Vehicle tire inflation system and sensor and method of use

• US 20060207705A1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stacer, Daryl J., Davison, Kent E., Moses, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,302,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/415
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00381 specially adapted for steerable wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/443 mounted in bearings bearings F16C

Abstract

A combined tire inflation system and a wheel speed sensor for a vehicle steer axle has a steerable spindle with a substantially hollow interior portion. A shaft, located in the hollow interior portion, connects a rotatable hub cap adjacent the spindle and a sensor at least partially within the spindle. A magnet is secured to the shaft and rotates with the shaft. A sensor is mounted adjacent the magnet for sensing the rotation of the magnet. The shaft has a hollow interior that connects an air source with a tire associated with the hub cap.

Claims

1. A steer axle of a vehicle, comprising:

a steerable spindle having an inboard portion and an outboard portion, said spindle having a hollow interior portion extending from said inboard portion to said outboard portion;

a hub cap positioned adjacent said outboard portion of said spindle;

a hollow shaft rotatably mounted within said hollow interior portion of said spindle wherein a first portion of said shaft is attached to said hub cap for rotation therewith; and

a combined sensing unit and fluid conduit system mounted at least partially within said inboard portion of said spindle, said system connected to a second portion of said shaft, said second portion of said shaft also connected to an air supply.

2. The steer axle of claim 1, wherein said first portion of said shaft is connected to a tire air feed.

3. The steer axle of claim 1, wherein said spindle has a recess at said inboard portion, and wherein said recess is connected to said hollow interior portion of said spindle and said system is mounted within said recess.

4. The steer axle of claim 1, wherein said hub cap has an aperture therethrough for receiving said first portion of said shaft.

5. The steer axle of claim 1, wherein said hollow interior portion of said spindle is centrally located through said spindle.

6. The steer axle of claim 1, wherein said shaft has a substantially continuous interior portion for air to travel from said inboard portion of said spindle through said hub cap.

7. The steer axle of claim 1, wherein a magnet is secured to said shaft for rotation therewith within said system.

8. The steer axle of claim 1, wherein said shaft is rotatingly supported within said system by at least one bearing.

9. The steer axle of claim 8, wherein a rotary seal is located about said shaft and in sealingly engagement therewith.

10. The steer axle of claim 7, wherein said system has at least one non-rotating sensor located adjacent said magnet.

11. The steer axle of claim 10, wherein said sensor is located within a back cover.

12. The steer axle of claim 11, wherein said back cover defines an electronics cavity, a connector surround and an air line connection.

13. The steer axle of claim 9, wherein said magnet on said shaft is bounded by a first bearing and a second bearing and wherein said seal is located inboard of said second bearing.

14. A steer axle of a vehicle, comprising:

a steerable spindle having an inboard portion and an outboard portion, said spindle having a central, hollow interior portion;

a rotatable hub cap positioned adjacent said outboard portion of said spindle;

a substantially hollow shaft located within said interior portion of said spindle and connected to said hub cap for rotation therewith;

a speed sensor mounted within said spindle, said speed sensor comprising a magnet mounted for rotation on said shaft and a non-rotating sensor mounted adjacent said magnet; and

at least one rotary seal located about said shaft.

15. A method of utilizing a steer axle, comprising:

providing a steerable spindle having a hollow interior portion and a rotatable hub cap adjacent said spindle;

locating a shaft within said interior portion of said spindle;

connecting a first portion of said shaft to said hub cap for rotation therewith; and

sensing the rotational speed of said shaft by locating a magnet on a second portion of said shaft for rotation therewith adjacent a non-rotatable wheel speed sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least two bearings position said shaft so that said magnet thereon rotates adjacent said sensor.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one rotary seal is sealingly engaged with said shaft yet said seal permits rotation of said shaft.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein air travels through a back cover, through a hollow portion of said shaft to at least one tire air feed.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein a source of air continually pressurizes said shaft or intermittently pressurizes said shaft.