Tesla gets patent to design automatic tire inflation system for its e-truck Semi

Tesla Inc. has received approval from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for developing a new Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) that will be incorporated in its ‘Semi’ battery-powered electric trucks. 

The technology will enable the US-based EV maker to adjust tyre pressure in real-time in its upcoming semi-trucks, reported Elektrek.  

Tesla wrote in its application, “An Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) for use with a vehicle includes a controller, valves controlled by the controller and, for at least one drive axle having inner bearings and outer bearings, a channel formed in a spindle, first hosing coupling controlled by the controller to the channel formed in the spindle, a channel formed in a hub, a rotary air seal coupling the channel formed in the spindle to the channel formed in the hub, and second hosing coupling the channel formed in the hub to at least one wheel.”

Positioned as the ‘safest’, ‘most comfortable’ truck in the Class segment by Tesla, the vehicle will be run on four independent motors that provide maximum power and acceleration and require the lowest energy cost per mile, as per its claims. 

While the concept versions were unveiled in 2017, the production version is slated for launch in 2023. 

Reports also suggest that the company is already taking orders from Pepsi even before the product’s availability.  

Meanwhile, the patent application also pointed out, “The rotary air seal may transition from a sealed state that forms a seal between the spindle and the hub to support airflow between the channel formed in the spindle and the channel formed in a hub and reside in an unsealed state to negate the seal between the spindle and the hub.”