From: John De Armond
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.rv-travel
Subject: Re: Need help Automating Tire pumping-Up/Down
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 23:36:46 -0400

"Alan F. Pilcher" wrote:

> So, I'm looking to streamline what I do to get ready to go.  Among the
> more time consuming things I do is airing up the truck's rear tires
> from 45 lbs to 80 lbs.  I have a Sears 120vac single-piston air
> compressor with a 115 lb upper limit and a makita air tank, all neatly
> installed in a little red wagon (no kidding) for towing around to air
> up trailer and truck tires.

The very best solution is to find an ECO Tireflator.  You probably
remember these units from when there were real service stations.
Here are some links I found:

http://www.vcsigns.com/Equipment/ecometer.htm
Book
http://crspub.com/tireflator/books.htm
Parts
http://niftyfiftys.homestead.com/eco.html
restored units.
http://crspub.com/tireflator/restored%20ecos.htm

The reason this is the best solution is because it is both fast and
accurate.  The Tireflator feeds "burps" of full pressure air into
the hose and then looks at the pressure after the air reaches the
tire.  It continued this cycle until the tire is inflated.  The full
pressure bursts quickly deliver air to the tire at the maximum flow
possible for a given hose setup while still achieving great
accuracy.  These units are now highly collectable and therefore
somewhat pricey but they are/were the cadillac of tire inflators.

A much less optimum solution is to simply put an air pressure
regulator in line with the compressor.  A standard shop air
regulator will bleed as well as feed air so it can be used to reduce
the pressure in the tires as well as increase.  The problem is, this
process is SLOOOWWWW!  As the pressure in the tire increases, there
is less and less differential pressure to drive the air flow.
Therefore the air flow slows.  As the tire pressure approaches the
regulator setpoint, the flow practically stops.  The tire pressure
will eventually get there but it will take awhile.  If you put a
ball valve on the OUTLET of the regulator, you can close the valve
and then set the pressure you want on the regulator's gauge.  Open
the valve and it will feed or bleed as necessary without your
attention.  Not a bad solution if you have plenty of time.

Simply come out of the Tireflator or regulator with a tee and as
many hoses as you have tires.  Install a Milton locking chuck on
each hose and you're ready.  This assembly will both inflate and
equalize the tires in one process.

BTW, if you find a really good price on the TireFlator, let me know.
I've wanted one of those for decades.

John