Modular tire inflator

A method of inflating tire and wheel assemblies having tire pressure monitoring (TPM) valve stems, said method comprising:

• positioning a tire and wheel assembly at an inflation location of a tire inflation apparatus, with the tire inflation apparatus including an inflation head, a pressurized gas source and a controller;
• engaging the inflation head with the tire and wheel assembly to form a seal with the tire of the tire and wheel assembly;
• inflating the tire and wheel assembly with the pressurized gas source while the inflation head is in engagement with the tire and wheel assembly;
• measuring inflation pressure data of the tire and wheel assembly with the TPM valve stem of the tire and wheel assembly after said inflating the tire and wheel assembly with the pressurized gas source;
• transmitting the inflation pressure data to the controller of the tire inflation apparatus;
• and
• controlling operation of the tire inflation apparatus for inflating subsequent tire and wheel assemblies based on the inflation pressure data, and wherein said controlling operation of the tire inflation apparatus based on the inflation pressure data comprises adjusting the delivery of the pressurized gas delivered by the tire inflation apparatus.

A tire inflation system for inflating a tire mounted on a rim, said inflation system comprising:

• a tire inflation apparatus having a controller and an inflation head through which pressurized gas is delivered, said inflation head being positioned at a tire and wheel assembly inflation location at which tire and wheel assemblies having tire pressure monitoring (TPM) valve stems are selectively received for inflation, with the TPM valve stems operable to measure the inflation pressure of its associated tire and wheel assembly;
• said inflation head defining a tire inflation cavity and adapted to form a seal with the tire of a tire and wheel assembly when the inflation head contacts the tire, and with said tire inflation cavity including an outlet through which pressurized gas is delivered for inflation of the tire and wheel assembly;
• said controller operatively receiving inflation pressure data of a tire and wheel assembly from its associated TPM valve stem and controlling operation of said tire inflation apparatus in response thereto, wherein said controller receives said inflation pressure data from the TPM valve stem of the tire and wheel assembly after the tire and wheel assembly has been inflated, with said controller operable to adjust the operation of said tire inflation apparatus on a subsequent tire and wheel assembly positioned at said tire and wheel assembly inflation location.