Rapid tyre inflation plant

Abstract

A rapid tire inflation plant comprising a low pressure high flow inflating gas source ( 2 ), an inflation device (DG), a motor (T), a compressor (C) driven by said motor and a control circuit arranged to control feed of low pressure inflating gas from said inflating gas source ( 2 ) to said compressor (C) and the feed of inflating gas at a relatively high flow and pressure to said inflation device (DG).

1 . A rapid tyre inflation plant comprising a low pressure high flow inflating gas source, an inflation device, a motor, a compressor driven by said motor and a control circuit arranged to control feed of low pressure inflating gas from said inflating gas source to said compressor and the feed of inflating gas at a relatively high flow and pressure to said inflation device.  
     
     
         2 . A plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said motor comprises a turbine suitable for the exploitation of energy deriving from the inflation gas supplied thereto from said control circuit at a relatively large flow and low pressure coming from the said inflation gas source.  
     
     
         3 . A plant according to  claim 2 , comprising a heat exchanger designed to intercept the supply of inflation gas to said turbine and the supply of compressed inflation gas coming from said compressor.  
     
     
         4 . A plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said control circuit comprises a comparator device designed to compare a preset threshold pressure with the actual inflating pressure and shut off the supply of inflation gas when the inflating pressure reaches a preset threshold pressure value.  
     
     
         5 . A plant according to  claim 4 , wherein said comparator device comprises a three-input pressure comparing valve and an output arranged to communicate through a first input with said inflation gas source, a switching valve controlled by said comparing valve and communicating with the output of said pressure comparing valve, a threshold-pressure presetting manometer in fluid communication with a second input to said pressure comparing valve, and a manometer detecting the pressure in a tyre that is being inflated in controlled fluid communication with a third input to said pressure comparing valve.  
     
     
         6 . A plant according to  claim 5 , characterised in that said manometer measuring the pressure in a tyre being inflated communicates with said third input of said pressure comparing valve by way of a pressure reducer, a constrictor connected in series, a compensation tank connected between said reducer said constrictor and said switching valve, and an adjustable pressure reducer between said inflation gas source and said preset pressure threshold manometer.  
     
     
         7 . A plant according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said control circuit comprises a control unit including a microprocessor, a microprocessor access keyboard, a control manometer arranged to measure the pressure of the inflation gas at the compressor output, and a power actuator that can be controlled by said control unit and also having an electro-valve connected at its output with the input of said turbine and said compressor, whereas at its first input it communicates with said inflation gas source.  
     
     
         8 . A plant according to any  claim 7 , characterised in that it comprises a silencer for the turbine output.  
     
     
         9 . A plant according to  claim 1 , comprising a deflation valve connected to the said compressor output.  
     
     
         10 . A plant according to  claim 1 , comprising a shut-off valve between said inflation gas source and said control circuit.