Air maintenance pneumatic tire

摘要

The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire with an elongate substantially annular air passageway enclosed within a bending region of the tire and extending substantially in a circumferential direction, wherein upon rolling of the tire air is pressed through the air passageway and a valve assembly in air flow communication with the tire cavity, the annular air passageway and the exterior of the tire and having an air inlet for allowing air to enter the valve assembly from the exterior of the tire as well as an air outlet for allowing air to enter the tire cavity.

主权项

1. A pneumatic tire comprising:
a tire cavity, first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region; an elongate, substantially annular air passageway enclosed within a bending region of the tire and extending substantially in a circumferential direction of the tire, wherein upon rolling of the tire air is pressed through the air passageway; and a valve assembly in air flow communication with the tire cavity, the annular air passageway and an exterior of the tire, the valve assembly comprising:
an air inlet for allowing air to enter the valve assembly from the exterior of the tire;an air outlet for allowing air to enter the tire cavity;
a first valve interposed in the air flow of the air passageway, the first valve having a first position allowing air to enter the air passageway through the air inlet in a first flow direction and a second position allowing air to enter the air passageway through the air inlet in a second flow direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the first valve comprises: a first chamber having a first opening in air flow communication with the air inlet and a second opening in air flow communication with a first end of the annular passageway and a third opening in air flow communication with a second end of the annular passageway; and a piston element adapted and arranged to move between a first state blocking air flow through the second opening and allowing air flow from the first opening through the third opening and a second state blocking air flow through the third opening and allowing air flow from the first opening through the second opening; and
a second valve interposed in the air flow of the air passageway in parallel to the first valve, wherein when the first valve is in the first position, the second valve is in a third position allowing air flowing through the air passageway in the first flow direction to exit the air passageway through the air outlet, and wherein when the first valve is in the second position, the second valve is in a fourth position allowing air flowing through the air passageway in the second flow direction to exit the air passageway through the air outlet.