An energy harvesting system is attachable to the wheel-end of a wheeled vehicle. The system generates usable mechanical or electrical energy from the relative motion between a rotating component that rotates with the rotation of a vehicle wheel and a component that does not rotate with the rotation of the vehicle wheel. The usable energy may be employed by a monitor, analysis and control system that monitors sensor readings and may analyze the readings to diagnose conditions related to vehicle components, including tires, axles, bearings or components of the monitoring system.

A vehicle control system may include a wheel end unit attachable to the wheel-end of a wheeled vehicle. The system may employ one or more sensors to adjust wheel-end parameters and analyze sensor readings to diagnose conditions related to vehicle components, including tires, axles, bearings or components of the monitoring system. The system may analyze readings to predict conditions related to vehicle components or to components of the monitoring system. Wheel-end systems may be modular, allowing different implementations to include varying degrees of mechanical or electrical monitoring, analysis and control.

A vehicle control system may include a wheel end unit attachable to the wheel-end of a wheeled vehicle. The system may employ a plurality of pumps to supply compressed air to a tire associated with the wheel-end. The pumps may be supplied with energy transferred from torque generated by a pendulum, the energy transmitted through a non-circular gearing system.

A vehicular monitoring system includes a plurality of wheel-end units, each of which is attachable to the wheel-end of a wheeled vehicle. The system monitors sensor readings and may analyze the readings to diagnose conditions related to vehicle components, including tires, axles, bearings or components of the monitoring system. The system may analyze readings to predict, or prognosticate, conditions related to vehicle components or to components of the monitoring system. Each wheel-end unit includes a communications interface for communications among wheel-end units associated with a vehicle monitored by the system.

The invention relates to a vehicle with a compressor assembly for supplying pressure medium to a tire cavity of a tire of the vehicle wheel mounted on a wheel hub, wherein the wheel hub is mounted on a wheel carrier so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The compressor assembly is located at or in the wheel hub mount.

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.

The invention relates to a compressor assembly for supplying pressure medium to a tire cavity of a vehicle wheel that can be mounted on a wheel hub which can be mounted on a wheel carrier so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The compressor assembly includes a wheel mount-side transmission component or the hub-side transmission component, which includes a cylindrical cam.

Systems and methods for inflating a tire are described herein. The systems and methods use a centrifugal force acting on a piston or the inertia of the piston to compress air to inflate the tire. Compressed air is ported into the tire, maintaining the pressure 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.

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).