Vehicle wheel assemblies and valves for use with a central tire inflation system
First Claim
1. A vehicle wheel assembly comprising:
- a wheel comprisinga generally circular rim,a wall extending radially inwardly from the rim, the wall having an inboard side and an outboard side, and having therethrough a central opening,a wheel duct formed within the wheel, the wheel duct including a first end that opens on the outboard side of the wall of the wheel and a second end; and
a valve secured to the outboard side of the wall, the valve comprisingan inboard side and an outboard side,an inlet duct and an outlet duct, anda hub interface adapted to extend inwardly from the inboard side of the valve,wherein the inlet duct opens on the hub interface and is configured to directly interface with a hub duct in a wheel hub, andwherein the outlet duct interfaces with the first end of the wheel duct.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Wheel assemblies and valves for use with central tire inflation systems are provided. A wheel assembly may include a wheel having a rim and a wall extending radially inwardly from the rim. The wall may include an inboard side and an outboard side, and a central opening therethrough. The wheel may include a wheel duct for communicating pressurized fluid to a tire. A valve may be secured to the wheel wall. The valve may include an inboard side and an outboard side. The valve may include a hub interface adapted to extend from its inboard side. The hub interface may be adapted to extend around the wheel wall. The valve may include an inlet duct opening on the hub interface to communicate with a duct in a wheel hub on which the wheel is mounted. The valve may also include an outlet duct configured to communicate with the wheel duct.
36 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vehicle wheel assembly comprising:
a wheel comprising a generally circular rim, a wall extending radially inwardly from the rim, the wall having an inboard side and an outboard side, and having therethrough a central opening, a wheel duct formed within the wheel, the wheel duct including a first end that opens on the outboard side of the wall of the wheel and a second end; and a valve secured to the outboard side of the wall, the valve comprising an inboard side and an outboard side, an inlet duct and an outlet duct, and a hub interface adapted to extend inwardly from the inboard side of the valve, wherein the inlet duct opens on the hub interface and is configured to directly interface with a hub duct in a wheel hub, and wherein the outlet duct interfaces with the first end of the wheel duct. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle wheel assembly comprising:
a wheel comprising a generally circular rim, a wall extending radially inwardly from the rim, the wall having an inboard side and an outboard side, and having therethrough a central opening, a wheel duct formed within the wheel, the wheel duct including a first end and a second end; and a valve secured to the outboard side of the wall so as to allow access to a wheel hub through the central opening of the wheel while the valve is secured to the outboard side of the wall, the valve comprising an inboard side and an outboard side, an inlet duct and an outlet duct, and a hub interface adapted to extend inwardly from the inboard side of the valve, wherein the inlet duct opens on the hub interface and is configured to directly interface with a hub duct in the wheel hub, and wherein the outlet duct interfaces with the first end of the wheel duct. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle wheel comprising:
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a generally circular rim; a wall extending radially inwardly from the rim, the wall having an inboard side and an outboard side, and having therethrough a central opening, the wall including a groove formed therethrough, the groove being open to the central opening of the wall and extending radially outwardly from the central opening, the groove being adapted to provide access to a duct in a wheel hub; a wheel duct formed within the wheel, the wheel duct including a first end and a second end, wherein the wheel duct is adapted to communicate fluid between a valve and a tire. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification