A system and method/apparatus are provided which dynamically and optionally automatically and individually adjust air pressure in the tire or tires of a vehicle. In one purely mechanical embodiment, the system is adapted for use with at least one tire mounted on a rim. The tire has an internal volume inflated with air. The rim is made up of two nested portions adapted such that relative rotation of the nested portions from a neutral position in which tire pressure is at a highest level causes a device in the system to increase the volume inside the tire so as to reduce the tire pressure, thereby increasing grip. The invention adjusts tire pressure quickly and dynamically, depending on braking or acceleration forces acting on the vehicle, and optionally, based on the terrain and the particular road or track conditions to which the vehicle is subjected.

A tire inflator having an air compressor to inflate a tire to a predetermined pressure threshold. A central OBD module plugged into in a vehicle uses a short-range radio to transmit to the inflator the predetermined pressure threshold fit for a vehicle. An OBD vehicle bus reader can obtain a VIN of an associated vehicle model. A predetermined tire pressure threshold memory contains a predetermined look-up table of tire pressure thresholds for models. A processor uses the VIN to identify the vehicle model in the look-up table to select the one of the predetermined tire pressure thresholds including a spare tire pressure threshold. A short-range radio wirelessly transmits the looked-up tire pressure threshold including a spare tire pressure threshold to each inflator. The tire inflator has an optical moisture sensor on air inlet or air outlet. The air compressor is disabled when moisture is detected.

A tire inflator having an air compressor to inflate a tire to a predetermined pressure threshold. A central OBD module plugged into in a vehicle uses a short-range radio to transmit to the inflator the predetermined pressure threshold fit for a vehicle. An OBD vehicle bus reader can obtain a VIN of an associated vehicle model. A predetermined tire pressure threshold memory contains a predetermined look-up table of tire pressure thresholds for models. A processor uses the VIN to identify the vehicle model in the look-up table to select the one of the predetermined tire pressure thresholds including a spare tire pressure threshold. A short-range radio wirelessly transmits the looked-up tire pressure threshold including a spare tire pressure threshold to each inflator. The tire inflator has an optical moisture sensor on air inlet or air outlet. The air compressor is disabled when moisture is detected.

A motor vehicle (10, 100) with a chassis (20, 120), a plurality of wheels (12, 14, 16, 18) with pneumatic tyres (14a) and an on-board compressed air system (40, 140) for supplying pneumatic operating devices of motor vehicle (10, 100), includes at least one brake circuit (44) and/or one air suspension system (46), an emergency system (60, 160) for temporary pressurisation of the tyres in the event of a flat tyre, including compressed air connections (62, 64, 66, 68; 162, 164, 166, 168) installed permanently on the motor vehicle, each one having a flexible compressed air hose (70) for connection with a tyre valve (14b) and may be stored entirely in the motor vehicle (10, 100) and extracted from it in the event of a flat tyre, and which is supplied by the on-board compressed air system (40, 140).

A motor vehicle (10, 100) with a chassis (20, 120), a plurality of wheels (12, 14, 16, 18) with pneumatic tyres (14a) and an on-board compressed air system (40, 140) for supplying pneumatic operating devices of motor vehicle (10, 100), includes at least one brake circuit (44) and/or one air suspension system (46), an emergency system (60, 160) for temporary pressurisation of the tyres in the event of a flat tyre, including compressed air connections (62, 64, 66, 68; 162, 164, 166, 168) installed permanently on the motor vehicle, each one having a flexible compressed air hose (70) for connection with a tyre valve (14b) and may be stored entirely in the motor vehicle (10, 100) and extracted from it in the event of a flat tyre, and which is supplied by the on-board compressed air system (40, 140).

A tire management system is provided for automatically inflating and deflating tires of a vehicle. The system comprises: couplings, for releasably coupling to each of the tires of the vehicle; an inlet, for receiving compressed gas, the inlet selectively couplable to the couplings for inflating the tires of the vehicle; an outlet, selectively couplable to the couplings for deflating the tires of the vehicle; and a controller, configured to receive a desired target pressure for one or more of the tires and automatically couple the inlet or outlet to the one or more tires to achieve the target pressure. The tires are grouped into two or more groups of tires, and wherein the controller is configurable to inflate and/or deflate the tires according to the groups of tires.

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 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 control apparatus and method for varying tire pressure can improve fuel efficiency, energy efficiency, and driving performance by applying a bimetal to a rim portion of a wheel, inducing deformation of the bimetal by applying current to the bimetal according to conditions such as driving information and road information, and individually controlling air pressures of four tires of the front and rear wheels through the deformation of the bimetal.

A vehicle includes a plurality of track systems, a fluid pump, a plurality of fluid lines fluidly connecting the fluid pump to at least some of the tires of the wheels of each of the track systems, a plurality of pneumatic inflation actuators, a plurality of pneumatic deflation actuators, and a system controller. The system controller is in electronic communication with the fluid pump, the plurality of pneumatic inflation actuators, and the plurality of pneumatic deflation actuators. The system controller is operable to selectively adjust fluid pressure in select ones of the wheels of any one of the track systems of the vehicle by actuating corresponding ones of the plurality of pneumatic inflation actuators and the plurality of pneumatic deflation actuators. A track system has at least one of the leading idler wheels, trailing idler wheels, and mid-roller wheels including a tire containing a fluid.