Thru-Hub Air Feed ATIS with Rotary Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Automatic Tire Inflation Systems (ATIS) face contamination issues due to the leakage of contaminants through hollow drive axles, leading to system failure and reduced lifespan of components.
Innovation Solution
The proposed ATIS design incorporates a controller with valves, a channel in the spindle and hub, and a rotary air seal to reduce contamination, with the rotary air seal transitioning between sealed and unsealed states based on vehicle speed or stationarity to control air flow and extend component life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air is fed through hollow drive axles to a fitting located on the end thereof, then the ATIS can be implemented, but contaminants leak through the hollow drive axles causing system failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air feed path from the hollow drive axle and relocates it to the hub assembly. The air inlet is now positioned in the hub rather than through the drive axle, eliminating the contamination pathway while maintaining the ATIS functionality. This is achieved by providing an air inlet in the hub that communicates with the bearing assembly, allowing air to be supplied to the tire without passing through the hollow drive axle.
2Ease of operation
If a rotatingly attached fitting is used to couple air from air storage to hollow axles, then air can be supplied to tires, but the fitting is subject to leakage of contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the hub as an intermediary component that receives air from the air storage device and distributes it to the tires. The hub assembly includes an air inlet that communicates with the bearing assembly, serving as a clean intermediary that eliminates the need for rotating fittings in the hollow axle. This intermediary structure prevents contaminant leakage while maintaining the air supply function.
3Device complexity
If air is fed through hollow drive axles, then the ATIS structure is established, but contamination interferes with ATIS operation and causes failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air feed function from the hollow drive axle structure and relocates it to the hub assembly. This separation removes the source of contamination (hollow drive axle) from the air feed path, allowing the ATIS to operate reliably without contaminant interference while maintaining structural efficiency.
4Duration of action of moving object
If contaminants leak through hollow drive axles, then ATIS components are exposed to contamination, but this reduces the life of ATIS, spindle, hub, and wheel/tire components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air inlet from the hollow drive axle and relocates it to the hub, creating a clean air feed path that does not expose components to contaminants. This protects the spindle, hub, and wheel/tire components from contaminant exposure, thereby extending their operational life and reducing maintenance requirements.
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
This design significantly reduces contamination, extending the life of the ATIS, spindle, hub, and wheel/tire components, and increases maintenance intervals by ensuring efficient and controlled air pressure management.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary air seal residing between the inner bearings and the outer bearings and coupling the channel formed in the spindle to the channel formed in the hub
Data Source
AI summary
An Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) for use with a vehicle includes a controller, valves controlled by the controller and, for at least one drive axle having inner bearings and outer bearings, a channel formed in a spindle, first hosing coupling controlled by the controller to the channel formed in the spindle, a channel formed in a hub, a rotary air seal coupling the channel formed in the spindle to the channel formed in the hub, and second hosing coupling the channel formed in the hub to at least one wheel. The rotary air seal may transition from a sealed state that forms a seal between the spindle and the hub to support air flow between the channel formed in the spindle and the channel formed in hub and reside in an unsealed state to negate the seal between the spindle and the hub.