A compressor unit (38) for supplying pressurized medium to a tire mounted on a vehicle wheel rim (34), having a compressor (58) for exerting pressure on a fluid medium that is to be conveyed into the tire. The compressor unit (38) is dimensioned to be accommodated in a center bore (44) of the vehicle wheel rim (34) when the vehicle wheel rim (34) is in the mounted state on a wheel hub (62); and the compressor (58) can be driven by a drive unit (56) positioned in the vicinity of the center bore (44) of the vehicle wheel rim (34). The compressor unit (38) is usable with a vehicle wheel rim (34) having a pressurized medium supply device (22) for a tire that is mounted on the vehicle wheel rim (34), as well as a vehicle having a vehicle wheel that includes such a vehicle wheel rim (34).

An air maintenance system for use with a pneumatic tire is described. The air maintenance system includes a pumping mechanism that is preferably mounted on the interior surface of a wheel rim to keep the pneumatic tire from becoming underinflated. The pumping mechanism includes at least one dual chamber pump, preferably at least two dual chamber pumps configured in series. More preferably, the dual chamber pumps are driven by an external mass that moves as the tire rotates. The tire's rotational energy operates the pump to ensure the tire cavity is maintained at the desired pressure level. An optional control valve shuts off airflow to the pumping mechanism when the tire cavity pressure is at the desired level.

A self-inflating pumping mechanism for tires or tubes is provided. Two arc-shaped lever arms connected through a hinge enclose a lumen/collapsible cavity below the hinge. The design provides great mechanical leverage, which is generated by the lever arms and exerted directly onto the lumen. This translates into higher pumping pressures, lower activation loads, better ride quality and lower energy consumption. The design has a lumen that is mechanically isolated from the inner tube or air pressure in the main cavity of the inner tube, avoiding the need to reinforce the lumen against the pressure of the tire. The lever arms and hinge carry the load directly above the lumen and transfer the load directly to the tire

A pneumatic control device is provided designed to work with self-inflating inner tubes and tires, specifically for bicycles or wheelchairs. The device distinguishes a stem assembly and an air control assembly. The device allows users to set a desired pressure and maintains that constant pressure over time, thereby eliminating the need to manually re-fill the tires. The device is compatible with current rims and tires and requires no modification to be installed to existing rims. The device works by regulating the intake of air from the atmosphere into the self-inflating pumping mechanism. Once the desired pressure is reached, the system stops new air from entering the self-inflating mechanism.

The system can include: a wheel-mounted pump and a dehumidifying system arranged along the fluid path between the pump outlet and a tire inlet. In variants, the dehumidifying system includes a set of angled channels that aggregate water in radially-outward channel segments. The angled channels can be fluidly connected to a purge valve selectively fluidly connected to an ambient environment.

An air maintenance tire assembly includes a tire having a tire cavity bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region and air pumping means for generating pressurized air for maintaining air pressure within the tire cavity at a preset pressure level. The air pumping means includes an upper mounting plate fixed to a vehicle rim, a lower mounting plate fixed to the rim and diametrically opposed to the upper mounting plate, a dynamic mass pivotally attached to the upper mounting plate at a first end of the dynamic mass, and a pump fixed to the lower mounting plate and pivotally attached to a second end of the dynamic mass.

A tire inflation system and method for a tire supported by a wheel, the tire inflation system including a pump system including a pump cavity configured to fluidly connect to the tire, an actuating element configured to actuate relative the pump cavity, a drive mechanism rotatably coupled to the wheel, the drive mechanism including a motion transformer and an eccentric mass, a valve fluidly connecting the pump cavity to a fluid reservoir; and a control system configured to operate the valve.

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for gravity-driven pumps, gravity-driven power generators that power electric pumps, as well as various supporting concepts, mechanisms, and approaches. As a tire rotates around an axle, the pull of gravity varies for a given point on the tire. While gravity is always pulling down, the force relative to a fixed point on the tire changes. Gravity-driven pumps exploit these changes in gravitational force to do work. Automatic, gravity-driven pumps can be used to inflate tires to offset the natural gas leakage of modern tires, and can maintain tire pressure and inflation within a desired or optimal range. As different conditions are met, pump parameters are determined which can adjust the pumps. Such conditions include driving patterns, load, and temperature, and resulting adjustments include turning on and off pumps, varying stroke length, and varying the number of strokes required.

A device for adjustment of pressure in tires includes a chamber with shape memory and a valve. The valve is a three-way valve with inputs interconnected with the external environment and the tire internal space. One input is fitted with a valve, the next input is connected to one end of the chamber with shape memory, and the last input is interconnected with the closure element. The device includes the chamber with shape memory interconnected with the external environment through an input and with the tire chamber through an output and fitted with at least one valve. The length of the chamber in the direction of tire rotation equals 0.001 to 0.5 times the tire perimeter, where the volume of the chamber before deformation to volume of the chamber during deformation ratio is the same or higher than the desired tire pressure to pressure of the external environment ratio.

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.