IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0711398
(2007-02-27)
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등록번호 |
US-7784513
(2010-09-20)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
18 인용 특허 :
28 |
초록
▼
A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure within a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle which includes a microcompressor having a flexible compression chamber and a magnetic element not on the wheel. As the compressor passes the magnet each wheel revolution, a small amount of atmospheric
A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure within a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle which includes a microcompressor having a flexible compression chamber and a magnetic element not on the wheel. As the compressor passes the magnet each wheel revolution, a small amount of atmospheric air is pumped into the tire, if needed. The magnet and the compressor need no other contact with the vehicle or the wheel and require no energy source on the wheel. An alternative embodiment uses an electrical coil on the wheel to pass the magnet inducing a voltage that drives a compressor on the wheel. As the coil passes the electromagnet it provides a split transformer that transfers electrical power to the wheel and permits two-way pulse data communication between the wheel and the vehicle.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure of an interior of a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel being rotatably connected to a stationary member of a vehicle wheel assembly and defining an axis of rotation, the device comprising: at least one magneti
What is claimed is: 1. A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure of an interior of a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel being rotatably connected to a stationary member of a vehicle wheel assembly and defining an axis of rotation, the device comprising: at least one magnetic element being mounted on the stationary member at a radial distance from the axis of rotation, the magnetic element producing a magnetic field wherein the magnetic element produces at least one of two opposing forces; a magnetically driven air compressor being mounted on the wheel and being radially disposed from the axis of rotation relative to the magnetic element to transit the magnetic field during each revolution of the wheel, the compressor being in fluid communication with the atmosphere and the interior of the tire, the compressor being operative to intake air from the atmosphere and to output compressed air to the interior of the tire in response to transiting the magnetic field wherein the compressor includes a flexible compression chamber defining a variable chamber volume; and means for regulating output pressure of the compressor to the desired inflation pressure; an actuator being operative to increase and decrease the chamber volume, the actuator being operative to effect an intake stroke to increase chamber volume and thereby intake air from the environment through an intake check valve, the actuator further being operative to effect an output stroke to decrease chamber volume and thereby expel air through an output check valve; and means for applying first and second opposing forces alternately to the actuator, one of the first and second opposing forces increasing the volume of the flexible chamber and the other of the first and second opposing forces decreasing the volume of the flexible chamber, at least one of the first and second opposing forces being produced upon transit of the compressor through the magnetic field. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the flexible compression chamber is a bellows configuration having two opposing ends and flexible side walls, the first opposing end being in communication with the intake check valve and the second opposing end being in communication with the output check valve, the actuator being operative to increase the chamber volume to intake air into the compression chamber through the intake valve upon the actuator moving to an intake position during the intake stroke, the actuator being further operative to decrease the chamber volume and expel compressed air from the compression chamber through the output valve upon moving to an output position during the output stroke, one of the input stroke and output stroke being performed in response to the compressor transiting the magnetic field. 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the flexible compression chamber is bounded on one side by a flexible diaphragm, and being operative to increase the chamber volume to intake air into the compression chamber through the intake valve upon the actuator moving to an intake position during the intake stroke, the actuator further being operative to decrease the chamber volume and expel compressed air from the compression chamber through the output valve upon moving to an output position during the output stroke, one of the input stroke and output stroke being performed in response to the compressor transiting the magnetic field. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the flexible diaphragm further comprises ferromagnetic particles embedded in the flexible diaphragm wherein the flexible diaphragm serves as the actuator. 5. The device of claim 1 including two stationary magnetic elements and wherein the compressor transits through two magnetic fields produced by the magnetic elements during one revolution of the wheel, both magnetic fields exerting the first opposing force upon the actuator to perform one of the input and output strokes, the second opposing force being exerted upon the actuator to perform the other of the input and output strokes as the compressor moves intermediate the magnetic elements, the alternate exertion of the first and second opposing forces causing the chamber volume to increase and decrease twice during one wheel revolution. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the compressor transits magnetic fields of opposite polarity causing sequential opposing magnetic forces on a magnetized actuator. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least two opposing forces originate from two or more magnetic elements. 