Patent ID: 9561694
Date: 2017-02-07
CPC Classifications: B60C

Claim:
1. A failure tolerant tire inflation system for supplying pressurized air from an onboard source to a plurality of pneumatic tires on a moving vehicle in the event of a drop in pressure in one or more of the tires below a predetermined target level or a failure of the system, the system comprising: a tire inflation valve communicable with the onboard source of pressurized air; a tire selector valve assembly communicating with said tire inflation valve for selectively communicating air from said tire inflation valve with the vehicle tires; a plurality of pressure difference reduction valve assemblies, each of said assemblies communicating with at least one of the tires and selectively communicating with said tire selector valve assembly; a controller for selectively activating and deactivating said tire inflation valve to open and close said valve, said tire selector valve assembly and said plurality of pressure difference reduction valve assemblies to sequentially check the air pressure in the tires and direct air from said tire inflation valve to any tire in which the checked air pressure was below said predetermined target level; and means operatively connected to said controller for detecting the pressure level within one of said vehicle tires upon the opening of one of said pressure difference reduction valve assemblies communicating with said tire and communicating said pressure level to said controller and wherein said tires have predetermined maximum and minimum operating pressures, said pressure difference reduction valve assemblies are configured to open upon sensing a pressure at or above a predetermined minimum tire inflation pressure and to close upon sensing a pressure below said minimum tire inflation pressure, said minimum tire inflation pressure being above said minimum tire operating pressure.