Air maintenance tire and valve assembly
US10239368B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 11, 2014 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60C23/135
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube mounted within a tire sidewall groove. The air tube is in contacting engagement with opposite angled groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. A segment of the air tube is flattened from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter by bending and compression of the groove in a rolling tire footprint to force air evacuated from the flattened segment along a tube air passageway. A tube is positioned within the groove, wherein the tube has a circular cross-sectional shape and an outside diameter D, and the groove does not have a circular cross-sectional shape, wherein said groove has a width W and a length L, wherein D is greater than W.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.