Self-inflating tire
US8113254B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2009 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60C23/135
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A self-inflating tire assembly includes an annular air tube connected to a tire and defining an annular air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to an inlet device for exhaust from the passageway or to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. The inlet device is positioned within the annular passageway 180 degrees opposite the outlet device such that sequential flattening of the air tube by the tire footprint effects pumping of air along the air passageway with the tire rotating in either a forward or reverse direction of rotation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.