Rotatable Tire Inflation Pack for Work Vehicle Axles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing work vehicles with central tire inflation systems face difficulties in delivering pressurized gas to rotating tires, as the system is often stationary and inaccessible for installation and maintenance, making it hard to inflate or deflate tires during operation.
Innovation Solution
An axle assembly with a tire inflation pack that includes a fixed portion mounted to the axle carrier and a rotatable portion that can fluidly seal and rotate with the axle, allowing the pressurized gas source to be coupled to the tire valve even when the tire is rotating, via a fluidly sealed and rotatable outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a stationary pressurized gas source is used to inflate tires, then the inflation system is simple to design, but it becomes difficult to deliver pressurized gas to rotating tires during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The inflation system is segmented into a stationary pack assembly and a rotating tire assembly. The pack assembly remains stationary while the tire assembly rotates, allowing gas delivery without twisting fluid lines. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the static gas source from the dynamic tire inflation point.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid coupling or flexible hose acts as an intermediary between the stationary pack and rotating tire. This intermediary component transmits pressurized gas while accommodating the relative motion between stationary and rotating components, enabling continuous gas delivery during tire rotation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the pressurized gas source is made stationary for easy installation, then accessibility for installation is improved, but the system cannot effectively inflate rotating tires
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the system into stationary pack assembly and rotating tire assembly allows the pack to be installed in accessible stationary locations while the rotating portion maintains reliable connection to the tire valve throughout rotation cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic elements such as flexible fluid couplings or rotatable connections that adapt to the rotating motion of the tire. This dynamic design maintains reliable gas delivery while allowing the main pack to remain stationary for easy installation.
3Ease of operation
If fluid lines are used to connect stationary gas source to rotating tires, then gas delivery is possible, but the fluid lines may twist during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible fluid coupling or hose serves as an intermediary that can accommodate rotational movement without twisting. This intermediary component absorbs the rotational stress while maintaining continuous gas flow from the stationary pack to the rotating tire valve.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid delivery system incorporates flexible components such as bellows, expandable hoses, or rotary joints that can flex and rotate without kinking or twisting. These flexible elements allow continuous gas delivery while accommodating the full range of rotational motion of the tire.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective inflation and deflation of tires during rotation by allowing the tire inflation pack to be easily mounted and operated from a static location, reducing the risk of fluid line twisting and improving accessibility for installation and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a rotatable portion rotatably coupled to the fixed portion and comprising a pack fluid outlet that is fluidly coupled to the pack fluid inlet and a rotatable opening holding the axle therein, the rotatable portion being fluidly sealed with the fixed portion
Data Source
AI summary
An axle assembly for a work vehicle includes: a frame housing; a differential housed in the frame housing; an axle carrier coupled to the frame housing; an axle partially disposed in the axle carrier and coupled to the differential; and a tire inflation pack including: a fixed portion coupled to the axle carrier and comprising a pack fluid inlet that is configured to fluidly couple to a pressurized gas source and a fixed opening holding the axle therein, the fixed portion being configured to allow rotation of the axle in the fixed opening without rotating; and a rotatable portion rotatably coupled to the fixed portion and comprising a pack fluid outlet that is fluidly coupled to the pack fluid inlet and a rotatable opening holding the axle therein, the rotatable portion being fluidly sealed with the fixed portion and configured to rotate with the axle.