U.S. patent application number 14/957771 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-08 for dual tire air maintenance system and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Invention is credited to Dinesh Chandra, Arun Kumar Byatarayanapura Gopala, Christopher Paul Hunt, Robin Lamgaday, Cheng-Hsiung Lin.
Application Number | 20170157999 14/957771 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57345792 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170157999 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lamgaday; Robin ; et
al. |
June 8, 2017 |
DUAL TIRE AIR MAINTENANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
An air maintenance tire system and method in accordance with the
present invention includes an air pumping mechanism configured to
maintain air pressure within a first tire and a second tire in a
dual tire arrangement. The system includes a control valve assembly
attached to an elongate valve stem projecting from a rim of a first
tandem tire, and a one-way valve carrying connecting tube from a
sidewall air pumping passageway within a sidewall of the first
tire. The control valve assembly further includes first and second
outlet tubes connected to the elongate valve stem to selectively
pass pressurized air into the tire cavities of both tandem mounted
tires on an as-needed basis.
Inventors: |
Lamgaday; Robin; (Wadsworth,
OH) ; Gopala; Arun Kumar Byatarayanapura; (Copley,
OH) ; Hunt; Christopher Paul; (Stow, OH) ;
Chandra; Dinesh; (Hudson, OH) ; Lin;
Cheng-Hsiung; (Hudson, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company |
Akron |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57345792 |
Appl. No.: |
14/957771 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60C 2003/005 20130101;
B60S 5/04 20130101; B60C 29/064 20130101; B60C 23/004 20130101;
B60B 11/06 20130101; B60C 3/00 20130101; B60C 23/007 20130101; B60C
29/068 20130101; B60B 11/00 20130101; B60C 23/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60C 23/00 20060101
B60C023/00; B60C 11/00 20060101 B60C011/00; F16K 17/04 20060101
F16K017/04; B60C 29/06 20060101 B60C029/06; F16K 15/20 20060101
F16K015/20; B60C 13/02 20060101 B60C013/02; B60C 29/00 20060101
B60C029/00 |
Claims
1. An air maintenance assembly for dual-mounted tires comprising: a
first tire and second tire mounted in a side-by-side dual
relationship mounted to an axle, the first and the second tires
each mounted respectively to a first rim and a second rim and each
of the first and the second tires having a tire cavity bounded by
first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region; a
control valve assembly including a control valve housing having an
internal air passageway, the control valve housing attached to an
elongate valve stem projecting from a rim of the first tire, the
control valve housing being external to the tire cavity, the
elongate valve stem projecting outward from the control valve
housing cavity and operative to direct pressurized air into the
control valve housing internal air passageway and into the tire
cavity of the first tire and the tire cavity of the second tire,
the first sidewall of the first tire having an elongate sidewall
air passageway therein operatively located to compress
segment-by-segment from an expanded diameter to a substantially
reduced diameter responsive to a bending strain introduced into the
first sidewall from a rolling tire footprint thereby forcing air,
segment-by-segment, along the air passageway; a connecting tube
connected to the air passageway and to the control valve housing,
the connecting tube operative to direct pressurized air into the
control valve housing internal air passageway as the tire rolls
over a ground surface; and wherein the control valve housing has
first and second outlet tubes having internal air passageways
operable to selectively conduct pressurized air into the first tire
cavity and the second tire cavity on an as-needed basis.
2. The air maintenance tire assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein
the control valve housing internal air passageway is positioned
in-line with a longitudinal internal air passageway of the valve
stem.
3. The air maintenance tire assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein
control valve assembly includes a relief valve mounted to the
control valve housing for relieving pressure in the control valve
housing internal air passageway above a set pressure.
4. The air maintenance tire assembly set forth in claim 3 wherein
the connecting tube is coupled in air flow communication with the
first sidewall air passageway of the first tire and the internal
air passageway of the control valve housing.
5. The air maintenance tire assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein
the first tire and the second tire are mounted respectively on a
first rim and a second rim, the first and the second rims having
co-aligned through-apertures, and wherein the second outlet tube
from the control valve housing extends from the control valve
housing through the co-aligned through apertures to the cavity of
the second tire.
6. The air maintenance tire assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein
the second outlet tube has a substantially linear mid-segment
extending through the co-aligned through apertures.
7. The air maintenance tire assembly set forth in claim 6, wherein
the first outlet tube and the second outlet tube each having a
remote end extending through the first rim and the second rim
respectively positioned in air flow communication with the first
tire cavity and the second tire cavity.