8. The device of claim 6, wherein the magnetic fields of opposite polarity are created by reversing the direction of current through one or more electromagnetic elements after the compressor transits at least one of the magnetic fields. 9. The device of claim 1 wherein a plurality of magnetic elements are configured to produce successive magnetic fields of opposite polarity through which the compressor transits during one revolution of the wheel, the input and output strokes being effected by the magnetized actuator in response to the magnetic fields of opposing polarity. 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the second opposing force is a continuous bias force being produced by one or more permanent magnets, the second opposing force being configured to be overcome by the first opposing force produced when the compressor transits the magnetic field of the stationary magnetic element, the second opposing force causing the actuator to effect one of the input and output strokes after transiting the magnetic field. 11. The device of claim 1 wherein the second opposing force is a bias force being produced by a spring biasing member, the second opposing force being configured to be overcome by the first opposing force produced when the compressor transits the magnetic field of the stationary magnetic element, the second opposing force causing the actuator to effect one of the input and output strokes after transiting the magnetic field. 12. The device of claim 1 wherein one of the at least two opposing forces is a centrifugal force being continuously exerted upon the actuator due to rotation of the compressor about the axis of rotation of the wheel, the other one of the at least two opposing forces overcoming the centrifugal force while transiting the magnetic field. 13. The device of claim 1 wherein the second opposing force is configured to establish and regulate the desired inflation pressure of the tire. 14. The device of claim 1 wherein the compressor further includes an output port and a pressure limit valve, the output port being in fluid communication with the flexible compression chamber with the output valve being open, the pressure limit valve being in fluid communication with one of the output port and the flexible compression chamber, the pressure limit valve being operative to reduce the output pressure of air within the respective one of the output port and the flexible compression chamber to the desired tire inflation pressure by releasing air from the respective one of the output port and the flexible compression chamber to one of the atmosphere and intake plenum when the output pressure exceeds the desired tire inflation pressure. 15. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for regulating the output pressure of the compressor permits manual adjustment of the desired tire inflation pressure. 16. The device of claim 1 wherein the desired inflation pressure varies as a function of temperature of the air in the tire by way of a bias force in the compressor mounted to a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion to change a relative position of the bias force to the actuator thereby changing output pressure of the compressor as a function of temperature of air in the tire. 17. The device of claim 16 wherein the desired inflation pressure changes with the temperature of air in the tire tending to maintain a constant mass of air in the tire. 18. The device of claim 1 wherein the compressor includes an intake port and a centrifugal valve, the intake port being in fluid communication with the atmosphere, the centrifugal valve being operative to shut off all air and fluid entry into the compressor by way of the intake port while the wheel is rotating below a predetermined speed. 19. The device of claim 1 wherein the magnetic element is one of an electromagnet and a permanent magnet controlled by a central controller on the vehicle frame that receives electrical current from a vehicle battery and sends the current through the electromagnet winding to produce the magnetic field, the central controller being further operative to produce the current only during periods when the compressor is transiting the magnetic field. 20. The device of claim 2 wherein the second opposing force is a continuous bias force being produced by one or more permanent magnets, the second opposing force being configured to be overcome by the first opposing force produced when the compressor transits the magnetic field of the stationary magnetic element, the second opposing force causing the actuator to effect one of the input and output strokes after transiting the magnetic field. 21. The device of claim 2 wherein the second opposing force is a bias force being produced by a spring biasing member, the second opposing force being configured to be overcome by the first opposing force produced when the compressor transits the magnetic field of the stationary magnetic element, the second opposing force causing the actuator to effect one of the input and output strokes after transiting the magnetic field. 22. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible compression chamber is a bellows having two opposing ends and flexible side walls, the intake check valve and the output check valve being positioned on the same end of the bellows. 23. The device of claim 1, wherein the first opposing force causes the actuator to rotate in a first direction to cause the output stroke and the second opposing force causes the actuator to rotate in a second direction to cause the input stroke, the second direction being opposite the first direction. 24. The device of claim 23, wherein the first opposing force is a magnetic force acting sideward toward the magnetic element. 25. The device of claim 23, wherein the second opposing force is a centrifugal bias force acting upward on the actuator. 