Patent ID: 8573270

Claim:
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; an air tube connected to the tire and defining an air passageway having an inlet end and an outlet end, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow a portion of the air tube segment to substantially close the annular passageway, a regulator device connected to the inlet end and the outlet end of the air passageway, the regulator device including a regulator body mounted in the tire, and a cap connected to the regulator body, wherein the regulator body is connected to a duct having a first end located in the tire cavity, and a second end connected to a chamber formed between the cap and the regulator body; a flexible ring being mounted in the chamber and having one or more slots; a pressure membrane mounted adjacent said ring; said regulator body further comprising an inlet port for fluid communication with an outlet of end of the air tube and the chamber, and an outlet port for fluid communication with the chamber and an inlet end of the air passageway, and an ambient air inlet in fluid communication with the chamber and the pressure membrane; said ring being positioned to seal the inlet port of the regulator body; said regulator cap having a flanged portion about a recessed chamber, wherein the flanged portion is positioned for sealing engagement with the pressure membrane, and said recessed chamber being in fluid communication with the outlet port of the regulator body.