8. The air maintenance tire assembly set forth in claim 7 wherein
the air passageway within the first sidewall of the first tire is
substantially annular and resides within the first sidewall
proximate to the valve stem.
9. The air maintenance tire assembly set forth in claim 7 wherein
the pressure control assembly opens a passage of pressurized air
responsive to an air pressure within the tire cavity of either the
first tire or the second tire or both the first and the second
tires falling below the set pressure and closes the passage of
pressurized air responsive to air pressure within the valve housing
internal air passageway returning to a level at or above the set
pressure.
10. The air maintenance tire assembly set forth in claim 9 wherein
the relief valve opens at pressures above the set pressure.
11. A method for maintaining air pressure within tandem mounted
tires comprising: mounting a first tire and second tire mounted in
a dual side-by-side relationship to an axle, the first and the
second tires each mounted respectively to a first rim and a second
rim and each of the first and the second tires having a tire cavity
bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread
region; mounting a control valve housing to an elongate valve stem
projecting from a rim of the first tire, the pressure control
assembly being external to the tire cavity, the elongate valve stem
projecting outward from the tire cavity and operative to admit
pressurized air into an internal air passageway of the control
valve housing; attaching within the first sidewall of the first
tire an elongate sidewall air passageway operatively located to
compress segment-by-segment from an expanded diameter to a
substantially reduced diameter responsive to a bending strain
introduced into the first sidewall from a rolling tire footprint
thereby forcing air, segment-by-segment, along the air passageway;
connecting a connecting tube from the first sidewall air passageway
to the control valve housing, the connecting tube operative to
sequentially direct air forced from the sidewall air passageway
into the internal air passageway of the control valve housing; and
connecting first and second outlet tubes from the internal air
passageway of the control valve housing to the first and the second
tire cavities of the first tire and the second tire operable to
selectively pass pressurized air into the first tire cavity and the
second tire cavity on an as-needed basis.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising mounting the
internal air passageway of the control valve housing substantially
in-line with a longitudinal passageway of the valve stem.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising mounting a relief
valve to the control valve housing operable to relieve pressure
from the internal passageway of the control valve housing above a
set pressure.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising mounting a one-way
valve within the connecting tube in air flow communication with the
internal passageway of the control valve housing.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein further comprising configuring
the first sidewall air passageway within the sidewall of the first
tire to be substantially annular and to positioning the first
sidewall air passageway at a lower sidewall location proximate to
the valve stem.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein further comprising adding
pressurized air from the first sidewall air passageway pressurized
air to either or both the first cavity and the second cavity should
the air pressure within either or both the first cavity and the
second cavity fall below a preset pressure level.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein further comprising setting the
relief valve to open at a pressure above the preset pressure level.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to air maintenance
tires and, more specifically, to a tire assembly incorporating an
air pumping mechanism into a tire for maintaining tire air
pressure.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0002] Properly inflated tires are important for vehicle
operational efficiency. Many vehicles, particularly trucks, have
dual tires mounted in tandem on an axle. Since, normal air
diffusion reduces tire pressure over time, the natural state of
such tires is underinflated. In a dual tire system, one or both
tires may lose air resulting in the need for re-pressurization. It
is desirable, therefore, to incorporate an air maintenance feature
within a tire that will self-maintain the tire air pressure in
order to compensate for any reduction in tire pressure over time
without a need for driver intervention. For dual tire systems, such
an air maintenance feature should be capable of easy, economical
and efficient installation into a tire and be capable of
maintaining both tires in the tandem at requisite equal
pressure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An air maintenance tire system and method in accordance with
the present invention includes an air pumping mechanism configured
to maintain air pressure within both a first and a second tire
mounted side-by-side. The system includes a first tire and a second
tire mounted in side-by-side relationship to an axle, and a control
valve assembly including a control valve housing attached to an
elongate valve stem projecting from a rim of the first tire. The
control valve assembly enables a flow of pressurized air into the
tire cavities of the first tire and the second tire from a pumping
air passageway within a first sidewall of the first tire. A
connecting tube extends between the sidewall air passageway and the
control valve assembly, the connecting tube having a one way valve
mounted to control pressurized air flow into the control valve
housing from the sidewall air passageway.
[0004] In another aspect, the air maintenance tire system includes
with the control valve assembly a relief valve mounted to the
control valve housing to vent air pressure from the control valve
housing in the event that the air pressure exceeds a preset
threshold.