26. A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure of an interior of a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel being rotatably connected to a stationary member of a vehicle wheel assembly and defining an axis of rotation, the device comprising: at least one magnetic element being mounted on the stationary member at a radial distance from the axis of rotation, the magnetic element producing a magnetic field; a magnetically driven air compressor being mounted on the wheel and being radially disposed from the axis of rotation relative to the magnetic element to transit the magnetic field during each revolution of the wheel, the compressor being in fluid communication with the atmosphere and the interior of the tire, the compressor being operative to intake air from the atmosphere and to output compressed air to the interior of the tire in response to transiting the magnetic field, the compressor comprising: a compression chamber defining a variable chamber volume; a magnetic actuator being operative to cause an increase and decrease in the chamber volume, the actuator effecting an intake stroke to increase chamber volume and thereby intake air from the environment through an intake check valve, the actuator effecting an output stroke to decrease chamber volume and thereby expel air through an output check valve; and means for applying first and second opposing forces to the actuator, one of the first and second opposing forces increasing the chamber volume and the other of the first and second opposing forces decreasing the chamber volume, at least one of the first and second opposing forces being cyclically produced upon cyclical transit of the magnetic actuator through the magnetic field; and a means for regulating the tire inflation pressure to the desired tire inflation pressure by at least one of: using a maximum compressor output pressure that is set or adjusted to the desired tire inflation pressure; and using a pressure relief valve assembly that allows compressor output air to flow into the tire when the pressure of the compressor output air exceeds the tire inflation pressure and is below the desired tire inflation pressure and disables air from flowing to the tire when the compressor output pressure exceeds the desired tire inflation pressure. 27. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for regulating output pressure of the compressor to the desired inflation pressure is accomplished without off-wheel aid. 28. The device of claim 1 wherein the desired inflation pressure of the interior of the tire is regulated by one of the two opposing forces which acts on the actuator to decrease the volume of the flexible chamber and is set to regulate the compressor output pressure at the desired inflation pressure, the bias force being overcome by the magnetic field of the magnetic element during transit of the compressor through the magnetic field of the compressor to increase the volume of the flexible chamber. 29. The device of claim 1 wherein the desired inflation pressure is regulated by a pressure relief valve at an output port of the compressor, the second opposing force being a centrifugal force caused by wheel rotation and the first opposing force caused by the magnetic element overcomes the second opposing force as the actuator transits the magnetic field of the magnetic element. 30. The device of claim 1 wherein the second opposing force being a spring force caused by a spring to regulate the desired inflation pressure and the first opposing being caused by the magnetic element overcomes the second opposing force as the actuator transits the magnetic field of the magnetic element. 31. A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure of an interior of a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel being rotatably connected to a stationary member of a vehicle wheel assembly and defining an axis of rotation, the device comprising: at least one magnetic element being mounted on the stationary member at a radial distance from the axis of rotation, the magnetic element producing a magnetic field; a magnetically driven air compressor being mounted on the wheel and being radially disposed from the axis of rotation relative to the magnetic element to transit the magnetic field during each revolution of the wheel, the compressor being in fluid communication with the atmosphere and the interior of the tire, the compressor being operative to intake air from the atmosphere and to output compressed air to the interior of the tire in response to transiting the magnetic field; and means for regulating output pressure of the compressor to the desired inflation pressure. 32. A device for maintaining a desired inflation pressure of an interior of a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel being rotatably connected to a stationary member of a vehicle wheel assembly and defining an axis of rotation, the device comprising: at least one magnetic element being mounted on the stationary member at a radial distance from the axis of rotation, the magnetic element producing a magnetic field; a magnetically driven air compressor being mounted on the wheel and being radially disposed from the axis of rotation relative to the magnetic element to transit the magnetic field during each revolution of the wheel, the compressor being in fluid communication with the atmosphere and the interior of the tire, the compressor being operative to intake air from the atmosphere and to output compressed air to the interior of the tire in response to transiting the magnetic field; means for regulating output pressure of the compressor to the desired inflation pressure; a compression chamber defining a variable chamber volume; an actuator being operative to increase and decrease the chamber volume, the actuator being operative to effect an intake stroke to increase chamber volume and thereby intake air from the environment through an intake check valve, the actuator further being operative to effect an output stroke to decrease chamber volume and thereby expel air through an output check valve; and means for applying first and second opposing forces alternately to the actuator, one of the first and second opposing forces increasing the chamber volume and the other of the first and second opposing forces decreasing the chamber volume, at least one of the first and second opposing forces being produced upon transit of the compressor through the magnetic field wherein the compressor includes an intake port and a centrifugal valve, the intake port being in fluid communication with the atmosphere, the centrifugal valve being operative to shut off all air entry into the compressor through the intake port while the wheel is rotating below a predetermined speed.
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