MECHANICALLY DRIVEN TIRE PRESSURE GENERATION MEANS

Abstract

A wheel hub arrangement having a wheel hub for mounting a rim with an inflated tire. The wheel hub arrangement has a rotary piston compressor mounted rotatably on the wheel hub. The wheel hub arrangement has a switchable mechanical coupling device, by way of which the rotary piston compressor can be switched over between a compression mode, in which the rotary piston compressor can be actuated by way of a rotational movement relative to the mounted rim or the wheel hub, and a rest mode, in which it is passive and does not produce any compressed air on the outlet side, and the rotary piston compressor producing compressed air on the outlet side for filling the tire in the compression mode.

Claims

1. A wheel hub arrangement having a wheel hub for mounting a rim with an inflatable tire, the wheel hub arrangement comprising: a rotary piston compressor that is mounted rotatably on the wheel hub, a switchable mechanical coupling device, by way of which the rotary piston compressor is configured to be switched over between a compression mode, in which the rotary piston compressor is configured to be actuated by way of a rotational movement relative to the mounted rim or the wheel hub, and a rest mode, in which the rotary piston compressor is passive and does not produce any compressed air, and wherein the rotary piston compressor produces compressed air for filling the tire in the compression mode.

2. The wheel hub arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary piston compressor is configured as a Wankel piston.

3. The wheel hub arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling device comprises a switchable abutment or a switchable freewheel, in order to switch the rotary piston compressor between the compression mode and the rest mode.

4. The wheel hub arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel hub arrangement has a compressed air store which is configured to be filled by the rotary piston compressor.

5. The wheel hub arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel hub arrangement has a tire sealant reservoir which is arranged and configured in such a way that a tire sealant can be fed into the compressed air which is produced by the rotary piston compressor.

6. A rim arrangement that is configured to be mounted to a wheel hub having a rotary piston compressor, the rim arrangement comprising: a rim with an inflatable tire; a switchable mechanical coupling device, by way of which the rotary piston compressor is configured to be switched over between a compression mode, in which the rotary piston compressor is configured to be actuated by way of a rotational movement relative to the rim or the wheel hub, and a rest mode, in which the rotary piston compressor is passive and does not produce any compressed air, and wherein the rotary piston compressor produces compressed air for filling the tire in the compression mode.

7. The rim arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein a compressed air store, which is configured to be filled by the rotary piston compressor, is arranged in at least one spoke of the rim.

8. The rim arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rim has a hollow spoke which is configured as a compressed air connection between the rotary piston compressor and a rim ring.

9. A vehicle having a plurality of the wheel hub arrangements as claimed in claim 1.

10. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the vehicle has a common compressed air store which is configured to be filled by way of each rotary piston compressor of the wheel hub arrangements.

11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the vehicle has a control device for actuating the wheel hub arrangements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0025] In the following text, the invention will be described in greater detail using preferred embodiments with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a vehicle having a plurality of wheel hub arrangements in accordance with a first, preferred embodiment of the invention, and

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of a rim arrangement in accordance with the illustration in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 relate to a vehicle 10 according to aspects of the invention having a plurality of wheel hub arrangements 12 according to aspects of the invention in accordance with a first, preferred embodiment.

[0029] Each wheel hub arrangement 12 comprises a wheel hub 14 for mounting a rim 16 with an inflated tire 18. The tire 18 is mounted on a rim ring (not shown individually) of the rim 16.

[0030] Furthermore, the wheel hub arrangement 12 comprises a rotary piston compressor 20 which is mounted on the wheel hub 14. The wheel hub arrangement 12 also comprises an axle (not shown in the figures) or an axle journal, on which the wheel hub 14 is mounted.

[0031] Furthermore, the wheel hub arrangement 12 comprises a switchable mechanical coupling device which is not shown in the figures. By way of the switchable mechanical coupling device, the rotary piston compressor 20 can be switched over between a compression mode, in which the rotary piston compressor 20 can be actuated by way of a rotational movement relative to the mounted rim 16 or the wheel hub 14, and a rest mode, in which it is passive and does not produce any compressed air on the outlet side. In the compression mode, the rotary piston compressor 20 produces compressed air for filling the tire 18 on the outlet side by way of the relative rotational movement. The rotary piston compressor 20 is configured as a Wankel piston in said exemplary embodiment. The rotary piston compressor 20 is arranged in a region of the wheel hub 14 in such a way that it is enclosed by the rim 16 which is mounted on the wheel hub 14. In the axial direction, the rotary piston compressor 20 therefore does not extend beyond the wheel hub 14 or the rim 16.

[0032] In accordance with the first embodiment, the rotary piston compressor 20 is arranged in such a way that it is in the compression mode during a rotation relative to the axle. The rotary piston compressor 20 is correspondingly rotated with the rim 16. In an alternative embodiment, the rotary piston compressor 20 is in the compression mode during a rotation relative to the rim 16.

[0033] In said exemplary embodiment, the mechanical coupling device comprises a switchable abutment, in order to switch over the rotary piston compressor 20 between the compression mode and the rest mode. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the mechanical coupling device comprises a switchable freewheel. In the rest mode, the rotary piston compressor 20 rotates in an idling manner, with the result that losses during the rotation of the rim 16 on the wheel hub 14 are reduced by way of the disengaging of the rotary piston compressor 20.

