Spindle Passage Routing Pressurized Gas for Tire Inflation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire inflation systems lack efficient and cost-effective methods for routing pressurized gas through spindle components, leading to potential leakage and increased manufacturing costs, while also limiting the ability to easily integrate tire inflation functionality into existing axle assemblies without replacing components.
Innovation Solution
A tire inflation system that includes a spindle with a passage for routing pressurized gas, featuring a first, second, and third portion, and a plug to inhibit leakage, along with a sleeve that defines a passage for pressurized gas, allowing for efficient gas supply and potential future integration of inflation functionality without replacing the axle assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a passage is routed through the spindle for tire inflation, then tire inflation functionality is integrated, but manufacturing complexity and leakage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The passage through the spindle is divided into multiple segments: a first portion extending from the external surface toward the internal surface, a second portion extending from the external surface toward the internal surface, and a third portion connecting the first and second portions. This segmentation allows the passage to navigate around internal features while maintaining structural integrity and reducing leakage risk at each interface.
Solution Approach 2:
A plug is introduced as an intermediary component to seal the passage within the spindle. The plug fills the passage route through the spindle material, preventing gas leakage while allowing the passage to maintain its complex multi-portion geometry for effective tire inflation integration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a passage is routed through the spindle for tire inflation, then tire inflation functionality is integrated, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The passage is designed as multiple discrete portions that can be manufactured using standard drilling and machining operations. Each portion can be created with conventional equipment, avoiding the need for expensive complex internal routing while achieving the desired multi-directional gas flow path through the spindle.
Solution Approach 2:
A simple plug component is used to seal the passage instead of incorporating complex internal threading or specialized sealing mechanisms. The plug provides an inexpensive, easy-to-install solution that seals the multi-portion passage effectively without requiring expensive manufacturing processes.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing axle assemblies are used without modification, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but tire inflation functionality cannot be integrated
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle is designed with universal features that accommodate both traditional axle functions and tire inflation functionality. The multi-portion passage configuration allows the same spindle design to serve dual purposes: supporting wheel bearings and providing pressurized gas routing, enabling existing axle assemblies to gain tire inflation capability without complete replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The passage is pre-configured within the spindle during manufacturing, with the multi-portion route and sealing plug already in place. This preliminary integration of tire inflation functionality allows the axle assembly to be installed as a complete unit, eliminating the need for post-installation modifications and reducing overall system costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire inflation system having a spindle that is configured to support a wheel bearing. A passage for routing pressurized gas may be provided with the spindle or with a sleeve that may be disposed on the spindle.