Air maintenance pumping assembly and tire

Abstract

A tire assembly includes a tire, sidewalls, and a sidewall groove. The tire has a pneumatic cavity. The sidewall has at least one bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint of the tire. The sidewall groove is defined by groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the tire sidewall. The sidewall groove deforms segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the sidewall bending region when radially within the rolling tire footprint. An air passageway is defined by the sidewall groove and a cover strip. The air passageway resiliently deforms segment by segment between an expanded condition and an at least partially collapsed condition in response to respective segment by segment deformation of the sidewall groove when radially within the rolling tire footprint.

1 . A tire assembly comprising:
 a tire having a pneumatic cavity;   first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region, the first sidewall having at least one bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint; and   a sidewall groove defined by groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall, the groove deforming segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the first sidewall bending region radially within the rolling tire footprint,   an air passageway defined by the sidewall groove and a cover strip, the air passageway resiliently deforming segment by segment between an expanded condition and an at least partially collapsed condition in response to respective segment by segment deformation of the sidewall groove when radially within the rolling tire footprint,   the cover strip being applied at an open end of the sidewall groove for separating the air passageway from ambient air pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the cover strip is cured directly to the first, already cured tire sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the cover strip is cured to the first tire sidewall by a heated platen. 
     
     
         4 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further including a separate tube disposed within the sidewall groove, the separate tube defining a circular air passageway. 
     
     
         5 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the separate tube has an outer profile corresponding to an inner profile of the sidewall groove. 
     
     
         6 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 4  further including a second cover strip disposed at an axially inner end of the sidewall groove. 
     
     
         7 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the first cover strip is cured directly to the first, already cured tire sidewall by a heated platen. 
     
     
         8 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the cover strip is cord reinforced. 
     
     
         9 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the second cover strip is cured to the sidewall groove by a heated platen. 
     
     
         10 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further including check valves disposed at multiple arcuate positions about the sidewall groove. 
     
     
         11 . A tire assembly comprising:
 a tire having a pneumatic cavity;   first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region, the first sidewall having at least one bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint; and   a sidewall groove defined by groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall, the groove deforming segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the first sidewall bending region being radially within the rolling tire footprint,   an air passageway defined by the sidewall groove and a tube assembly, the air passageway resiliently deforming segment by segment between an expanded condition and an at least partially collapsed condition in response to respective segment by segment deformation of the groove when radially within the rolling tire footprint,   the tube assembly comprising a first tube and a second tube, the first tube secured within the sidewall groove, the second tube secured within the first tube, the second tube defining the air passageway resiliently deforming segment by segment between an expanded condition and an at least partially collapsed condition in response to respective segment by segment deformation of the tube assembly when radially within the rolling tire footprint.   
     
     
         12 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the first tube is formed of an extruded plastic and the second tube is formed of an extruded polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the second tube has an outer circular cross-section and an inner circular cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the first tube comprises relief cuts at axially inner corners of a U-shaped opening for facilitating pinching of the tube assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the second tube has an outer profile corresponding to an inner profile of the first tube. 
     
     
         16 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the first tube comprises outer radial extensions engaging corresponding recesses in the sidewall groove for circumferentially securing the tube assembly within the sidewall groove. 
     
     
         17 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the outer radial extensions project radially inward. 
     
     
         18 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the outer radial extensions project radially outward. 
     
     
         19 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 11  further including an adhesive securing the first tube within the sidewall groove, the adhesive further securing plastic check valves to the first tube. 
     
     
         20 . The tire assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the first tube comprises an inner partially closed U-shaped profile in cross-section and an outer partially closed U-shaped profile in cross-section, the first tube further comprising pockets for receiving plastic check valves.