Tire Inflation System Wins R&D 100 Award

Oct. 1, 2000
An R&D 100 Award, honoring the top technical achievements introduced into the marketplace in 1999, has recognized a system that automatically inflates,

An R&D 100 Award, honoring the top technical achievements introduced into the marketplace in 1999, has recognized a system that automatically inflates, monitors, and equalizes tire air pressures on long-haul trailer rigs. Co-recipients for the Meritor tire inflation system by PSI are Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and San Antonio TX-based Pressure Systems International Inc (PSI), which developed, manufactures, and distributes the Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS).

The Meritor system uses protected compressed air from the air-brake reservoir in the trailer of a long-haul truck to inflate any trailer tire that falls below the system's pre-set proper, cold-temperature air pressure setting. The tire inflation system delivers air to a leaking tire even as the truck is pulling a trailer down the highway, helping to eliminate blowouts due to low tire pressures during operation. An indicator light, visible in the rear-view mirror, alerts the driver to an excessive air pressure loss, providing advance warning of maintenance or service requirements. A one-way check valve prevents a puncture in one tire from causing air pressure losses in other tires.

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