A connection arrangement for a tire inflation system. The connection arrangement includes a rotary union and a hose assembly. A main body of the hose assembly is insertable into and removeable from a receptacle cavity of the rotary union when in a first rotational position. A locking protrusion of the hose assembly is received in the locking opening of the rotary union to secure the main body to the rotary union when in the second rotational position.

A pressure equalization valve assembly may include a valve body forming fluid chamber configured to receive pressurized fluid from a fluid pressure source, a first port configured for sealed communication with a first vehicle tire, and a second port configured for sealed communication with a second vehicle tire; a first one-way valve disposed in the valve body between the fluid chamber and the first port so as to allow one-way fluid communication from the fluid chamber to the first port when the first one-way valve opens; a second one-way valve disposed in the valve body between the fluid chamber and the second port so as to allow one-way fluid communication from the fluid chamber to the second port when the second one-way valve opens; and a two-way valve disposed in the valve body between the first port and the second port so as to allow two-way fluid communication between the first port and the second port when the two-way valve opens.

Disclosed is a method for communicating measurement messages between a plurality of electronic measurement modules and an electronic control unit of a motor vehicle. The method includes the steps of measurement (E1), by a primary emitter module, of parameter values associated with the wheel in which the module is mounted, of sending (E2), by the primary emitter module, of measurement messages to a relay module, of reception (E3) by the relay module, of the measurement messages sent, of measurement (E5), by the relay module, of parameter values associated with the wheel in which the relay module is mounted and of sending (E6), by the relay module, of the measurement messages received and of its own measurements to the electronic control unit.

A device for transport of air in the tire P or close to it consisting of a chamber K in the shape of a hollow compressible channel, placed along at least a part of the tire perimeter, characterized by the fact that a ring OK is placed at the inner side of the chamber K with the distance of its outer side from the tire axis of rotation equal to 1 to 1.1 multiple of the distance of the bottom side of the chamber K from the axis of rotation of the tire P.

A method for localizing the installation position of wheels in a motor vehicle having at least a first, second and third wheels, includes allocating respective wheel electronics to the wheels for emitting a radio signal with an identifier and allocating at least one vehicle-side rotational angle sensor to at least a first possible installation position. The installation position of the first wheel is determined by output signals of the rotational angle sensor at a first possible installation position. In addition, the installation position of the second and third wheels is determined by measuring the field strength of radio signals with identifiers of the wheel electronics of the second and third wheels by using a vehicle-side receiving device. In this way, precise determination of the location of the wheel electronics can be performed with minimum expenditure on devices, without having to provide a rotational angle sensor on each wheel.

A tire management system includes a control valve and a check valve. A method for managing a tire includes: determining a pressure parameter value, determining an operational parameter for a valve based on the pressure parameter value, and controlling the valve based on the operational parameter.

A device (10) is disclosed for providing air to a tire which is mounted on a wheel rim which itself is free to rotate about a fixed, that is, non-rotatable axle 22. The device includes a pump (50, 52, 54, 62) which in use rotates with the tire and which is configured to provide, when activated, air under pressure to the tire. There is a pump drive system for activating the pump. The pump drive system comprising a piston rod (56) which is connected to and rotates with the tire and a body (40) which rotates in unison with the rod (56) while the pump is inactive. An electric motor (68) rotates the body (40) with respect to the rod (56) to activate the pump and provide air to the tire. Rotation of the body (40) is superimposed on rotation of the pump with the tire. The device also includes a stator component (26) and coils (30) and magnets (32) for generating, by electrical induction, power for driving the motor using the relative rotation between the second part and the stator component (26).

The invention comprises a tire pressure monitoring system. One system comprises a tire pressure monitor that signals to a user with audio alarm and visual alarm. Another component is the use of a tire air pressure balancing device with a safety trigger to ensure that dual tire systems share air but that stop sharing air in the case of rapid air pressure drop as in cases of tire blow out.

A device for transport of air in the tire P or close to it consisting of a chamber K in the shape of a hollow compressible channel, placed along at least a part of the tire perimeter, characterized by the fact that a ring OK is placed at the inner side of the chamber K with the distance of its outer side from the tire axis of rotation equal to 1 to 1.1 multiple of the distance of the bottom side of the chamber K from the axis of rotation of the tire P.

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.