Drive axle with air passage for tire inflation system
First Claim
1. A drive axle assembly comprising:
- a non-rotating spindle having an inboard end that is attached to an axle housing, said non-rotating spindle having a cylindrical body defining an internal cavity;
a wheel hub rotatably supported on an outboard end of said non-rotating spindle by at least one bearing, and wherein at least one tire is supported by the wheel huban axle shaft mounted within said internal cavity for rotation about an axis, wherein said axle shaft includes an elongated axle shaft body and a drive flange to be coupled to said wheel hub, and wherein an outboard end of said elongated axle shaft body extends outwardly from said internal cavity to terminate at said drive flange, said outboard end including an increased diameter portion;
a seal assembly positioned within said internal cavity to provide a sealed chamber between said axle shaft assembly and said non-rotating spindle;
a first air passage formed within said cylindrical body and including an air inlet to be in fluid communication with an air supply and an air outlet in fluid communication with said sealed chamber; and
a second air passage formed within said increased diameter portion of said axle shaft, said second air passage receiving air input from said sealed chamber and including an air output to be associated with the at least one tire.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drive axle assembly includes a non-rotating spindle having a cylindrical body defining an internal cavity and an axle shaft assembly mounted within the internal cavity for rotation about an axis. A seal assembly is positioned within the internal cavity to provide a sealed chamber between the axle shaft assembly and the non-rotating spindle. A first air passage is formed within the cylindrical body and includes an air inlet to be in fluid communication with an air supply and an air outlet in fluid communication with the sealed chamber. A second air passage is formed within the axle shaft assembly and receives air input from the sealed chamber and includes an air output to be associated with at least one tire.
28 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A drive axle assembly comprising:
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a non-rotating spindle having an inboard end that is attached to an axle housing, said non-rotating spindle having a cylindrical body defining an internal cavity; a wheel hub rotatably supported on an outboard end of said non-rotating spindle by at least one bearing, and wherein at least one tire is supported by the wheel hub an axle shaft mounted within said internal cavity for rotation about an axis, wherein said axle shaft includes an elongated axle shaft body and a drive flange to be coupled to said wheel hub, and wherein an outboard end of said elongated axle shaft body extends outwardly from said internal cavity to terminate at said drive flange, said outboard end including an increased diameter portion; a seal assembly positioned within said internal cavity to provide a sealed chamber between said axle shaft assembly and said non-rotating spindle; a first air passage formed within said cylindrical body and including an air inlet to be in fluid communication with an air supply and an air outlet in fluid communication with said sealed chamber; and a second air passage formed within said increased diameter portion of said axle shaft, said second air passage receiving air input from said sealed chamber and including an air output to be associated with the at least one tire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A drive axle assembly comprising:
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a non-rotating spindle having a cylindrical body defining an internal cavity; an axle shaft mounted within said internal cavity for rotation about an axis, wherein said axle shaft includes an elongated axle shaft body and a drive flange to be coupled to a rotatable wheel component, and wherein an outboard end of said elongated axle shaft body extends outwardly from said internal cavity to terminate at said drive flange, said outboard end including an increased diameter portion; a seal assembly positioned within said internal cavity to provide a sealed chamber between said axle shaft assembly and said non-rotating spindle; a first air passage formed within said cylindrical body and including an air inlet to be in fluid communication with an air supply and an air outlet in fluid communication with said sealed chamber, and wherein said first air passage includes a first portion that extends in a direction that is generally parallel to said axis and a second portion that extends in a direction that is transverse to said axis, said first portion being significantly longer than said second portion; and a second air passage formed within said increased diameter portion of said axle shaft, said second air passage receiving air input from said sealed chamber and including an air output to be associated with at least one tire.
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11. A drive axle assembly comprising:
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a non-rotating spindle having a cylindrical body defining an internal cavity; an axle shaft mounted within said internal cavity for rotation about an axis, wherein said axle shaft includes an elongated axle shaft body and a drive flange to be coupled to a rotatable wheel component, and wherein an outboard end of said elongated axle shaft body extends outwardly from said internal cavity to terminate at said drive flange, said outboard end including an increased diameter portion; an air chamber formed between an inner surface of said non-rotating spindle and an outer surface of said axle shaft; a seal assembly positioned within said internal cavity to seal said air chamber, said seal assembly including first and second seals that are axially spaced apart from each other and which directly engage said inner surface of said non-rotating spindle and said outer surface of said axle shaft to define said air chamber; a first air passage formed within said cylindrical body and including an air inlet to be in fluid communication with an air supply and an air outlet that directly opens into said air chamber; and a second air passage formed within said increased diameter portion of said axle shaft, said second air passage having a shaft inlet that directly receives air from said air chamber and a shaft outlet to be associated with at least one tire. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification