Axle assembly integrated with a tire inflation system and an electronic recorder

• US 6,230,556 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Malinowski, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/185,793
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/462, 731/468, 731/465, 152/415, 152/416, 152/417, 152/427, 301/37.37, 301/37.1, 301/37.35, 301/37.36, 301/37.42, 301/108.1, 301/108.3, 301/108.4, 340/442, 340/443, 340/444, 340/445, 364/424, 364/561
• US Class Current: 73/146.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00336 on the axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

An axle assembly includes an axle, a tire having a predetermined air inflation pressure rotatably supported on the axle, and a tire inflation system for detecting an actual tire inflation pressure less than the predetermined air inflation pressure, replenishing the tire with air, and producing an inflation signal. An inventive electronic recorder receives the inflation signal, increments a count register, and transmits count register data to an output device. In a first embodiment of this invention, the electronic recorder is mounted at an easily accessible location on a vehicle which includes the axle assembly. In a second embodiment of this invention, the tire is mounted to a wheel assembly and the axle assembly further includes an electronic hub odometer for detecting a revolution of the wheel assembly and producing an odometer signal. In this second embodiment, the electronic recorder includes a first count register for receiving the inflation signal, incrementing the first count register, and transmitting first count register data to an output device and a second count register for receiving the odometer signal, incrementing the second count register, determining the distance the wheel assembly has traveled from the second count register, and transmitting distance data to the output device. Preferably, the electronic recorder is mounted to a hub cap of the wheel assembly.

Claims

1. An axle assembly including a tire inflation system, the assembly comprising:

an axle;

a tire having a predetermined air inflation pressure rotatably supported on said axle;

a tire inflation system for detecting an actual tire inflation pressure less than said predetermined air inflation pressure, replenishing said tire with air, and producing an inflation signal; and

an electronic recorder for receiving said inflation signal, incrementing a count register, and transmitting count register data to an output device.

2. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tire inflation system includes a controller for maintaining said predetermined air inflation pressure in said tire.

3. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said controller includes a sensor responsive to an actual tire inflation pressure less than said predetermined air inflation pressure for producing said inflation signal.

4. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said tire inflation system includes an air supply for replenishing said tire with air.

5. An axle assembly including an electronic hub odometer and a tire inflation system, the assembly comprising:

an axle defining an axis;

a wheel assembly rotatably supported on said axle for rotating relative to the axle axis;

an electronic hub odometer for detecting a revolution of said wheel assembly and producing an odometer signal;

a tire having a predetermined air inflation pressure mounted on said wheel assembly;

a tire inflation system for detecting an actual tire inflation pressure less than said predetermined air inflation pressure, replenishing said tire with air, and producing an inflation signal; and

an electronic recorder including a first count register for receiving said inflation signal, incrementing said first count register, and transmitting first count register data to an output device and a second count register for receiving said odometer signal, incrementing said second count register, determining the distance said wheel assembly has traveled from said second count register, and transmitting distance data to the output device.

6. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tire inflation system includes a controller for maintaining said predetermined air inflation pressure in said tire.

7. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said tire inflation system includes a sensor responsive to an actual tire inflation pressure less than said predetermined air inflation pressure for producing said inflation signal.

8. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tire inflation system includes an air supply for replenishing said tire with air.