FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system for tubeless pneumatic tyres. More particularly the present invention relates to monitoring and maintenance of tyre pressure in a tubeless pneumatic tyre mounted on a road rim fitted to a vehicle. Further the present invention relates to a method of pressure monitoring and replenishing of a tubeless pneumatic tyre. More advantageously, the present invention relates to positioning a pressurized container in the tyre cavity that through a special valve assesses and restores loss of pressure in tyre.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The performance of pneumatic tyres fitted to vehicles is optimized when the recommended pressures are properly maintained. However, tyres do tend to lose air over time. The rate of loss of air is not predictable. This gives rise to a situation that users continue to run tyres at lower pressures without being conscious, compromising safety, efficiency of use etc.

US Patent No. 5,293,919 relates to a self-regulating tire pressure system and method employing a bi-stable valve that allows air from a high pressure reservoir to replenish the pressure within a tire when it has fallen below an actuating pressure, and discontinues its operation only after the tire pressure has increased to a closing pressure that is greater than the actuating pressure. The invention has a high pressure chamber that can communicate with the tyre operating pressure (inner cavity of tyre. However, the valve inflating the high pressure reservoir is separate from the bi-stable valve inflating the tyre cavity. While replenishment is a part of the invention, the system is also more oriented in giving a feedback to driver about slow leak or fast leak.

Patent No. US4765358 relates to valve for supplying a gas to two inflation chambers simultaneously. Such valves may be used, for example, with dual chamber safety tires. Dual chamber safety tires typically comprise a conventional outer tire with a structurally separate inner tire located within the inflation chamber of the outer tire. This invention provides a valve that can inflate a dual chamber tyre. The mechanism of the valve allows independent inflation of the two chambers. It precludes any communication between the two chambers. Patent No. US2608235 relates to a unitary valve structure for use in inflating pneumatic tires comprising two separate air chambers as used on vehicle wheels, wherein an auxiliary safety tube is carried within an outer chamber without air communication. Between them, comprising a main valve stem fixed to the auxiliary tube and having an auxiliary passage with a check valve therein for inflating said auxiliary tube, a second valve stem detachably connected to the main valve stem and having an air passage and check valve therein communicating with a second air

passage in the main Valve stem for inflating said outer chamber, and means for fastening said main Valve stem to a vehicle wheel rim. This invention has a unitary valve having two inflation nozzles connected separately to two different chambers; both the chambers being capable of individual inflation with no communication with each other.

Publication No. EP2196336 relates to a tyre inflation pressure control system comprising a vehicle wheel having a rim with a tyre mounted thereon and an air reservoir, the system further comprising a decant valve for allowing air to transfer from the reservoir into the tyre, a deflate valve for deflating the tyre, a valve control unit fixed relative to the wheel and a controller fixed relative to the vehicle and which can communicate with the valve control unit. The invention has a system of transfer of air from an air reservoir to tyre, but the actuation is done by a pilot valve that is controlled by a piezo electric device.

Publication No. CN 104512208 relates to a parallel air charging nozzle which comprises a shell and a valve core. An air charging passage passing through the shell is disposed in the shell. The valve core is arranged in the air charging passage through threaded connection. At least two air inlet passages are arranged on the valve core side by side. One check valve is arranged in each air inlet passage. A return pressure spring is installed on the valve rod of each check valve. All the valve rods of the check valves are connected together through a pushrod arranged in front of the air inlet passages. However, the invention relates only to an inflating nozzle. It deals with a special valve that has a nozzle that can simultaneously inflate or deflate multiple chambers to the same pressures.

Publication No. TW200927524 relates to a inner structural supporter type run flat tire having enough structural strength for controlling the steering wheel to some extent when the tire goes flat and having easy structure for installing to the rim wheel. The inner tire is stored in the container; While the inner tire is stored in the container, the tubeless tire is fitted to the flange of the tire wheel, air is fed into the inner tire via the second rim valve until the air pressure reaches a predetermined value, so the inner tire is inflated inside the tubeless tire, and an inner tire is provided as the inner tire in the outer tubeless tire space.

Publication No. RU2008151756 relates to a tire that goes on running when blown out. Wheel has flange to support portion of tubeless tire bead, container with smaller diameter than that of flange diameter, tubeless tire pressure control valve and second valve to control air pressure in internal tire. The latter is arranged inside said container. While internal tire is arranged inside said container, tubeless tire is mounted on wheel flange. Air is fed via rim second valve unless pressure equals preset value. Thus, internal tire swells inside tubeless tire to make internal tire inside tubeless tire.

