How Does
How Does a Pneumatic Tire Pump Work?
What it a Pneumatic Tire Pump?
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Pneumatic pumps are air pumps that are mainly found at gas stations and car repair shops. They are used for inflating car, truck and occasionally bike tires. Unlike other types of compressed-air pumps, pneumatic pumps utilize outside air as opposed to air tanks. When activated, the pumps suck in air and compress it, harnessing the air for use in tires.
Drawing in the Air
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When a pneumatic pump is switched on, outside air is drawn into the pump through an inlet valve. As the air is drawn into the pump, a piston mechanism pushes down in the device. This motion helps create the vacuum that sucks in the air. When the piston goes down as far as it can, it begins to rise up in the chamber. This action creates pressure that causes the inlet valve to shut and squeezes the air in the pump chamber. When the air is compressed, it is pressurized. This pressure is what allows it to shoot out of the hose that supplies the air to the tire. Once the air reaches the ideal pressure limit, the compressor shuts off.
Filling the Tire
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The hose connected to the pneumatic pump usually has a button or lever attached to the tip that allows the pressurized air to release from the chamber. Once the hose is lined up with the tire opening, the button is pressed. This releases the compressed air from the chamber. Because the air is squeezed into such a tight space, its molecules are seeking any way to escape and expand. When the air is released, the pressure causes it to squeeze out of the chamber in a heavy stream. The air flows into the tire.
eHow Article: How Does a Pneumatic Tire Pump Work?
