A method and system for servicing a vehicle in accordance with pre-determined maintenance settings is provided. Maintenance settings can be communicated to a vehicle maintenance tool via a communication device and the vehicle maintenance tool can interact with the vehicle in accordance with the maintenance settings.

A small volume capacity pump is used to pressurize a small air tank, and the tank is used to top off pressure in an automobile tire or other receptacle. The tank preferably has a reservoir measuring 200-300 cc, and is pressurized to at least 500 psi. The pump preferably has a low volume capacity of 200-300 cc/min, thus requiring at least 15-45 minutes to refill the reservoir to its full operating pressure when empty. A pump can be operated by a DC or AC motor, which can be housed along with, or separately, from the pump. Especially preferred embodiments also include an automatic pressure regulator that can be set to deliver a desired pressure to a receiving device, and a trigger that controls release of air from the tank to the regulator.

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.

The purpose of the present invention is to prevent an extraction cap from getting detached under high-temperature environments while minimizing the force for attaching the extraction cap under low-temperature environments. A connecting means (7) for connecting a compressor (3) and an extraction cap (5) is composed of first and second connecting portions (7A, 7B). The first connecting portion (7A) has a hook pawl portions (28) at the tip end part of each of a pair of plate-shaped base portions (27) extending in a coupling direction from the extraction cap (5) through on both sides of an intake port portion (10), the hook pawl portions (28) having a triangular cross-sectional shape and including a locking surface (28S) projecting outwardly. The second connecting portion (7B) has an engaging surface (29S) that engages with the locking surfaces (28S). The angle 1 of the locking surfaces (28S) is different from the angle 2 of the engaging surfaces (29S); or a plate-shaped portion (40) which is a region from the rear end in the coupling direction, of the plate-shaped base portion (27) to the hook pawl portion (28), has a constant width portion (40A) and a constricted portion (40B).

A wheel changing assembly for safely changing a wheel of a vehicle includes a jack that comprises a first housing. A first power module, a first microprocessor, a pump and a lift are coupled to and positioned in the first housing. The first microprocessor is operationally coupled to the first power module. The pump is operationally coupled to the first microprocessor. The lift is fluidically coupled to the pump. A plate is coupled to a second end of the lift. A plurality of wheels is coupled to a bottom of the first housing. A camera, a plurality of lights and a locator, which are coupled to and positioned in the plate, are operationally coupled to the first microprocessor. The camera is configured to image an underside of the vehicle during placement of the jack. The locator is configured to signal proper positioning of the jack relative to the frame of the vehicle.

An air maintenance system includes a rotating inner ring secured to a vehicle wheel, a stationary outer ring maintaining a constant angular position, an occlusion roller rotationally fixed to the stationary outer ring, the occlusion roller having a protruding portion centered axially at a radially outer surface of the occlusion roller with axially outer portions of the occlusion roller being radially recessed from the protruding portion and supported by bearing surfaces of the rotating inner ring, spacer rollers rotationally fixed to the stationary outer ring and rotationally supported by the bearing surfaces, and a flexible tube defining a pump cavity, the air maintenance system pumping a fluid from the ambient environment into a pneumatic tire by applying an occluding force against the flexible tube, periodically occluding portions of the pump cavity. The spacer rollers have axially outer surfaces for rotational support by bearing surfaces of the rotating inner ring and a recess centered axially at the outer surface of the spacer rollers for avoiding any contact between the spacer rollers and the flexible tube.

A flexible nozzle head for an inflator includes a head-end housing, having an accommodating space for accommodating a nozzle head component; a pump-end housing, being fixedly connected to one end of a pump body of the inflator; and a hose, having one end airtightly overmolded with the head-end housing as an integer and having an opposite end airtightly connected to the pump-end housing. The head-end housing has a through hole communicated with the accommodating space and an axial channel of the hose. The pump-end housing has an interior thereof communicated with the axial channel of the hose.

A flexible nozzle head for an inflator includes a head-end housing, having an accommodating space for accommodating a nozzle head component; a pump-end housing, being fixedly connected to one end of a pump body of the inflator; and a hose, having one end airtightly overmolded with the head-end housing as an integer and having an opposite end airtightly connected to the pump-end housing. The head-end housing has a through hole communicated with the accommodating space and an axial channel of the hose. The pump-end housing has an interior thereof communicated with the axial channel of the hose.

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.

A bicycle rim has rim a pair of rim flanges that defines a tire channel. A rim strip extends across the tire channel. The rim strip includes a pair of flange bumpers configured to cover the rim flanges. The flange bumpers each define a flange channel in which one of the rim flanges is received. A pair of safety humps define corresponding tire seating sections where a tire is seated when inflated. The rim strip further includes a drop seal that seals with the beads of the tire to facilitate seating of the tire during inflation.