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).

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).

The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel comprising a hub, a rim and an inflatable tyre, in which the hub is situated around a rotation axle of the wheel, a compressor which is situated substantially inside the hub for compressing outside air, provided with an inlet for taking in air at atmospheric pressure and an outlet for delivering air at an increased pressure; a drive for driving the compressor, in which the drive is movable with respect to the rotation axle, in particular rotatable, more particularly rotatable in a direction opposite to that of the hub; an air reservoir for storing the air at increased pressure, in which the air reservoir is situated inside the rim of the wheel; a connection for connecting the outlet of the compressor to the air reservoir of the inflatable tyre of the wheel.

An air supply system includes: a telescopic pump attached to a wheel and discharging compressed air into a tire by extending and contracting; a cam member rotatably supported on the wheel and having a center of gravity eccentric to the wheel and an annular cam surface eccentric to the wheel, wherein the cam member rotating relative to the wheel as the wheel rotates, with one end part of the pump following the cam surface, causing the pump to extend and contract to supply air into the tire by a rotary power of the wheel; and a pump on/off mechanism that is activated upon receiving a pressure inside the tire, allowing the pump to operate when the pressure is at or below a reference lower limit, and stopping the pump when the pressure is at or above a reference upper limit that is larger than the reference lower limit.

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.

A hub-integrated inflation system which functions to convert relative motion at the wheel end (e.g., between the axle and the hub or wheel) into a pumping motion. The relative motion is then converted into mechanical or electrical energy, which can be used to actuate a pump of an inflator.

A pumping assembly keeps a pneumatic tire from becoming underinflated. The pumping assembly includes an even number of pumps attached to the tire rim, a gravity mass for producing a pumping action, 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 as the tire rim rotates.

A tire inflation apparatuses is provided for maintaining a predetermined inflation pressure of a pair of tires mounted on a dual wheel unit of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a first and a second pump unit that are connected to a housing that includes a mounting structure for engaging a complementary mounting structure of the dual wheel unit. The first and second pump include first and second pump rods configured to translate in response to rotation of the dual wheel unit. A gearset and an eccentric drive mechanism are arranged to reciprocate the first and second pump rods.

A device for controlling tire 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 (26) 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) 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).

An air maintenance tire pump simulator that simulates the environment of an air maintenance tire system is provided. The simulator includes at least one pneumatic cylinder, a structure that forms a closed cavity, and a pneumatic conduit extending between and fluidly connecting the pneumatic cylinder and the closed cavity. A cam is operably connected to a motor, and is also operably connected to the pneumatic cylinder. Engagement of the motor actuates rotation of the cam, which in turn actuates operation of the pneumatic cylinder to increase a pressure in the closed cavity. A method of simulating an air maintenance tire system is also provided.