Wheel end assembly with external rotary joint and rotary joint venting mechanism
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
InventorsLucas A. Balistreri, Shad J. Falls, Jason M. Sidders, Steven G. Slesinski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wheel end assembly for a tire pressure management system including an axle having an axle end portion and a rotary joint assembly disposed outboard of the axle end portion. The rotary joint has a rotary hub, a non-rotating tube spindle at least partially disposed within the rotary hub, the tube spindle having a tube spindle hollow central chamber, an air seal provided between the rotary hub and the tube spindle, and a bearing assembly provided between the rotary hub and the tube spindle. The bearing assembly is positioned outboard of the air seal.
Claims14
A wheel end assembly for a tire pressure management system, comprising:
- an axle having an axle end portion;
- and
- a rotary joint assembly disposed outboard of the axle end portion, the rotary joint assembly comprising:
- (i) a rotary hub,
- (ii) a non-rotating spindle at least partially disposed within the rotary hub, the spindle having a first fluid conduit extending therethrough,
- (iii) a rotary air seal disposed between the rotary hub and the spindle, and
- (iv) a bearing assembly provided between the rotary hub and the spindle, the bearing assembly being positioned outboard of the rotary air seal,
- wherein the rotary hub is coupled to the axle for rotation therewith.
A rotary joint assembly with a venting mechanism, the rotary joint assembly comprising:
- a rotary hub having a rotary hub inner surface;
- a non-rotating spindle at least partially disposed within the rotary hub, the spindle having a first fluid conduit extending therethrough;
- a rotary air seal provided between the rotary hub and the spindle;
- and
- a bearing assembly provided between the rotary hub and the spindle,
- wherein the rotary hub inner surface has a bearing channel formed in the axial direction therein, and wherein the bearing channel is selectively in fluid communication with atmosphere, and
- wherein the spindle includes an inlet for receiving pressurized fluid from a second fluid conduit, wherein the rotary joint assembly permits an axle end portion of an axle to rotate with respect to the second fluid conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.