Central tire inflation wheel assembly and valve

A method for altering the internal pressure of a tire of a vehicle using a central tire inflation system on the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a vehicle including central tire inflation system having a pressurized air reservoir connected to a dispensing outlet located on a hub of the vehicle and a control mechanism operably connected to the reservoir to dispense pressurized air through the dispensing outlet;
• b) providing a wheel rim including a valve aperture extending through the rim and at least one internal air passage located within the rim and extending between the aperture and an exterior surface of the room;
• c) providing a valve cartridge including an exterior housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including at least one air inlet directly engageable with the dispensing outlet, at least one air outlet directly engageable with the at least one internal air passage, and at least one peripheral sealing member engageable with the rim within the aperture, and an interior valve mechanism disposed in the upper portion and extending into the lower portion to selectively enable fluid communication between the at least one air inlet and the at least one air outlet, the interior valve mechanism including a valve stem that is positioned partially within the exterior housing and that selectively opens and closes the interior valve mechanism, the valve stem including a central air passage therein that is adapted to communicate with the pressurized air inlet to move the valve stem, wherein the valve stem is biased to close the interior valve mechanism by a spring disposed within the valve seat and engaged between the valve seat and the valve stem;
• d) inserting the valve cartridge within the aperture in the rim to align the at least one air outlet with the at least one internal air passage;
• e) securing the rim to the hub to align and engage the at least one air inlet with the dispensing outlet on the hub;
• and
• f) operating the control mechanism to dispense air from the reservoir into the valve cartridge to operate the valve and alter the internal pressure of the tire secured to the rim.