Tire inflation system apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A tire inflation system, comprising:
- an air supply source in selective fluid communication with a tire;
a pneumatic conduit extending between said air supply source and said tire to provide said fluid communication;
a first valve in fluid communication with said pneumatic conduit, said first valve including an open position and a closed position, whereby air passes from said air supply source through a first portion of said pneumatic conduit to the first valve, and when said first valve is in the open position, air passes through the first valve to a second portion of said pneumatic conduit;
a second valve disposed between said second portion of said pneumatic conduit and a third portion of the pneumatic conduit, said second valve being in fluid communication with said pneumatic conduit, the second valve including an open position, a closed position, a first channel, and a second channel, whereby when said first channel aligns with the second and third portions of the pneumatic conduit when the second valve is in said open position, air passes between said second and third portions of said pneumatic conduit via said second valve, and when said second channel aligns with the third portion of the pneumatic conduit when said second valve is in said closed position, air vents from said third portion of said pneumatic conduit to atmosphere via the second valve;
a rotary union in fluid communication with said third portion of said pneumatic conduit adjacent said tire;
a first pressure indicator in fluid communication with said first portion of said pneumatic conduit to indicate an air pressure in the first portion of the pneumatic conduit; and
a second pressure indicator in fluid communication with said third portion of said pneumatic conduit to indicate an air pressure in the third portion of the pneumatic conduit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire inflation system includes an air supply source in selective fluid communication with a tire via a pneumatic conduit. A first valve is in fluid communication with the pneumatic conduit in between a first portion and a second portion of the conduit. A second valve that includes a vent channel is in fluid communication with the pneumatic conduit between the second portion and a third portion of the conduit. A rotary union is in fluid communication with the third portion of the conduit adjacent the tire. A first pressure indicator is in fluid communication with the first portion of the pneumatic conduit and a second pressure indicator is in fluid communication with the third portion of the pneumatic conduit. An inflation pressure of the tire is measured with a step-up procedure and the tire is inflated with an extended-pulse procedure.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A tire inflation system, comprising:
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an air supply source in selective fluid communication with a tire;
a pneumatic conduit extending between said air supply source and said tire to provide said fluid communication;
a first valve in fluid communication with said pneumatic conduit, said first valve including an open position and a closed position, whereby air passes from said air supply source through a first portion of said pneumatic conduit to the first valve, and when said first valve is in the open position, air passes through the first valve to a second portion of said pneumatic conduit;
a second valve disposed between said second portion of said pneumatic conduit and a third portion of the pneumatic conduit, said second valve being in fluid communication with said pneumatic conduit, the second valve including an open position, a closed position, a first channel, and a second channel, whereby when said first channel aligns with the second and third portions of the pneumatic conduit when the second valve is in said open position, air passes between said second and third portions of said pneumatic conduit via said second valve, and when said second channel aligns with the third portion of the pneumatic conduit when said second valve is in said closed position, air vents from said third portion of said pneumatic conduit to atmosphere via the second valve;
a rotary union in fluid communication with said third portion of said pneumatic conduit adjacent said tire;
a first pressure indicator in fluid communication with said first portion of said pneumatic conduit to indicate an air pressure in the first portion of the pneumatic conduit; and
a second pressure indicator in fluid communication with said third portion of said pneumatic conduit to indicate an air pressure in the third portion of the pneumatic conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A tire inflation system for supplying air to a tire mounted on a wheel, said wheel in turn being rotatably mounted on an axle having a bore, said tire inflation system comprising:
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an air supply source;
a first pneumatic conduit having a first end in fluid communication with said supply source, wherein said first conduit extends from the supply source to said axle bore and along the axle bore to an outboard end of said axle;
a rotary union in fluid communication with a second end of said first pneumatic conduit, wherein said rotary union is secured in said outboard end of said axle bore, and wherein the rotary union includes a hardened one-piece air tube, said air tube including at least one bend and being rotatably mounted in a body of said rotary union; and
a second pneumatic conduit having a first end in fluid communication with said rotary union and a second end in fluid communication with said tire. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a tire inflation system including an air supply source in fluid communication with a tire via a pneumatic conduit, a method of tire inflation, comprising the steps of:
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providing a tire pressure retention valve in said pneumatic conduit adjacent to said tire;
determining an inflation pressure of the tire with a step-up procedure, whereby small air bursts are communicated from said air supply source to a portion of the pneumatic conduit between the air supply source and said tire pressure retention valve;
inflating said tire with an extended-pulse procedure, whereby extended bursts of air are communicated from said air supply source to the tire; and
performing a shut-down sequence once a predetermined target inflation pressure in said tire is reached. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification