A compressor assembly (10) for supplying pressure medium to a tire cavity (7) of a tire of a vehicle wheel, which can be mounted on a wheel hub (4) that is mounted on a wheel carrier (3) for rotation about an axis of rotation (32). The compressor assembly (10) includes a hub-side compression chamber (16) and a compressor component (18). A pressure medium is conducted into the tire cavity (7) upon being pressurized in the compression chamber (16) by oscillating translational motion of the compressor component (18). The compressor assembly (10) includes a transmission (20) that converts a rotational motion between the wheel carrier side and the wheel hub side into an oscillating translational motion of the compressor component (18) when a hub-side transmission part (24) is in an operating position with a wheel-carrier-side transmission part (26).

The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel comprising a hub, a rim and an inflatable tyre, in which the hub is situated around a rotation axle of the wheel, a compressor which is situated substantially inside the hub for compressing outside air, provided with an inlet for taking in air at atmospheric pressure and an outlet for delivering air at an increased pressure; a drive for driving the compressor, in which the drive is movable with respect to the rotation axle, in particular rotatable, more particularly rotatable in a direction opposite to that of the hub; an air reservoir for storing the air at increased pressure, in which the air reservoir is situated inside the rim of the wheel; a connection for connecting the outlet of the compressor to the air reservoir of the inflatable tyre of the wheel.

A wheel-mounted air compression apparatus for maintaining a predetermined inflation pressure of a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle and the tire having an inflation port includes a housing defining an air compression chamber and has an air compressor device positioned therein. The apparatus includes a plurality of support legs spaced apart from one another. Each support leg is attached to the housing and extends away therefrom and may include a pair of sleeves that are length-adjustable for mounting to wheels of various sizes. A pressure sensor is situated in the housing and operably connected to the air compressor and to a nozzle for determining a current pressure of air within the tire. A controller or other electronics cause the air compressor to pump air into a tire if the air pressure therein is detected as declining below a predetermined amount.

A hub-integrated inflation system which functions to convert relative motion at the wheel end (e.g., between the axle and the hub or wheel) into a pumping motion. The relative motion is then converted into mechanical or electrical energy, which can be used to actuate a pump of an inflator.

A hub-integrated inflation system which functions to convert relative motion at the wheel end (e.g., between the axle and the hub or wheel) into a pumping motion. The relative motion is then converted into mechanical or electrical energy, which can be used to actuate a pump of an inflator.

Environmentally friendly electrical vehicles are presented. The electrical vehicles include electrical low speed vehicles (LSVs) that may use sensed location data to obtain one or more operational profiles. The operational profiles may govern the behavior of the LSV in a specific environment, area, or zone to ensure the LSV reduces its impact on the local terrain. The LSV may leverage locally sensed data to form a local context in which the LSV is operating. The LSV's vehicular controller may refine the operational parameters of the operational profile to ensure smooth operation based on local conditions from the local context.

A peristaltic pump chamber with shape memory for pressure adjustment in tires is provided and which is part of the tire or is adjacent to the tire wall or is a part of a vehicle wheel, in particular for tires with an inner tube, e.g. bicycle tires.

A device (10) for providing air under pressure to a rotating pneumatic tire is disclosed. The device comprises a pump (48, 50, 58) which in use rotates with the tire and which provides air under pressure to the tire when the pump is activated. There is a pump drive system for activating the pump upon a loss of pressure in the tire. The pump drive system includes a connecting rod (52) which is rotationally connected to the tire and an eccentric body (32) which rotates with the rod when the pump is inactive. The eccentric body is inhibited from rotating with the rod to activate the pump. Relative rotation between the rod and the eccentric body drives the pump to provide air under pressure to the tire. An electromagnetic clutch is provided which has a first plate (26) which is non-rotatable and a second plate (36) which rotates with the body. The first plate is connected to the second plate electromagnetically when the clutch is engaged to prevent rotation of the second plate and hence of the connecting rod.

A device for maintaining and changing the pressure in a is provided whereby the inner pressure space of the tire is connected through a pump to a pressure accumulator which, at its input and/or output into the inner pressure space of the tire, is fitted with at least one pressure control element. The pump can be a peristaltic pump in the shape of a deformable hose placed on the perimeter of the tire, fitted with an air inlet and an air outlet, while the air inlet and the air outlet are positioned on the perimeter of the tire distant from each other by a preset length, dependent on the deformation of the tire.

A system for tire inflation including a drive mechanism defining a rotational axis, including an eccentric mass that offsets a center of mass of the drive mechanism from the rotational axis along a radial vector; a pump arranged radially distal the rotational axis of the drive mechanism, including a chamber defining a chamber lumen, and a reciprocating element arranged at least partially within the chamber lumen and translatable along a pump axis; a drive coupler coupled between the drive mechanism at a first position and the reciprocating element at a second position fixed to the reciprocating element; a torque regulation mechanism; and a controller, communicatively coupled to the torque regulation mechanism; wherein the system is operable between at least a first mode and a second mode by the torque regulation mechanism in cooperation with the controller.