VALVE STEM LOCATED CONTROL REGULATOR FOR AN AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE

An air maintenance tire assembly comprising a tire having a tire cavity bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region and a tire-mounted air pumping means for pumping pressurized air or tire-generated pressurized air into the tire cavity to maintain air pressure within the tire cavity at a defined pressure level is disclosed. The tire has an elongate valve stem projecting outward from the tire cavity, the valve stem having an internal valve stem air passageway in communication with the tire cavity operative to direct pressurized air from the valve stem air passageway into the cavity. A pressure control assembly is positioned at a control location in proximal relationship to the valve stem and operative to control a flow of pressurized air from the tire-mounted air pumping means into the tire cavity responsive to a detected air pressure level within the tire cavity. The pressure control assembly comprises a bidirectional air distribution block having a plurality of air pathways. Each air pathway is coupled to a respective conduit connected to the tire mounted air pumping means. The plurality of conduits are configured to operate alternatively to deliver ambient non-pressurized air to the air pumping means in response to directional tire rotation against a ground surface.