CTIS control system and method for sensing and indication of inadequate rate of change of tire inflation pressurization

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said CTIS includes separate indicia means for each selectable pressurization setting, each of said indicia means having a first and a second visual condition, said first condition for visually indicating the achievement or selection of the pressure setting corresponding thereto, said method further characterized by said notifying the operator of said fault comprising causing the indicia means of the both the next higher and next lower selectable pressure setting from the sensed pressure at expiration of said period to assume the first conditions thereof.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 wherein said indicia means are selectively illuminated and unilluminated members, said first and second conditions comprising, respectively, the illuminated and unilluminated conditions, respectively, thereof.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 wherein said notification comprises illumination of a said indicia means corresponding to the next higher and next lower pressure settings.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said CTIS may be reset to attempt to achieve and maintain a selectable pressure setting by reselecting a selectable pressure setting after notification.

Claim 9

A control system for controlling a CTIS including sensing and reacting to conditions indicative of system faults causing sluggish system responses to commanded changes in selected tire inflation pressurization settings, said CTIS of the type having a plurality of operator selectable tire pressurization settings which are automatically achieved and maintained by the system, said system characterized by: means for sensing operator selection of a desired pressure setting to be achieved and maintained by the system; means for determining the maximum acceptable period for achieving the selected pressure setting from the current pressure setting; control means for beginning the appropriate sequence of inflation/deflation operations to achieve the selected pressure wherein said appropriate inflation/deflation operations comprise repeated cycles of pressure measurement and tire inflation/deflation and said maximum period measured as a number of cycles of pressure measurement and tire inflation/deflation, and if the maximum acceptable period expires prior to achieving the selected pressure setting, discontinuing pressure measurement and adjustment operations and declaring a system fault and notifying the operator of said fault.

Claim 10

A control system for controlling a CTIS including sensing and reacting to conditions indicative of system faults causing sluggish system responses to commanded changes in selected tire inflation pressurization settings, said CTIS of the type having a plurality of operator selectable tire pressurization settings which are automatically achieved and maintained by the system, said system characterized by: means for sensing operator selection of a desired pressure setting to be achieved and maintained by the system; means for determining the maximum acceptable period for achieving the selected pressure setting from the current pressure setting; control means for beginning the appropriate sequence of inflation/deflation operations to achieve the selected pressure wherein said appropriate inflation/deflation operations comprise repeated cycles of pressure measurement and tire inflation/deflation and said maximum period measured as a number of cycles of pressure measurement and tire inflation/deflation, and if the maximum acceptable period expires prior to achieving the selected pressure setting, discontinuing pressure measurement and adjustment operations and declaring a system fault and notifying the operator of said fault.

Claim 11

A control system for controlling a CTIS including sensing and reacting to conditions indicative of system faults causing sluggish system responses to commanded changes in selected tire inflation pressurization settings, said CTIS of the type having a plurality of operation selectable tire pressurization settings which are automatically achieved and maintained by system, said system characterized by: means for sensing operator selection of a desired pressure setting to be achieved and maintained by the system; means for determining the maximum acceptable period for achieving the selected pressure setting from the current pressure setting; control means for beginning the appropriate sequence of inflation/deflation operations to achieve the selected pressure wherein said appropriate inflation/deflation operations comprise repeated cycles of pressure measurement and then tire inflation/deflation, for deflation operations, said maximum period measured as an elapsed time and for inflation operations, said maximum period measured as completion of a predetermined number of said cycles and in the maximum acceptable period expires prior to achieving the selected pressure setting, discontinuing pressure measurement and adjustment operations and declaring a system fault and notifying the operator of said fault.

Claim 12

A control system for controlling a CTIS including sensing and reacting to conditions indicative of system faults causing sluggish system responses to commanded changes in selected tire inflation pressurization settings, said CTIS of the type having a plurality of operation selectable tire pressurization settings which are automatically achieved and maintained by system, said system characterized by: means for sensing operator selection of a desired pressure setting to be achieved and maintained by the system; means for determining the maximum acceptable period for achieving the selected pressure setting from the current pressure setting; control means for beginning the appropriate sequence of inflation/deflation operations to achieve the selected pressure wherein said appropriate inflation/deflation operations comprise repeated cycles of pressure measurement and then tire inflation/deflation, for deflation operations, said maximum period measured as an elapsed time and for inflation operations, said maximum period measured as completion of a predetermined number of said cycles and in the maximum acceptable period expires prior to achieving the selected pressure setting, discontinuing pressure measurement and adjustment operations and declaring a system fault and notifying the operator of said fault.

Claim 13

The system of claim 7 or 8 wherein said CTIS includes separate indicia means for each selectable pressurization setting, each of said indicia means having a first and a second visual condition, said first condition for visually indicating the achievement or selection of the pressure setting corresponding thereto, said method further characterized by said notifying the operator of said fault comprising causing the indicia means of the both the next higher and next lower selectable pressure setting from the sensed pressure at expiration of said period to assume the first conditions thereof.

Claim 14

The system of claim 9 wherein said indicia means are selectively illuminated and unilluminated members, said first and second conditions comprising, respectively, the illuminated and unilluminated conditions, respectively, thereof.

Claim 15

The system of claim 10 wherein said notification comprises illumination of said indicia means corresponding to the next higher and next lower pressure settings.

Claim 16

The system of claim 7 or 8 wherein said CTIS may be reset to attempt to achieve and maintain a selectable pressure setting by reselecting a selectable pressure setting after notification.