Self-inflating tyre assembly

SELF-INFLATING TYRE ASSEMBLY 5 A self-inflating tyre assembly (10) includes a tyre (12) having a tyre cavity (40) between first and second sidewalls (30, 32) that extend respectively from first and second tyre core beads (34, 36) to a tyre tread region (38). At least one of the sidewalls is provided with an air tube peristaltic pump assembly (14). An air tube (42) has an internal tube air passageway and is positioned within a sidewall groove (126) in contacting io engagement with opposite groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. The sidewall groove operatively bends within a rolling tyre footprint to compress the air tube from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter adjacent the rolling tyre footprint. A core bead passageway extends (62) within a core bead adjacent the one tyre sidewall for operatively storing air evacuated from the air tube passageway. Conduits are provided to route air is from the air tube to the core bead passageway and valve mechanisms are positioned within the core bead passageway to control the flow of air from the core bead passageway into the tyre cavity. Preg --- 46 A.-Toutlet 14 S '--- --- Tinlet FIG- 1