Tire inflation system for a steering knuckle wheel end

A vehicle live full float steering knuckle wheel end assembly including a tire inflation system providing pressurized air directly through said wheel end assembly, said assembly comprising:

• a steering knuckle having an inlet passage formed directly through said knuckle, said inlet passage connected to a source of pressurized air;
• a wheel hub rotatable connected about said steering knuckle and having an outlet passage formed directly there through;
• a bearing assembly including a pair of spaced apart tapered roller bearing disposed between said wheel end hub and said steering knuckle to form said rotatable connection there between;
• and
• a first and second annular rotary seal each disposed between an annular internal surface of said wheel end hub and an annular external surface of said steering knuckle, said first and second annular rotary seals being adjacent one another and defining a small sealed chamber there between;
• a longitudinally extending drive axle extending from an inboard side of said wheel end assembly to said wheel hub, said drive axle being rotatably mounted within said steering knuckle and in driving connection with said wheel hub, said driving axle having a universal joint to allow steering movement of said driving axle and said steering knuckle together with said wheel end hub;
• a planetary gear set assembly disposed between said driving axle and said wheel end hub to provide torque reduction there between;
• wherein, said inlet and outlet passages are in direct communication with said seal chamber thereby establishing communication between said source of pressurized air and said wheel hub, said inlet passage includes a bore extending from an external surface of said steering knuckle directly through said steering knuckle and continuously leading to said sealed chamber, said outlet passage being formed as a radial bore extending from a radial external surface of said wheel end hub directly and continuously leading to said sealed chamber, and said inlet and outlet passages and said first and second rotary seals all being located longitudinally inboard of said spaced apart tapered roller bearings.