Patent ID: 8113254
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: B60C

Abstract:
1. A self-inflating tire assembly comprising: a rim having a tire mounting surface extending between first and second rim flanges; a tire mounted to the rim tire mounting surface, the tire having a tire cavity, first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region; an annular air tube connected to the tire and defining an annular air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment radially opposite a tire footprint to flatten and substantially close the annular passageway, the tire footprint in a rotating tire being operative to flatten the annular air tube segment by segment to pump air from the flattened air tube segments along the annular air passageway; an inlet device positioned within the annular passageway operative to pass air into and out of the annular passageway; an outlet device positioned within the annular passageway at a location substantially 180 degrees apart opposite the inlet device, the outlet device operative in an open position to pass pumped air along the annular air passageway into the tire cavity; wherein the inlet device comprises a T-configured inlet mechanism positioned within the annular passageway of the annular air tube, the inlet mechanism having oppositely directed first and second inlet sleeves connected to the annular air tube and in communication with the annular air passageway; the inlet device further having an inlet portal disposed between the first and second inlet sleeve passageways operatively positioned to pass air in and out of the inlet device first and second inlet sleeve passageways; the outlet device comprising a T-configured outlet mechanism positioned within the annular passageway, the outlet mechanism having oppositely directed first and second outlet sleeves connected to the annular air tube and in communication with the annular air passageway; the outlet mechanism further having one-way valve means within the first and second outlet sleeve passageways operative in an open condition to pass air from an outlet sleeve passageway out of the outlet device and into the tire cavity.