A DEVICE

Abstract

A device for preventing excessive increase of an internal pressure of a rolling assembly, the rolling assembly having a rotation axis and comprising a wheel and a tire, the tire being mounted onto the wheel creating an inner cavity surrounded by a wheel internal surface and a tire internal surface, comprising a cold spot placed in the inner cavity of the rolling assembly for condensing vapor contained in a gas filled in the inner cavity and a storage mean for capturing and keeping condensed vapor.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A device (1) for preventing excessive increase of an internal pressure of a rolling assembly (2), the rolling assembly (2) having a rotation axis and comprising a wheel (3) and a tire (4), the tire (4) being mounted onto the wheel (3) creating an inner cavity (5) surrounded by a wheel internal surface (39) and a tire internal surface (49), comprising: a cold spot (6) placed in the inner cavity (5) of the rolling assembly (2) for condensing vapor contained in a gas filled in the inner cavity (5); and a storage mean (61) for capturing and keeping condensed vapor.

13. The device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the storage mean (61) has at least one storage layer (62) filled in the storage mean (61) at least partly.

14. The device (1) according to claim 13, wherein the at least one storage layer (62) is made of a material selected from the group consisting of microporous material, water reactive material, water absorbent polymer or mixtures thereof.

15. The device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the device (1) is partly exposed to the air outside of the rolling assembly (2) through the wheel (3) and/or the tire (4).

16. The device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the device (1) further comprises a heat exchanging mean (7) attached to the cold spot (6).

17. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the cold spot (6) is a thermoelectric cooler provided with a power supply (8) to the cold spot (6).

18. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the heat exchanging mean (7) has a plurality of fins (71).

19. The device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the device (1) is affixed onto the tire internal surface (49).

20. The device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the device (1) is affixed onto the wheel internal surface (39).

21. The device (1) according to claim 20, wherein the wheel (3) comprises a heat conductive portion (37) surrounded by a heat insulating portion (38), and wherein the device (1) is affixed onto the wheel internal surface (39) corresponding to the heat conductive portion (37).

22. The device (1) according to claim 20, wherein the rolling assembly (2) further comprises a tank (9) filled via a compressed gas affixed onto the wheel (3), and wherein the tank (9) comprises a mean to blow the compressed gas to a portion of the wheel (3) corresponding to a position on the wheel internal surface (39) where the device (1) is affixed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0041] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention arise from the description made hereafter in reference to the annexed drawings which show, as nonrestrictive examples, the embodiment of the invention.

[0042] In these drawings:

[0043] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly provided with a device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view showing a portion indicated as II in FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view showing a portion corresponding to the portion indicated as II in FIG. 1 according to a variant of the first embodiment;

[0046] FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view showing a portion corresponding to the portion indicated as II in FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly provided with a device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly provided with a device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic view showing a portion indicated as VII in FIG. 6;

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0050] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below referring to the drawings.

[0051] A device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly provided with a device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view showing a portion indicated as II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view showing a portion corresponding to the portion indicated as II in FIG. 1 according to a variant of the first embodiment.

[0052] The device 1 is a device for preventing excessive increase of an internal pressure of a rolling assembly 2. The rolling assembly 2 having a rotation axis X-X and comprising a wheel 3 and a tire 4, the tire 4 being mounted onto the wheel 3 creating an inner cavity 5 surrounded by a wheel internal surface 39 and a tire internal surface 49. The device 1 comprises a cold spot 6 placed in the inner cavity 5 of the rolling assembly 2 for condensing vapor contained in a gas filled in the inner cavity 5.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 1, the rolling assembly 2 is provided with two devices 1, one is affixed onto the tire internal surface 49 and another is affixed onto the wheel internal surface 39.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the two devices 1 each consist of the cold spot 6 and comprises a storage mean 61 as to cover the cold spot 6, and the two devices 1 themselves both have no direct communication with the air outside of the rolling assembly 2, but are affixed onto a sidewall portion of the tire 4 considered as a coldest point in the tire 4 and a rim portion of the wheel 3 considered as a coldest point in the wheel 3, and possible to exchange a heat between the inner cavity 5 and air outside of the rolling assembly 2 through the tire 4 and/or the wheel 3.

[0055] The cold spot 6 is a portion of the device 1 enables to exchange heat between the air outside of the rolling assembly 2 and the inner cavity 5 of the rolling assembly 2 through a channel 63. This heat exchange makes it possible to condense water contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 5 in a form of vapor which increases the internal pressure of the inner cavity 5 in addition to expected internal pressure with temperature to a form of liquid which decreases drastically such the addition to expected internal pressure of the rolling assembly 2. The condensed vapor is collected to the storage mean 61 via centrifugation or other mechanisms preventing condensed vapor returning to the inner cavity 5 and being converted into vapor again.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 3 as a variant, the device 1 is partly exposed to the air outside of the rolling assembly 2 through the wheel 3 and/or the tire 4. In this present embodiment, the device 1 affixed onto the wheel 3 is partly exposed to the air outside of the rolling assembly 2 provided with two seals 11 for preventing leakage of the gas filled in the inner cavity 5.

[0057] Since the device 1 comprises the cold spot 6 placed in the inner cavity 5 of the rolling assembly 2, the cold spot 6 is able to prevent water being present in a form of vapor in the inner cavity 5 of the rolling assembly 2 by condensing vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 5 into a form of liquid. Therefore it is possible to prevent excessive increase of internal pressure.

[0058] Since the device 1 comprising the cold spot 6 placed in the inner cavity 5 of the rolling assembly 2 is simple and small enough, installation of the device 1 requires no or a little adaptation to the rolling assembly 2. Therefore, it is possible to install the device 1 with minor adaptation or without any adaptation to conventional rolling assembly 2.

[0059] Since the device 1 is affixed onto the tire internal surface 49, it is possible to install the device 1 into the rolling assembly 2 easily with no adaptation required to the wheel 3.

[0060] Since the device 1 is affixed onto the wheel internal surface 39, it is possible to install the device 1 into the rolling assembly 2 easily and securely as the wheel internal surface 39 is a hard-solid surface closer to a center of rotation with no adaptation required to the tire 4, installing the device 1 onto the hard-solid surface closer to the center of rotation also makes easier for balancing the rolling assembly 2.

[0061] Since the device 1 is partly exposed to the air outside of the rolling assembly 2 through the wheel 3 and/or the tire 4, it is possible to effectively and efficiently condense vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 5 of the rolling assembly 2 for a long duration, as the part exposed to the air outside of the rolling assembly 2 can release heat energy absorbed during condensation of vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 5 of the rolling assembly 2.

[0062] Since the device 1 comprises the storage mean 61 for capturing and keeping condensed vapor, it is further possible to prevent excessive increase of internal pressure as condensed vapor is collected to the storage mean 61 via centrifugation or other mechanisms preventing condensed vapor returning to the inner cavity 5 and being converted into vapor again.

[0063] The rolling assembly 2 may be provided with one single device 1 affixed onto the wheel 3 or the tire 4. The rolling assembly 2 may be provided with a plurality of devices 1.

[0064] The device 1 may be affixed onto the wheel internal surface 39 or the tire internal surface 49 via any means known for those skilled in the art; for example via an adhesive, glue, beeswax, screw, double-sided tape, hook-and-loop fastener, etc. A portion of the wheel 3 or the tire 4 where the device 1 being affixed onto may have a thickness thinner than other portion of the wheel 3 or the tire 4 for efficient heat exchange between the air outside of the rolling assembly 2 and the inner cavity 5 of the rolling assembly 2.

[0065] The cold spot 6 may be made of any material having high heat conductivity higher than a material constituting the wheel 3; for example gold, copper, silver, aluminum, (artificial) diamond or alloy of these materials, carbon nano tube, ceramics like beryllia, silicon carbide, aluminum nitride, etc.

[0066] The device 1 may be applicable to any type of rolling assembly provided with a pneumatic tire, for example for passenger car, truck, two wheels, etc.

[0067] A device 21 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view showing a portion corresponding to the portion indicated as II in FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The construction of this second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment other than the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, thus description will be made referring to FIG. 4.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 4, the device 21 comprises a cold spot 26 provided with a storage mean 261 as to cover the cold spot 26 and placed in an inner cavity 25 of a rolling assembly (not shown) comprising a wheel 23 and a tire (not shown) mounted onto the wheel 23, creating the inner cavity 25 surrounded by a tire internal surface (not shown) and a wheel internal surface 239. The storage mean 261 is provided as to have at least one storage layer 62 filled in the storage mean 261 at least partly. The cold spot 26 and the inner cavity 25 is connected through a channel 263. In this embodiment, the at least one storage layer 62 is composed of one layer of hydrophilic foam microporous material.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 4, the device 21 further comprises a heat exchanging mean 7 attached to the cold spot 26, and the heat exchanging mean 7 has a plurality of fins 71. In this embodiment, the cold spot 26 is a thermoelectric cooler provided with a power supply 8 to the cold spot 26. The power supply 8 to the cold spot 26 may be a battery of any type, for example coin cell, lithium (polymer) cell that is small enough.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 4, the wheel 23 comprises a heat conductive portion 37 surrounded by a heat insulating portion 38, and the device 21 is affixed onto the wheel internal surface 239 corresponding to the heat conductive portion 37 as to embedded in the heat conductive portion 37. The heat exchanging mean 7, the plurality of fins 71 and the power supply 8 as portions of the device 21 are exposed to the air outside of the rolling assembly through the heat conductive portion 37 of the wheel 23.

