Tire inflation system
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorNathan B. Kukson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tire inflation system includes a first component rotating relative to a second component, a first passageway between the first and second components, the first passageway connecting a pressure source to a pressure consumer, a first seal in contact with an interface between the first and second components, the first seal maintaining pressurized fluid in the first passageway, a second seal in contact with the interface between the first and second components, the second seal spaced apart from the first seal forming a first chamber, a third seal in contact with the interface between the first and second components, the third seal spaced apart from the second seal forming a separate second chamber, and a second passageway connected to the separate second chamber and to the atmosphere.
Claims20
A tire inflation system, comprising:
- a first component rotating relative to a second component;
- a first passageway between the first and second components, the first passageway connecting a pressure source to a pressure consumer;
- a first seal in contact with an interface between the first and second components, the first seal maintaining pressurized fluid in the first passageway;
- a second seal in contact with the interface between the first and second components, the second seal spaced apart from the first seal forming a first chamber, and the first seal positioned between the second seal and the first passageway;
- a third seal in contact with the interface between the first and second components, the third seal spaced apart from the second seal forming a separate second chamber, the third seal positioned between the second seal and a lubricant chamber including a bearing, and the first, second, and third seals positioned on a first side of the first passageway;
- a second passageway connected to the separate second chamber and to the atmosphere, the second passageway separated from the first passageway by the first and second seals;
- and
- a valve connected to the second passageway and positioned between the lubricant chamber and the second passageway, the valve configured to permit fluid to enter the second passageway via the valve from the lubricant chamber and to prevent fluid from exiting the second passageway via the valve into the lubricant chamber.
A tire inflation system, comprising:
- a first component rotating relative to a second component;
- a first passageway between the first and second components, the first passageway connecting a pressure source to a pressure consumer;
- a first seal sleeve positioned between the first and second components, the first seal sleeve including a first seal positioned near the first passageway, a second seal spaced apart from the first seal forming a first chamber, and a third seal spaced apart from the second seal forming a separate second chamber, the first, second, and third seals positioned on a first side of the first passageway, the first seal positioned between the second seal and the first passageway, and the third seal positioned between the second seal and a lubricant chamber including a bearing;
- a second passageway connecting the separate second chamber to the atmosphere, the second passageway separated from the first passageway by the first and second seals;
- and
- a valve connected to the second passageway and positioned between the lubricant chamber and the second passageway, the valve configured to permit fluid to enter the second passageway via the valve from the lubricant chamber and to prevent fluid from exiting the second passageway via the valve into the lubricant chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.