Tire pressure maintenance apparatus and system
View Patent ↗A tire pressure maintenance apparatus and system is disclosed. The apparatus and system comprises a high pressure reservoir and a pressure regulator secured to the high pressure reservoir. A high pressure relief valve is also provided. The high pressure reservoir is circumferentially continuous. Further, the pressure regulator has a passive valve in fluid communication with the high pressure reservoir and the pressure regulator opens at a low pressure point and closes at a high pressure point.
1. An automatic tire inflation system comprising:
a high pressure reservoir;
at least one pressure regulator secured to said high pressure reservoir, said at least one pressure regulator having a passive valve in fluid communication with said high pressure reservoir;
a high pressure relief valve secured to said high pressure reservoir; and
an inlet valve having a receiving end and a dispensing end, wherein said inlet valve is adapted to be in fluid communication with said high pressure reservoir, and wherein said inlet valve is in-line with said at least one pressure regulator or perpendicular with an outlet of said at least one pressure regulator.
2. The automatic tire inflation system of claim 1 further comprising a wheel rim, wherein said high pressure reservoir is secured to said wheel rim.
3. The automatic tire inflation system of claim 2 , wherein said high pressure reservoir is secured to a curb side of said wheel rim.
4. The automatic tire inflation system of claim 1 further comprising a pressure relief valve.
5. The automatic tire inflation system of claim 1 further comprising a pressure relief valve, wherein said pressure relief valve has an adjustable high pressure set point.
6. The automatic tire inflation system of claim 1 , wherein said pressure regulator includes a first pressure set point below which said valve of said pressure regulator passively moves to an open position and a second pressure set point at which said valve of said pressure regulator passively moves to a closed position.
7. The automatic tire inflation system of claim 1 , wherein said high pressure reservoir is circumferentially continuous.
8. The automatic tire inflation system of claim 1 , wherein said high pressure reservoir is a circumferentially continuous tube having a reinforced structure.
9. The automatic tire inflation system of claim 1 , wherein said inlet valve is in-line with said at least one pressure regulator.
10. The automatic tire inflation system of claim 1 , wherein said inlet valve is perpendicular with an outlet of said at least one pressure regulator.
11. A tire assembly comprising:
a tire;
a wheel rim connected to said tire;
a tire cavity enclosed by said tire and said wheel rim;
a high pressure reservoir secured to said wheel rim;
a pressure regulator secured to said high pressure reservoir; wherein said pressure regulator has a passive valve with a first passageway in fluid communication with said high pressure reservoir and a second passageway in fluid communication with said tire cavity, and wherein said pressure regulator has a third passageway in fluid communication with atmospheric pressure;
a high pressure relief valve secured to said high pressure reservoir; wherein said high pressure relief valve is in fluid communication with said tire cavity; and
an inlet valve connected to said high pressure reservoir and connected to said wheel rim.
12. The tire assembly of claim 11 , wherein said high pressure reservoir is in fluid communication with said inlet valve.
13. The tire assembly of claim 11 further comprising a safety relief valve.
14. The tire assembly of claim 11 wherein said inlet valve is in-line with said at least one pressure regulator.
15. The tire assembly of claim 11 , wherein said high pressure reservoir is refillable.
16. The tire assembly of claim 11 , wherein said pressure regulator includes a first pressure set point below which said valve of said pressure regulator passively moves to an open position and a second pressure set point at which said valve of said pressure regulator passively moves to a closed position.
17. The tire assembly of claim 16 , wherein a high pressure gas from said high pressure reservoir moves into said tire cavity when said valve of said pressure regulator passively moves to an open position.
18. A tire assembly comprising:
a tire;
a wheel rim connected to said tire;
a tire cavity enclosed by said tire and said wheel rim;
a high pressure reservoir secured to said wheel rim;
a pressure regulator secured to said high pressure reservoir; wherein said pressure regulator has a passive valve with a first passageway in fluid communication with said high pressure reservoir and a second passageway in fluid communication with said tire cavity, and wherein said pressure regulator has a third passageway in fluid communication with atmospheric pressure;
a high pressure relief valve secured to said high pressure reservoir; wherein said high pressure relief valve is in fluid communication with said tire cavity; and
an inlet valve connected to said high pressure reservoir and connected to said wheel rim, wherein said inlet valve is in-line with said at least one pressure regulator or perpendicular with an outlet of said at least one pressure regulator.
19. The tire pressure maintenance apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said high pressure reservoir is refillable.
20. The tire assembly of claim 18 , wherein a high pressure gas from said high pressure reservoir moves into said tire cavity when said valve of said pressure regulator passively moves to an open position.