Definitions
[0005] "Aspect ratio" of the tire means the ratio of its section
height (SH) to its section width (SW) multiplied by 100 percent for
expression as a percentage.
[0006] "Asymmetric tread" means a tread that has a tread pattern
not symmetrical about the center plane or equatorial plane EP of
the tire.
[0007] "Axial" and "axially" means lines or directions that are
parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire.
[0008] "Chafer" is a narrow strip of material placed around the
outside of a tire bead to protect the cord plies from wearing and
cutting against the rim and distribute the flexing above the
rim.
[0009] "Circumferential" means lines or directions extending along
the perimeter of the surface of the annular tread perpendicular to
the axial direction.
[0010] "Equatorial Centerplane (CP)" means the plane perpendicular
to the tire's axis of rotation and passing through the center of
the tread.
[0011] "Footprint" means the contact patch or area of contact of
the tire tread with a flat surface at zero speed and under normal
load and pressure.
[0012] "Groove" means an elongated void area in a tread that may
extend circumferentially or laterally about the tread in a
straight, curved, or zigzag manner. Circumferentially and laterally
extending grooves sometimes have common portions. The "groove
width" is equal to tread surface area occupied by a groove or
groove portion, the width of which is in question, divided by the
length of such groove or groove portion; thus, the groove width is
its average width over its length. Grooves may be of varying depths
in a tire. The depth of a groove may vary around the circumference
of the tread, or the depth of one groove may be constant but vary
from the depth of another groove in the tire. If such narrow or
wide grooves are substantially reduced depth as compared to wide
circumferential grooves which the interconnect, they are regarded
as forming "tie bars" tending to maintain a rib-like character in
tread region involved.
[0013] "Inboard side" means the side of the tire nearest the
vehicle when the tire is mounted on a wheel and the wheel is
mounted on the vehicle.
[0014] "Lateral" means an axial direction.
[0015] "Lateral edges" means a line tangent to the axially
outermost tread contact patch or footprint as measured under normal
load and tire inflation, the lines being parallel to the equatorial
centerplane (CP).
[0016] "Net contact area" means the total area of ground contacting
tread elements between the lateral edges around the entire
circumference of the tread divided by the gross area of the entire
tread between the lateral edges.
[0017] "Non-directional tread" means a tread that has no preferred
direction of forward travel and is not required to be positioned on
a vehicle in a specific wheel position or positions to ensure that
the tread pattern is aligned with the preferred direction of
travel. Conversely, a directional tread pattern has a preferred
direction of travel requiring specific wheel positioning.
[0018] "Outboard side" means the side of the tire farthest away
from the vehicle when the tire is mounted on a wheel and the wheel
is mounted on the vehicle.
[0019] "Peristaltic" means operating by means of wave-like
contractions that propel contained matter, such as air, along
tubular pathways.
[0020] "Radial" and "radially" means directions radially toward or
away from the axis of rotation of the tire.
[0021] "Rib" means a circumferentially extending strip of rubber on
the tread which is defined by at least one circumferential groove
and either a second such groove or a lateral edge, the strip being
laterally undivided by full-depth grooves.
[0022] "Sipe" means small slots molded into the tread elements of
the tire that subdivide the tread surface and improve traction,
sipes are generally narrow in width and close in the tires
footprint as opposed to grooves that remain open in the tire's
footprint.
[0023] "Tread element" or "traction element" means a rib or a block
element defined by having a shape adjacent grooves.
[0024] "Tread Arc Width" means the arc length of the tread as
measured between the lateral edges of the tread.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The present invention will be described by way of example
and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tractor having dual tires
on a rear axle.
[0027] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a
pair of dual tires.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a sectional view through dual tires and rims taken
from FIG. 2.
[0029] FIG. 4A is an enlarged region of the sectional view of the
pumping tire taken from FIG. 3.
[0030] FIG. 4B is an enlarged region of the non-pumping tire taken
from FIG. 3.
[0031] FIG. 5 is an enlarged section view through the valve
assembly.
[0032] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view in partial section
showing the valve assembly and air passageway tubes extending to
the tire cavities.
