WO2011026105A1

WO2011026105A1 - Axle spindle for tire inflation system

Info

Publication number: WO2011026105A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/047318
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Sonzala
Original assignee: Equalaire Systems, Inc.
Priority date: 2009-08-31
Filing date: 2010-08-31
Publication date: 2011-03-03

Abstract

The present invention relates to an axle spindle for a tire inflation system. The axle spindle may be formed with a wall having one or more apertures adapted for mounting one or more component of an automatic tire inflation system or high-temperature warning system. One embodiment of the present invention is characterized by an axle spindle comprising: a tubular body having a first end and a second end; and a wall formed inside the tubular body at or near the first end, the wall generally separating the interior of the tubular body into two chambers wherein the wall defines an aperture to allow fluid communication between the two chambers.

Description

TITLE: AXLE SPINDLE FOR TIRE INFLATION SYSTEM

Inventor: Frank SONZALA

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

[0001 ] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/238,279, entitled "Axle Spindle for Tire Inflation System" filed August 31, 2009, which is hereby entirely incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, vehicle axles are not configured to allow ready mounting of an automatic tire inflation system or high-temperature warning system. An automatic tire inflation system or high-temperature warning .system may require sealing a hollow vehicle axle at both ends for use as a conduit for pressurized air. Presently, sealing a hollow vehicle axle requires installation of a plug at each end, such as the press plug disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. U.S. Pat. No. 6, 131 ,631 , or the expandable spindle plug disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,658.

SUMMARY

[0003] An axle spindle may be formed with a wall having one or more apertures adapted for mounting one or more component of an automatic tire inflation system or high- temperature warning system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective cutaway view of the axle spindle with interior wall.

[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of the embodiment of Fig. I .

[0006] FIG.3 illustrates a cross-seciion of one embodiment of a die and punches for manufacturing an axle spindle with interior wall.

[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of the embodiment of Fig. 3 wherein the punches have formed an axle spindle within the die.

[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of the axle spindle of the embodiment Fig. 4 wherein a passageway has been formed.

[0009] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section of one embodiment of a die and punches that may be used in a method for manufacturing an axle spindle with interior wall having a passageway.

[0010] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section of an embodiment of an axle spindle having two passageways. [0011] FlG.8 illustrates automatic tire inflation system components an axle spindle with interior wall.

DETAILED DESCRI PTION

[0012] An axle spindle for use with an automatic tire inflation system is disclosed. A typical automatic tire inflation system, such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,769,979, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, and 6,105.645, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, may use air from an air brake system to pressurize the vehicle tires. For example, an automatic tire inflation system for trailers may provide conduits that allow air to flow from a compressed-air tank through a pressure regulation system to trailer axles. Air may flow from the sealed trailer axles through a rotary union assembly to hoses attached to tire valve stems. In some embodiments, hollow trailer axles may be sealed to serve as air conduits by using a plug affixed to the each end of the axle, such the press plug disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,131.631. or the expandable spindle plug disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,658.

[0013] As disclosed herein, in various preferred embodiments, an axle spindle may be formed so as to include an interior wall adapted tor use with an automatic tire inflation system. As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, an axle spindle 10 may be tubular and comprise a first end 12 and a second end 14, and an outer chamber J 6, and an inner chamber 18. The tubular cross-section may be round, square, hexagonal, or any other suitable shape or cross-sectional area, and may vary in diameter or cross-sectional area along its length. The inner chamber 18 may. in some embodiments, have a larger inner diameter than the outer chamber 16. The inner chamber 18 may have a varying diameter in one embodiment, or a substantially constant diameter in another embodiment. A wall 20 positioned at or near the first end 12 of the spindle may separate the inner chamber 18 from the outer chamber 16. In some embodiments, a wall positioned at the first end 12 of the spindle may eliminate the need for an outer chamber 16, i.e., the axle spindle 10 need not have an outer chamber 16. The wall 20 may have a first passageway 22 that extends axially therethrough. The first passageway 22 may have an affixing portion 24 for affixing an insert. In the disclosed embodiment, the affixing portion 24 comprises screw-type threading. The affixing portion 24 may further comprise a surface suitable for holding an insert having a crush ring, or a friction-fit taper.

