Vehicle tire inflation system

In a tire inflation system for a vehicle having at least one axle with at least one pneumatic tire mounted on the end of an axle for rotation about the axle end and a source of pressurized air carried by the vehicle for supplying air to the interior of the axle and then to a hub cap to inflate the tire, the improvement comprising:

• a first rotary union member mounted on the end of the axle and having a first opening therethrough and with a first air tight seal ring carried thereabout;
• a second rotary union member to rotate with the hub cap and having a second opening therethrough in general alignment with the first opening, second and third air tight seal rings carried thereabout the second opening, and
• a tube having a flexible segment and a first end extending into said first opening and sealably through said first seal ring;
• and
• a second end extending into said second opening and sealably through said second seal ring, whereby said flexible segment may bend between said openings of the first and second members;
• the second and third pneumatically seal rings being dynamic, and
• an air passage connecting the area between the second and third seal rings to the outside atmosphere.