Automatic tire inflation system with thru-hub air feed

An Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) for use with a vehicle, the ATIS comprising:

• a controller;
• valves controlled by the controller, the valves having an air supply inlet, and a plurality of air outlets;
• for at least one drive axle:
• a hub;
• a spindle;
• a unitized bearing set having inner bearings and outer bearings coupled between the spindle and the hub, a first channel, and a second channel:
• a channel formed in the spindle and coupled to the first channel of the unitized bearing set;
• first hosing coupling a valve of the valves controlled by the controller to the channel formed in the spindle;
• a channel formed in a hub coupled to the second channel of the unitized bearing set;
• a rotary air seal residing within the unitized bearing set coupling the first channel of the unitized bearing set to the second channel of the unitized bearing set;
• and
• second hosing coupling the channel formed in the hub to at least one wheel.

A method for operating an Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) for use with a vehicle, the method comprising:

• monitoring air pressure of at least one tire;
• determining that inflation of the at least one tire is required;
• and
• opening at least one valve to allow air to flow:
• from an air supply to a channel formed in a spindle via first hosing;
• from the channel formed in the spindle to a rotary air seal;
• from the rotary air seal to a channel formed in a hub;
• and
• from the channel formed in the hub to the at least one tire via second hosing.

A method for operating an Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) for use with a vehicle, the method comprising:

• monitoring air pressure of at least one tire;
• determining that inflation of the at least one tire is required;
• and
• opening at least one valve to allow air to flow:
• from an air supply to a channel formed in a spindle via first hosing;
• from the channel formed in the spindle to a first channel of a unitized bearing;
• from the first channel of the unitized bearing to a rotary air seal;
• from the rotary air seal to a second channel of the unitized bearing;
• from the second channel of the unitized bearing to a channel formed in a hub;
• and
• from the channel formed in the hub to the at least one tire via second hosing.