System and method using a pressure reduction valve
AssigneeEqualaire Systems, Inc.
InventorsTim Musgrave, Frank Sonzala, Kevin Hennig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic tire inflation system or wheel end assembly may be provided with a pressure reduction valve to allow rapid deflation of a tire. A method of rapidly reducing tire pressure may include use of a pressure reduction valve.
Claims8
A wheel end assembly, comprising a hubcap mounted to a wheel rotatable on an axle on a vehicle,
- an air pressure supply positioned inside the axle and connected to a pressure source on the vehicle,
- a rotary union mounted to the hubcap and in fluid communication with the air pressure supply,
- a valve stem mounted to the wheel, the valve stem comprising a valve and an auxiliary port,
- an air hose connected at a first end to the rotary union and at a second end to the valve stem so as to allow air to flow from the air pressure supply through the air hose to the valve stem, and
- a manually-operable pressure reduction valve connected to the auxiliary port.
A wheel end assembly, comprising a hubcap mounted to a wheel rotatable on an axle on a vehicle,
- an air pressure supply positioned inside the axle and connected to a pressure source on the vehicle,
- a rotary union mounted to the hubcap and in fluid communication with the air pressure supply,
- a valve stem mounted to the wheel, the valve stem comprising a valve,
- an air hose connected at a first end to the rotary union and at a second end to the valve stem so as to allow air to flow from the air pressure supply through the air hose to the valve stem, and
- a manually-operable pressure reduction valve connected to the rotary union.
A wheel end assembly, comprising a hubcap mounted to a wheel rotatable on an axle on a vehicle,
- an air pressure supply positioned inside the axle and connected to a pressure source on the vehicle,
- a rotary union mounted to the hubcap and in fluid communication with the air pressure supply,
- a first valve stem mounted to the wheel, the valve stem comprising a first valve,
- a second valve stem mounted to the wheel, the second valve stem comprising a second valve and an auxiliary port,
- an air hose connected at a first end to the rotary union and at a second end to the first valve stem so as to allow air to flow from the air pressure supply through the air hose to the valve stem, and
- a manually-operable pressure reduction valve connected to the auxiliary port of the second valve stem.
In a vehicle comprising one or more tires, an automatic tire inflation system configured to automatically inflate the one or more tires to a desired pressure upon activation, and a pressure reduction valve configured to rapidly release air from the one or more tires, a method of controlling air pressure in vehicle tires, the method comprising:
- while the automatic tire inflation system is de-activated, opening a pressure reduction valve to release air from the one or more tires;
- and
- activating the automatic tire inflation system to inflate the one or more tires to a desired air pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.