Patent ID: 9701166
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: B60C,Y10T

Claim:
1. A self-inflating tire assembly comprising: a tire mounted to a rim, the tire having a tire cavity, first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region; a first and second air passageway each having an inlet end and an outlet end, each air passageway being composed of a flexible material operative to open and close when the tire rotates, wherein each air passageway outlet end is in fluid communication with the tire cavity; a regulator device having a regulator body having an interior chamber; a pressure membrane being mounted on the regulator device to enclose the interior chamber, wherein the pressure membrane has a lower surface that is positioned to open and close an outlet port mounted in the interior chamber, wherein the pressure membrane is in fluid communication with the tire cavity pressure; and wherein the body of the regulator device has a first, second and third flexible duct, wherein said first, second and third flexible ducts each have an internal passageway; wherein the third flexible duct has a first end in fluid communication with the outside air, and a second end in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the regulator device, wherein the first flexible duct has a first end in fluid communication with the inlet end of the first air passageway, and a second end in fluid communication with the outlet port of the regulator device; wherein the second flexible duct has a first end in fluid communication with the inlet end of the second air passageway, and a second end in fluid communication with the outlet port of the regulator device.