Central tire inflation wheel assembly, valve and central tire inflation system
First Claim
1. A central tire inflation system for a work vehicle supported by a set of inflatable wheels, the central tire inflation system comprising:
- a) a load transducer coupled to the work vehicle and configured to sense a load of an implement connected to the vehicle and to generate load signals representative thereof;
b) an electronic control unit coupled to the load transducer configured to receive the load signals and to generate control signals at least partly in response thereto;
c) an air manifold configured to receive the control signals from the electronic control unit, the control signals controlling actions of the air manifold to regulate the air supplied to the set of inflatable wheels; and
d) at least one wheel valve operably connected to a wheel of the vehicle and including a casing securable to a rim of a vehicle, the casing having an open end and a closed end defining a cavity therein, a main valve body engaged with the casing within the cavity and extending outwardly from the casing through the open end, the main body including at least one aperture located at each of a lower and an upper end of an interior thereof;
the lower aperture positioned in sealing engagement with a pressurized air inlet, a valve member movably disposed within the interior of the main body and sealingly engageable with the main body, the valve member including a number of openings therein to enable fluid communication between the lower aperture in the main body and the cavity in the casing through the valve member, and a biasing member disposed between the main body and the valve member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a valve for use in a central tire inflation system including a casing securable to the rim of a vehicle in communication with the tire that houses a main body connectable to a pressurized fluid supply of the central tire inflation system, and a valve member moveable within the main body to control the flow of air through the valve. The valve can be mounted flush on the exterior surface of the rim or in a recessed position within the rim, and can be connected to a manifold that is able to control the flow of pressurized fluid from the central tire inflation system to each valve and tire connected to the valve. The operation of the manifold and pressurized fluid supply can be controlled utilizing a controller operably connected to the manifold and fluid supply, and to sensing devices that supply information regarding the operational conditions of the vehicle to the controller to assist in adjusting the inflation of the tires as necessary.
25 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A central tire inflation system for a work vehicle supported by a set of inflatable wheels, the central tire inflation system comprising:
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a) a load transducer coupled to the work vehicle and configured to sense a load of an implement connected to the vehicle and to generate load signals representative thereof; b) an electronic control unit coupled to the load transducer configured to receive the load signals and to generate control signals at least partly in response thereto; c) an air manifold configured to receive the control signals from the electronic control unit, the control signals controlling actions of the air manifold to regulate the air supplied to the set of inflatable wheels; and d) at least one wheel valve operably connected to a wheel of the vehicle and including a casing securable to a rim of a vehicle, the casing having an open end and a closed end defining a cavity therein, a main valve body engaged with the casing within the cavity and extending outwardly from the casing through the open end, the main body including at least one aperture located at each of a lower and an upper end of an interior thereof;
the lower aperture positioned in sealing engagement with a pressurized air inlet, a valve member movably disposed within the interior of the main body and sealingly engageable with the main body, the valve member including a number of openings therein to enable fluid communication between the lower aperture in the main body and the cavity in the casing through the valve member, and a biasing member disposed between the main body and the valve member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A central tire inflation system to be utilized on a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a) a load transducer coupled to the vehicle for generating sensed load signals representative of operating loads placed on inflatable wheels of the vehicle; b) an electronic control unit mounted on the work vehicle and coupled to the load transducer, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to receive the sensed load signals and to generate control signals at least partly in response thereto; c) an air supply capable of supplying pressurized air; d) at least two air lines coupled to the inflatable wheels; e) an air manifold mounted on the work vehicle and coupled to the air supply, the at least two air lines, and the control unit, wherein the air manifold receives the control signals from the electronic control unit, the control signals controlling actions of the air manifold to regulate the distribution and amount of pressurized air supplied via internal passages in the manifold to the at least two air lines through a manifold fluid outlet from the air supply entering the internal passages through a manifold fluid inlet; f) at least one wheel valve including a casing secured to a rim of wheel, the casing having an open end and a closed end defining a cavity therein that is in fluid communication with an interior of a vehicle tire, a main valve body engaged with the casing within the cavity and extending outwardly from the casing through the open end, the main body including at least one aperture located at each of a lower and an upper end of an interior thereof, a valve member movably disposed within the interior of the main body and sealingly engageable with the main body, the valve member including a number of openings therein to enable fluid communication between the lower aperture in the main body from at least one of the air lines from the manifold and the cavity in the casing through the valve member to the tire, and a biasing member disposed between the main body and the valve member; wherein the load transducer comprises at least one sensing device, the sensing device communicating an electrical signal to the electronic control unit, the electrical signal having a substantially known relationship to a force measured by the sensing device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method of regulating the tire pressure of a tire on a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a central tire inflation system comprising; i) at least one wheel valve including a casing secured to a rim of a wheel, the casing having an open end and a closed end defining a cavity therein in fluid communication with an interior of a vehicle tire, a main valve body engaged with the casing within the cavity and extending outwardly from the casing through the open end, the main body including at least one aperture located at each of a lower and an upper end of an interior thereof, a valve member movably disposed within the interior of the main body and sealingly engageable with the main body, the valve member including a number of openings therein to enable fluid communication between the lower aperture in the main body and the cavity in the casing through the valve member, and a biasing member disposed between the main body and the valve member; ii) a manifold secured to the vehicle and operably connected to the at least one valve, the manifold having a unitary housing including a fluid inlet and a number of fluid outlets interconnected with one another by internal passages within the housing and at least one control valve operably connected to the internal passages within the housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlets; iii) a pressurized fluid supply operably connected to the manifold to supply the pressurized fluid to the manifold; and iv) a controller operably connected to the at least one valve of the manifold and to the pressurized fluid supply to selectively control the operation of the at least one valve and the pressurized air supply and to at least one sensing device positioned on the vehicle to monitor one or more operating conditions of the vehicle; b) generating sensed signals representative of operating conditions of the vehicle by the at least one sensing devices; c) generating control signals at least partly in response to the sensed signals; and d) regulating the air supplied to the tire based on the control signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification