Rotary union with energy harvesting structure

A rotary union for a tire inflation system of a heavy-duty vehicle comprising:

• a static portion, said static portion remaining static during operation of said heavy-duty vehicle;
• a rotatable portion, the rotatable portion rotating with one or more rotating components of a wheel end of the heavy-duty vehicle during operation, at least one of the static portion and said rotatable portion being mounted to a component associated with said wheel end, at least one of said static portion and the rotatable portion being in fluid communication with an air source located on said heavy-duty vehicle, said rotary union being in fluid communication with at least one wheel of the wheel end and allowing pressurized air from said air source to flow to said at least one wheel;
• energy harvesting structure integrated with said rotary union, said energy harvesting structure generating electricity during operation of the heavy-duty vehicle for energizing one or more electronic components of said heavy-duty vehicle;
• wherein said rotatable portion is a housing and the static portion is a stem, said housing being rotatably mounted on said stem, the stem being in fluid communication with said air source and providing a flow path for said pressurized air through the rotary union;
• and
• wherein the housing is connected to a hubcap of a wheel end assembly of said heavy-duty vehicle, the energy harvesting structure being encapsulated by said housing.

A rotary union for a tire inflation system of a heavy-duty vehicle comprising:

• a static portion, said static portion remaining static during operation of said heavy-duty vehicle;
• a rotatable portion, the rotatable portion rotating with one or more rotating components of a wheel end of the heavy-duty vehicle during operation, at least one of the static portion and said rotatable portion being mounted to a component associated with said wheel end, at least one of said static portion and the rotatable portion being in fluid communication with an air source located on said heavy-duty vehicle, said rotary union being in fluid communication with at least one wheel of the wheel end and allowing pressurized air from said air source to flow to said at least one wheel;
• wherein said rotatable portion is a housing and the static portion is a stem, said housing being rotatably mounted on said stem, the stem being in fluid communication with said air source and providing a flow path for said pressurized air through said rotary union;
• and
• energy harvesting structure integrated with the rotary union, said energy harvesting structure generating electricity during operation of the heavy-duty vehicle for energizing one or more electronic components of said heavy-duty vehicle, the energy harvesting structure comprising:
• a stator, said stator being positioned about and attached to said stem, the stator including at least one magnet attached circumferentially about said stator;
• a coil mount, said coil mount being attached to and disposed within the housing, the coil mount including at least one coil formed of an electrical winding material wound around said coil mount, the stem being disposed through the coil mount such that said at least one magnet is positioned radially inward and adjacent said at least one coil, whereby rotation of the at least one coil about the at least one magnet during operation of the heavy-duty vehicle generates said electricity;
• and
• wherein said coil mount includes a plurality of radial arms, each one of said plurality of radial arms including a respective coil wound around the radial arm, said at least one magnet being positioned radially inward and adjacent radially inward ends of said radial arms.