Systems and methods for accommodating gravity based devices within wheel rims. An exemplary method includes identifying a number of the gravity based devices to be contained within the wheel, identifying a type of each of the gravity based devices to be contained within the wheel, identifying, based on the type and the number of the gravity based devices, a location where each of the gravity based devices are to be installed within the wheel (i.e., the air hole locations), and generating holes in the rim, where the number of the holes equals the number of the gravity based devices, and where for each air hole location in the air hole locations a single hole in the holes is generated.

A wheel assembly has a rim with an outer radial surface. A tire coupled to the rim defines a first interior region between the outer radial surface and the tire. A bladder coupled to the rim defines a second interior region between the outer radial surface and the bladder. A third interior region is defined between the bladder and the tire. The wheel assembly includes a valve fluidly coupled to the second interior region and the third interior region. The valve is movable between a first position and a second position. The second interior region and the third interior region are fluidly isolated from one another when the valve is in the first position. The second interior region and the third interior region may be fluidly coupled to one another when the valve is in the second position.

A system is used with a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel rim to keep a tire cavity of the pneumatic tire from becoming underinflated from a set pressure. The first system includes a plurality of pumps attached circumferentially to the wheel rim, each pump having a piston for inflating the tire cavity and a weight for moving the piston, and a stop mechanism for each pump, the stop mechanism including a stop piston, a stop cylinder, a first spring, and a second spring, when air pressure in the tire cavity reaches the set pressure, the set pressure overcomes a force of the first spring against the stop piston and moves the stop piston into a stopping engagement with the weight, when air pressure in the tire cavity is below the set pressure, the second spring overcomes the force of the first spring and moves the stop piston away from the weight.

A mounting member for an air maintenance tire is provided. The tire includes a sidewall that is formed with a groove for receiving an air tube and a recess for receiving at least one pneumatic connector that is in fluid communication with the air tube. The mounting member includes a plurality of layers, in which the layers are in stacked alignment with one another. The plurality of layers includes at least an axially outward layer and an axially inward layer. The mounting member is received in the recess and secured to the tire sidewall, thereby securing the position of the at least one pneumatic connector. A method of forming a mounting member for an air maintenance tire is also provided.

An air maintenance tire system is provided. The tire includes a pair of sidewalls, in which each one of the sidewalls extends from a respective bead area to a crown of the tire. The air maintenance tire includes an annular groove formed in a selected one of the tire sidewalls. The groove is formed with an open end at an outer surface of the tire sidewall and a closed end opposite the open end. The open end is formed with an outward radial taper and the groove is formed with at least one increased diameter feature. An air tube of a peristaltic pump assembly is received in the groove.

A connection assembly for an air maintenance tire system is provided. The air maintenance tire system includes an annular air tube, a valve housing and at least one connecting tube that is in fluid communication with the annular air tube and the valve housing. The connection assembly includes a connection housing that in turn includes a first port, a second port and a fluid passageway extending between the first port and the second port. A first compression fitting fluidly connects the annular air tube to the connection housing first port and a second compression fitting fluidly connects the connecting tube to the connection housing second port. The connection assembly enables a secure connection and fluid communication between the annular air tube and the connecting tube.

An air maintenance tire system component protector is provided. An air maintenance tire system includes at least one connecting tube extending between and being in fluid communication with an annular air tube and a valve housing. The protector includes a first end disposed proximate the connection of the at least one connecting tube to the annular tube, and a second end disposed proximate the valve housing. A mid-portion of the protector is disposed between the first and second ends. The protector covers an outboard surface of the at least one connecting tube and the valve housing, and includes means for engaging the at least one connecting tube to secure the position of the tube.

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 tire air filling device according to one embodiment includes a cylinder having a first opening communicating with a tire; and a weight that has an air flow hole through which air to be supplied to the tire passes, and that moves in an axial direction of the cylinder upon a receipt of a centrifugal force, to supply the air from the first opening to the tire. The tire air filling device includes a weight airtight member interposed between the weight and an inner surface of the cylinder; and a weight spring that biases the weight to a side opposite to the tire. The cylinder has a second opening on a side opposite to the first opening, and a cap that is detachably attached to the second opening is provided.

A connecting member and method of forming the connecting member in an air maintenance tire is provided. The method includes providing a tire having a sidewall formed with an annular groove. The groove receives an annular air tube having a first end with a first fitting and a second end with a second fitting. A recess is formed in the tire sidewall along the annular groove at a location where the first end of the annular air tube is adjacent the second end of the annular air tube. A mold formed with a cavity is provided and the fittings are removably secured in the cavity. The mold is positioned on a surface of the tire sidewall and an elastomer or a polymer is introduced into the mold cavity. The mold is heated to form the connecting member on the tire sidewall.