Patent ID: 8186402

Claim:
A device for maintaining pressure in a tire, comprising: a first compression block having a first compression face; a second compression block having a second compression face; an air reservoir positioned between said first compression face and said second compression face and adapted to receive air from outside the tire; a pressure set point value for air pressure in the tire; a collapsible segment for compressing air received from outside the tire; and at least one accumulator segment for receiving air expelled from said collapsible segment, wherein rotation of the tire causes said first compression face and said second compression face to be displaced toward each other when said first and second compression blocks pass over an edge of a flattened sector of the tire, thereby compressing said air reservoir and pressurizing air inside said air reservoir to said pressure set point value, said first and second compression faces are adapted to apply pressure to said collapsible segment, air in said air reservoir is released into the tire up to twice per revolution of the tire when a relative motion between said first and second compression faces compresses said air reservoir and causes air pressure in said air reservoir to be greater than air pressure in the tire, a ratio of atmospheric pressure outside the tire to said pressure set point value is inversely proportional to the ratio of the sum of the volumes of said air reservoir in said accumulator and collapsible segments to the volume of said air reservoir in said collapsible segment, said air reservoir is formed with a void having a longest axis, said air reservoir having a longitudinal axis corresponding to said longest axis, and when installed in the tire, said longitudinal axis of said air reservoir is approximately parallel to an axis of rotation about which the tire may roll.