A system is used with a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel rim to keep the pneumatic tire from becoming underinflated. The first system includes a plurality of pumps attached circumferentially to the wheel rim, each pump having pump parameters, and a control valve for controlling inlet air into a tire cavity of the pneumatic tire. The control valve has valve parameters. The system predicts system performance under various configurations and conditions through use of the pump parameters and the valve parameters.

An electronic monitoring system 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.

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.

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.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are arranged in connection with gravity-driven pumps configured in tires, 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. The work can be driving a pump, or generating electrical power to drive a traditional electric pump or other electrical components. A gravity-driven pump is different from an automatic pump that operates using centrifugal force due to rotation of a tire. 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.

A double acting pump mechanism is described for mounting on a wheel for inflating a pneumatic tire. The double acting pump mechanism includes a housing having a first pump chamber and a second pump chamber; wherein a diaphragm separates the first pump chamber from the second pump chamber; the housing further including an inlet port in fluid communication with the first pump chamber, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the second pump chamber, and wherein the outlet of the first pump chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the second pump chamber; a striker plate is positioned for reciprocation in the housing; the striker plate being connected to a diaphragm holder, wherein the diaphragm holder engages the diaphragm and actuates the diaphragm in the first and second pump chamber. Preferably the striker plate is actuated by a permanent or electro magnet mounted on a stationary part, or the striker plate is actuated by an electrically driven magnet.

A pumping mechanism in accordance with the present invention is used with a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel to keep the pneumatic tire from becoming underinflated. The pumping mechanism includes a frame having a first chamber and a pump chamber, a strike plate positioned in the first chamber and being connected to a plunger plate, said plunger plate having a nose for engagement with a diaphragm mounted in the pump chamber; said pump chamber being in fluid communication with a pump inlet and a pump outlet; wherein actuation of the strike plate in the first chamber causes engagement of the nose with the diaphragm. Preferably the strike plate is actuated by a permanent magnet mounted on a stationary part, or the strike plate is actuated by an electrically driven magnet.