[0014] FIGS. 3-7 illustrate various stages of a method in some embodiments for manufacturing or forging an axle spindle comprising a wall. As may be seen in FIG.3, a first punch 32 and or a second punch 34 may apply pressure to a blank 36 to form the blank 36 in a die 30. The blank may be metal, plastic, or any suitable material and may be molten or in some other rnoldabie state. The blank may be wholly or partially positioned inside the die prior to applying forming pressure. The first punch 32 and/or the second punch 34 may toward the each other, causing the blank 36 to conform to the shape of the die 3Θ, the shape of the first punch 32 and the shape of the second punch 34, thus forming an axle spindle as in Fig. 4. The die and punches may be of various shapes, sizes and configurations. For example, there may be more than one die, or the die may be comprised of one or more sections. Likewise, there may be one punch, or there may be a plurality of punches, any of which may also be comprised of several pans and which may function independently of one another, with separately controllable speeds, forces, and operations, as will be recognized by those having sScill in the art. Tor embodiments w ithout an outer chamber 16, for example, a single punch and die may be used. Alternatively, the axle spindle may be formed by pouring molten material into a suitably-shaped form, or by machining down suitable materia! stock to form an axle spindle ha\ ing a wall formed therein.

[0015] As may be seen in the embodiment of fϊG. 5, the first and second punches may be removed from the axle spindle 10. A first passageway 22 may be formed in the interior wall 20 while the axle spindle 10 is still in the die 30. Alternatively, the first passageway 22 may be formed in the interior wall 20 after the axle spindle 10 has been removed from the die 30. An affixing portion 24 may be provided as part of the first passageway 22. The first passageway 22 may be formed as part of the axle spindle iθ forming process e.g., a third or fourth punch may be used to create the first passageway . Aheraatheis, as may be seen in the embodiment of FlG. 6. the first punch 34 may comprise a post 38 that penetrates through the material blank meet the face of, or push, into a receptacle in the second punch 32 so as to form a suitably-shaped passageway as the axle spindle 10.

[0016] Alternatively, the first passageway 22 may be formed in a separate step for example, the first passageway 22 may be first boied by a machining tool, and the affixing portion 24 may be then tapped for affixing a threaded insert. Alternatively, the affixing portion 24 may be tapered, chemically treated, or machined in some other manner to create a surface suitable for affixing an insert. Of course, additional machining of the axle spindle 10 may be desirable, for example, to enable the axle spindle to connect with wheel bearings, a hub cap, a braking system, or other wheel-end assembly components. In other embodiments, the axle spindle 10 may formed as part of an axle. Alternatively, two axle spindles may be joined together, such as by welding, or attached to the ends of an axle tube to form a trailer axle. The axle spindle may, of course, be further heat treated as is known in the art.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 7, an axle spindle 10 may include an interior wall 20 having an affixing portion 24. An insert 100 may be sealably secured to the affixing portion 24, for example, by threading the insert into the affixing portion. In an embodiment, insert 100 may comprise a stator for use with or as part of a rotary union, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,979, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. The axle spindle 10 may communicate air 5 from an air supply (not shown), such that air 5 may pass through the axle spindle 10 and to the insert 100 for communication through a rotary union assembly 140 to the tires via hoses. An air filter 180 may be attached to the end of the insert 100 to remove contaminants from air 5 passing into the insert 100. A tube 120 may have two ends, an interior end 160, which may project into the insert 100 and be sealed with a first seal 150, and an exterior end 130, which may project into an open channel in a rotary union tee 174 and be sealed with a second seal 170.

