Resilient tires and wheels – Tires – resilient – Inflating devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-23
2001-09-04
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Resilient tires and wheels
Tires, resilient
Inflating devices
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283186
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to vehicle live spindle wheel end systems in general and particularly to a central tire inflation system for live spindle wheel ends.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are two general categories of motor vehicle wheel end assemblies: dead spindle and live spindle. Dead spindle wheel end assemblies generally include a non-rotatable spindle extending outward from a mounting member typically attached to a vehicle chassis. A wheel hub including a wheel mounting flange, is supported for rotation on the spindle by bearings. A wheel and tire assembly are then attached to the wheel mounting flange so that the wheel is mounted coaxially with the spindle and wheel hub.
Live spindle wheel end assemblies generally include a spindle that is supported for rotation by bearings within a bore formed in a mounting member such as a steering knuckle which is attached to the vehicle chassis. A wheel mounting flange is formed in the spindle or is secured thereto by welding or other suitable methods. To provide the live spindle wheel end assembly for use of a four-wheel drive vehicle, a bore is formed through the spindle to accept a drive axle.
The central tire inflation system is adapted to provide compressed air from a remote pressurized air source to a pneumatic tire of a motor vehicle. Since the tire is rotating and the pressurized air source is stationary, the typical tire inflation system includes some kind of sealing means located between a stationary member of the wheel end assembly and a rotating tire mounting spindle. The typical tire inflation system also is provided with a conduit that extends from the sealing means through the wheel end assembly to the pneumatic tire. It has been found particularly difficult to design the tire inflation system for live spindle wheel ends wherein pressurized air is transmitted from the fixed inflation air source to pneumatic tires mounted on steering wheels of a drive axle.
Current systems are quite complex, cumbersome, expensive and require a great deal of changes in the current production wheel end design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention alleviates the drawbacks of the prior art. The present invention provides a central tire inflation system for a live spindle wheel end assembly providing a unique arrangement for a steerable driving axle that minimized changes in the current production wheel end designs.
In the preferred embodiment disclosed, the live spindle wheel end assembly comprises a steering knuckle fixed to the vehicle, and a bearing assembly secured to the steering knuckle. The bearing assembly receives a rotatable coaxial spindle to which a pneumatic tire is mounted. The spindle has a central axial bore provided with a spline section. The drive shaft has a spline portion and a flange portion. The drive shaft is inserted through the central spindle bore such that respective splined portions form a spline connection. An inlet passage is formed in the steering knuckle extending radially through a flange portion of the knuckle. A rubbing slip-ring seal is press fitted into the flange portion of the steering knuckle providing a seal chamber between the flange portion of the knuckle and the flange portion of the drive shaft. The inlet passage transmits pressurized air from an air supply line to the seal chamber through a hole in the rubbing seal. A communicating passage in the form of an axial bore and a radial bore is drilled through the drive shaft providing via a suitable outlet means a fluid communication between the seal chamber and the pneumatic tire.
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Dana Corporation
Liniak Berenato Longacre & White
Stormer Russell D.
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