US5558730A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle wheel including self-inflating tire pump
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
•
Filing: 1995-05-17
•
Granted: 1996-09-24
•
Expires: 2015-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A self-inflating tire pump is integrally fixed to a wheel of a vehicle for automatically pumping air into an inflation region of a tire which is mounted on the wheel. The pump includes a piston which is movable radially outward in a cylinder by centrifugal force to draw air from the atmosphere into a compression chamber and is movable radially inward by a biasing element to compress the air in the compression chamber and pump it into the inflation region. The biasing element includes a surface of the piston which is exposed to air pressure in the inflation region, and prevents the piston from moving outward until the wheel rotates above a certain speed, thereby preventing contaminants such as water and dirt from entering the compression chamber during low speed operation of the vehicle in adverse terrain. A stopper mechanism prevents the piston from moving when the tire pressure is above a normal value, thereby reducing frictional wear of the pump.
Inventors
- 👤 Ross D. Olney
- 👤 David E. Schnelker
- 👤 William S. Griffin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:23
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C23/00; B60C23/001; B60C23/004; B60C23/10; B60C23/12; B60C23/126; B60C23/133; F; F04; F04B; F04B31/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through a vehicle wheel rim into a vehicle tire interior, comprising: a cylinder having a closed end adapted for connection to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder; a biasing element arranged to urge said piston towards said closed end; an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end in response to centrifugal force; and an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to said biasing element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through a vehicle wheel rim into a vehicle tire interior, comprising: a cylinder having a closed end adapted for connection to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder; a biasing element arranged to urge said piston towards said closed end; an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end in response to centrifugal force; and an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to said biasing element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A pump as in claim 1, wherein said biasing element comprises a spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pump as in claim 1, further including a relief valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said relief valve configured to permit airflow into said cylinder and block airflow from said cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pump as in claim 1, further including a relief valve positioned at said closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said relief valve configured to permit airflow from said cylinder and block airflow into said cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A pump as in claim 1, wherein said cylinder has an interior wall and said outlet valve includes a resilient, annular seal carried by said piston and arranged to engage said wall to block airflow into said cylinder and move away from said wall to permit airflow from said cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pump s in claim 1, further including a mass member which has a mass greater than the mass of said piston, said mass member connected to said piston to enhance the response of said piston to centrifugal force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
180 words
A vehicle wheel, comprising: a vehicle wheel rim configured to receive a vehicle tire having a tire interior; and a pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through said wheel rim into said tire interior, including; a cylinder having a closed end which is connected to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder; a biasing element arranged to urge said piston towards said closed end an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to; communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end in response to centrifugal force; and an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to said biasing element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
180 words
A vehicle wheel, comprising: a vehicle wheel rim configured to receive a vehicle tire having a tire interior; and a pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through said wheel rim into said tire interior, including; a cylinder having a closed end which is connected to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder; a biasing element arranged to urge said piston towards said closed end an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to; communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end in response to centrifugal force; and an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to said biasing element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A vehicle wheel as in claim 7, wherein said biasing element comprises a spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle wheel as in claim 7, further including a relief valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said relief valve configured to permit airflow into said cylinder and block airflow from said cylinder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle wheel as in claim 7, further including a relief valve positioned at said closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said relief valve configured to permit airflow from said cylinder and block airflow into said cylinder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A vehicle wheel as in claim 7, wherein said cylinder has an interior wall and said outlet valve includes a resilient, annular seal carried by said piston and arranged to engage said wall to block airflow into said cylinder and move away from said wall to permit airflow from said cylinder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle wheel as in claim 7, further including a mass member which has a mass greater than the mass of said piston, said mass member connected to said piston to enhance the response of said piston to centrifugal force.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
201 words
A pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through a vehicle wheel rim into a vehicle tire interior, comprising: a cylinder having a closed end adapted for connection to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder, said piston having a first surface directed towards said closed end and a second surface exposed to said tire interior, said piston configured so that said first surface has a first area and said second surface has a second area greater than said first area; an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end in response to centrifugal force; and an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to differential pressures on said first and second surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
201 words
A pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through a vehicle wheel rim into a vehicle tire interior, comprising: a cylinder having a closed end adapted for connection to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder, said piston having a first surface directed towards said closed end and a second surface exposed to said tire interior, said piston configured so that said first surface has a first area and said second surface has a second area greater than said first area; an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end in response to centrifugal force; and an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to differential pressures on said first and second surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pump as in claim 13, further including a relief valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said relief valve configured to permit airflow into said cylinder and block airflow from said cylinder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pump as in claim 13, further including a relief valve positioned at said closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said relief valve configured to permit airflow from said cylinder and block airflow into said cylinder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
A pump as in claim 13, wherein said cylinder has an interior wall and said outlet valve includes a resilient, annular seal carried by said piston and arranged to engage said wall to block airflow into said cylinder and move away from said wall to permit airflow from said cylinder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
A pump as in claim 13, further including: an annular chamber surrounding said cylinder; an annular head defined by said piston and sealingly received in said chamber; and a chamber valve positioned between said cylinder and said annular chamber, said chamber valve configured to permit airflow from said annular chamber to said cylinder and block airflow from said cylinder to said annular chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
218 words
A vehicle wheel, comprising: a vehicle wheel rim configured to receive a vehicle tire having a tire interior; and a pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through said wheel rim into said tire interior, including: a cylinder having a closed end which is connected to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder, said piston having a first surface directed towards said closed end and a second surface exposed to said tire interior, said piston configured so that said first surface has a first area and said second surface has a second area greater than said first area; an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end in response to centrifugal force; and an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to differential pressures on said first and second surfaces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
218 words
A vehicle wheel, comprising: a vehicle wheel rim configured to receive a vehicle tire having a tire interior; and a pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through said wheel rim into said tire interior, including: a cylinder having a closed end which is connected to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder, said piston having a first surface directed towards said closed end and a second surface exposed to said tire interior, said piston configured so that said first surface has a first area and said second surface has a second area greater than said first area; an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end in response to centrifugal force; and an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to differential pressures on said first and second surfaces.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle wheel as in claim 18, further including a relief valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said relief valve configured to permit airflow into said cylinder and block airflow from said cylinder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle wheel as in claim 18, further including a relief valve positioned at said closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said relief valve configured to permit airflow from said cylinder and block airflow into said cylinder.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
A vehicle wheel as in claim 18, wherein said cylinder has an interior wall and said outlet valve includes a resilient, annular seal carried by said piston and arranged to engage said wall to block airflow into said cylinder and move away from said wall to permit airflow from said cylinder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
64 words
A vehicle wheel as in claim 18, further including: an annular chamber surrounding said cylinder; an annular head defined by said piston and sealingly received in said chamber; and a chamber valve positioned between said cylinder and said annular chamber, said chamber valve configured to permit airflow from said annular chamber to said cylinder and block airflow from said cylinder to said annular chamber.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
155 words
A pump for pumping air into an inflation region of a tire which is mounted on a wheel, comprising: a substantially radially extending cylinder which is adapted to be fixed to the wheel for integral rotation therewith; a piston which is movable in the cylinder; a variable volume compression chamber which is defined in the cylinder between radially inner surfaces of the cylinder and the piston; biasing means for urging the piston radially inward; an inlet valve for transmitting air from the atmosphere into said compression chamber when the piston is moved radially outward against the biasing means by centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the wheel; and an outlet valve for transmitting air from said compression chamber into the inflation region when the piston is moved radially inward by the biasing means, and a stopper mechanism for preventing the piston from moving when air pressure in said inflation region is above a predetermined pressure.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
155 words
A pump for pumping air into an inflation region of a tire which is mounted on a wheel, comprising: a substantially radially extending cylinder which is adapted to be fixed to the wheel for integral rotation therewith; a piston which is movable in the cylinder; a variable volume compression chamber which is defined in the cylinder between radially inner surfaces of the cylinder and the piston; biasing means for urging the piston radially inward; an inlet valve for transmitting air from the atmosphere into said compression chamber when the piston is moved radially outward against the biasing means by centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the wheel; and an outlet valve for transmitting air from said compression chamber into the inflation region when the piston is moved radially inward by the biasing means, and a stopper mechanism for preventing the piston from moving when air pressure in said inflation region is above a predetermined pressure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
94 words
A pump as in claim 23, in which the stopper mechanism comprises: a stopper element which is movable between a locking position in which the stopper element engages with and prevents the piston from moving, and an unlocking position in which the stopper element disengages from the piston; and an actuator which is responsive to said air pressure for moving the stopper element to the locking position when said air pressure is above said predetermined pressure and moving the stopper element to the unlocking position when said air pressure is below said predetermined pressure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
