Method of preventing or reducing water ingress into a tire inflation system
A method and system of preventing or reducing water ingress into a tire inflation system is provided.
1. A method of preventing or reducing water ingress into a tire inflation system, comprising:
providing a control unit, the control unit having at least one of a valve assembly, a pressure transducer, and an electronic control portion located within a housing;
measuring a cavity pressure of the housing; and
if the cavity pressure increases to a predetermined amount above atmospheric pressure, then providing one or more pulses of air into the housing,
wherein the cavity pressure is compared to a last measured atmospheric pressure before or upon entering a fording operation.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tire inflation system utilizes a single pressure sensor to sense tire pressure, atmospheric pressure, and enclosure pressure.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating the tire inflation system to automatically inflate and/or deflate a tire in response to measured tire pressure.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein in response to the comparison, one or more pulses are provided at a first frequency until a degradation is detected.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the degradation includes a reduced battery voltage.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the degradation includes a reduced supply pressure.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the degradation includes a stopped engine ignition.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein valves of the valve assembly are de-energized by default.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein a degree of air provided into the housing is responsive to operating conditions.
10. A method of operating an automatic tire inflation system of a vehicle, comprising:
during a non-fording mode, and responsive to atmospheric pressure, adjusting a valve of the automatic tire inflation system to measure tire pressure and/or provide an increase or decrease of pressure within a tire of the vehicle; and
during a user-selected fording mode, providing one or more pulses of air into a cavity of a housing of a control unit, the cavity housing valves and electronics of the automatic tire inflation system, in response to a cavity pressure of the housing being above a threshold relative to atmospheric pressure.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein providing pulses of air into the control unit includes adjusting a valve within the housing.
12. The method of claim 10 further comprising, during the fording mode, decreasing a frequency of pulses in response to a degradation.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the degradation includes a reduced battery voltage.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the degradation includes stopped engine ignition.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the degradation includes a reduced supply pressure.
16. A method of operating an automatic tire inflation system of a vehicle, comprising:
during a non-fording mode, and responsive to atmospheric pressure, adjusting a valve of the automatic tire inflation system to measure atmospheric pressure and tire pressure with a single pressure sensor, and further to provide an increase or decrease of pressure within a tire of the vehicle responsive thereto; and
during a user-selected fording mode, measuring enclosure pressure with the sensor and providing one or more pulses of air into a cavity of a housing of a control unit, the cavity housing valves and electronics of the automatic tire inflation system, in response to a comparison of the enclosure pressure relative to the atmospheric pressure measured during the non-fording mode.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising, during the fording mode, decreasing a frequency of pulses in response to a first degree of degradation.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising, during the fording mode, further decreasing the frequency of pulses in response to a second, greater, degree of degradation.