TIRE INFLATION SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED WHEEL SEAL

• US 20100147429A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Tertzakian, Jeremy, Jenkinson, Scott Arthur, Ellis, Tracy Gerard, Wang, Yenkai Brian, Wittry, Christopher J., Morgan, John David, Austin, Norman, Gonska, David Gregory, Miller, Steven Ray, Decaire, Richard L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,931,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/417
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00345 Details of the rotational joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0039 specially adapted for driven wheels

Abstract

An axle assembly includes a non-rotating component and a wheel hub supported for rotation relative to the non-rotating component about an axis. The wheel hub includes a hub air passage that has a hub inlet and a hub outlet to be fluidly connected to at least one tire. An air chamber is formed at least in part between the non-rotating component and the wheel hub. The air chamber receives air flow from an air source and directs air flow into the hub inlet. A seal assembly engages the wheel hub to seal the air chamber.

Claims

1. An axle assembly comprising:

a non-rotating component;

a wheel hub supported for rotation relative to said non-rotating component about an axis, said wheel hub including a hub air passage having a hub inlet and a hub outlet to be fluidly connected to at least one tire;

an air chamber formed at least in part between said non-rotating component and said wheel hub, said air chamber to receive air flow from an air source and directing air flow into said hub inlet of said hub air passage; and

a seal assembly engaging said wheel hub to seal said air chamber.

2. The axle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said non-rotating component comprises a non-rotating spindle, and including at least one wheel bearing that rotatably supports said wheel hub for rotation relative to said non-rotating spindle, and wherein said wheel hub includes an inboard end that extends circumferentially around said non-rotating spindle with said air chamber being formed at said inboard end at a position that is inboard of said at least one wheel bearing.

3. The axle assembly according to claim 2 wherein said non-rotating spindle includes an outer peripheral surface and said wheel hub includes an inner peripheral surface that is spaced radially outwardly relative to said outer peripheral surface, and wherein at least a portion of said air chamber is formed between said inner and said outer peripheral surfaces.

4. The axle assembly according to claim 3 wherein said seal assembly includes at least first and second seals with at least one of said first and second seals contacting a rotating surface and the other of said first and second seals contacting a non-rotating surface.

5. The axle assembly according to claim 3 wherein said seal assembly includes at least separate first and second seals wherein one of said first and said second seals directly engages said inner peripheral surface of said wheel hub.

6. The axle assembly according to claim 3 including a manifold that is fixed to said outer peripheral surface of said non-rotating spindle, said manifold including a first port to receive air flow from the air source and a first passage that directs air flow through said manifold to said air chamber.

7. The axle assembly according to claim 6 wherein said air chamber is formed between an outer surface of said manifold and said inner peripheral surface of said wheel hub, and wherein said seal assembly includes at least first and second seals that are mounted between said inner peripheral surface and said outer surface of said manifold, and which are axially spaced apart from each other along said axis to define said air chamber.

8. The axle assembly according to claim 7 wherein said manifold includes a second passage that directs lubricating fluid adjacent to edges of said first and said second seals that are outward of said air chamber.

9. The axle assembly according to claim 8 including a third seal positioned inboard of said first and second seals to define a lubrication chamber between said third seal and one of said first and said second seals.

10. The axle assembly according to claim 7 wherein said hub inlet is positioned axially between said first and said second seals.

11. The axle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said non-rotating component comprises an annular ring that extends inboard of an inboard end face of said wheel hub, and wherein said seal assembly includes at least first and second seals that are mounted within said annular ring and which are radially spaced apart from each other in a direction extending away from said axis.

12. The axle assembly according to claim 11 wherein said annular ring comprises a C-shape cross-section with a vertically extending wall portion, a first lateral flange extending from an upper end of said vertically extending wall portion in a direction generally parallel to said axis, and a second lateral flange extending from a lower end of said vertically extending wall portion in a direction generally parallel to said axis, and wherein said annular ring includes an air port formed within said vertically extending wall portion to receive air from the air source, and wherein said first seal engages an outer surface of said wheel hub and an inner surface of said first lateral flange and said second seal engages said inner peripheral surface of said wheel hub and an inner surface of said second lateral flange to define said air chamber.

13. The axle assembly according to claim 12 wherein said hub inlet is formed in said inboard end face of said wheel hub and initially extends in a direction that is generally parallel to said axis.

14. The axle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said non-rotating component comprises a non-rotating spindle, and wherein said seal assembly includes at least a first seal portion that is fixed to an inner peripheral surface of said wheel hub and a second seal portion that is fixed to an outer peripheral surface of said non-rotating spindle, and wherein said air chamber is formed between said first and said second seal portions.

15. The axle assembly according to claim 14 wherein said first seal portion includes a first port that is fluidly connected to said hub inlet and said second seal portion includes a second port that is fluidly connected to receive air from the air source.

16. The axle assembly according to claim 15 wherein said first seal portion has a first segment that is biased against, and in direct contact with, said second seal portion and wherein said second seal portion has a second segment that is biased against, and in direct contact with, said first seal portion.

17. The axle assembly according to claim 1 including an axle shaft receiving driving input from a power source, said axle shaft being coupled to drive said wheel hub about said axis of rotation.