In-line pumping assembly for self-inflating tire

摘要

A tire comprising a tire carcass having a tire cavity defined by a tire inner liner, first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region; an air tube-receiving groove formed within a tire carcass wall at a prescribed radial location; a pump assembly comprising an air tube having an axial air passageway positioned within the air tube-receiving groove; and an inlet device positioned along the air tube is disclosed. The inlet device has a tubular inlet body having an internal air passageway aligned in-line with the air tube and at least one inlet opening (58) extending through the tubular inlet body for admitting air into the tubular inlet body. The inlet device further has an air filtering sleeve (60) at least partially surrounding the inlet opening (58) of the inlet device. The filtering sleeve (60) has a tubular sleeve body at least partially surrounding and in co-axial relationship the tubular inlet body.