Tire inflation system with pressure limiter
First Claim
1. A tire inflation system comprising:
- a pressure line connectable to a tire;
a control valve in fluid communication with a fluid supply wherein said control valve is operable to automatically maintain said pressure line at a desired minimum pressure; and
a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with said pressure line, said pressure relief valve automatically venting to atmosphere when pressure in said pressure line exceeds a maximum threshold pressure.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tire inflation system includes a hose that connects to a tire via a valve stem. A control valve is in fluid communication with the hose and senses when pressure falls below a predetermined minimum value. When this occurs, the control valve automatically opens to re-supply air to the tire until the predetermined minimum value is achieved. A pressure relieve valve is also in fluid communication with the hose. If, for example, ambient temperatures increase, causing tire pressure to increase, then the pressure relief valve automatically vents excessive pressure to atmosphere. The pressure relief valve is set at a predetermined maximum pressure level that is generally at least 5 psi more than the predetermined minimum value.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tire inflation system comprising:
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a pressure line connectable to a tire; a control valve in fluid communication with a fluid supply wherein said control valve is operable to automatically maintain said pressure line at a desired minimum pressure; and a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with said pressure line, said pressure relief valve automatically venting to atmosphere when pressure in said pressure line exceeds a maximum threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 16)
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6. A tire inflation system comprising:
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an axle extending between first and second wheels laterally spaced apart from each other and rotatable about an axis of rotation; a hose assembly having a first hose member fluidly connectable with at least one first tire mountable for rotation with the first wheel and a second hose member fluidly connectable with at least one second tire mountable for rotation with the second wheel; a control in fluid communication upstream with a fluid supply and in fluid communication downstream with said hose assembly, said control including a flow valve that automatically opens when fluid pressure in said hose assembly falls below a predetermined minimum pressure to maintain fluid pressure in the at least one first and second tires at said predetermined minimum pressure; a first pressure relief valve assembly in fluid communication with said first hose member wherein said first pressure relief valve assembly automatically vents to atmosphere when fluid pressure in said first hose member exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure; and a second pressure relief valve assembly in fluid communication with said second hose member wherein said second pressure relief valve assembly automatically vents to atmosphere when fluid pressure in said second hose member exceeds said predetermined maximum pressure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
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18. A tire inflation system comprising:
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a pressure line connectable to a plurality of tires; a control valve in fluid communication with a fluid supply wherein said control valve is operable to automatically maintain said pressure line and each of the plurality of tires at a desired minimum pressure; and a plurality of pressure relief valves in fluid communication with said pressure line, with each of said plurality pressure relief valves being associable with one tire of the plurality of tires such that each pressure relief valve automatically vents to atmosphere when pressure in an associated one of the plurality of tires exceeds a maximum threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification