WHEEL END ASSEMBLY HIGH-TEMPERATURE WARNING SYSTEM

• US 20090242092A1
• Filed: 07/01/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pressure Systems International LLC
• Original Assignee: Equalaire Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Sonzala, Frank Joseph, Hennig, Mark Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,186,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/416
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/002 by monitoring conditions other than tyre pressure or deformation
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00327 integrally with the hub caps
• 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 23/009 having wheels on a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/02 Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/04 Detectors for indicating the overheating of axle bearings and the like, e.g. associated with the brake system for applying the brakes in case of a fault
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a wheel end assembly having a high temperature warning system for giving a warning in the event that the temperature in the assembly reaches a predetermined value such as caused by hub bearing failure or a brake related failure. In one embodiment the system may be a stand-alone system for installation on any vehicle such as a trailer. In another embodiment the system may be combined with an automatic tire inflation system.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A wheel-end assembly comprising:

a wheel-end component mounted at the end of an axle, said axle being capable of including pressurized air; and

a valve mounted to said axle near said wheel-end component, said valve being capable of receiving heat from said wheel-end component and being capable of releasing said pressurized air.

18. The wheel-end assembly of claim 17, said valve is capable of releasing said pressurized air upon said valve reaching a predetermined temperature.

19. The wheel-end assembly of claim 18, wherein said valve is configured to emit a noise when releasing said pressurized air, said noise capable of being audible to a driver of a vehicle using said wheel-end assembly.

20. The wheel-end assembly of claim 18, wherein said valve comprises a fusible material.

21. The wheel-end assembly of claim 17, wherein said valve is a fusible plug.

22. The wheel-end assembly of claim 21, wherein said fusible plug comprises a eutectic alloy.

23. The wheel-end assembly of claim 17, wherein said axle is sealed to contain said pressurized air.

24. The wheel-end assembly of claim 17, wherein said axle includes a conduit for communicating pressurized air to said valve.

25. The wheel-end assembly of claim 17, wherein said wheel-end component comprises at least one of a bearing, a brake drum, a brake disk, a wheel hub and a wheel.

26. A method of installing a high-temperature warning system onto a wheel-end assembly, said wheel-end assembly comprising a wheel-end component mounted to an axle capable of including pressurized air, said method comprising mounting a valve to said axle near said wheel-end component, said valve being capable of receiving heat from said wheel-end component and being capable of releasing said pressurized air.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said wheel-end component comprises at least one of a bearing, a brake drum, a brake disk, a wheel hub and a wheel.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said valve is capable of releasing said pressurized air upon said valve reaching a predetermined temperature.

29. The wheel-end assembly of claim 28, wherein said valve comprises a fusible material.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said axle is capable of being sealed to contain said pressurized air.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said axle is capable of including a conduit for communicating pressurized air to said valve.

32. A wheel-end assembly comprising:

a wheel-end component mounted at the end of an axle, said axle being capable of including pressurized air; and

means for receiving heat from said wheel-end component and releasing said pressurized air upon reaching a predetermined temperature.

33. The wheel-end assembly of claim 32, wherein said wheel-end component comprises at least one of a bearing, a brake drum, a brake disk, a wheel hub and a wheel.

34. A wheel-end assembly comprising:

a wheel-end component mounted at the end of an axle, said axle capable of including pressurized air; and

a valve capable of releasing said pressurized air upon said valve reaching a predetermined temperature.

35. The wheel-end assembly of claim 34, wherein said valve is configured to emit a noise of predetermined frequency when releasing said pressurized air.

36. A wheel-end assembly comprising:

a wheel-end component mounted at the end of an axle, said axle being capable of including pressurized air;

a heat sensor mounted in a heat-exchange relationship with a wheel-end component; and

a valve mounted to said axle and connected to said heat sensor, said valve being capable of opening to release said pressurized air when said heat sensor reaches a pre-determined temperature due to heat received from said wheel-end component.

37. The wheel-end assembly of claim 36, wherein said heat sensor comprises a thermal electric switch.

38. The wheel-end assembly of claim 36, wherein said heat sensor comprises a thermocouple.

39. The wheel-end assembly of claim 36, wherein said heat sensor comprises a thermistor.

40. The wheel-end assembly of claim 36, wherein said heat sensor comprises a heat-sensitive wire.

41. The wheel-end assembly of claim 36, wherein said valve is electrically-operated.

42. The wheel-end assembly of claim 36, wherein said wheel-end component comprises at least one of a bearing, a brake drum, a brake disk, a wheel hub and a wheel.

43. The wheel-end assembly of claim 36, wherein said pressurized air is provided through a vehicle tire inflation system.

44. The wheel-end assembly of claim 36, wherein said pressurized air is provided from a vehicle air brake system.

45. The wheel-end assembly of claim 36, wherein said axle is sealed at each end to contain said pressurized air.

46. The wheel-end assembly of claim 36, wherein said axle bears conduits for communicating said pressurized air.

47. The wheel-end assembly of claim 36, wherein said connection between said valve and said heat sensor is wireless.

48. A wheel end assembly rotatable on an axle on a vehicle having a high temperature warning system comprising:

an air pressure supply positioned inside the axle and connected to a pressure source on the vehicle;

a normally closed valve connected to the axle between the inside and outside of said pressure supply;

a heat sensitive control connected to and actuating said valve upon a predetermined temperature, said control mounted adjacent to said wheel end assembly for measuring the temperature of the assembly and axle; and

a warning system connected to the pressure supply for actuation upon opening of the valve, wherein the heat sensitive control includes a heat sensitive wire.