Automatic tire sealing and inflating system

In a vehicle with one or more vehicular wheel assemblies, a sealing and inflating system for each of said wheel assemblies, said sealing and inflating system configured to automatically detect a rupture in a tire, seal said rupture and inflate said sealed tire while an operator continues to drive said vehicle, each of said vehicular wheel assemblies comprising:

• a tire rim;
• said tire mounted on said tire rim;
• and
• said sealing and inflating system, comprising:
• one or two substantially semi-circular parts pivotally connected together at one end region and selectively lockable together at the other end region, wherein said substantially semi-circular parts are mounted around said tire rim in a pressurized interior space defined by said tire and said tire rim, wherein each of said one or two substantially semi-circular parts comprise:
• a cylinder comprising a sealant within said cylinder, wherein said cylinder further comprises a sealant release hole and an gas release hole at one end and a piston at another end, and wherein said sealant release hole and said gas release hole are in communication with said pressurized interior space defined by said tire and said tire rim;
• a cartridge comprising pressurized gas, wherein said cartridge is configured to thrust said piston into said cylinder by releasing said pressurized gas, and wherein said cartridge is coupled to a regulator to control gas flow through a channel;
• a detecting mechanism configured to detect a rupture in said tire;
• a release mechanism coupled to said piston, said cartridge and said detecting mechanism, wherein said release mechanism is configured to release a quantity of said pressurized gas on detecting a rupture by said detecting mechanism, and wherein said pressurized gas is configured to thrust said piston into said cylinder for discharging said sealant through said release hole for sealing said rupture in said tire;
• said release mechanism configured to continue releasing said pressurized gas from said cartridge for inflating said sealed tire;
• and
• a regulating mechanism configured to prevent the release mechanism from being actuated before the pressure in the tire reaches a threshold;
• and
• a wireless radio transmitter system between the lockable clamp connecting said one or two substantially semi-circular parts for notifying the operator of the vehicle on said detection of said rapture.

A method to automatically detect a rupture in a tire, seal said rupture, and inflate said sealed tire, while an operator continues to drive a vehicle fitted with said tire, comprising:

• providing a vehicular wheel assembly comprising:
• a tire rim;
• said tire mounted on said tire rim;
• a sealing and inflation system configured to automatically detect a rupture in said tire, seal said rupture and inflate said sealed tire, comprising:
• one or two substantially semi-circular parts pivotally connected together at one end region and selectively lockable together at the other end region, wherein said substantially semi-circular parts are mounted around said tire rim in a pressurized interior space defined by said tire and said tire rim, wherein each of said one or two substantially semi-circular parts comprise:
• a cylinder comprising a sealant within said cylinder, wherein said cylinder further comprises:
• a sealant release hole and a gas release hole at one end, wherein said gas release hole is located above said sealant release hole on surface of said cylinder, and wherein said sealant release hole and said gas release hole are in communication with said pressurized interior space defined by said tire and said tire rim;
• and
• a piston at another end;
• a cartridge comprising pressurized gas wherein said cartridge is coupled to a regulator to control gas flow through a channel;
• a detecting mechanism configured to detect said rupture in said tire:
• a release mechanism coupled to said piston and said detecting mechanism, wherein said release mechanism comprises:
• said channel connecting said cartridge and said piston, wherein said channel is configured to direct said pressurized gas released from said cartridge towards said piston;
• a detent valve coupled to said channel and in close proximity to said cartridge, wherein said detent valve further comprises a first pressure sensor;
• and
• a spring return valve coupled to said channel and in close proximity to said cylinder, wherein said spring return valve further comprises a second pressure sensor:
• said release mechanism configured to release a quantity of said pressurized gas on detecting said rupture by said detecting mechanism, and wherein said pressurized gas is configured to thrust said piston into said cylinder for discharging said sealant through said release hole for sealing said rupture in said tire;
• said release mechanism configured to release said pressurized gas through said gas release hole on depletion of said sealant for inflating said sealed tire to said predetermined pressure;
• and
• a regulating mechanism configured to prevent the release mechanism from being actuated before the pressure in the tire decreases to a predetermined threshold;
• a wireless radio transmitter system between the lockable clamp connecting said one or two substantially semi-circular parts for notifying the operator of the vehicle on said detection of said rapture;
• inflating said tire to said predetermined pressure;
• actuating opening of said detent valve by said first pressure sensor, wherein said detent valve releases a quantity of said pressurized gas through said channel, and wherein said pressurized gas is blocked by said spring return valve;
• detecting said rupture in said tire by said detection mechanism;
• actuating opening of said spring return valve by said second pressure sensor, causing said spring return valve to release said pressurized gas, wherein said channel directs said released pressured gas towards said piston, causing said piston to thrust into said cylinder for releasing said sealant through said sealant release hole;
• sealing said ruptured tire by said sealant;
• releasing said pressurized gas through said gas release hole on depletion of said sealant;
• and
• inflating said sealed tire to a predefined pressure by continuing release of said pressurized gas into said sealed tire.

A vehicular wheel assembly comprising:

• a tire rim;
• a tire mounted on said tire rim;
• and
• a sealing and inflating system configured to automatically detect a rupture in said tire, seal said rupture and inflate said sealed tire, comprising:
• one or two substantially semi-circular parts pivotally connected together at one end region and selectively lockable together at the other end region, wherein said substantially semi-circular parts are mounted around said tire rim in a pressurized interior space defined by said tire and said tire rim, wherein each of said one or two substantially semi-circular parts comprise:
• a cylinder comprising a sealant within said cylinder, wherein said cylinder comprises a piston at one end, and wherein other end of said cylinder is in communication with said pressurized interior space defined by said tire and said tire rim;
• a cartridge comprising pressurized gas;
• a detent valve and a spring return valve coupled together, wherein said detent valve and said spring return valve are coupled between said cylinder and said cartridge, and wherein said detent valve and said spring return valve are configured to prevent actuation of said cartridge and said cylinder during installation within said pressurized interior space;
• a detecting mechanism configured to detect a rupture in said tire;
• a release mechanism coupled to said piston, said cartridge and said detecting mechanism, wherein said release mechanism comprises a first pressure sensor associated with said detent valve and a second pressure sensor associated with said spring return valve, wherein said first pressure sensor and said second pressure are configured to actuate said detent valve and said spring return valve to release a quantity of said pressurized gas on detecting a rupture by said detecting mechanism, and wherein said pressurized gas is configured to thrust said piston into said cylinder for discharging said sealant through said sealant release hole for sealing said rupture in said tire;
• said release mechanism configured to release said pressurized gas into said sealed tire on depletion of said sealant for inflating said sealed tire to a predetermined pressure;
• and
• a regulating mechanism configured to prevent the release mechanism from being actuated before the pressure in the tire reaches a threshold;
• a wireless radio transmitter system between the lockable clamp connecting said one or two substantially semi-circular parts for notifying the operator of the vehicle on said detection of said rapture.