Patent ID: 7975731
Filing Date: 2011-07-12
Classification: B60S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for filling tires with nitrogen comprising: means for separating nitrogen from pressurized air; a container for storing pressurized nitrogen separated from pressurized air by the means for separating; an evacuation passage for evacuating gas from tires; means for creatin a vacuum in the evacuation passage; at least one outlet for connection with a tire; at least one valve selectively communicating the evacuation passage and the container with the at least one outlet for respectively evacuating gas from and nitrogen filling a tire connected to the outlet; a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of gas being evacuated from and pressurized nitrogen being supplied to a tire connected to the at least one outlet; a controller responsive to the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor for operating at least one valve for the evacuating and nitrogen filling of a tire connected to the outlet; wherein during evacuating a tire, the controller is configured to stop communication of the evacuation passage with at least one outlet upon the occurrence of at least one of the sensed pressure reaching a maximum vacuum level and the time of evacuating the tire reaching a maximum time limit; means for adjustably presetting the maximum vacuum level; wherein during evacuating a tire, as the sensed pressure approaches the maximum vacuum level, the controller is configured to periodically pause the evacuating to allow a static pressure to be sensed by the pressure sensor.