Patent ID: 8235081
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: B60C

Abstract:
1. A tire for a self-inflating tire system comprising: a tire carcass having a tire cavity defined by a tire inner liner, first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region; an annular air tube-receiving groove formed within a tire carcass wall at a prescribed radial location; a pump assembly comprising an air tube having an axial air passageway positioned within the air tube-receiving groove; an inlet device positioned along the air tube, the inlet device having a tubular inlet body having an internal air passageway aligned in-line with the air tube, the tubular inlet body having at least one inlet opening extending through the inlet body for admitting air into the tubular inlet body; and the inlet device having an air filtering tubular sleeve at least partially surrounding and encasing the tubular inlet body and covering over the inlet opening of the inlet device, the filtering sleeve extending along in co-axial relationship with the tubular inlet body.