| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20120090752 | SELF-INFLATING TIRE ASSEMBLY - A tire assembly includes a tire carcass body and an air tube body extending between an outward facing tire body surface and an inward tire body surface. The air tube body has an enclosed hollow enclosed outlet end at a first end and an enclosed hollow inlet end at an opposite second end. An air passageway extends through the air tube body from the inlet end to the outlet end. The outlet end is positioned to face exposed from the outward tire body surface and the inlet end is positioned to face exposed from the inward tire body surface. The air tube body is integrally formed of resilient flexible material composition and includes a hollow outer casing and one or more hollow air cables positioned within the casing for regulating the rate of air flow from the inlet end to the outlet end. The air tube body may follow a non-linear U-shaped path that surrounds a tire body bead core between the outward tire body surface and the inward tire body surface and be incorporated into the green tire build without disrupting the tire building and curing process or compromising the structural integrity or form of any of the green tire building components. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090753 | TIRE AND SELF-INFLATION APPARATUS ASSEMBLY - An air passageway body resides within a tire body and extends between an outward facing tire body surface and the tire cavity, the air passageway body having an enclosed air passageway extending between a hollow body outlet end facing the tire cavity and a hollow inlet end facing outward from the outward facing tire body surface. A tapping device is affixed over one or both of the ends of the air passageway body, the tapping device having an external vent opening and a protrusion member penetrating through a sidewall of the air passageway body to operatively establish an air flow path extending between the air passageway of the air passageway body through the protrusion member and the tapping device vent opening. The air passageway body is installed pre-cure within a green tire carcass build of the tire body and the tapping device(s) are attached post-cure to the air passageway body. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090766 | METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A SELF-INFLATING TIRE - A method of constructing a self-inflating tire includes: forming a pre-cure green tire body; positioning an air passageway body within the green tire body to extend between an outward facing green tire body surface and the tire cavity, the air passageway body having an enclosed air passageway extending between a hollow body outlet end facing the tire cavity and a hollow inlet end facing outward from the outward facing green tire body surface; curing the green tire body into a finished cured tire body; affixing one or more tapping device(s) over one or both ends of the air passageway body; and establishing through a hollow protrusion member of the tapping device an air flow path extending between the air passageway within the air passageway body and a vent opening within the tapping device. The method includes a routing of the air passageway body through the green tire body along a non-linear path between an outward tire body surface and the inward tire body surface; wherein the non-linear path to at least partially surround a first tire body bead core; and wherein the air passageway body is positioned between overlapping green tire components such as first and second tire turn-up chafer components. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120160386 | PUMP AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY FOR A SELF-INFLATING TIRE - A self-inflating tire system includes a compression actuator assembly mounted to a tire carcass for compressing air for delivery to a tire cavity. The compression actuator assembly includes a hollow containment body formed from a resilient deformable material composition and containing a quantity of a non-compressible medium. The containment body is affixed to a relatively high flex-deformation region of the tire carcass and reciprocally transforms between a deformed state and a non-deformed state responsive to deformation and recovery of the tire high flex-deformation region in a rolling tire. Accordingly, the containment body in the deformed state displaces a pressurized displaced quantity of the non-compressible medium which generates a compression force for application to a volume of air delivered to the tire cavity. A pump assembly affixes to the tire carcass and includes valves for reciprocally opening and closing the inlet opening and the outlet opening of a compressor body synchronously with the cyclic transformation of the containment body. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120241063 | HYDRAULIC PISTON PUMP ASSEMBLY FOR AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE - An air-maintenance tire system includes a compression actuator mounted to the tire carcass configured for operative actuation by tire deformation during a tire revolution, a pump assembly affixed to the tire carcass and including a compressor body affixed to the compression actuator and having an internal air chamber, the air chamber having an inlet opening for admitting air into the internal air chamber and an outlet opening for conducting air from the internal air chamber to the tire cavity. The air compressor body further includes a piston valve member and an outlet valve member located within and at opposite respective ends of the internal air chamber, the piston valve member and the outlet valve member moving within the internal air chamber responsive to actuation by the compression actuator between respective open and closed positions, whereby cyclically opening and closing the inlet and the outlet openings during an air compression cycle. The compression actuator includes a hollow containment body formed from a resilient deformable material composition and containing a quantity of a non-compressible medium. The containment body is affixed to a relatively high flex-deformation region of the tire carcass and reciprocally transforms between a deformed state and a non-deformed state to generate a compression force against a piston valve member surface and move the piston valve between the open and closed positions within the air chamber. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120241064 | HYDRAULIC MEMBRANE PUMP ASSEMBLY FOR AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE - An air-maintenance tire system includes a compression actuator mounted to the tire carcass configured for operative actuation by tire deformation during a tire revolution, a pump assembly affixed to the tire carcass and including a compressor body affixed to the compression actuator and having an internal air chamber, the air chamber having an inlet opening for admitting air into the internal air chamber and an outlet opening for conducting air from the internal air chamber to the tire cavity. The air compressor body further includes a deformable membrane valve member and an outlet valve member located within and at opposite respective ends of the internal air chamber, the membrane valve member deforming and the outlet valve member moving within the internal air chamber responsive to actuation by the compression actuator between respective open and closed positions, whereby cyclically opening and closing the inlet and the outlet openings during an air compression cycle. The compression actuator includes a hollow containment body formed from a resilient deformable material composition and containing a quantity of a non-compressible medium. The containment body is affixed to a relatively high flex-deformation region of the tire carcass and reciprocally transforms between a deformed state and a non-deformed state to generate a deformation force against a membrane valve member surface and deform the membrane valve between the open and closed positions within the air chamber. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20130112328 | SELF-INFLATING TIRE - 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 an inlet device for exhaust from the passageway or to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. The inlet device is positioned within the annular passageway 180 degrees opposite the outlet device such that sequential flattening of the air tube by the tire footprint effects pumping of air along the air passageway with the tire rotating in either a forward or reverse direction of rotation. The invention further includes an outlet device for regulating the tire cavity pressure and flow into the cavity. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130112329 | SELF-INFLATING TIRE - 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 an inlet device for exhaust from the passageway or to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. The inlet device is positioned within the annular passageway 180 degrees opposite the outlet device such that sequential flattening of the air tube by the tire footprint effects pumping of air along the air passageway with the tire rotating in either a forward or reverse direction of rotation. The invention further includes an outlet device for regulating the tire cavity pressure and flow into the cavity. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130160916 | AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE AND CONNECTOR SYSTEM - An air maintenance tire and connector system includes a tire carcass having an elongate integral air passageway contained within a flexible tire component of the tire carcass between an air inlet and an air outlet cavity and a connector assembly inserted within one or both of the cavities. A coupling post having an axial bore extends from the hollow body through a tire wall thickness to a tire central cavity. A remote end of the coupling post is operative for sequential alternative attachment to a punch device for penetrating in a pre-cure procedure through the tire wall thickness to the tire central cavity. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130160918 | AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE AND ELBOW CONNECTOR SYSTEM - An air maintenance tire and connector system includes a tire carcass having an elongate integral air passageway contained within a flexible tire component of the tire carcass between an air inlet and an air outlet cavity and a connector assembly inserted within an outlet one of the cavities. The connector assembly includes a hollow right angled elbow-shaped body fitting within the outlet cavity. The elbow-shaped body's second housing segment has an axial length sufficient to project axially inward from the first housing segment through a tire wall thickness to a tire central cavity. A valve device attaches to a remote end of the second housing segment within the tire cavity, the valve device operative to regulate air flow between the elbow-shaped body central chamber and the tire cavity. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130160919 | CONNECTOR SYSTEM AND AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE ASSEMBLY - A connector system and tire assembly includes an elongate integral air passageway contained within a flexible tire component of a tire carcass, the air passageway extending between an air inlet cavity and an air outlet cavity in the flexible tire component, and the air passageway extending at least a partial circumferential path around the tire carcass. A hollow dome-shaped inlet nut seats within the inlet cavity and a hollow dome-shaped outlet nut seats within the outlet cavity. The inlet nut couples to an air inlet device for conducting air external to the tire carcass into the inlet nut central chamber; and the outlet nut outward body side couples to a valve device positioned within the tire cavity. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130160928 | METHOD OF FORMING AN AIR PASSAGEWAY IN AN AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE - A method of forming an air passageway in a an air maintenance tire carcass includes: embedding an elongate strip within a pre-cured flexible tire component of a pre-cured tire carcass, the elongate strip extending in a longitudinal direction between an air inlet cavity and an air outlet cavity in the flexible tire component; curing the pre-cured tire carcass including the flexible tire component; extracting the elongate strip longitudinally end-to-end from occupancy within the flexible tire component; and defining an air passageway in the flexible component by the space previously occupied by the withdrawn elongate strip. A free end portion of the strip is accessible at either the air inlet cavity or the air outlet cavity, and the elongate strip may be extracted from either the air inlet cavity or the air outlet cavity by a tensile withdrawal force applied to the elongate strip free end. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20140130357 | SECURING TO A PNEUMATIC TIRE - A pneumatic tire assembly includes a pneumatic tire having an inner cavity and an inner surface at least partially defining the inner cavity, a rigid structure for facilitating operation of the tire assembly, and a docking base for securing the rigid structure to the inner surface of the inner cavity. The docking base has been integrally bonded to the inner surface during curing of the pneumatic tire. The docking base has a shape formed by a mold attached to the inner surface of the inner cavity during curing of the pneumatic tire. The mold subsequently is removed thereby resulting in the docking base integrally secured to the inner surface. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140130895 | CONNECTOR SYSTEM AND AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE ASSEMBLY - A connector system and tire assembly includes a tire having a toroidal tire cavity for containing pressurized air, an elongate integral air passageway contained within a flexible tire component, the air passageway extending between an air inlet cavity and an air outlet cavity in the flexible tire component, the air passageway extending for at least a partial circumferential path around the tire, and a metallic connector assembly within the outlet cavity, the connector assembly including a through-channel for conducting air flow communication between the air passageway within the flexible tire component and a chamber of the connector assembly. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140150945 | PUMP AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY FOR A SELF-INFLATING TIRE - A system includes a tire having a tire cavity, first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire beads to a common tire tread, and a compression actuator means mounted to the tire within the tire cavity for delivering air to the tire cavity. The compression actuator means includes a hollow containment body formed from a resilient deformable material and containing a quantity of a non-compressible medium. The hollow containment body reciprocally deforms or transforms between a deformed state and a non-deformed state responsive to deformation and recovery of the tire while rotating. The hollow containment body in the deformed state displaces a quantity of the non-compressible medium for generating a compression force from which a volume of air is delivered to the tire cavity. The hollow containment body is shaped to facilitate pivoting during rotation of the tire. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140158266 | Air maintenance pneumatic tire - The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire with an elongate substantially annular air passageway enclosed within a bending region of the tire and extending substantially in a circumferential direction, wherein upon rolling of the tire air is pressed through the air passageway and a valve assembly in air flow communication with the tire cavity, the annular air passageway and the exterior of the tire and having an air inlet for allowing air to enter the valve assembly from the exterior of the tire as well as an air outlet for allowing air to enter the tire cavity. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140166174 | PERISTALTIC PUMP AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE - The invention relates generally to air maintenance tires and, more specifically, to a pump mechanism for supplying air into such tires. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140174619 | COMPACT VALVE SYSTEM FOR SELF-INFLATING TIRE - A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air passageway in the tire that is operable to be sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air from an inlet device through the passageway to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. A valve device for a tire is also disclosed. The valve device includes an insert mounted in the tire, a valve body mounted within the valve insert; wherein the valve body has a first, second and third chamber, wherein a first and second check valve is positioned in the first and second chamber. A pressure membrane is received within the valve body, and positioned to open and close the third chamber. The pressure membrane is in fluid communication with the tire cavity and the third chamber of the valve body. A spring is received within the third chamber and is positioned to exert force upon the pressure membrane to bias the pressure membrane position relative to the channel in the open position. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140174620 | COMPACT VALVE SYSTEM FOR SELF-INFLATING TIRE - A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air passageway in the tire that is operable to be sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air from a valve device through the passageway to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. The valve device has an internal pressure membrane that regulates the inlet flow of the air to the tube pump. