WHEEL END ASSEMBLY HIGH-TEMPERATURE WARNING SYSTEM
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1-16. -16. (canceled)
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17. A wheel-end assembly comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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- 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.
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32. A wheel-end assembly comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A wheel-end assembly comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A wheel-end assembly comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A wheel end assembly rotatable on an axle on a vehicle having a high temperature warning system comprising:
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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.
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Specification