Automatic tire inflation system with thru-hub air feed
AssigneeTesla, Inc.
InventorJohn Furtado
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) for use with a vehicle includes a controller, valves controlled by the controller and, for at least one drive axle having inner bearings and outer bearings, a channel formed in a spindle, first hosing coupling controlled by the controller to the channel formed in the spindle, a channel formed in a hub, a rotary air seal coupling the channel formed in the spindle to the channel formed in the hub, and second hosing coupling the channel formed in the hub to at least one wheel. The rotary air seal may transition from a sealed state that forms a seal between the spindle and the hub to support air flow between the channel formed in the spindle and the channel formed in hub and reside in an unsealed state to negate the seal between the spindle and the hub.
Claims14
An Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) for use with a vehicle, the ATIS comprising:
- a controller;
- valves controlled by the controller, the valves having an air supply inlet, and a plurality of air outlets;
- for at least one drive axle having inner bearings and outer bearings:
- a channel formed in a spindle;
- first hosing coupling a first valve of the valves controlled by the controller to the channel formed in the spindle;
- a channel formed in a hub;
- a rotary air seal residing between the inner bearings and the outer bearings and coupling the channel formed in the spindle to the channel formed in the hub;
- and
- second hosing coupling the channel formed in the hub to at least one wheel,
- wherein prior to air flowing to the at least one wheel, the controller causes transition of the rotary seal from an unsealed state to a sealed state to form a seal between the spindle and the hub to support air flow between the channel formed in the spindle and the channel formed in the hub, and wherein to transition the rotary seal the controller is configured to open a second valve of the valves which allows air to flow from the at least one wheel to the rotary air seal,
- wherein air pressure is applied to the rotary air seal via the air to cause the rotary air seal to transition from the unsealed state to the sealed state.
A method for operating an Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) for use with a vehicle, the method comprising:
- monitoring air pressure of at least one tire;
- determining that inflation of the at least one tire is required;
- and
- opening a first valve to allow air to flow:
- from an air supply to a channel formed in a spindle via first hosing;
- from the channel formed in the spindle to a rotary air seal;
- from the rotary air seal to a channel formed in a hub;
- and
- from the channel formed in the hub to the at least one tire via second hosing,
- wherein prior to air flowing to the at least one tire, transitioning the rotary air seal from an unsealed state to a sealed state to establish a seal between a channel formed in the spindle to the channel formed in the hub, and wherein transitioning comprises:
- opening a second valve of the valves which allows air to flow from the at least one tire to the rotary air seal, wherein air pressure is applied to the rotary air seal via the air to cause the rotary air seal to transition from the unsealed state to the sealed state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.