[0018] The rotary union assembly 140 may be secured to a hub cap 190, which may be mounted to one or more tires (not shown). Air may pass from the spindle 10 through the insert 100 and tube 120, through the rotary union tee 174 to the tires via hoses (not shown) to maintain tire pressure.

[0019] In another embodiment, the insert 100 may comprise a pressure relief valve or a heat sensitive pressure barrier of a high temperature warning system, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,778. the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. In such an embodiment, the heat sensitive pressure barrier may provide a high temperature warning as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,77S.

[0020] As may be seen in the embodiment of FIG. 8, a second passageway 40 may be provided to allow a second insert (not shown). The second passageway 40 may be formed in the same manner and/or time as the first passageway 22, or during a subsequent finishing stage. In such an embodiment; a first insert comprising a siator (not shown) may be affixed in the first passageway 22, and a second insert (not shown) comprising a heat sensitive barrier may be affixed in the second passageway 40. Thus, an automatic tire inflation system and a high temperature warning system may be used together.

[00213 Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, it will be understood that this description is merely for purposes of illustration. Various modifications of and equivalent structures corresponding to the disclosed aspects of the preferred embodiments, in addition to those described alxnε. may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention which is defined in the following claim, the scope of which is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass such modifications and equivalent structures.

Claims

CLAIMS: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An axle spindle comprising:

a. a tubular body having a first end and a second end: and

b. a wall formed inside the tubular body at or near the first end. the wall

generally separating the interior of the tubular body into two chambers wherein the wall defines an aperture to allow fluid communication between the two chambers.

2. The axle spindle of claim I , wherein the wall is oriented substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the tubular body.

3. The axle spindle of claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the first end of the tubular body is different from the outside diameter of the second end of the tubular body.

4. The axle spindle of claim 1 , wherein the wail comprises means in the aperture for

mounting a component of an automatic tire inflation system or a high-temperature warning system.

5. The axle spindle of claim 1 further comprising a rotary union stator or a heat sensitive pressure barrier mounted in the aperture.

6. The axle spindle of claim 1 , wherein the wall further defines a second aperture to allow fluid communication between the two chambers.

7. The axle spindle of claim 6 further comprising a heat sensitive pressure barrier mounted in the second aperture.

8. An axle spindle comprising:

a. a tubular body having a first end and a second end; and

b. a wall formed at the first end of the tubular body wherein the wall defines an aperture to allow fluid communication with the interior of the tubular body. The axle spindle of claim 8, wherein the apertwe is tlueaded.

An axle spmdle prepared by a process comprising, the steps of:

a. positioning a material blank inside a hollow άia;

h. compressing the materia! blank between a first punch and a second punch to foim a tubular body comprising a wall formed therein to separate the inteπoi of the tubular body into two chambers, and

c. forming an aperture in the wall,

The axle spindle of claim 10, wherein the apeiture JS threaded

The axle spindle of claim 10 prepared by a process further comprising the step of

defining a second aperture in the wall.

A method foτ manufacturing an axle spiiidie comprising the steps of

a positioning a material blank inside a hollow die,

b compressing the material blank between a first punch and a second punch to form a tubular body comprising a wall formed therein to separate the interior of the tubulai body into two chambers, and

e. forming an aperture in the wall.

The method of claim 13. further comprising the step of defining a second aperture in the wall

An apparatus for manufactuiing an axle spindle comprising

a a hollow die having a fust opening and a second opening, the tubular die configured to receive a material blank,

b a first punch insertable into the first opening; and

c a second punch insertable into the second opening wherein the first punch and second punch are configured, when the Inst punch is uiged toward the second punch in the hollow die, to form the material blank into a tubular body comprising a wall formed therein to separate the interior of the tubular body into two chambers.

apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first punch comprises a post configured to contact the second punch so as to form an aperture in the wall.

apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first punch comprises a second post configured to contact the second punch so as to form a second aperture in the wall.