Self-inflating tire assembly
US8042586B2 · kind B2 · utility
93Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T152/10495
- 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. The sidewall groove extends into an annular, axially extending, sidewall surface such as an axially oriented surface of a tire chafer protrusion located in non-contacting relationship with the rim.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.