The present invention takes away the uncertainty of tyre pressure in the pneumatic tyre by constantly monitoring the air pressure and automatically replenishing the pressure whenever there is a drop from the specified pressure.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system for pneumatic tyres. Further there exists a need for a system and a method for positioning a pressurized container in the tyre cavity that through a special valve assesses and restores loss of pressure in tyre.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system for tubeless pneumatic tyres.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system to take away the uncertainty of tyre pressure in the tubeless pneumatic tyre by constantly monitoring the air pressure and replenishing the pressure whenever there is a drop from the specified pressure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of pressure monitoring and replenishing of a tubeless pneumatic tyre. It is yet another object of the present invention to optimize the performance of the tubeless pneumatic tyres.

It is still another object of the present invention to increase safety of drivers/ users of vehicle.

It is another object of the present invention, wherein a single valve inflates a high pressure reservoir and the tyre cavity.

It is another object of the present invention, wherein the container is also fitted with the special valve with sensing and control capabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One or more of the problems of the conventional prior art may be overcome by various embodiments of the present invention

It is a primary aspect of the present invention to provide a tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system [100] for tubeless pneumatic tyres, comprising: an annular tubular container [3] as air or gas reservoir fitted inside a tyre cavity [B] of a tubeless pneumatic tyre [4] that is mounted on a tyre rim [2]; a replenishment side valve [10]; and a valve [1] with an inlet [11] and two or more outlets [12, 13], wherein the annular tubular container [3] occupies partial space between 30% to 70% of the tyre cavity [B] and sustains higher air pressures, and replenishes tyre pressure by refilling the tyre cavity [B] with air or gas from the container [3] to keep tyre pressure constant in the tyre cavity [B], wherein the inlet [11] is used to inflate the container [3] by external air or gas and through the replenishment side valve [10] inflates the tyre cavity [B], and wherein the valve [1] is configured to monitor the air pressure in the cavity [B] and to replenish the pressure on a drop of value from the specified pressure till it reaches the specified tyre pressure in cavity [B].

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system [100] for tubeless pneumatic tyres, wherein the valve [1] is configured to fit in a regular valve -hole of the rim [2] of the pneumatic tyre [4]. It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system [100] for tubeless pneumatic tyres, wherein the tyre pressure is monitored continuously for drop in standard specified pressure.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system [100] for tubeless pneumatic tyres, wherein the inlet [11] inflates the container [3] accessible from the outside of the rim [2] and two interconnected outlets wherein one of outlet [13] opens into a container cavity [A] and the second outlet [12] opens into the area of the tyre cavity [B] not occupied by the container [3].

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system [100] for tubeless pneumatic tyres, wherein the container [3] comprises of a largely impermeable material reinforced with a material wherever required to retain working air pressures up to 3-5 times of the tyre operating pressure.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system [100] for tubeless pneumatic tyres, wherein the largely impermeable material is selected from rigid, partially rigid, flexible materials and the like.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method [200] of pressure monitoring and replenishing of a tubeless pneumatic tyre, comprising: loading of air/gas into the high pressure container [3] and the tyre [4] is inflated to operating pressure through the replenishment side valve [10]; recognizing the pressure drop by the flow control spring mechanism [20] inside the replenishment side valve [10] as the vehicle is used over time; allowing the air/gas from the container [3] to be released through the replenishment side valve [10] till the specified operating pressure is attained; and recognizing the attained specified pressure and stopping further release of pressure, wherein when the system [100] is inflated via the inlet [11], the air/gas inflates the container [3] and the space [B] between the container [3]and the tyre [4],

wherein once the space [B] attains the specified pressure, the inflation of the tyre cavity [B] is stopped by the flow control spring mechanism [20] inside the replenishment side valve [10], wherein the actuation of the flow control spring mechanism [20] is preset to desired pressures as specified for a particular tyre, and wherein the container [3] is re-inflated occasionally to continue to act as a reservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, may be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only a preferred embodiment of the invention and is therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention's scope as it may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

Figure 1 : illustrates the side sectional view of the tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system for tubeless pneumatic tyres according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2: illustrates the cross sectional view of the tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system for tubeless pneumatic tyres according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3: illustrates the schematic diagram of the tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4: illustrates the flow diagram of the method of pressure monitoring and replenishing of a tubeless pneumatic tyre according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 : illustrates the schematic view of the replenishment side valve in open condition according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION FOR DRAWINGS WITH REFERENCE NUMERALS:

[100] Tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system

[1] Valve

[2] Tyre rim

[3] Container

[4] Tubeless pneumatic tyre

[11] Inlet

[12, 13] Outlets

[A] Container cavity

[B] Tyre cavity [10] Replenishment side valve

[20] Flow control spring mechanism

[200] Method of pressure monitoring and replenishing of a tubeless pneumatic tyre

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The present invention relates to a tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system for tubeless pneumatic tyres. More particularly the present invention relates to monitoring and maintenance of tyre pressure in a tubeless pneumatic tyre mounted on a road rim fitted to a vehicle. Further the present invention relates to a method of pressure monitoring and replenishing of a tubeless pneumatic tyre. More advantageously, the present invention relates to positioning a pressurized container in the tyre cavity that through a special valve assesses and restores loss of pressure in tyre.