[0071] Since the device 21 further comprises the heat exchanging mean 7 attached to the cold spot 26, it is possible to effectively and efficiently condense vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 25 of the rolling assembly for a long duration, as the heat exchanging mean 7 attached to the cold spot 26 can release heat energy absorbed during condensation of vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 25 of the rolling assembly.

[0072] Since the heat exchanging mean 7 has the plurality of fins 71, it is further possible to effectively and efficiently condense vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 25 of the rolling assembly, as the plurality of fins 71 increase surface areas of the heat exchanging mean 7 for transferring heat energy absorbed via the cold spot 26 during condensation of vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 25 of the rolling assembly.

[0073] Since the cold spot 26 is a thermoelectric cooler provided with a power supply 8 to the cold spot 26, it is further possible to effectively and efficiently condense vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 25 of the rolling assembly for a long duration, as the thermoelectric cooler creates heat flux from one side of the thermoelectric cooler to the other via the Peltier effect when an electric power flows through the thermoelectric cooler.

[0074] Since the wheel 23 comprises the heat conductive portion 37 surrounded by the heat insulating portion 38, and the device 21 is affixed onto the wheel internal surface 239 corresponding to the heat conductive portion 37, it is further possible to effectively and efficiently condense vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 25 of the rolling assembly, as the heat conductive portion 37 surrounded by the heat insulating portion 38 is not affected by heat generated during usage, for example from a brake system, from an exhaust system or even from hot parts of the rolling assembly, thanks to the heat insulating portion 38 surrounding the heat conductive portion 37 preventing degradation of performance of the device 21.

[0075] Since the device 21 comprises the storage mean 261 for capturing and keeping condensed vapor, it is further possible to prevent excessive increase of internal pressure as condensed vapor is collected to the storage mean 261 via centrifugation or other mechanisms preventing condensed vapor returning to the inner cavity 25 and being converted into vapor again.

[0076] Since the storage mean 261 has at least one storage layer 62 filled in the storage mean 261 at least partly, it is further possible to prevent excessive increase of internal pressure as the at least one storage layer 62 holds effectively condensed vapor in the storage mean 261.

[0077] A material constituting the heat conductive portion 37 may be the same material as a material constituting the wheel 23, or may be a different material having higher heat conductivity than the material constituting the wheel 23 as exampled previously. A material constituting the heat insulating portion 38 may be a material having lower heat conductivity than the material constituting the wheel 23, for example titanium, iron, steel, lead, bismuth or alloy of these materials.

[0078] A material constituting the at least one storage layer 62 is preferably a material selected from the group consisting of microporous material, water reactive material, water absorbent polymer or mixture of these materials, as these materials effectively and efficiently keeps condensed vapor by its nature or its construction, thus it is still further possible to prevent excessive increase of internal pressure.

[0079] Examples of microporous material may be hydrophilic foams or hydrophilic polyurethane, crosslinked or not. Examples of water reactive material may be any desiccant or dehydrating agent such as phosphorus pentoxide. Example of water absorbent polymer may be any type of superabsorbent polymer as sodium polyacrylate or potassium polyacrylate.

[0080] A device 31 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly provided with a device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The construction of this third embodiment is similar to that of the first and the second embodiments other than the arrangement shown in FIG. 5, thus description will be made referring to FIG. 5.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 5, the device 31 comprises a cold spot 36 provided with a storage mean 361 as to cover the cold spot 36 and placed in an inner cavity 35 of a rolling assembly 32 comprising a wheel 33 and a tire 34 mounted onto the wheel 33, creating the inner cavity 35 surrounded by a tire internal surface 349 and a wheel internal surface 339. The device 31 is affixed onto the wheel internal surface 339 of the rolling assembly 32. The cold spot 36 and the inner cavity 35 is connected through a channel 363.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 5, the rolling assembly 32 further comprises a tank 9 filled via a compressed gas affixed onto the wheel 33, and the tank 9 comprises a mean to blow the compressed gas (not shown) through a tank outlet 91 to a portion of the wheel 33 corresponding to the position on the wheel internal surface 339 where the device 31 being affixed onto.

[0083] Since the device 31 comprises the storage mean 361 for capturing and keeping condensed vapor, it is further possible to prevent excessive increase of internal pressure as condensed vapor is collected to the storage mean 361 via centrifugation or other mechanisms preventing condensed vapor returning to the inner cavity 35 and being converted into vapor again.

