Assembly for a central tire inflation system

• US 10,442,260 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burke, Douglas C., Lewark, Christopher P., Sidders, Jason M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charleston, Jean W
• Application Number:
  US15/575,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20180154713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 152427
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00372 characterised by fluid diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 29/02 Connection to rims

Abstract

A tire inflation system including a wheel rim having an aperture through the radially exterior and interior surfaces thereof. A wheel valve assembly including a mounting portion coupled with the wheel rim interior surface. The mounting portion having an opening in fluid communication with the wheel rim aperture. A cap portion coupled with the mounting portion, defining a fluid inlet and a perforation in fluid communication. A valve at least partially disposed within the cap portion, and disposed parallel with the longitudinal axis of the wheel rim. A base portion coupled with the cap portion, and at least partially surrounding the valve. A fluid outlet defined by the base portion, and in selective fluid communication with the fluid inlet via the valve. A biasing member disposed at least partially around the valve, whereby the biasing member is compressed in the wheel valve assembly closed position.

Claims

1. A tire inflation system for a vehicle, comprising:

a wheel rim having a radially interior surface and a radially exterior surface, wherein an aperture extends through said exterior surface and said interior surface;

a fluid supply;

a wheel valve assembly operable between an open position and a closed position, comprising;

a mounting portion coupled with said interior surface of said wheel rim, wherein said mounting portion includes an opening therethrough in fluid communication with said wheel rim aperture,

a cap portion coupled with said mounting portion disposed radially inward of said wheel rim interior surface, wherein said cap portion defines a fluid inlet and a perforation in fluid communication,

a fluid conduit in fluid communication with said fluid supply and said cap portion fluid inlet,

a valve at least partially disposed within said cap portion, wherein said valve comprises a longitudinal axis parallel with said longitudinal axis of said wheel rim,

a base portion coupled with said cap portion and disposed radially inward of said wheel rim interior surface, wherein said base portion at least partially surrounds said valve,

a fluid outlet defined by said base portion, wherein said fluid outlet is in selective fluid communication with said fluid inlet via said valve, and

a biasing member disposed at least partially around said valve, wherein an end of said biasing member abuts a portion of said valve, whereby said biasing member is compressed in said wheel valve assembly closed position.

2. The tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein said cap portion includes a first plurality of fastener apertures disposed substantially transverse a longitudinal axis of said wheel rim,

said cap portion coupled with said mounting portion via a plurality of fasteners disposed through said first plurality of fastener apertures.

3. The tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein said cap portion fluid inlet comprises a longitudinal axis disposed transverse said longitudinal axis of said wheel rim.

4. The tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein said cap portion perforation comprises a longitudinal axis parallel with a longitudinal axis of said cap portion.

5. The tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein the area formed in said cap portion perforation varies in size.

6. The tire inflation system of claim 1, said cap portion further comprising:

a substantially cylindrical chamber in fluid communication with said fluid inlet and said perforation, wherein said chamber comprises a longitudinal axis parallel with said longitudinal axis of said wheel rim.

7. The tire inflation system of claim 6, wherein said chamber longitudinal axis is disposed transverse said longitudinal axis of said fluid inlet.

8. The tire inflation system of claim 6, wherein said fluid outlet defines a curve having a substantially 90 degree angle.

9. The tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein said cap portion comprises a second plurality of fastener apertures disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said wheel rim,

said cap portion coupled with said base portion via a plurality of fasteners disposed through said second plurality of fastener apertures.

10. The tire inflation system of claim 9, wherein said fluid conduit is coupled with a side wall portion of said cap portion.

11. The tire inflation system of claim 9, wherein said fluid conduit is coupled with an upper wall portion of said cap portion.

12. The tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein said base portion includes a third plurality of fastener apertures disposed substantially transverse a longitudinal axis of said wheel rim,

said base portion coupled with said mounting portion via a plurality of fasteners disposed through said third plurality of fastener apertures.

13. The tire inflation system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of fastener apertures are disposed through a plurality of protrusions on said base portion.

14. A tire inflation system for a vehicle, comprising:

a valve assembly coupled with a wheel assembly, said valve assembly in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir and operable between an open position and a closed position,

said valve assembly comprising a mounting portion connected to an interior surface of a wheel rim, said wheel rim including an aperture extending from an exterior surface to an interior surface thereof,

said mounting portion comprising an aperture therethrough in fluid communication with said wheel rim aperture,

a cap portion having a plurality of transverse fastener apertures disposed substantially transverse a longitudinal axis of said wheel rim, said cap portion coupled with said mounting portion via a plurality of fasteners disposed through said transverse fastener apertures,

said cap portion including a fluid inlet having a longitudinal axis transverse said longitudinal axis of said wheel rim, said fluid inlet coupled with a fluid conduit in fluid communication with said fluid reservoir,

said fluid inlet in fluid communication with a channel defined by said cap portion, said channel having a longitudinal axis parallel to said longitudinal axis of said cap portion,

said cap portion defining a substantially cylindrical chamber having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion comprises a smaller diameter than said second portion, said first portion in fluid communication with said fluid inlet, said second portion at least partially surrounding a valve member,

said chamber having a longitudinal axis parallel with said longitudinal axis of said wheel rim and transverse said longitudinal axis of said fluid inlet,

said cap portion comprising a plurality of parallel fastener apertures disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said wheel rim,

said cap portion coupled with a base portion via a plurality of parallel fasteners disposed through said parallel fastener apertures, whereby said base portion at least partially surrounds said valve member,

said base portion including a plurality of transverse fastener apertures disposed substantially transverse a longitudinal axis of said wheel rim,

said base portion coupled with said mounting portion via a plurality of fasteners disposed through said transverse fastener apertures,

said base portion comprising a fluid outlet in fluid communication with said mounting portion aperture, wherein said fluid outlet defines a curve having a substantially 90 degree angle, and said fluid outlet in selective fluid communication with said fluid inlet via said valve member.