Steer axle high-temperature warning system

• US 9,789,730 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pressure Systems International LLC
• Original Assignee: Equalaire Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Hennig, Mark Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Blount, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US14/980,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20160129728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 340438, 340442, 152415, 152416
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/731 Use in cases of damage, failure or emergency
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/003 Steerable axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/002 by monitoring conditions other than tyre pressure or deformation
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00336 on the axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00381 specially adapted for steerable wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 29/06 Accessories for tyre-inflating valves, e.g. housings, guards, covers for valve caps, locks, not otherwise provided for B60C23/0496 takes precedence; tools for screwing and unscrewing valve caps B25B27/0057; pump connectors F04B33/005
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 5/00 Vehicle modifications to facilitate cooling of brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/383 the valve comprising fusible, softening or meltable elements, e.g. used as link, blocking element, seal, closure plug F16K17/386 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1797 Heat destructible or fusible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

A high temperature warning system for a vehicle steer axle an air pressure supply, a normally-closed valve in fluid communication with pressure supply, a heat sensitive control capable of opening the normally-closed valve upon a predetermined temperature, the heat sensitive control mounted adjacent to the wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith, and a warning system connected to the air pressure supply for actuation upon opening of the normally-closed valve.

Claims

1. A high temperature warning system for a steer-axle wheel end assembly, the system comprising:

a steer-axle spindle having an inner face and a free end;

a pressurized fluid supply;

a first normally-closed valve in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply;

a first heat sensitive control mounted to or near the steer-axle wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith, the first heat sensitive control being capable of opening the first normally-closed valve at a predetermined temperature; and

a warning indicator connected to the pressurized fluid supply and actuatable upon opening of the first normally-closed valve.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first heat sensitive control is mounted to the steer-axle spindle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first heat sensitive control is mounted to the inner face of the steer-axle spindle.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first heat sensitive control is mounted to the free end of the steer-axle spindle.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first heat sensitive control is mounted near the steer-axle spindle.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve block mounted to the inner face of the spindle in a heat exchange relationship therewith, the first normally-closed valve mounted to the valve block and the pressurized fluid supply sealingly connected to the valve block in fluid communication with the normally-closed valve.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first heat sensitive control is mounted to the inner face of the steer-axle spindle.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the first heat sensitive control is mounted to the free end of the steer-axle spindle.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the first heat sensitive control is mounted to the valve block.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

the steer-axle spindle forming a channel along the central axis of the steer-axle spindle and in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply at the inner face; and

a second normally-closed valve mounted to the steer-axle spindle in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply through the channel.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the channel extends from the inner face to the free end of the steer-axle spindle, the second normally-closed valve being sealingly mounted to the channel at or near the free end of the steer-axle spindle.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the channel extends from the inner face to an external surface of the steer-axle spindle, the second normally-closed valve being sealingly mounted to the channel at the external surface of the steer-axle spindle.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first heat sensitive control is disposed in the channel.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the first heat sensitive control is mounted to the valve block.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

the first heat-sensitive control being capable of opening either or both of the first normally-closed valve and second normally-closed valve at a predetermined temperature, and

the warning indicator actuatable upon opening either or both of the first normally-closed valve and second normally-closed valve.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a second heat sensitive control capable of opening the second normally-closed valve at a predetermined temperature.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first heat sensitive control forms part of the first normally-closed valve and the second heat sensitive control forms part of the second normally-closed valve.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the first heat sensitive control comprises a eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the first normally-closed valve upon reaching the predetermined temperature, and the second heat sensitive control comprises a eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the second normally-closed valve upon reaching the predetermined temperature.

19. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

the steer-axle spindle forming a channel along the central axis of the steer-axle spindle and extending from the inner face to the free end of the steer-axle spindle, the channel being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply at the inner face, and

a rotary union sealingly mounted to the channel at the outer end of the steer-axle spindle, the rotary union being in sealed communication with the pressurized fluid supply and with a tire.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the channel also extends from the inner face to an external surface of the steer-axle spindle, the system further comprising a second normally-closed valve mounted to the steer-axle spindle in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply through the channel.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first heat-sensitive control is mounted to the inner face of the steer-axle spindle.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a second heat sensitive control capable of opening the second normally-closed valve at a predetermined temperature.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the second heat-sensitive control is mounted to the inner face of the steer-axle spindle.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the first heat sensitive control forms part of the first normally-closed valve and the second heat sensitive control forms part of the second normally-closed valve.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first heat sensitive control comprises a eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the first normally-closed valve upon reaching the predetermined temperature, and the second heat sensitive control comprises a eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the second normally-closed valve upon reaching the predetermined temperature.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the steer-axle spindle forming a channel along the central axis of the steer-axle spindle and in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply at the inner face, and

the first normally-closed valve mounted to the steer-axle spindle in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply through the channel.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the channel extends from the inner face to the free end of the steer-axle spindle, the first normally-closed valve being sealingly mounted to the channel at or near the free end of the steer-axle spindle.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the channel extends from the inner face to an external surface of the steer-axle spindle, the first normally-closed valve being sealingly mounted to the channel at or near the external surface of the steer-axle spindle.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the first heat-sensitive control is mounted to the inner face of the steer-axle spindle.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the first heat-sensitive control is disposed in the channel.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the first heat-sensitive control is mounted to an external surface of the steer-axle spindle.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the first heat sensitive control forms part of the first normally-closed valve.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the first heat sensitive control comprises a eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the first normally-closed valve upon reaching the predetermined temperature.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the channel extends from the inner face to the free end of the steer-axle spindle, the channel being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply at the inner face, and wherein the channel also extends from the inner face to an external surface of the steer-axle spindle, the system further comprising:

a second normally-closed valve mounted to the steer-axle spindle in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply through the channel; and

a rotary union sealingly mounted to the channel at outer end of the steer-axle spindle, the rotary union being in sealed communication with the pressurized fluid supply and with a tire.