Wheel-mounted tire pumping and energy generating system and method

1. A wheel for a vehicle, comprising:

a wheel rim;

a tire mounted on said wheel rim to define an inflatable interior compartment;

a pump for pumping air into said compartment; and

an energy generating system for generating energy upon rotation of the wheel to power said pump and cause said pump to pump air into said compartment,

said energy generating system comprising:

a first coil;

a magnetized mass movable upon rotation of the wheel relative to and at least partly in a chamber surrounded by said first coil; and

an energy storage or load device coupled to said first coil,

whereby upon rotation of the wheel, said mass moves relative to said first coil imparting a charge to said first coil which is stored in or used by said energy storage or load device.

2. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein said energy storage or load device is a capacitor.

3. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein said energy generating system further comprises a housing, said first coil, said mass and said energy storage or load device being arranged in said housing.

4. The wheel of claim 3 , wherein said housing is mounted external of said tire.

5. The wheel of claim 3 , wherein said housing is mounted on said wheel rim.

6. The wheel of claim 3 , wherein said housing is integral with said wheel rim.

7. The wheel of claim 3 , wherein said pump is arranged in said housing, said pump being arranged to communicate with ambient atmosphere through a wall of said housing to provide an intake air flow.

8. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein said energy generating system further comprises biasing means for aiding movement of said mass during rotation of the wheel.

9. The wheel of claim 8 , wherein said biasing means comprise a spring.

10. The wheel of claim 8 , wherein said biasing means comprise a non-linear spring.

11. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein said energy generating system further comprises a second coil coupled to said energy storage or load device, said mass having a first portion movable in the chamber surrounded by said first coil and a second portion movable relative to and at least partly in a chamber surrounded by said second coil, whereby upon rotation of the wheel, said mass moves relative to said first and second coils imparting a charge to said first and second coils which is stored in or used by said energy storage or load device.

12. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein said energy generating system comprises a cylinder defining a chamber, said first coil being arranged around said cylinder, said mass being movable in said chamber.

13. The wheel of claim 1 , further comprising a nipple and a tube connecting said nipple to said pump.

14. A wheel for a vehicle, comprising:

a wheel rim;

a tire mounted on said wheel rim to define an inflatable interior compartment;

a pump for pumping air into said compartment; and

an energy generating system for generating energy upon rotation of the wheel to power said pump and cause said pump to pump air into said compartment,

said energy generating system comprising an energy generating pad arranged to generate energy based on bending deflection of a tread of said tire or deflection of said tire relative to said wheel rim.

15. The wheel of claim 14 , wherein said energy generating pad is arranged in connection with the tread of said tire.

16. The wheel of claim 14 , wherein said pad is made from a piezoelectric material.

17. The wheel of claim 14 , wherein said pad includes a plurality of layers of piezoelectric material.

18. The wheel of claim 14 , wherein said pad comprises a plurality of sections of piezoelectric material joined together to form a belt stretching around an inner circumference of the tread.

19. The wheel of claim 14 , wherein said pad is attached to an inner surface of the tread.

20. The wheel of claim 14 , wherein said energy generating pad is arranged to generate energy based on deflection of a tread of said tire.

21. The wheel of claim 14 , wherein said energy generating pad is arranged to generate energy based on deflection of said tire relative to said wheel rim.

22. A wheel for a vehicle, comprising:

a wheel rim;

a tire mounted on said wheel rim to define an inflatable interior compartment;

a pump for pumping air into said compartment; and

an energy generating system for generating energy upon rotation of the wheel to power said pump and cause said pump to pump air into said compartment,

said energy generating system comprising:

a coil arranged in a radial orientation of said tire between a tread of said tire and said wheel rim,

a magnetized mass movable relative to and at least partly in a chamber surrounded by said coil, and

an energy storage or load device coupled to said coil,

whereby upon rotation of the wheel, said mass moves relative to said coil imparting a charge to said coil which is stored in or used by said energy storage or load device.

23. The wheel of claim 22 , wherein said energy generating system further comprises a cylinder defining a chamber, said coil being arranged around said cylinder, said mass being partly movable in said chamber.

24. A pumping system for a tire which inflates the tire upon rotation of the tire, comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted external to the tire, said housing defining a first fluid-receiving chamber;

a mass movable in said housing in response to rotation of said housing and including a piston rod movable in said first chamber;

a first spring compressed by said mass upon movement of said mass;

a first inlet valve arranged in said housing and leading from ambient atmosphere to said first chamber;

a first tube adapted to connect to a nipple on the tire; and

a first exhaust valve arranged in said housing for providing a flow connection from said first chamber to said first tube,

whereby upon rotation of the tire, said mass moves causing said piston rod to move in said first chamber and alternately draw air into said first chamber through said first inlet valve and force air through said first exhaust valve into said tube to the nipple to inflate the tire.

25. The pumping system of claim 24 , wherein said housing further defines a second fluid-receiving chamber, said piston rod being movable in said second chamber, further comprising:

a second spring compressed by said mass upon movement of said mass in an opposite direction from a direction in which said first spring is compressed by said mass;

a second inlet valve arranged in said housing and leading from ambient atmosphere to said second chamber;

a second tube adapted to connect to a nipple on the tire; and

a second exhaust valve arranged in said housing for providing a flow connection from said second chamber to said second tube.

26. The pumping system of claim 25 , wherein said first and second springs are arranged on opposite sides of said mass.

27. The pumping system of claim 24 , wherein said housing includes a cylinder defining said first chamber.

28. A method for inflating a tire of a wheel which is mounted on a wheel rim during rotation, comprising:

arranging a pump in connection with the wheel rim, the pump requiring energy to operate;

connecting an air outlet of the pump to an interior compartment of the tire; and

generating energy upon rotation of the wheel to power the pump and cause the pump to pump air into the compartment, the step of generating energy comprising arranging a coil on the wheel and a movable, magnetized mass at least partly in a chamber surrounded by the coil whereby upon rotation of the wheel, the mass moves relative to the coil imparting a charge to the coil.

29. A wheel for a vehicle, comprising:

a wheel rim;

a tire mounted on said wheel rim to define an inflatable interior compartment;

a pump for pumping air into said compartment;

an energy generating system for generating energy upon rotation of the wheel to power said pump and cause said pump to pump air into said compartment;

a nipple arranged to communicate with said compartment; and

a tube connecting said nipple to said pump.