Central Tire Inflation Wheel Assembly and Valve

Abstract

The present invention is a wheel assembly having a rim with a valve aperture extending therethrough that is designed to receive a valve having a simplified a construction that can be seated directly within a tire wheel assembly to minimize the number and type of components necessary for the valve. The valve includes a main body that is positionable in a sealed and recessed or embedded configuration within the aperture in the wheel rim in communication with the interior of the tire and with a pressurized air source that is used to inflate or deflate the tire. The main body encloses a valve mechanism that includes a components situated within the main body in a manner that enables the parts to be easily removed, cleaned and/or replaced if necessary without having to remove the entire valve assembly from the wheel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a wheel assembly constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the wheel assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel assembly along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3A is a circular sectional view along line 3A-3A of FIG. 3 showing a first embodiment of a valve cartridge used in the wheel assembly of the present invention in the open position;

FIG. 3B is a circular sectional view along line 3B-3B of FIG. 3 showing the valve cartridge in a closed position:

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the valve cartridge utilized in the wheel assembly of FIG. 1 in the closed position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the valve cartridge of FIG. 4 in the open position;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the main body of the valve cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the main body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the main body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an anchor ring utilized with the valve cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of a securing cup utilized with the valve cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9B is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the securing cup and valve cartridge of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 is a bottom isometric view of a valve seat used in the valve cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a top isometric view of the valve seat of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a disk screen used in the valve cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a valve bushing of the valve cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a cap used in the valve cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 15 is a top isometric view of a piston used in the valve cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is a bottom isometric view of the piston of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a ring screen used in the valve cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a valve stem utilized with the valve cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 19 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a valve stem utilized with the valve cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 20 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of the valve stem utilized with the valve cartridge of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the valve cartridge in the closed position as shown in FIG. 3B.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly to be utilized on a vehicle including a central tire inflation system, the assembly comprising: a) a rim securable to a hub for a vehicle, the rim including at least one aperture therein extending completely through the rim, and at least one air passageway extending from the at least one aperture through the rim to an exterior surface of the rim; andb) a valve cartridge releasably secured within the aperture to extend completely through the aperture, the cartridge including an exterior housing and an interior valve mechanism disposed within the exterior housing, the exterior housing positioned in sealing engagement with the at least one air passageway and adapted to be positioned in sealing engagement with a pressurized air inlet disposed on a hub of the vehicle.

2. The wheel assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cap releasably engageable with the exterior housing over the interior valve mechanism.

3. The wheel assembly of claim 2 wherein the cap is releasably secured to threads disposed on an exterior surface of the exterior housing.

4. The wheel assembly of claim 1 further comprising an anchor member securable to the rim and defining an opening therein positioned in alignment with the at least one aperture, the exterior housing releasably engaged within the opening when positioned within the at least one aperture in the rim.

5. The wheel assembly of claim 4 wherein the anchor member is releasably secured to threads disposed on an exterior surface of the exterior housing.

6. The wheel assembly of claim 4 wherein the anchor member includes a pair of securing tabs extending outwardly from the anchor ring and spaced from one another, the pair of tabs fixedly secured to the rim around the at least one aperture.

7. The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the interior valve mechanism includes 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.

8. The wheel assembly of claim 7 wherein the interior valve mechanism includes a valve seat sealingly engaged with the exterior housing and to which the valve stem is movably mounted.

9. The wheel assembly of claim 8 wherein the valve stem is biased to close the interior valve mechanism by a spring disposed within the interior valve mechanism and engaged between the valve seat and the valve stem.

10. The wheel assembly of claim 9 wherein the valve stem includes a sealing engagement flange disposed opposite the spring.

11. The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the interior valve mechanism includes a vent to remove back pressure from within the valve cartridge.

12. The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the interior valve mechanism is removable as a single unit from within the exterior housing.

13. The wheel assembly of claim 1 further comprising an anchor member that is positioned within the at least one aperture and that receives and holds the valve cartridge within the at least one aperture in alignment with the at least one air passageway.

14. The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one aperture is disposed on the rim radially inwardly from a number of bolt openings extending through the rim.

15. A valve cartridge adapted to be utilized with a rim incorporating at least one internal passage within the rim forming part of a central tire inflation system for a vehicle and an aperture extending through the rim and intersecting the at least one internal passage, the valve cartridge comprising: a) an exterior housing including an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including at least one air inlet directly engageable with a pressurized air supply on the vehicle, at least one air outlet directly engageable with the at least one internal passage in the rim, and at least one peripheral sealing member engageable within the aperture with the rim; andb) an interior valve mechanism disposed within the upper portion and extending into the lower portion to selectively open and close communication between the at least one air inlet and the at least one air outlet.

16. The valve cartridge of claim 15 wherein the interior valve mechanism includes a valve seat that is sealingly engaged within the upper portion of the exterior housing.

17. The valve cartridge of claim 16 wherein the valve seat includes a vent to remove backpressure formed within the valve cartridge.

18. The valve cartridge of claim 16 wherein the interior valve mechanism includes a valve stem movably connected to the valve seat and having a central passage formed therein that is adapted to communicate with the pressurized air supply to selectively operate the interior valve mechanism.

19. The valve cartridge of claim 15 further comprising a cap releasably engaged with the exterior housing over the interior valve mechanism.

20. The valve cartridge of claim 15 further comprising an anchor ring a releasably engaged with the exterior housing and adapted to be fixedly secured to the rim around the aperture.

21. 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;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; andf) 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.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of inserting the valve cartridge within the aperture comprises: a) securing an anchor ring to the rim around the aperture; andb) engaging the valve cartridge with the anchor ring.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of removing the interior valve mechanism from the exterior housing after inserting the valve cartridge within the aperture.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the valve cartridge includes a cap secured to the exterior housing over the interior valve mechanism, and further comprising the step of disengaging the cap from the exterior housing prior to removing the interior valve mechanism.