[0084] Since the rolling assembly 32 further comprises a tank 9 filled via a compressed gas affixed onto the wheel 33, and the tank 9 comprises a mean to blow the compressed gas (not shown) to a portion of the wheel 33 corresponding to the position on the wheel internal surface 339 where the device 31 being affixed onto, it is further possible to effectively and efficiently condense vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity of the rolling assembly 32, as the compressed gas blown to the wheel 33 corresponding to the position on the wheel internal surface 339 where the device 31 being affixed onto expands while taking heat away of surroundings including the wheel.

[0085] The mean to blow the compressed gas from the tank 9 through the tank outlet 91 may be a valve opens remotely or using centrifugal force. The tank 9 may be covered by a mean to isolate the tank 9 from heat. The tank 9 may be integrated into the wheel 33.

[0086] The wheel 33 may be provided with a heat conductive portion and a heat insulating portion, and the device 31 may be affixed onto the wheel internal surface 339 corresponding to the heat conductive portion, as explained previously, and the compressed gas may be blown to the heat conductive portion.

[0087] A device 41 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly provided with a device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic view showing a portion indicated as VII in FIG. 6. The construction of this fourth embodiment is similar to that of the first, the second and the third embodiments other than the arrangement shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, thus description will be made referring to FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 6, the device 41 comprises a plurality of cold spots 46 each of them provided with a storage mean 461 as to cover each of the cold spots 46 placed in an inner cavity 45 of a rolling assembly 42 comprising a wheel 43 and a tire 44 mounted onto the wheel 43, creating the inner cavity 45 surrounded by a tire internal surface 449 and a wheel internal surface 439. The device 41 is affixed onto the tire internal surface 449 of the rolling assembly 42 via a fixing mean 12.

[0089] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the device 41 further comprises a heat exchanging mean 47 attached to each the cold spot 46, and each the heat exchanging mean 47 has a plurality of fins 471.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 7, both the storage means 461 are provided as to have at least one storage layer 462 filled in the storage mean 461 at least partly. In this embodiment, the at least one storage layer 462 is composed of one layer of phosphorus pentoxide as water reactive material.

[0091] Since the device 41 further comprises a heat exchanging mean 47 attached to the cold spot 46, it is possible to effectively and efficiently condense vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 45 of the rolling assembly 42 for a long duration, as the heat exchanging mean 47 attached to the cold spot 46 can release heat energy absorbed during condensation of vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 45 of the rolling assembly 42.

[0092] Since the heat exchanging mean 47 has a plurality of fins 471, it is further possible to effectively and efficiently condense vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity of the rolling assembly 42, as the plurality of fins 471 increase surface areas of the heat exchanging mean 47 for transferring heat energy absorbed via the cold spot 46 during condensation of vapor contained in the gas filled in the inner cavity 45 of the rolling assembly 42.

[0093] Since the device 41 is affixed onto the tire internal surface 449, it is possible to install the device 41 into the rolling assembly 42 easily with no adaptation required to the wheel 43.

[0094] Since the device 41 comprises the storage mean 461 for capturing and keeping condensed vapor, it is further possible to prevent excessive increase of internal pressure as condensed vapor is collected to the storage mean 461 via centrifugation or other mechanisms preventing condensed vapor returning to the inner cavity 45 and being converted into vapor again.

[0095] Since the storage mean 461 has at least one storage layer 462 filled in the storage mean 461 at least partly, it is further possible to prevent excessive increase of internal pressure as the at least one storage layer 462 holds effectively condensed vapor in the storage mean 461.

[0096] The device 41 may be provided with one single storage mean 461 as to cover all the plurality of cold spots 46, with or without the storage layer 462. The storage layer 462 may be provided only at a place corresponding to the plurality of cold spots 46, or as to cover whole the storage mean 461.

[0097] The fixing mean 12 may be any mean enable to install a sensor inside the rolling assembly known for those skilled in the art, for example as disclosed in WO2005/035277. The fixing mean 12 may be attached to the tire internal surface 449 via the mean explained previously.

[0098] The invention is not limited to the examples described and represented and various modifications can be made there without leaving its framework.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0099] 1, 21, 31, 41 device [0100] 11 seal [0101] 12 fixing mean [0102] 2, 32, 42 rolling assembly [0103] 3, 23, 33, 43 wheel [0104] 39, 239, 339, 439 wheel internal surface [0105] 37 heat conductive portion [0106] 38 heat insulating portion [0107] 4, 34, 44 tire [0108] 49, 349, 449 tire internal surface [0109] 5, 25, 35, 45 inner cavity [0110] 6, 26, 36, 46 cold spot [0111] 61, 261, 361, 461 storage mean [0112] 62, 462 storage layer [0113] 63, 263, 363 channel [0114] 7, 47 heat exchanging mean [0115] 71, 471 fin [0116] 8 power supply [0117] 9 tank [0118] 91 tank outlet