Steer axle high-temperature warning system

• US 10,179,484 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2017
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pressure Systems International LLC
• Original Assignee: Equalaire Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Hennig, Mark Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US15/704,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20180222252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 340438-442
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/731 Use in cases of damage, failure or emergency
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/003 Steerable axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/002 by monitoring conditions other than tyre pressure or deformation
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00336 on the axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00381 specially adapted for steerable wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 29/06 Accessories for tyre-inflating valves, e.g. housings, guards, covers for valve caps, locks, not otherwise provided for B60C23/0496 takes precedence; tools for screwing and unscrewing valve caps B25B27/0057; pump connectors F04B33/005
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 5/00 Vehicle modifications to facilitate cooling of brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/383 the valve comprising fusible, softening or meltable elements, e.g. used as link, blocking element, seal, closure plug F16K17/386 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1797 Heat destructible or fusible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

A high temperature warning system for a vehicle steer axle an air pressure supply, a normally-closed valve in fluid communication with pressure supply, a heat sensitive control capable of opening the normally-closed valve upon a predetermined temperature, the heat sensitive control mounted adjacent to the wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith, and a warning system connected to the air pressure supply for actuation upon opening of the normally-closed valve.

Claims

1. A high temperature warning system for a steer-axle wheel end assembly, the steer-axle wheel end assembly comprising a steer-axle spindle having an outer end, the system comprising:

a pressurized fluid supply;

the steer-axle spindle having a first channel in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply;

a first normally-closed valve sealing the first channel, the first normally-closed valve being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply;

a first heat sensitive control capable of opening the first normally-closed valve at a first predetermined temperature, the first heat sensitive control mounted on or near the steer-axle wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith; and

a warning indicator configured for actuation upon opening of the first normally-closed valve.

2. The system of claim 1, the first channel extending to the outer end.

3. The system of claim 2, the first channel extending from an external surface of the steer-axle spindle to the outer end, the first channel being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply at the external surface.

4. The system of claim 1, the first channel extending to an external surface of the steer-axle spindle, the first normally-closed valve sealing the first channel at the external surface.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first heat sensitive control forms part of the first normally-closed valve.

6. The system of claim 5, the first heat sensitive control comprising an eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the first normally-closed valve at the first predetermined temperature.

7. The system of claim 1, the first normally-closed valve being an electrically-operated normally-closed valve, and the first heat sensitive control being a thermal electric switch.

8. The system of claim 2, the steer-axle spindle having a central axis about which a wheel may rotate, a portion of the first channel extending approximately along the central axis;

the spindle having a second channel formed therein extending from the first channel to the external surface of the spindle; and

a second normally-closed valve sealing the second channel, the second heat sensitive control mounted on or near the steer-axle wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith, and the second normally closed valve being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply.

9. The system of claim 8, first heat sensitive control being capable of opening the second normally-closed valve at the first predetermined temperature.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second heat sensitive control capable of opening the second normally-closed valve at the first predetermined temperature.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second heat sensitive control capable of opening the second normally-closed valve at a second predetermined temperature.

12. The system of claim 11, the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature being the same.

13. The system of claim 8, the second heat sensitive control comprising an eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the second normally-closed valve at the first predetermined temperature.

14. The system of claim 11, the second heat sensitive control comprising an eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the second normally-closed valve at the second predetermined temperature.

15. The system of claim 9, the first normally-closed valve and the second normally-closed valve each being an electrically operated, the first heat sensitive control being a thermal electric switch controlling the first normally-closed valve and the second normally-closed valve.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the warning indicator comprises either a flow switch capable of sensing air flow from the air pressure supply, and a warning light capable of activation by the flow switch;

or a sound channel formed in the first normally-closed valve through which air may flow and produce sound audible to humans when the first normally-closed valve opens.

17. The system of claim 4, the steer-axle wheel end assembly comprising a pneumatic tire, the system further comprising a tire inflation system rotary union in sealed fluid communication with the tire;

the first channel further extending to the outer end of the steer-axle spindle, the rotary union being in sealed fluid communication with the first channel at the outer end of the spindle.

18. A high temperature warning system for a steer-axle wheel end assembly, the steer-axle wheel end assembly comprising a steer-axle spindle having an outer end, the system comprising:

a first normally-closed valve configured for sealing a first channel formed in the steer-axle spindle, the first normally-closed valve further configured for sealed fluid communication with a pressurized fluid supply through the first channel; and

a first heat sensitive control capable of opening the first normally-closed valve at a first predetermined temperature, the first heat sensitive control configured for mounting on or near the steer-axle wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith.

19. The system of claim 18, the first heat sensitive control forming part of the first normally-closed valve.

20. The system of claim 19, the first heat sensitive control comprising an eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the first normally-closed valve at the first predetermined temperature.

21. The system of claim 18, the first normally-closed valve being an electrically-operated normally-closed valve, and the first heat sensitive control being a thermal electric switch.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising a warning indicator configured for actuation upon opening of the first normally-closed valve.