A device for Controlling pressure is disclosed which comprises a pump (28) having opposed pistons (30) which reciprocate in cylinders (40) carried by a casing (38). The pistons (30) are at the outer ends of rings (50) which are themselves fitted to an eccentric (26). The eccentric (28) is integral with a clutch plate (24). A second clutch plate (22) is fixed to a non-rotating axle (18) which itself forms part of a hanging counterweight structure (20). A piston (84) pushes the eccentric and clutch plate (26, 24) against the clutch plate (22) thereby to prevent the eccentric (26) tire from rotating with the rings (50) upon a sensor detecting that a tire has a low pressure in it. Stopping the eccentric initiates the pumping action of the pistons (30).

A pumping system configured to pump fluid from the ambient environment to a target reservoir, the pumping system including: a fluid pump configured to statically mount to a rotating surface, the pump configured to rotate about an axis of rotation; a pump reservoir statically coupled to the fluid pump and configured to fluidly couple to the target reservoir, the pump reservoir including a collection area defined along a portion of the pump reservoir radially outward of the axis of rotation; and a liquid separation member arranged along a portion of the collection area, the liquid separation member including a membrane configured to preferentially permit liquid flow therethrough.

A pumping assembly keeps a pneumatic tire from becoming underinflated. The pumping assembly includes at least one pump attached to the tire rim, a cam fixed to the gravity mass for maintaining the cam in a fixed position relative to the gravity mass, and rollers for engaging the cam and producing the pumping action as the tire rim rotates and the gravity mass retards rotation of the cam.

A wheel hub assembly of a bicycle wheel is disclosed that include a wheel axle, a rotary pump that may be composed of a pump housing, a pump rotor, a first fluid port configured for fluidly coupling to a pneumatic tire and a second fluid port configured for fluidly coupling to a fluid reservoir. The assembly allows for conveniently and efficiently modifying the tire pressure in bicycles at will while riding, in as many cycles as desired and without contaminating the air inside the tires.

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.

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.

In variants, a two-stage pump can include a piston and a cylinder cooperatively defining a first stage in front of the piston fluidly connected to a second stage behind the piston, wherein a forward stroke of the piston pressurizes working fluid in the first stage and forces pressurized working fluid into the second stage, and a backward stroke of the piston further pressurizes working fluid in the second stage and exhausts pressurized working fluid out a pump exhaust.

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.

In variants, a two-stage pump can include a piston and a cylinder cooperatively defining a first stage in front of the piston fluidly connected to a second stage behind the piston, wherein a forward stroke of the piston pressurizes working fluid in the first stage and forces pressurized working fluid into the second stage, and a backward stroke of the piston further pressurizes working fluid in the second stage and exhausts pressurized working fluid out a pump exhaust.