A system is used with a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel rim to keep the pneumatic tire from becoming underinflated. The first system includes a plurality of pumps attached circumferentially to the wheel rim, each pump having pump parameters, and a control valve for controlling inlet air into a tire cavity of the pneumatic tire. The control valve has valve parameters. The system predicts system performance under various configurations and conditions through use of the pump parameters and the valve parameters.

A wheel for an air maintenance tire system is provided. The air maintenance tire system includes at least one pump and a regulator. The wheel includes a body that is formed with an axially-extending wall, a pair of flanges, and a pair of bead mounting areas. Each bead mounting area is disposed axially inwardly proximate a respective one of the flanges. The axially-extending wall is formed with an AMT mounting channel. The AMT mounting channel extends circumferentially about the wheel approximately mid-way between the flanges and is defined by a first adjacent wall, a second adjacent wall, and a base. Mounting surfaces are formed in or adjacent the AMT mounting channel, so that the at least one pump is mounted in the AMT mounting channel radially inwardly of the bead mounting areas.

A chamber is provided that works as a peristaltic pump for the pressure correction in the tire, which is a part of the tire or of an ancillary structure placed between the rim and the tire bead and is connected with the tire internal space at one end and with the external environment at the other end. The chamber is in the shape of a curved hollow channel, where at least one enclosing wall is at least partially formed by at least a pair of surfaces coplanar with the longitudinal direction of the chamber. When the tire is mounted on the rim, the pair of surfaces are pressed together thus hermetically closing the chamber. When the chamber is closed during rotation of the wheel, the surfaces can slightly slide on one another taking internal wall tensions onto themselves thus decreasing the possibility of wall damage through ripping.

Apparatus and method for manufacturing an air maintenance tire includes an air pumping tube assembly station constructing an air pumping tube sub-assembly, a tire preparation station for forming passageways in the tire to accept an outlet device of the air pumping tube sub-assembly, an air pumping tube sub-assembly installation station and a pressure regulator installation station. The air pumping tube sub-assembly inserts into an elongate tire groove opening, facilitated by groove-spreading apparatus.

An inflation electronic control module for a tire inflation system comprising a solenoid valve disposed so as to selectively open or close fluid communication between a fluid pressure source and a vehicle tire in response to one or more pressure signals. The tire inflation system further comprising a fluid pressure sensor disposed so as to detect delivery-side fluid pressure between the solenoid valve and the vehicle tire, and provide a pressure signal corresponding to the detected fluid pressure.

A tire pressure system for a vehicle includes an inflation/deflation system that includes a compressor and a valve in fluid communication with four tires. Each of the four tires have a tire pressure. At least one sensor is configured to receive at least one of vehicle location data, vehicle environmental data and other sensor information. A controller is in communication with the inflation/deflation system and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to select at least one of the four tires to adjust the tire pressure of the selected at least one of the four tires. The controller is configured to control at least one of the valve and compressor to achieve at least one of desired fuel economy and desired road control of the selected at least one of the four tires.

A tire pressure system for a vehicle includes an inflation/deflation system that includes a compressor and a valve in fluid communication with four tires. Each of the four tires have a tire pressure. At least one sensor is configured to receive at least one of vehicle location data, vehicle environmental data and other sensor information. A controller is in communication with the inflation/deflation system and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to select at least one of the four tires to adjust the tire pressure of the selected at least one of the four tires. The controller is configured to control at least one of the valve and compressor to achieve at least one of desired fuel economy and desired road control of the selected at least one of the four tires.

A pump for use on the inside surface of the tread of a tyre, the pump comprising: a base plate for attaching to the inside surface of the tread of a tyre; a compression plate; a first restraint connected to the base plate and arranged to engage a first side of the compression plate; a second restraint connected to the base plate and arranged to engage a second side of the compression plate; and a compressible chamber arranged between the compression plate and the base plate; wherein the compressible chamber comprises an inlet and an outlet and is arranged to contain a fluid; wherein the pump is arranged such that when the pump is attached to the inside surface of the tread of a rolling tyre, the first and second restraints move the compression plate relative to the base plate as the pump traverses a contact patch of the tyre such that the compressible chamber is peristaltically compressed between the compression plate and the base plate, ejecting fluid from the compressible chamber through the outlet and then drawing fluid in to the compressible chamber through the inlet.

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.