[0034] In accordance with the first embodiment, the wheel hub arrangement 12 has a tire sealant reservoir 34 which is arranged and configured in such a way that a tire sealant can be fed into the compressed air which is produced on the outlet side by the rotary piston compressor 20. In the case of a tire defect, the tire 18 cannot only be refilled with compressed air by way of the tire sealant from the tire sealant reservoir 34, but the defect can also be repaired directly by way of the tire sealant, with the result that the vehicle 10 becomes or remains roadworthy.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment, the tire sealant reservoir 34 is arranged in the rim 16.

[0036] A rim arrangement 28 in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment comprises in each case one above-described wheel hub arrangement 12 with a rim 16. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the rim 16 comprises a plurality of spokes 22.

[0037] The rim arrangement 28 comprises a compressed air store 24 which is arranged in a spoke 22 of the rim 16. The compressed air store 24 is configured as a cavity in one of the spokes 22.

[0038] Moreover, the rim 16 has a hollow spoke 26 which forms a compressed air connection between the rotary piston compressor 20 and a rim ring (not shown here). The hollow spoke 26 forms the compressed air connection between the rotary piston compressor 20 and an interior space of the tire 18 in a manner which is invisible from the outside. The hollow spoke 26 is likewise connected to the compressed air store 24, in order to conduct compressed air out of the compressed air store 24 into the tire 18.

[0039] Moreover, a controllable valve 30 is attached on each rim arrangement 28. The valve 30 comprises a pressure measuring device (not shown separately) and is configured to discharge compressed air from the tire 18.

[0040] The vehicle 10 comprises a control device 46 for common actuation of the wheel hub arrangements 12. All further components are also actuated via the control device 46, as described in detail in the following text.

[0041] The control device 46 is connected via a control line 52 to an energy supply and distributor unit 44. Components are supplied with energy via the energy supply and distributor unit 44, and central communication takes place with the components.

[0042] The energy supply and distributor unit 44 is thus connected to an information gathering point 54 with a memory, which information gathering point 54 receives and stores information for processing in the control device 46.

[0043] The energy supply and distributor unit 44 is also connected to the valves 30 via signal and supply lines 32. As a result, the valves 30 are supplied with energy and actuated. Moreover, the air pressure in each tire 18 is reported back by the pressure measuring device via the signal and supply lines 32 and is stored in the information gathering point 54. A corresponding information flow 48 is shown correspondingly in FIG. 1, the information flow 48 passing from the information gathering point 54 further to the control device 45.

[0044] The energy supply and distributor unit 44 is also connected via signal and supply lines 40 to the wheel hub arrangements 12. As a result, the mechanical coupling devices and the tire sealant reservoir 34 are supplied with energy and actuated.

[0045] In said exemplary embodiment, the control device 46 is configured to monitor the tire pressure in all tires 18 of the vehicle 10. If a tire pressure which is reported by a pressure measuring device in one or more tires 18 is below a desired pressure, the control device 46 controls the filling of the corresponding tire 18 with compressed air via the rotary piston compressor 20, by said control device 46 actuating the mechanical coupling device and transferring the rotary piston compressor 20 out of the rest mode into the compression mode. Thereupon, the rotary piston compressor 20 produces compressed air on the outlet side, which compressed air is conducted via the hollow spoke 26 into the tire.

[0046] If the tire pressure which is reported by the pressure measuring device in the tire 18 drops further or at least does not rise sufficiently, as would be expected in the compression mode, this is detected as a defect of the tire 18. Accordingly, the control device 46 carries out an actuation of the tire sealant reservoir 34, in order to seal the tire 18 with tire sealant which is output from the tire sealant reservoir 34 and to eliminate the defect. Moreover, the actuation of the tire sealant reservoir 34 is displayed by the control device 46 via a user interface 50 in the vehicle 10, since the damaged tire 18 must be loaded only to a restricted extent despite having been sealed with the tire sealant. A vehicle driver can receive the report about the defective tire 18 via the user interface 50. In order to eliminate the defect on the tire 18 permanently, an automatic report to a maintenance center takes place by the control device 46, in order to replace the defective tire 18 during maintenance or repair.

[0047] If the reported tire pressure in one or more tires 18 is above a desired pressure, the control device 46 controls the discharge of compressed air from the corresponding tire 18 via the valve 30. Accordingly, the valve 30 is opened until the desired pressure is reached.

[0048] Moreover, the control device 46 is configured to perform an adaptation of the air pressure in the tires 18 in a manner which is dependent on different driving parameters which it receives, for example, via the user interface 50, for example during the transition from a road to a gravel path. To this end, the tires 18 are filled with compressed air via the rotary piston compressor 20 of the wheel hub arrangement 12, as described above, or air is discharged from the tires via the respective valve 30, in order to reduce the air pressure in the tires 18.

[0049] In addition to the current air pressure in the tires 18, the controller can also detect a change in the current air pressure in the tires 18, a desired air pressure in the tire 18, a compressed air supply in the compressed air store 24, and/or any further desired parameters, in order to carry out the control of the air pressure in the tires 18.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0050] Vehicle 10

[0051] Wheel hub arrangement 12

[0052] Wheel hub 14

[0053] Rim 16

[0054] Tire 18

[0055] Rotary piston compressor 20

[0056] Spoke 22

[0057] Compressed air store 24

[0058] Hollow spoke, compressed air connection 26

[0059] Rim arrangement 28

[0060] Valve 30

[0061] Signal and supply line 32

[0062] Tire sealant reservoir 34

[0063] Signal and supply line 40

[0064] Energy supply and distributor unit 44

[0065] Control device 46

[0066] Information flow 48

[0067] User interface 50

[0068] Control line 52

[0069] Information gathering point 54