Tire inflation system for live spindle wheel end

A vehicle live spindle wheel end assembly including a tire inflation system providing pressurized air communication through said wheel end assembly, comprising:

• a stationary outer hub;
• an inner coaxial rotatable spindle to which a pneumatic tire is mounted, said spindle further having a central bore therethrough including a splined section;
• a steering knuckle secured to said stationary hub;
• an inlet passage formed through said knuckle connection to a pressurized air supply line;
• a drive shaft having a spindle section at one end defining a cylindrical outer peripheral surface and a flange section at the other end, said drive shaft is received through said central bore in said spindle forming a spline connection;
• a rubbing slip-ring seal mounted on said knuckle;
• said seal forming a rolling seal chamber between said knuckle and said drive shaft, said chamber being in communication with said inlet passage in said knuckle;
• a communication passage extending through said drive shaft, said passage being in communication with the pneumatic tire at one end and with said rolling seal chamber at another end;
• whereby, pressurized air may flow through said communication passage from said inlet passage in said knuckle to said pneumatic tire.

A vehicle live spindle wheel end assembly including a tire inflation system providing pressurized air communication through said wheel end assembly, comprising:

• a steering knuckle;
• an inlet passage formed through said knuckle connected to a pressurized air supply line;
• a bearing assembly secured to said steering knuckle;
• an inner coaxial rotatable spindle to which a pneumatic tire is mounted, said spindle further having a central bore therethrough including a splined section;
• a drive shaft having a spindle section at one end defining a cylindrical outer peripheral surface and a flange section at the other end, said drive shaft is received through said central bore in said spindle forming a spline connection;
• a rubbing slip-ring seal mounted on said knuckle;
• said seal forming a rolling seal chamber between said knuckle and said drive shaft, said chamber being in communication with said inlet passage in said knuckle;
• said rubbing slip-ring seal includes a pair of axially spaced annular projections radially inwardly extending from an annular ring, said projections being in sliding contact with a cylindrical outer peripheral surface of said drive shaft, said spaced projections, said annular ring and said outer peripheral surface of said drive shaft define said seal chamber;
• a communication passage extending through said drive shaft, said passage being in communication with the pneumatic tire at one end and with said rolling seal chamber at another end;
• said communication passage includes an axial bore axially extending through said drive shaft, and a radial bore extending radially inwardly from said flange section of said drive shaft to terminate at said axial bore, said axial bore being in communication with the pneumatic tire at one end and with said radial bore at the other end, said radial being in communication with said rolling seal chamber at one end and with said axial bore at the other end;
• whereby, pressurized air may flow through said communication passage from said inlet passage in said knuckle to said pneumatic tire.