# US 2018/0022170 A1 · Small trailer tire inflation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022170 A1 - Document ID: US20180022170A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/706,533 - Filed: 2017-09-15 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-23 - Assignees: Equalaire Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Equalaire Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Mark Kevin Hennig - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022170A1 ## CPC - B60C 23/009: {having wheels on a trailer} - B60C 23/00336: {on the axles} - B60C 23/00354: {Details of valves} - B60S 5/04: Supplying air for tyre inflation (arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles B60C23/00; tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00 {; pumps actuated by muscle power F04B33/00}) - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A tire inflation system for a small trailer may include a fluid pressure source mountable to the trailer, and fluid conduits providing sealed fluid communication between the fluid pressure source and the small trailer's pneumatic tires. The system may further include a fluid connector configured for connection to an external fluid power source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tire inflation system for a small trailer comprising an axle and a pneumatic tire mounted at each end of the axle, the system comprising: a first rotary fluid connection mounted at a first end of the trailer axle and in sealed fluid communication with a first pneumatic tire mounted at the first end of the trailer axle; a second rotary fluid connection mounted at a second end of the trailer axle and in sealed fluid communication with a second pneumatic tire mounted at the second end of the trailer axle; a fluid connector configured for sealed connection to an fluid pressure source external to the small trailer, the first rotary fluid connection and the second rotary fluid connection being in sealed fluid communication with the fluid connector such that fluid flowing into the fluid connector from the stationary fluid pressure source may flow substantially simultaneously into the first and second pneumatic tires; a first one-way valve in sealed fluid communication with the fluid connector and the first pneumatic tire, the first one-way valve disposed so as to allow fluid to flow to the first pneumatic tire and not from the first pneumatic tire to the fluid connector or to the second pneumatic tire; a second one-way valve disposed between and in sealed fluid communication with the fluid connector and the second pneumatic tire, the second one-way valve disposed so as to allow fluid to flow to the second pneumatic tire and not from the second pneumatic tire to the fluid connector or to the first pneumatic tire. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a pressure-relief valve (PRV) in sealed communication with the first and second one-way valves and the fluid connector, wherein the PRV is configured to release fluid when the fluid pressure at the first and second one-way valves reaches a pressure threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure regulator in sealed communication with the first and second one-way valves and the fluid connector, wherein the regulator is configured to reduce fluid pressure from the fluid pressure source to a pressure suitable for the first and second pneumatic tires. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising: an integrated pressure source in sealed fluid communication with the first and second one-way valves and the fluid connector, the integrated pressure source being locatable on the small trailer or on a vehicle towing the small trailer; and a third one-way valve disposed between and in sealed fluid communication with the fluid connector and the integrated pressure source, third one-way valve disposed so as to prevent fluid from flowing from the integrated pressure source through the fluid connector to atmosphere. ### Claim 5 A tire inflation system for a small trailer comprising an axle and a pneumatic tire mounted at each end of the axle, the system comprising: a fluid pressure source mounted to the small trailer, the fluid pressure source powerable by energy provided by a small-trailer tow vehicle; a fluid conduit providing sealed fluid communication between the fluid pressure source and each pneumatic tire so as to allow pressurized fluid from the trailer-mounted fluid pressure source to flow from the fluid pressure source to each pneumatic tire; and a fluid connector providing sealed fluid communication with the pneumatic tires, the fluid connector comprising a one-way valve configured for sealed fluid communication with an external fluid pressure source so as to allow fluid to flow from the external fluid pressure source to each pneumatic tire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 further comprising a pressure-relief valve (PRV) in sealed communication with the pneumatic tires, wherein the PRV is configured to release fluid when the fluid pressure in the pneumatic tires reaches a pressure threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 further comprising a pressure regulator in sealed communication with the fluid pressure source, wherein the regulator is configured to reduce fluid pressure from the fluid pressure source to a pressure suitable for the pneumatic tires. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 further comprising: first one-way valve disposed between and in sealed fluid communication with the fluid pressure source and a first pneumatic tire, the first one-way valve disposed so as to allow fluid to flow to the first pneumatic tire and not from the first pneumatic tire to a second pneumatic tire; and a second one-way valve disposed between and in sealed fluid communication with the fluid pressure source and the second pneumatic tire mount, the second one-way valve disposed so as to allow fluid to flow to the second pneumatic tire and not from the second pneumatic tire to the first pneumatic tire. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the fluid pressure source comprises an air compressor and pressurized air tank, and the external pressure source comprises compressed air from one of a maintenance facility, service station or mobile service vehicle. ### Claim 10 A method of inflating small trailer pneumatic tires, the small trailer comprising an axle and a pneumatic tire mounted at each end of the axle, the method comprising: mounting to the trailer a fluid connector comprising a one-way valve configured for sealed fluid communication with an external fluid pressure source not mounted to the small trailer or to a tow vehicle; providing sealed fluid communication between the fluid connector and each pneumatic tire; and connecting the fluid connector to the external fluid pressure source so as to allow pressurized fluid to flow from the fluid pressure source to each pneumatic tire substantially simultaneously.