A pump (1) for housing within a tyre, the pump (1) comprising: a fluid chamber comprising an inlet (4) operatively connectable to the environment and an outlet (6) operatively connectable to a tyre cavity; wherein the fluid chamber is compressible and is configurable to expel air into a tyre cavity via the outlet during compression of the fluid chamber and draw air in from the environment via the inlet during expansion of the fluid chamber; an actuation member configurable to extend through the tread of a tyre for contacting a road surface during use; the actuation member comprising a plate (18) configured to compress the fluid chamber; wherein the actuation member is configured to move between a first position, in which the fluid chamber is expanded, and a second position, in which the fluid chamber is compressed by the plate (18); and the pump (1) is configurable such that, in use, a part of the actuation member is in fluid communication with the tyre cavity and fluid pressure contributes to a first force on the actuation member towards the second position; the pump (1) further comprising: a return (12) arranged to urge the actuation member towards the first position; wherein the fluid chamber and/or return (12) are configured to contribute to a second force acting on the actuation member towards the first position.

A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube mounted within a tire sidewall groove. The air tube is in contacting engagement with opposite angled groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. A segment of the air tube is flattened from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter by bending and compression of the groove in a rolling tire footprint to force air evacuated from the flattened segment along a tube air passageway. The sidewall groove extends into an annular, axially extending, sidewall surface such as an axially oriented surface of a tire chafer protrusion located in non-contacting relationship with the rim. The air tube is extruded from a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.25 to 5 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a self-lubrication agent capable of migrating from the rubber composition to the groove surface and disposing on the groove surface as a liquid; and from 1 to 15 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a vulcanization modifier for use in the second rubber composition include α,ω-bis(N,N′-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides.

The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a sidewall component, the sidewall component including an air passageway extending at least partially about the circumference of the tire, the air passageway surrounded by and in fluid communication with a surface comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.25 to 5 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a self-lubrication agent capable of migrating from the rubber composition to the groove surface and disposing on the groove surface as a liquid; and from 1 to 15 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a vulcanization modifier for use in the second rubber composition include α,ω-bis(N,N′-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides.

A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube mounted within a tire sidewall groove. The air tube is in contacting engagement with opposite angled groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. A segment of the air tube is flattened from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter by bending and compression of the groove in a rolling tire footprint to force air evacuated from the flattened segment along a tube air passageway. The sidewall groove extends into an annular, axially extending, sidewall surface such as an axially oriented surface of a tire chafer protrusion located in non-contacting relationship with the rim. The opposite groove surfaces comprise a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.25 to 5 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a self-lubrication agent capable of migrating from the rubber composition to the groove surface and disposing on the groove surface as a liquid; and from 1 to 15 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a vulcanization modifier for use in the second rubber composition include α,ω-bis(N,N′-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides.

A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to a regulator device. The regulator device regulates the inlet air flow to the air tube and the outlet air flow to the tire cavity.

All tire systems, including tire systems that include self-inflating devices, need to have the ability to regularly and reliably monitor and report vehicle and tire conditions for safety reasons. For a self-inflating tire, this can be accomplished by monitoring the operation of the self-inflation system, and assessing if it is consistent with a tire in good condition.

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.

Environmentally friendly electrical vehicles are presented. The electrical vehicles include electrical low speed vehicles (LSVs) that may use sensed location data to obtain one or more operational profiles. The operational profiles may govern the behavior of the LSV in a specific environment, area, or zone to ensure the LSV reduces its impact on the local terrain. The LSV may leverage locally sensed data to form a local context in which the LSV is operating. The LSV's vehicular controller may refine the operational parameters of the operational profile to ensure smooth operation based on local conditions from the local context.

All tire systems, including tire systems that include self-inflating devices, need to have the ability to regularly and reliably monitor and report vehicle and tire conditions for safety reasons. For a self-inflating tire, this can be accomplished by monitoring the operation of the self-inflation system, and assessing if it is consistent with a tire in good condition.

Provided is a tire assembly includes a tire, a power generating body disposed inside the tire, and an electronic device that receives supply of power that is output from the power generating body. The power generating body includes a first insulating film, a second insulating film, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first insulating film has a first surface. The second insulating film has a second surface. The first and second electrodes have conductivity. The power generating body is configured such that a true area of contact between the first surface and the second surface changes according to deformation of the tire.