In-line pumping assembly for self-inflating tire

摘要

A tire for a self-inflating tire system includes a tire carcass having an annular air tube-receiving groove formed within a tire carcass wall and a pump assembly within the groove. The pump assembly includes an air tube having an axial air passageway; an inlet device positioned along the air tube, the inlet having a tubular inlet body having an internal air passageway aligned with the air tube and having at least one inlet opening extending through the inlet body for admitting air into the tubular inlet body. The inlet device further includes an air filtering sleeve at least partially surrounding the inlet opening of the inlet device, the sleeve having a tubular sleeve body at least partially surrounding and in co-axial relationship the tubular inlet body. The pump assembly further includes an outlet device positioned in-line along the air tube, the outlet device having a tubular outlet body and an axial passageway in-line with the air tube and having at least one outlet passage tube from the outlet device through the carcass wall to the tire cavity.