| 摘要 |
<p>A self-inflating pneumatic tire has a cavity (40), first and second sidewalls (30, 32) extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions (34, 36) to a tire tread region (38). The first sidewall (30) has at least one bending region (196, 198) operatively bending within a rolling tire footprint (100) responsive to a bending strain whereby the bending region (196, 198) in a bending condition within the rolling tire footprint (100) having a bending strain neutral axis (180), a compression side (182) on one side of the neutral axis (180) and an elongation side (184) on the other side of the neutral axis (180). A sidewall groove (126) is positioned within the compression side (182) of the bending region (196, 198) of the first tire sidewall (30). An air tube (42) is positioned within the sidewall groove (126) in contacting engagement with opposite groove surfaces (128, 130) at least partially surrounding the air tube (42), the sidewall groove (126) operatively bending within the bending region (196, 198) responsive to a bending strain within the rolling tire footprint (100) to compress the air tube (42) from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter adjacent the rolling tire footprint (100) whereby forcing evacuated air from a flattened air tube segment (102) along an air passageway (43).</p> |