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140174621 | PNEUMATIC TIRE WITH BUILT IN FASTENER SYSTEM - A pneumatic tire assembly includes a pneumatic tire having an inner cavity and an inner surface at least partially defining the inner cavity, a rigid structure for facilitating operation of the tire assembly, and a threaded receptacle for securing the rigid structure to the inner surface of the inner cavity. The threaded receptacle has been integrally bonded to the inner surface during curing of the pneumatic tire. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140174622 | COMPACT VALVE SYSTEM FOR SELF-INFLATING TIRE - A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air passageway in the tire that is operable to be sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air from an inlet device through the passageway to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. A valve device for a tire is also disclosed. The valve device includes an insert mounted in the tire, a valve body mounted within the valve insert; wherein the valve body has a first, second and third chamber, wherein a first and second check valve is positioned in the first and second chamber. A pressure membrane is received within the valve body, and positioned to open and close the third chamber. The pressure membrane is in fluid communication with the tire cavity and the third chamber of the valve body. A spring is received within the third chamber and is positioned to exert force upon the pressure membrane to bias the pressure membrane position relative to the channel in the open position. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140174626 | AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE - A green pneumatic tire comprising a tire cavity; first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region; and a cable embedded into a rubber material of the green tire for allowing a creation of an air passageway in the tire after curing the green tire in a tire mold is disclosed. The cable comprises a core of a first material and a shell of a second material, wherein the shell surrounds the core. Also, a method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire comprising an air passageway is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a green pneumatic tire comprising a tire cavity, first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region, and a cable embedded in a rubber material of the green tire, the cable comprising a core of a first material and a shell of a second material, wherein the shell surrounds the core; curing the green tire together with the cable in a tire mold; and extracting the core of the cable from the cured tire thereby providing an air passageway in the tire. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20150059949 | COMPACT VALVE SYSTEM FOR SELF-INFLATING TIRE - A tire having a tire cavity is disclosed, wherein the tire has a bi-directional pump assembly including a pump passageway having an inlet end and an outlet end, and being operative to allow a portion of the pump passageway near a tire footprint to substantially close and open the pump passageway. The tire includes a valve assembly having a valve housing, wherein a diaphragm is mounted in the valve housing forming an interior chamber, and wherein the diaphragm is responsive to the pressure of the tire cavity. The interior chamber has a first hole in fluid communication with the inlet end of the pump passageway, a second hole in fluid communication with the outlet end of the pump passageway, and a third hole in fluid communication with the outside air. The valve housing has a passageway in fluid communication with the tire cavity and the outlet end of the pump. The valve assembly further includes an inlet control valve having a valve bottom positioned over the third hole and operative to open and close the third hole to allow air to enter the system. The inlet control valve has a first end connected to the diaphragm, and a resilient member biases the inlet control valve into the open position. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150059950 | COMPACT VALVE SYSTEM FOR SELF-INFLATING TIRE - A tire having a tire cavity is disclosed, wherein the tire has a bi-directional pump assembly including a pump passageway having an inlet end and an outlet end, and being operative to allow a portion of the pump passageway near a tire footprint to substantially close and open the pump passageway. The tire includes a valve assembly having a valve housing, wherein a diaphragm is mounted in the valve housing forming an interior chamber, and wherein the diaphragm is responsive to the pressure of the tire cavity. The interior chamber has an inlet in fluid communication with outside air, and an outlet in fluid communication with inlet and outlet of the pump passageway. The valve assembly further includes an inlet control valve having a valve bottom positioned over the outlet and operative to open and close the outlet. The inlet control valve has a first end connected to the diaphragm, and a resilient member biases the inlet control valve into the open position. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150059951 | COMPACT VALVE SYSTEM FOR SELF-INFLATING TIRE - A tire having a tire cavity is disclosed, wherein the tire has a bi-directional pump assembly including a pump passageway having an inlet end and an outlet end, and being operative to allow a portion of the pump passageway near a tire footprint to substantially close and open the pump passageway. The tire includes a valve assembly having a valve housing, wherein a diaphragm is mounted in the valve housing forming an interior chamber, and wherein the diaphragm is responsive to the pressure of the tire cavity. The interior chamber has an inlet in fluid communication with outside air, and an outlet in fluid communication with inlet and outlet of the pump passageway. The diaphragm is positioned over the outlet and operative to open and close the outlet. A resilient member biases the diaphragm into the open position. | 03-05-2015 |
