A method for attaching a clamping assembly to the frame of a machine includes attaching a sensor assembly to the spindle of a machine such that a wire harness extends through the internal cavity of the spindle and out from the spindle, fishing the wire harness through a breather line, and attaching the wiring harness to the chassis of a machine.

A tire inflation system integrated with vehicle aerodynamic and wheel-end components, such as fairings, wheel covers and mud shields. Fluid conduits may route pressurized fluid from a fluid pressure source to a rotary union mounted at a wheel end. The fluid conduits may be routed along or through various aerodynamic and wheel-end components.

A chassis mounted energy extraction and delivery system. In one embodiment, a gravity-referenced, external tire inflation facility is integrated into an aerodynamic fairing mounted on the chassis of a vehicle. In one other embodiment, a torsion bar coupled between a hub-mounted energy extraction or delivery facility and a selected portion of the chassis provides a cross-referenced fixed point of reference. In a dual-axle embodiment, a first end of the torsion bar is coupled to the hub of one axle and a second end of the torsion bar is coupled to the hub of the other axle. In a single-axle embodiment, the second end of the torsion bar is coupled to the chassis.

An aerodynamic system comprising a torsion tube, a first rotatory coupling coupled to the torsion tube and adapted to mount to a first wheel hub, a second rotary coupling coupled to the torsion tube distal from the first rotary coupling and adapted to mount to a second wheel hub, and a non-rotating fairing panel mounted to the torsion tube.

The invention provides an automatic constant pressure device for a hub tire system. The device comprises a valve nozzle, air pipes, valves, a pneumatic slip ring, a hub, a pressure relief valve, a tire, a main shaft, an air storage tank, a vehicle-mounted air source and the like. Two valve holes are machined in the hub of the device. The valve nozzle with a tire pressure sensor is installed at one valve hole, and the pressure relief valve is installed at the other valve hole. The tire pressure is detected by the tire pressure sensor. The valve is controlled to inflate through the valve nozzle, and the pressure relief valve is controlled to relieve the pressure. The device has the characteristics of scientific detection principle, simple and reasonable structure and the like.

An finally mountable intelligent tire pressure management system (iTPMS) capable of real-time tire pressure monitoring, vehicle load detection, and automatic tire inflation and deflation for maintaining optimal tire pressure in a commercial vehicle. Additional functions include counting tire rotations for calculating and recording distance travelled for each tire, and detecting wheel sliding due to locked-up tires. The system includes a chassis-mounted control box connecting to the vehicle air supply, an external hubcap cover-mounted dual wheel valve apparatus integrated with a rotary union assembly that connects through the external bracket mounting structure holding the air tubes to the control box. The inflation/deflation supporting dual wheel valve apparatus has an embedded electronic unit that monitors individual tire pressure and temperature in real time, and communicates with the control box over the power and data line. Furthermore an external vehicle weight sensor interfacing with the control box provides the system with the current vehicle load information. With readily available real time tire pressure data and current vehicle load information, this system can intelligently adjusts tire pressure to the desired level when necessary and, as a result, prolongs tire life, improves fuel economy, reduces the vehicle maintenance costs, and promptly alerts the driver of low, leaky or flat tire conditions for enabling the driver to take immediate corrective actions.

An aerodynamic system comprising a torsion tube, a first rotatory coupling coupled to the torsion tube and adapted to mount to a first wheel hub, a second rotary coupling coupled to the torsion tube distal from the first rotary coupling and adapted to mount to a second wheel hub, and a non-rotating fairing panel mounted to the torsion tube.