CENTRAL TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20150029015A1
• Filed: 07/22/2014
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hendrickson USA LLC (The Boler Company)
• Original Assignee: Hendrickson USA LLC (The Boler Company)
• Inventors: Pierce, Phillippi R., Wilson, Matt J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,160,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00372 characterised by fluid diagrams

Abstract

A central tire pressure monitoring system interfaces with a tire inflation system to check the pressure in all of the tires of a trailer of a heavy-duty vehicle at a single interface location on the trailer, without the need to provide power to the trailer. The tire inflation system includes a source of pressurized air, at least one tire, a pneumatic conduit extending between and fluidly connecting the source of pressurized air to the tire, and a controller fluidly connected to the conduit. The monitoring system includes a monitoring valve fluidly connected to the conduit between the controller and the tire. The monitoring valve includes a port, and a test tool selectively fluidly connects to the monitoring valve port to enable air flow from the tire to the test tool. An indicator fluidly connects to the test tool and provides a reading of a pneumatic pressure in the tire.

Claims

1. A central tire pressure monitoring system for a heavy-duty vehicle, said vehicle including a tire inflation system comprising:

a source of pressurized air;

at least one tire;

a pneumatic conduit extending between and fluidly connecting said source of pressurized air to said at least one tire; and

a controller fluidly connected to said conduit, said monitoring system comprising;

a monitoring valve fluidly connected to said conduit between said controller and said at least one tire, said monitoring valve including a port;

a test tool selectively fluidly connected to said monitoring valve port, said test tool enabling air flow from said at least one tire to the test tool; and

an indicator fluidly connected to said test tool, whereby said indicator provides a reading of a pneumatic pressure in said at least one tire.

2. The central tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring valve includes:

an inlet;

an outlet fluidly connected to said inlet;

a test tool port fluidly connected to said inlet and said outlet; and

a poppet valve assembly that selectively interrupts air flow between said inlet and said outlet.

3. The central tire pressure monitoring system of claim 2, wherein said test tool actuates said poppet valve assembly upon connection to said test tool port to interrupt air flow between said monitoring valve inlet and said monitoring valve outlet.

4. The central tire pressure monitoring system of claim 2, wherein said source of pressurized air is a first air source;

said tire inflation system further comprises a tire valve fluidly connected to said at least one tire; and

said test tool is fluidly connected to a second source of pressurized air, whereby said second air source provides pressurized air through said test tool port to open said tire valve and enable said air flow from said at least one tire to the test tool.

5. The central tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said tire inflation system includes at least one wheel valve, and said monitoring valve is fluidly connected to said conduit between said controller and said at least one wheel valve

6. The central tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring valve is a spring-biased pilot valve.

7. The central tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said at least one tire is a plurality of tires, and said pneumatic pressure reading indicates the lowest pressure in said plurality of tires.

8. The central tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said indicator is a mechanical gauge.

9. The central tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said indicator is electronic.

10. The central tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said indicator employs a step-up procedure.

11. The central tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said tire inflation system includes a tire isolation system.