[0033] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective of the valve assembly and
tubes of FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4A and 4B, a dual tire
arrangement of first and second tires 12, 14 is seen at assembly
10. The first tire 12 and the second tire 14 are mounted to
respective rims 13, 15 and to a common axle 16. Each tire 12, 14 is
conventionally formed having a pair of sidewalls 18, 20 extending
from beads 26 to a crown region 28. Each of the tires 12, 14
encloses a respective cavity 22, 24. As seen, a peristaltic pump
assembly 30 is formed within an outer sidewall 18 of the outer
first tire 12 generally adjacent the bead 26 of the tire. The pump
assembly 30 includes a tube 34 extending annularly about the
sidewall and having tube ends terminating at a transfer housing 36.
The tube 34 is formed of a resilient, flexible material, such as
plastic or rubber compounds that are capable of withstanding
repeated deformation cycles of the tire 12. So constructed, the
tube 34 will deform segment-by-segment within the tire 12 into a
flattened condition subject to external force and, upon removal of
such force, return to an original unflattened condition. In the
example shown, the cross-section of the tube 34 in an unstressed
state may be generally circular, but other alternative tube
geometries may be employed. The tube 34 may have a diameter
sufficient to operatively pass a requisite volume of air sufficient
for the purpose of pumping air into the tire cavities 22, 24 to
maintain the tires 12, 14 at a preferred inflation pressure.
[0035] The peristaltic principles of incorporating a deformable air
tube within a tire are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.
8,113,254 entitled SELF-INFLATING TIRE incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety. The tube 34 may be incorporated within
an annular tire passageway formed within the tire proximate a tire
bead region. As the tire 12 rotates, air from outside the tire may
be admitted into the tube 34 and pumped along the air tube by the
progressive squeezing of the tube within the tire as the tire
rotates. Air is thus forced into an outlet valve and then into the
tire cavity to maintain air pressure within the tire cavity at a
desired pressure level. The tube 34 may be replaced by forming an
enclosed pumping passageway within the sidewall 18 if so desired
(not shown). A passageway if so integrated within the sidewall
would function to peristaltic pump air segment-by-segment along the
passageway as with the tube embodiment shown.
[0036] The tube 34 mounts closely within a groove in the tire and
sequentially flattens segment-by-segment as the tire rotates. The
segment-by-segment flattening of the tube 34 as the tire 12 rotates
operates to pump air which is then directed into the tire cavities
22, 24 to maintain the desired pressure level. A peristaltic
pumping system employing a tube within a sidewall groove is also
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,042,586 entitled SELF-INFLATING TIRE
ASSEMBLY incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4A and 4B, the pump tube 34 is
generally annular and circumscribes a lower tire sidewall region
proximate to the 26 bead region of sidewall 18. However, other
configurations for the tube 34 may be devised. Opposite ends of the
tube 34 connect to a tube transfer housing 36.
[0038] The transfer housing 36 is connected to an end of an
elongate connecting tube 38. An opposite end of the connecting tube
38 attaches to a control valve assembly 40 including a control
valve housing 46 which attaches to the valve stem 42. Seated within
the connecting tube 38 proximate the control valve housing 46 is a
one-way check valve 44 (FIG. 4A) of a type commercially available
that opens and closes to admit air from the connecting tube 38 into
the an internal air passageway of a control valve tire valve stem
42 but prevents a back flow of air from the valve stem 42 into the
connecting tube 38. A peristaltic system for a single tire
application is found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/520,729, filed on Oct. 22, 2014 and entitled AIR MAINTENANCE
TIRE AND VALVE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD, incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety. The co-pending application shows an air
maintenance tire (AMT) system incorporating a peristaltic pump into
a tire sidewall and pumping pressurized air from a pumping tube
within a tire sidewall into a valve stem of a tire as the tire
rotates to maintain that tire in an inflated condition.
[0039] With continued reference to FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6 and 7, the
subject dual tire system is shown. The control valve housing 46 has
a longitudinal internal air passageway 48. The tire valve stem 42
is coupled to a forward end of the air passageway 48 in air flow
communication. The tire valve stem 42 is generally of conventional
configuration, referred to within the industry as a "Schrader"
valve. The tire valve stem 42 conducts air from an external
pressurized air source through the valve stem and into the valve
housing air passageway 48. A cap 50 screws over the valve stem 42
when not in use to prevent contaminants from entering the valve
stem.
[0040] Attached to mount to the control valve housing 46 in air
flow communication with the passageway 48 is a safety relief valve
52 of a type commercially available. The relief valve 52 operates
to vent air from the housing passageway 48 when the tire pressure
of both tires 12, 14 is at or above a desired preset inflation
level. Relief valve 52 is set to open when air pressure within the
control valve passageway 48 is above the pressure inflation level
desired for the dual tires.
[0041] An outlet tube 58 is coupled to the control valve housing
48. Tube 58 is generally T-shaped having a tube segment 54
connecting at a right angle with a linear tube segment 60. A
T-shaped air passageway 59 resides within the tube 58, shared by
both the tube segment 54 and the linear tube segment 60 as shown.
The tube segment 54 has a nut 56 connecting to an elongate second
outlet tube 64. The linear tube segment 60 has a threaded coupling
61 that attaches the segment 60 to an elongate, L-shaped first
outlet tube 62.
[0042] The first outlet tube 62 extends from the control valve
housing 46 in a linear path to a right angle bend. From the right
angle bend, the tube 62 extends a terminal end 66 through the rim
13 carrying the first tire 12. The tube 62 is thus connected to the
tire rim and in air flow communication with tire cavity 22 of the
first tire 12. The second outlet tube 64 is coupled by screw thread
coupling 56 to the tube segment 54. The second outlet tube 64
extends from the tube segment 54 along an elongate linear path
spanning both of the rims 13, 15. At a terminal end, the second
outlet tube 64 is coupled to a right angle sleeve 70 by screw
coupling 68. The sleeve 70 connects at an opposite end to a rim
tube 72 that routes back to a right angle bend 73. The rim tube at
bend 73 turns to project through the rim 15. A terminal end 74 of
the rim tube 72 is thus positioned in air flow communication with
cavity 24 of the second tire 14.
[0043] FIGS. 3, 6, and 7 illustrate the dual tires 12, 14 in
side-by-side relationship mounted to axle 16. The air pumping
assembly is mounted to the outer sidewall 18 of the outward tire 12
in the pair of tires 12, 14. As used herein, the "first" tire
refers to tire 12 while the "second" tire shall refer to the tire
14. The single air pumping assembly 30 provides air maintenance air
pressure to both the tires. The air pumping tube 34 is enclosed
within a sidewall 18 of the first tire 12 at a location proximate
to the tire bead 26. The connecting tube 38 routes pressurized air
through the check valve 44 and into the internal air passageway 48
of the control valve housing 46 (FIG. 5). If the inflation pressure
of tires 12, 14 is at or above a preset desired level, pressurized
air entering the control valve housing air passageway 48 will be
vented to atmosphere as the safety relief valve 52 opens. If either
tire is at a low pressure level, the pressurized air from the
pumping tube 34 will pass through the one-way valve 44 mounted in
the connecting tube 38 and enter the internal air passageway 48 of
the control valve housing. The pressurized air within air
passageway 48 is then into the air passageway 59 of the T-shaped
tube connector 58 whereupon the pressurized air will be directed
into the outlet tube 62, 64 leading to the underinflated tire 12
and/or 14. If tire 12 is underinflated, pressurized air flows
within the first, shorter, outlet tube 62, exiting from end 66, and
re-inflating cavity 22. If the tire 14 is underinflated,
pressurized air flows through the tube segment 54 and into the
second outlet tube 64. If both tires are underinflated, pressurized
air will flow to both tires until both tires are reflated to the
desired preset level.
[0044] It will be noted from FIGS. 2, 5, and 7 that the second
outlet tube 64 is elongate and of sufficient length to transverse
the aligned tires to an inboard side of tire 14, wherein the tube
bends in a reverse bend to extend through the rim 15 and position
tube end 74 in an air flow communication with cavity 24. The linear
span of the second outlet tube 64 extends through apertures 76 and
78 of the rims 13, 15 which have been aligned to receive the tube
64. During assembly, the rims 13, 15 may be brought into a
relationship aligning the through apertures 13, 15 so as to
accommodate insertion and positioning of the second outlet tube 64
through apertures 76, 78 as shown. It will be noted from the above
that, pursuant to the subject air maintenance system, a single air
pumping assembly 30 affixed to a single tire 12 supplies
pressurized air to both the AMT tire 12 and its standard companion
tire 14. One single AMT pump mounted to one AMT tire thus will
maintain air pressure in both dual tires 12, 14 and pump both tires
such as dual truck tires as needed.
[0045] Variations in the present invention are possible in light of
the description of it provided herein. While certain representative
embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of
illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those
skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be
made therein without departing from the scope of the subject
invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that changes can be
made in the particular embodiments described which will be within
the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the
following appended claims.
* * * * *