Selectably engaged rotary union
AssigneeIce Adaptive Tires, LLC
InventorNorman S. Fink
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A selectably engaged rotary union includes a stator body, and a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator body, the stator body surrounding a portion of the rotor and configured to transfer a fluidic medium between the stator body and the rotor. The selectably engaged rotary union further includes a plurality of sealing elements affixed to the stator body and disposed between the stator body and the rotor, a gap being present between the plurality of sealing elements and the rotor, where the plurality of sealing elements are configured to selectably close the gap so as to produce a temporary seal between the stator body and the rotor enabling a transfer of the fluidic medium.
Claims23
A selectably engaged rotary union comprising:
- a stator body;
- a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator body, the stator body surrounding a portion of the rotor and having a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of grooves configured as a separate channel for transferring a fluidic medium between the stator body and the rotor;
- and
- a plurality of sealing elements affixed to the stator body and disposed between the stator body and the rotor, a gap being present between the plurality of sealing elements and the rotor;
- wherein the plurality of sealing elements are configured to selectably close the gap so as to produce a temporary seal between the stator body and the rotor enabling a transfer of the fluidic medium, and wherein the plurality of sealing elements are inflatable, the plurality of sealing elements being configured to selectably close the gap by being selectably inflated.
A selectably engaged rotary union for transferring pressurized air from an air reservoir, the selectably engaged rotary union comprising:
- a stator body coupled to the air reservoir;
- a rotor configured to affix to a wheel of a vehicle;
- the stator body surrounding a portion of the rotor and having a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of grooves configured as a separate channel for transferring the pressurized air to the rotor;
- and
- a plurality of sealing elements affixed to the stator body and disposed between the stator body and the rotor, a gap being present between the plurality of sealing elements and the rotor;
- wherein the plurality of sealing elements are configured to selectably close the gap so as to produce a temporary seal between the stator body and the rotor enabling a transfer of the pressurized air, and wherein the plurality of sealing elements are inflatable, the plurality of sealing elements being configured to selectably close the gap by being selectably inflated.
A method for selectably engaging a rotary union to transfer a fluidic medium between a stator body and a rotor of the rotary union, the method comprising:
- selectably closing a gap between a plurality of sealing elements affixed to the stator body and the rotor to produce a temporary seal between the stator body and the rotor, wherein the plurality of sealing elements are inflated to selectably close the gap;
- transferring, utilizing the temporary seal, the fluidic medium between the stator body and the rotor, the stator body having a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of grooves configured as a separate channel for transferring the fluidic medium between the stator body and the rotor, and
- selectably opening the gap to break the temporary seal.
A selectably engaged rotary union for transferring pressurized air from an air reservoir, the selectably engaged rotary union comprising:
- a stator body coupled to the air reservoir;
- a rotor configured to affix to a wheel of a vehicle;
- the stator body surrounding a portion of the rotor and having a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of grooves configured as a separate channel for transferring the pressurized air to the rotor;
- and
- a plurality of sealing elements affixed to the stator body and disposed between the stator body and the rotor, a gap being present between the plurality of sealing elements and the rotor;
- wherein the plurality of sealing elements are configured to selectably close the gap so as to produce a temporary seal between the stator body and the rotor enabling a transfer of the pressurized air, and wherein the selectably engaged rotary union is disposed between a body of the vehicle and the wheel.
A selectably engaged rotary union for transferring pressurized air from an air reservoir, the selectably engaged rotary union comprising:
- a stator body coupled to the air reservoir;
- a rotor configured to affix to a wheel of a vehicle;
- the stator body surrounding a portion of the rotor and having a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of grooves configured as a separate channel for transferring the pressurized air to the rotor;
- and
- a plurality of sealing elements affixed to the stator body and disposed between the stator body and the rotor, a gap being present between the plurality of sealing elements and the rotor;
- wherein the plurality of sealing elements are configured to selectably close the gap so as to produce a temporary seal between the stator body and the rotor enabling a transfer of the pressurized air, and wherein the wheel is disposed between a body of the vehicle and the selectably engaged rotary union.
A selectably engaged rotary union for use by a vehicle having a body and a wheel, the selectably engaged rotary union comprising:
- a stator body,
- a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator body, the stator body surrounding a portion of the rotor and having a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of grooves configured as a separate channel for transferring a fluidic medium between the stator body and the rotor;
- and
- a plurality of sealing elements affixed to the stator body and disposed between the stator body and the rotor, a gap being present between the plurality of sealing elements and the rotor;
- wherein the plurality of sealing elements are configured to selectably close the gap so as to produce a temporary seal between the stator body and the rotor enabling a transfer of the fluidic medium, wherein the selectably engaged rotary union is configured to be disposed between the body of the vehicle and the wheel.
A selectably engaged rotary union for use by a vehicle having a body and a wheel, the selectably engaged rotary union comprising:
- a stator body;
- a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator body, the stator body surrounding a portion of the rotor and having a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of grooves configured as a separate channel for transferring a fluidic medium between the stator body and the rotor;
- and
- a plurality of sealing elements affixed to the stator body and disposed between the stator body and the rotor, a gap being present between the plurality of sealing elements and the rotor;
- wherein the plurality of sealing elements are configured to selectably close the gap so as to produce a temporary seal between the stator body and the rotor enabling a transfer of the fluidic medium, wherein the selectably engaged rotary union is configured to have the wheel disposed between the selectably engaged rotary union and the body of the vehicle.
A method for selectably engaging a rotary union to transfer a fluidic medium between a stator body and a rotor of the rotary union in a vehicle having a body and a wheel, the method comprising:
- disposing the rotary union between the body of the vehicle and the wheel;
- selectably closing a gap between a plurality of sealing elements affixed to the stator body and the rotor to produce a temporary seal between the stator body and the rotor;
- transferring, utilizing the temporary seal, the fluidic medium between the stator body and the rotor, the stator body having a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of grooves configured as a separate channel for transferring the fluidic medium between the stator body and the rotor;
- and
- selectably opening the gap to break the temporary seal.
A method for selectably engaging a rotary union to transfer a fluidic medium between a stator body and a rotor of the rotary union in a vehicle having a body and a wheel, the method comprising:
- disposing the wheel between the rotary union and the body of the vehicle;
- selectably closing a gap between a plurality of sealing elements affixed to the stator body and the rotor to produce a temporary seal between the stator body and the rotor;
- transferring, utilizing the temporary seal, the fluidic medium between the stator body and the rotor, the stator body having a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of grooves configured as a separate channel for transferring the fluidic medium between the stator body and the rotor;
- and
- selectably opening the gap to break the temporary seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.