Steer axle tire inflation system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tire inflation system for a steer-axle wheel end assembly having a steer-axle spindle and a tire, the system comprising:
- a pressurized fluid supply;
the steer-axle spindle pivotably mounted to a steer axle, the steer-axle spindle having an inner face facing the steer axle and having an outer end, the steer-axle spindle forming an axial channel along the central axis of the steer-axle spindle, the axial channel extending from the outer end and being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply; and
a rotary union sealingly mounted to the axial channel at the outer end of the steer-axle spindle, the rotary union being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply and with the tire, the rotary union comprising;
a rotary body being configured to mount to the exterior or interior of a hubcap, or comprising part of a hubcap;
a stator disposed in the axial channel at the outer end of the steer-axle spindle;
a first seal circumferentially disposed in the stator, the first seal being an annular seal;
a second seal disposed in the rotary body; and
a tubular member sealingly disposed between the first annular seal and the second seal, wherein the tubular member comprises a rigid portion and a flexible portion.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steer axle spindle may have one or more channels formed therein. A rotary union may be mounted to a steer axle wheel end assembly. The rotary union may be sealingly connected to a pressurized fluid source through the channel, and sealingly connected to a vehicle tire.
89 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A tire inflation system for a steer-axle wheel end assembly having a steer-axle spindle and a tire, the system comprising:
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a pressurized fluid supply; the steer-axle spindle pivotably mounted to a steer axle, the steer-axle spindle having an inner face facing the steer axle and having an outer end, the steer-axle spindle forming an axial channel along the central axis of the steer-axle spindle, the axial channel extending from the outer end and being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply; and a rotary union sealingly mounted to the axial channel at the outer end of the steer-axle spindle, the rotary union being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply and with the tire, the rotary union comprising; a rotary body being configured to mount to the exterior or interior of a hubcap, or comprising part of a hubcap; a stator disposed in the axial channel at the outer end of the steer-axle spindle; a first seal circumferentially disposed in the stator, the first seal being an annular seal; a second seal disposed in the rotary body; and a tubular member sealingly disposed between the first annular seal and the second seal, wherein the tubular member comprises a rigid portion and a flexible portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A tire inflation system for a steer-axle wheel end assembly having a steer-axle spindle and a tire, the system comprising:
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a pressurized fluid supply; the steer-axle spindle pivotably mounted to a steer axle, the steer-axle spindle having an inner face facing the steer axle and having an outer end, the steer-axle spindle forming an axial channel along the central axis of the steer-axle spindle, the axial channel extending from the outer end and being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply; and a rotary union sealingly mounted to the axial channel at the outer end of the steer-axle spindle, the rotary union being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply and with the tire, the rotary union comprising; a rotary body being configured to mount to the exterior or interior of a hubcap, or comprising part of a hubcap; a stator disposed in the axial channel at the outer end of the steer-axle spindle; a first seal circumferentially disposed in the stator, the first seal being an annular seal; a second seal disposed in the rotary body, wherein the second seal is an annular seal circumferentially disposed in the rotary body, and; and a tubular member sealingly disposed between the first annular seal and the second seal, wherein the tubular member is rotatably, pivotably and translatably disposed in the first seal and rotatably and pivotably disposed in the second seal. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A tire inflation system for a steer-axle wheel end assembly having a steer-axle spindle and a tire, the system comprising:
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a pressurized fluid supply; the steer-axle spindle pivotably mounted to a steer axle, the steer-axle spindle having an inner face facing the steer axle and having an outer end, the steer-axle spindle forming an axial channel along the central axis of the steer-axle spindle, the axial channel extending from the outer end and being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply; and a rotary union sealingly mounted to the axial channel at the outer end of the steer-axle spindle, the rotary union being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply and with the tire, the rotary union comprising; a rotary body being configured to mount to the exterior or interior of a hubcap, or comprising part of a hubcap; a stator disposed in the axial channel at the outer end of the steer-axle spindle; a first seal circumferentially disposed in the stator, the first seal being an annular seal; a second seal disposed in the rotary body; and a tubular member sealingly disposed between the first annular seal and the second seal, the tubular member being non-rotating with respect to the steer axle spindle, the tubular member comprising a steel portion, the second seal comprising a face seal formed of the steel portion and an abutting rotatable graphite portion.
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Specification