation system
AssigneeAirgo IP, LLC
InventorsElliott Grier, Peter Jankowski, Adwait Kulkarni
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflation system can be configured for a rotary environment with a supply conduit passing through a rotary union to a hub. The hub can consist of a diaphragm contacting a force mechanism with the diaphragm separating the supply conduit from a lead conduit. The force mechanism may allow selective bi-directional fluid flow between the supply conduit and the lead conduit in response to fluid pressure that differs from a predetermined threshold pressure.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising a supply conduit passing through a rotary union to a hub, the hub comprising a diaphragm contacting a force mechanism, the diaphragm separating the supply conduit from a lead conduit, the force mechanism configured to allow bi-directional fluid flow between the supply conduit and the lead conduit in response to fluid pressure above a predetermined threshold pressure.
A method comprising:
- connecting a first tire to a first hub via a lead conduit;
- setting the first hub to a first threshold pressure;
- pressurizing a supply conduit to a predetermined fluid pressure, the supply conduit passing through a rotary union to the first hub, the supply conduit separated from the lead conduit by a diaphragm;
- flowing fluid from the supply conduit to the first tire in response to fluid pressure in the first tire dropping below the first threshold pressure and moving the diaphragm;
- and
- flowing fluid from the first tire to the supply conduit in response to fluid pressure in the first tire elevating above the first threshold pressure and moving the diaphragm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.