US5201968A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tire pressuring and regulating apparatus
Assignee: Cycloid Co
•
Filing: 1991-08-27
•
Granted: 1993-04-13
•
Expires: 2011-08-27
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for harnessing and utilizing, inter alia, cyclic forces generated at a location eccentric from the axis of rotation of a rolling wheel. The apparatus may include, for example, pumps that can be attached to the valve stem of an automobile wheel in order to pressurize under-inflated tires and maintain tire pressure at a preset value.
Inventors
- 👤 Grant J. Renier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C23/00; B60C23/10; B60C23/12; B60C23/133; B60C23/137
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for utilizing a cyclic resultant force of a centrifugal force and a gravitation force, said apparatus including: a vehicle wheel including a pneumatic tire; pump means including a piston reciprocal in a cylinder in response to the cyclically changing resultant force of centrifugal and gravitational forces acting on said piston for pressurizing air to inflate said pneumatic tire, said piston being acted upon by an air cushion for providing a restoring force; and attachment means at a site eccentric to the axis of rotation of said vehicle wheel for support of said pump means by said vehicle wheel externally of the pneumatic tire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for utilizing a cyclic resultant force of a centrifugal force and a gravitation force, said apparatus including: a vehicle wheel including a pneumatic tire; pump means including a piston reciprocal in a cylinder in response to the cyclically changing resultant force of centrifugal and gravitational forces acting on said piston for pressurizing air to inflate said pneumatic tire, said piston being acted upon by an air cushion for providing a restoring force; and attachment means at a site eccentric to the axis of rotation of said vehicle wheel for support of said pump means by said vehicle wheel externally of the pneumatic tire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for controlling the supply of pressurized air to the pneumatic tire by said pump means and to prevent pressurizing the pneumatic tire beyond a predetermined tire pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for controlling includes a control valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pump means further includes an intensifier piston reciprocal with said piston in response to cyclic differences to the resultant force.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pump means further includes a pivotal lever and fulcrum support, said lever connected at one end to the pump piston and at the other end to the intensifier piston, said lever and said fulcrum support including cooperating structure for enabling reciprocal oscillation of said piston driven pump in response to pivotal oscillation of said lever.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pump means further includes a second cylinder having first and second ends and said reciprocally oscillatable intensifier piston is slidably received in said second cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fulcrum support includes a surface for cylindrically changing the effective length of the lever with respect to pivoting thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said air cushion includes a piston member reciprocable in a housing while joined with a connector, one end of the connector being coupled to said pump piston and the other end of the connector being coupled to said piston member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said piston member is reciprocable in the housing against bellows.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said intensifier piston is reciprocable in a sleeve supported in a pump housing, and wherein said intensifier piston can slide to and from within said pump housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said bellows comprises a high pressure and a low pressure bellows coupled end-to-end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for controlling includes a reed valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said intensifier piston includes a large diameter piston having a mass which is large in relation to the diameter and mass of the piston of said pump means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said air cushion includes a high pressure bellows and a low pressure bellows acted upon by a piston while coupled to the piston of said pump means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for controlling includes inlet and outlet valves.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for controlling includes an air pilot pressure operated valve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said piston reciprocates along a path of travel extending radially from the axis of rotation by said vehicle wheel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for pressurizing a pneumatic tire, said apparatus including: a vehicle wheel including a pneumatic tire; attachment means at a site eccentric to the axis of rotation of said vehicle wheel for enabling the utilization of a cyclic occurring resultant force of centrifugal and gravitation forces; and pump means including a piston reciprocal in a cylinder while supported by said attachment means for pressurizing air to inflate said pneumatic tire in response to the cyclically changing force acting on said piston, said piston being acted upon by an air cushion to provide a restoring force.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for pressurizing a pneumatic tire, said apparatus including: a vehicle wheel including a pneumatic tire; attachment means at a site eccentric to the axis of rotation of said vehicle wheel for enabling the utilization of a cyclic occurring resultant force of centrifugal and gravitation forces; and pump means including a piston reciprocal in a cylinder while supported by said attachment means for pressurizing air to inflate said pneumatic tire in response to the cyclically changing force acting on said piston, said piston being acted upon by an air cushion to provide a restoring force.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 further including means for controlling the supply of pressurized air to the pneumatic tire by said pump means and to prevent pressurizing the pneumatic tire beyond a predetermined tire pressure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for controlling includes a control valve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said pump means further includes an intensifier piston reciprocal with said piston in response to cyclic differences to the resultant force.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said pump means further includes a pivotal lever and a fulcrum support, said lever connected at one end of the pump piston and at the other end to the intensifier piston, said lever and said fulcrum support including cooperating structure for enabling reciprocal oscillation of said piston in response to pivotal oscillation of said lever.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said pump means further includes a second cylinder having first and second ends and said reciprocally oscillatable intensifier piston is slidably received in said second cylinder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said fulcrum support includes a surface for cylindrically changing the effective length of the lever with respect to pivoting thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said air cushion includes a piston member reciprocable in a housing while joined with a connector on end of the connector being coupled to said pump piston and the other end of the connector being coupled to said piston member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said piston member is reciprocable in the housing against bellows.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said intensifier piston is reciprocable in a sleeve supported in a pump housing and wherein said intensifier piston can slide to and fro within pump housing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said bellows comprises a high pressure and low pressure bellows coupled end-to-end.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for controlling include a reed valve.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said intensifier piston includes a large diameter piston having a mass which is large in relation to the diameter and mass of the piston of said pump means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said air cushion includes a high pressure bellows and a low pressure bellows acted upon by a piston while coupled to the piston of said pump means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for controlling includes inlet and outlet valves.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for controlling includes an air pilot pressure operated valve.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said piston reciprocates along a path of travel extending radially from the axis of rotation by said vehicle wheel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-12 | 1996-10-12 | 1997-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-12 | 2000-10-12 | 2001-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-12 | 2004-10-12 | 2005-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |