Vehicle wheel end assembly with air passage

• US 4,932,451 A
• Filed: 01/26/1989
• Issued: 06/12/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Auto OOO (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Williams, Donald L., Sandy, William M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilber, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US07/301,766
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 152/416, 152/417, 152/415, 301/5 VH, 301/125, 301/124 H, 301/131, 301/126, 301/105 R
• US Class Current: 152/417
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00345 Details of the rotational joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0039 specially adapted for driven wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/184 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/005 Fluid passages not relating to lubrication or cooling

Abstract

A wheel end assembly used with a tire pressure management system has a pressurized air passage formed in part by the annular clearance space formed between a drive shaft and a central bore in the tire mounting spindle of the end assembly.

Claims

1. In a vehicle wheel end assembly having a stationary hub, a coaxial rotatable spindle to which an air filled tire is mounted, and a wheel bearing assembly, and in which said spindle is coaxially interfitted with a drive shaft at a non turning interface that defines a clearance space directly between said spindle and drive shaft, an improved means of providing pressurized air communication between said hub and tire, comprising,

an inlet passage opening through said hub through which pressurized air is receivable,

rubbing seal mounted to one of said hub and spindle and bordering said inlet passage so as to create a rolling seal chamber between said hub and spindle,

a feed passage opening through said spindle from said rolling seal chamber into said clearance space,

outlet means associated with said spindle to communicate one end of said clearance space to said tire, and,

static seal means blocking the other end of said clearance space,

whereby, pressurized air may flow axially through said clearance space from said inlet passage to said tire.

2. In a vehicle wheel end assembly having a stationary outer hub and an inner, coaxial rotatable spindle to which an air filled tire is mounted at a location axially offset from said hub, and a wheel bearing assembly, and in which said spindle has a central bore that receives a drive shaft therethrough at a non turning interface that defines an annular clearance space directly between said spindle and drive shaft, an improved means of providing pressurized air communication between said hub and tire, comprising,

an inlet passage opening radially inwardly through said hub through which pressurized air is receivable,

rubbing seals mounted to one of said hub and spindle and bordering said inlet passage so as to creat a rolling seal chamber between said hub and spindle,

a feed passage opening radially inwardly through said spindle from said rolling seal chamber into said clearance space,

outlet means mounted to said spindle to communicate one end of said clearance space to said tire, and

static seal means blocking the other end of said clearance space,

whereby, pressurized air may flow axially through said clearance space from said inlet to said tire.

3. A vehicle wheel end assembly including a means of providing pressurized air communication through said end assembly, comprising,

a stationary outer hub,

an inner, coaxial rotatable spindle to which an air filled tire is mounted at a location axially offset from said hub, said spindle further having a central bore therethrough including a splined portion at one end and a smooth portion at the other end,

a drive shaft having a splined portion at one end and a smooth portion that is received through said spindle central bore such that the respective bore and shaft smooth portion fit closely and the respective bore and shaft splined portions interfit to create an annular clearance space that is open at only said one end,

a wheel bearing assembly,

an inlet passage opening radially inwardly through said hub through which pressurized air is receivable,

rubbing seals mounted to one of said hub and spindle and bordering said inlet passage so as to create a rolling seal chamber between said hub and spindle,

a feed passage opening radially inwardly through said spindle from said rolling seal chamber into said clearance space, and,

outlet means mounted to said spindle to communicate said one end of said clearance space to said tire,

whereby, pressurized air may flow axially through said clearance space from said inlet to said tire, thereby allowing for a minimal length feed passage through said spindle.