Abstract: A device (10) is disclosed for providing air to a tire which is mounted on a wheel rim which itself is free to rotate about a fixed, that is, non-rotatable axle 22. The device includes a pump (50, 52, 54, 62) which in use rotates with the tire and which is configured to provide, when activated, air under pressure to the tire. There is a pump drive system for activating the pump. The pump drive system comprising a piston rod (56) which is connected to and rotates with the tire and a body (40) which rotates in unison with the rod (56) while the pump is inactive. An electric motor (68) rotates the body (40) with respect to the rod (56) to activate the pump and provide air to the tire. Rotation of the body (40) is superimposed on rotation of the pump with the tire. The device also includes a stator component (26) and coils (30) and magnets (32) for generating, by electrical induction, power for driving the motor using the relative rotation between the second part and the stator component (26).

Abstract: A device (10) for providing air under pressure to a rotating pneumatic tire is disclosed. The device comprises a pump (48, 50, 58) which in use rotates with the tire and which provides air under pressure to the tire when the pump is activated. There is a pump drive system for activating the pump upon a loss of pressure in the tire. The pump drive system includes a connecting rod (52) which is rotationally connected to the tire and an eccentric body (32) which rotates with the rod when the pump is inactive. The eccentric body is inhibited from rotating with the rod to activate the pump. Relative rotation between the rod and the eccentric body drives the pump to provide air under pressure to the tire. An electromagnetic clutch is provided which has a first plate (26) which is non-rotatable and a second plate (36) which rotates with the body. The first plate is connected to the second plate electromagnetically when the clutch is engaged to prevent rotation of the second plate and hence of the connecting rod.

Abstract: A device for controlling tire pressure is disclosed which comprises a pump (28) having opposed pistons (30) which reciprocate in cylinders (40) carried by a casing (38). The pistons (30) are at the outer ends of rings (50) which are themselves fitted to an eccentric (26). The eccentric (26) is integral with a clutch plate (24). A second clutch plate (22) is fixed to a non-rotating axle (18) which itself forms part of a hanging counterweight structure (20). A piston (84) pushes the eccentric and clutch plate (26, 24) against the clutch plate (22) thereby to prevent the eccentric (26) from rotating with the rings (50) upon a sensor detecting that a tire has a low pressure in it. Stopping the eccentric initiates the pumping action of the pistons (30).

Abstract: A device (10) for providing air under pressure to a rotating pneumatic tyre is disclosed. The device comprises a pump (48, 50, 60) which in use rotates with the tyre and which provides air under pressure to the tyre when the pump is activated. There is a pump drive system for activating the pump upon a loss of pressure in the tyre. The pump drive system includes a connecting rod (54) which is rotationally connected to the tyre and an eccentric body (32) which rotates with the rod when the pump is inactive. The eccentric body is inhibited from rotating with the rod to activate the pump. Relative rotation between the rod and the eccentric body drives the pump to provide air under pressure to the tyre. An electromagnetic clutch is provided which has a first plate (26) which is non-rotatable and a rotor (38) which rotates with the body. The plate (26) carries magnets (42) and the rotor (38) carries coils (40).

Abstract: A device (10) is disclosed for providing air to a tyre which is mounted on a wheel rim which itself is free to rotate about a fixed, that is, non-rotatable axle 22. The device includes a pump (50, 52, 54, 62) which in use rotates with the tyre and which is configured to provide, when activated, air under pressure to the tyre. There is a pump drive system for activating the pump. The pump drive system comprising a piston rod (56) which is connected to and rotates with the tyre and a body (40) which rotates in unison with the rod (56) whilst the pump is inactive. An electric motor (68) rotates the body (40) with respect to the rod (56) to activate the pump and provide air to the tyre. Rotation of the body (40) is superimposed on rotation of the pump with the tyre. The device also includes a stator component (26) and coils (30) and magnets (32) for generating, by electrical induction, power for driving the motor using the relative rotation between the second part and the stator component (26).

Abstract: A device (10) for providing air under pressure to a rotating pneumatic tyre is disclosed. The device comprises a pump (48, 50, 58) which in use rotates with the tyre and which provides air under pressure to the tyre when the pump is activated. There is a pump drive system for activating the pump upon a loss of pressure in the tyre. The pump drive system includes a connecting rod (52) which is rotationally connected to the tyre and an eccentric body (32) which rotates with the rod when the pump is inactive. The eccentric body is inhibited from rotating with the rod to activate the pump. Relative rotation between the rod and the eccentric body drives the pump to provide air under pressure to the tyre. An electromagnetic clutch is provided which has a first plate (26) which is non-rotatable and a second plate (36) which rotates with the body. The first plate is connected to the second plate electromagnetically when the clutch is engaged to prevent rotation of the second plate and hence of the connecting rod.

Abstract: A device 10 for providing air to a tyre which is mounted on a rim (16) which itself is free to rotate about a fixed, that is, non-rotatable axle (22). A pump is provided which in use rotates with the tyre and which is configured to provide, when activated, air under pressure to the tyre. The pump drive system for activating the pump upon a loss of air pressure in the tyre consists of a first part that is rotationally connected to the tyre and a second part which includes a first clutch plate (42) which rotates with the first part whilst the pump is not activated. The pump is activated by inhibiting the second part of the drive system from rotating with the first part. Relative rotation between the first and second parts drives the pump to provide air under pressure to the tyre. There is a second clutch plate (26) which is configured so that it can be attached to the fixed axle (22) so that it itself is fixed, that is, non-rotatable. The first and second clutch plates (26, 42) are normally spaced apart.

Abstract: A device for Controlling pressure is disclosed which comprises a pump (28) having opposed pistons (30) which reciprocate in cylinders (40) carried by a casing (38). The pistons (30) are at the outer ends of rings (50) which are themselves fitted to an eccentric (26). The eccentric (28) is integral with a clutch plate (24). A second clutch plate (22) is fixed to a non-rotating axle (18) which itself forms part of a hanging counterweight structure (20). A piston (84) pushes the eccentric and clutch plate (26, 24) against the clutch plate (22) thereby to prevent the eccentric (26) tyre from rotating with the rings (50) upon a sensor detecting that a tyre has a low pressure in it. Stopping the eccentric initiates the pumping action of the pistons (30).

Abstract: Drying apparatus includes a housing defining an air inlet and a tortuous airflow passage leading to at least one air outlet. The outlet comprises two upright sets of louvres. An impeller is arranged to draw air into the inlet, through the airflow passage and to expel it via the outlet. A set of infrared emitting heating elements is located in the airflow passage behind a screen or glass panel and arranged both to radiate heat directly outwardly from the housing and to heat air in the airflow passage. Additional resistance heating elements are located in the airflow passage. The apparatus has a control system including a user interface, and is arranged to control the operation of the impeller and the two different kinds of heating elements in response to user input. The apparatus includes a heatsink associated with the infrared heating elements, which is located so that air passing through the airflow passage contacts the heatsink.