Referring to figure 1 , side sectional view of the tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system for tubeless pneumatic tyres according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system [100] for pneumatic tyres comprises an annular tubular container [3] as air or gas reservoir fitted inside a tyre cavity [B] of a tubeless pneumatic tyre [4] and mounted on a tyre rim [2], a replenishment side valve [10] and a valve [1] with one or more inlets [11] and two or more outlets [12, 13] to enable filling up the chambers to desired or set pressures. The annular tubular container [3] occupies partial space between 30% to 70% of the tyre cavity [B] and sustains higher air pressures, and replenishes tyre pressure by refilling the tyre cavity [B] with air or gas from the container [3] to keep tyre pressure constant in the tyre cavity [B], wherein the valve [ 1 ] is configured to fit in a regular valve -hole of the rim [2] of the pneumatic tyre [4], wherein the inlet [11] inflates the container [3] by accessing air/gas pressure from outside the tyre [4] and through the replenishment side valve [10] inflates the tyre cavity [B]. The valve [1] is configured to monitor the air pressure and to allow replenish the pressure on a drop of value from the specified pressure. The uncertainty of tyre pressure in the pneumatic tyre [4] being taken away by constantly monitoring the air pressure and automatically replenishing the pressure whenever there is a drop from the specified pressure, and the inflation of the tyre cavity [B] is stopped by a flow control spring mechanism [20] inside the replenishment side valve [10].

The inlet [11] inflates the container [3] accessible from the outside of the rim [2] and two interconnected outlets wherein one of outlet [13] opens into a container cavity [A] and the second outlet [12] opens into the area of the tyre cavity [B] not occupied by the container [3]. The container [3] comprises of a largely impermeable material reinforced with a material wherever required to retain working air pressures up to 3-5 times of the tyre operating pressure. The largely impermeable material is selected from rigid, partially rigid, flexible materials and the like.

Referring to Figure 2, the cross sectional view of the tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system for pneumatic tyres according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. During initial assembly, when the system [100] is inflated via the inlet [11], the air (or gas) inflates the container [3] as well as the space [B] between the container [3] and tyre [4]. Once the space [B] attains the specified pressure (Figure 1), the inflation of the tyre cavity [B] is stopped by the flow control spring mechanism [20] inside the replenishment side valve [10]. This activation of the flow control spring mechanism [20] can be preset to desired pressures for a particular tyre by choice of suitable springs.

Referring to Figure 3, the schematic diagram of the tyre pressure monitoring and replenishing system according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. This represents the overall system [100] and its parts ‘a’ represents a high pressure container [3] to store air/gas of choice ‘b’ represents the special monitoring cum replenishing valve [1] with one inlet [11] and two outlets [12, 13] ‘b’ recognizes the operating pressure inside the tyre [4] and‘allows’ or‘stops’ flow of air or gas into the tyre [4] as required, to satisfy recommended operating pressure either directly (as during initial inflation) from an outside source or from the high pressure container [3]. ‘c’ represents a tubeless tyre [4] mounted on a recommended rim [2] to be operated under a specified pressure.

Referring to Figure 4, the flow diagram of the method of pressure monitoring and replenishing of a tubeless pneumatic tyre according to the embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The method [200] of pressure monitoring and replenishing of a tubeless pneumatic tyre, comprises the following steps. The air/gas is given as input into the high pressure container [3] and the tyre [4] is inflated to operating pressure through the replenishment side valve [10]. The pressure drop is recognized by the flow control spring mechanism [20] inside the replenishment side valve [10] as the vehicle is used over time. The air/gas is allowed from the container [3] to be released through the replenishment side valve [10] till the specified operating pressure is attained. The attained specified pressure is recognized and further release of pressure is stopped.

When the system [100] is inflated via the inlet [11], the air/gas inflates the container [3] and the space [B] between the container [3] and the tyre [4]. Once the space [B] attains the specified pressure, the inflation of the tyre cavity [B] is stopped by the flow control spring mechanism [20] inside the replenishment side valve [10]. The actuation of the flow control spring mechanism [20] is preset to desired pressures as specified for a particular tyre. The container [3] is re-inflated occasionally to continue to act as a reservoir.

Referring to Figure 5, the schematic diagram of the replenishment side valve, in open condition including the flow control spring mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As the vehicle is used over time, there is a drop in tyre pressure. The flow control spring mechanism [20] inside the replenishment side valve [10] recognizes the drop in pressure, and allows the air (or gas) from the container [3] to be released through the replenishment side valve [10] till the specified operating pressure is attained. This goes on as long as the container [3] has sufficient pressure to fill the tyre cavity [B], and can last several weeks, if no other loss other than natural loss of pressure from cavity occurs. The container [3] can be re-inflated occasionally to continue to act as a reservoir.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.