A pump as in claim 24, in which the actuator comprises an actuator element for moving the stopper element between said locking position and said unlocking position, the actuator element having a first surface communicating with said inflation region and an opposing second surface communicating with the atmosphere.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A pump as in claim 25, in which the actuator element comprises a bistable disk which snaps between said locking position and said unlocking position in accordance with said air pressure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
160 words
A vehicle wheel comprising: a circular body for mounting a tire thereon; and a pump for pumping air into an inflation region of the tire, including: a substantially radially extending cylinder which is fixed to the body for integral rotation therewith; a piston which is movable in the cylinder; a variable volume compression chamber which is defined in the cylinder between radially inner surfaces of the cylinder and the piston; a biasing means for urging the piston radially inward; an inlet valve for transmitting air from the atmosphere into said compression chamber when the piston is moved radially outward against the biasing means by centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the wheel; and an outlet valve for transmitting air from said compression chamber into said inflation region when the piston is moved radially inward by the biasing means, and a stopper mechanism for preventing the piston from moving when air pressure in said inflation region is above a predetermined pressure.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
160 words
A vehicle wheel comprising: a circular body for mounting a tire thereon; and a pump for pumping air into an inflation region of the tire, including: a substantially radially extending cylinder which is fixed to the body for integral rotation therewith; a piston which is movable in the cylinder; a variable volume compression chamber which is defined in the cylinder between radially inner surfaces of the cylinder and the piston; a biasing means for urging the piston radially inward; an inlet valve for transmitting air from the atmosphere into said compression chamber when the piston is moved radially outward against the biasing means by centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the wheel; and an outlet valve for transmitting air from said compression chamber into said inflation region when the piston is moved radially inward by the biasing means, and a stopper mechanism for preventing the piston from moving when air pressure in said inflation region is above a predetermined pressure.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
94 words
A wheel as in claim 27, in which the stopper mechanism comprises: a stopper element which is movable between a locking position in which the stopper element engages with and prevents the piston from moving and an unlocking position in which the stopper element disengages from the piston; and an actuator which is responsive to said air pressure for moving the stopper element to the locking position when said air pressure is above said predetermined pressure, and moving the stopper element to the unlocking position when said air pressure is below said predetermined pressure.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
199 words
A pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through a vehicle wheel rim into a vehicle tire interior:, comprising: a cylinder having a closed end adapted for connection to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder; a biasing element arranged to urge said piston towards said closed end; an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end open response to centrifugal force; an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to said biasing element; an actuator which is arranged to be movably responsive to a differential pressure between said tire interior and said atmosphere; and a stopper element, responsive to said actuator, which is configured to engage and disengage said piston.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
199 words
A pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through a vehicle wheel rim into a vehicle tire interior:, comprising: a cylinder having a closed end adapted for connection to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder; a biasing element arranged to urge said piston towards said closed end; an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end open response to centrifugal force; an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to said biasing element; an actuator which is arranged to be movably responsive to a differential pressure between said tire interior and said atmosphere; and a stopper element, responsive to said actuator, which is configured to engage and disengage said piston.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
216 words
A vehicle wheel, comprising: a vehicle wheel rim configured to receive a vehicle tire having a tire interior; and a pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through said wheel rim into said tire interior, including: a cylinder having a closed end which is connected to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder; a biasing element arranged to urge said piston towards said closed end; an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end in response to centrifugal force; an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to said biasing element; an actuator which is arranged to be movably responsive to a differential pressure between said tire interior and said atmosphere; and a stopper element, responsive to said actuator, which is configured to engage and disengage said piston.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
216 words
A vehicle wheel, comprising: a vehicle wheel rim configured to receive a vehicle tire having a tire interior; and a pump for pumping air from the atmosphere through said wheel rim into said tire interior, including: a cylinder having a closed end which is connected to said wheel rim with said cylinder extending radially into said tire interior and terminating in an open end which communicates with said tire interior; a piston slidably received in said cylinder; a biasing element arranged to urge said piston towards said closed end; an inlet valve positioned at said cylinder closed end and arranged to communicate with said atmosphere, said inlet valve configured to block airflow from said cylinder and permit airflow into said cylinder as said piston moves towards said open end in response to centrifugal force; an outlet valve carried by said piston and arranged to communicate with said tire interior, said outlet valve configured to block airflow into said cylinder and permit airflow from said cylinder as said cylinder moves towards said closed end in response to said biasing element; an actuator which is arranged to be movably responsive to a differential pressure between said tire interior and said atmosphere; and a stopper element, responsive to said actuator, which is configured to engage and disengage said piston.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-24 | 2000-03-25 | 2000-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-24 | 2004-03-25 | 2004-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-24 | 2008-03-25 | 2008-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |