A tire management system includes a control valve and a check valve. A method for managing a tire includes: determining a pressure parameter value, determining an operational parameter for a valve based on the pressure parameter value, and controlling the valve based on the operational parameter.

A tire pressure management system includes at least an axle, a hubcap supported by the axle and having an interior and an exterior, a rotary union mounted to the hubcap. The rotary union includes at least rotary union housing providing a central bore, a fluid conduit having upstream and downstream ends, a first bearing and a second bearing. Each of the bearings are in contact engagement with the fluid conduit via an inner race, and in sliding engagement with a bearing sleeve via an outer race. The bearing sleeve in pressing contact with the central bore; and a first and second seal, the first seal is disposed between the first bearing and the downstream end of the fluid conduit, the second seal adjacent the interior of the hubcap and disposed between the external surface of the fluid conduit and the internal surface of the central bore.

Disclosed herein are devices and systems for continuous control of tire pressure. In one aspect, a device for continuously controlling tire pressure includes a bracket, a fixed non-rotating member fixedly attached to the bracket, and a non-fixed rotating member rotatably attached thereto. The fixed non-rotating member has at least one first seal surface, the at least one seal surface configured to be in fluid communication with a compressed air source. The non-fixed rotating member has at least one second seal surface, wherein an air chamber defined within a volume between interacting the at least one first seal surface and the at least one second seal surface causes fluid communication between an interior space of the tire and the compressed air source.

The invention relates to an assembly including a hydraulic apparatus having a rotor and a stator. The rotor is mounted so as to turn about a second rotation axis with respect to the stator and is secured to a device suitable for mounting a vehicle wheel. A pivot-pin element is intended to be mounted on an axle and is mounted so as to rotate about a first rotation axis with respect to the hydraulic apparatus. The stator is mounted so as to turn about the first rotation axis with respect to the axle. An air chamber is formed between the pivot-pin element and the hydraulic apparatus, the air chamber is connected to a distribution passage formed in the hydraulic apparatus. An axle passage is formed in the pivot-pin element so as to form a pneumatic passage between the pivot-pin element and the hydraulic apparatus.

A valve assembly for a tire pressure management system includes a housing having a first perforation and a second perforation. The first perforation is selectively in fluid communication with the second perforation. A shuttle assembly is provided in the housing. A failsafe piston is connected to the shuttle assembly. A first biasing member applies a bias to the failsafe piston. A second biasing member applies a bias to the shuttle assembly. When a pressure differential between a pressure in the second perforation and a pressure in the first perforation is at or below a predetermined value, the bias applied by the first biasing member urges the failsafe piston toward the shuttle assembly to prevent fluid communication between the first perforation and the second perforation.

A valve assembly for a tire pressure management system includes a housing. A first chamber (32) is provided in the housing. A second chamber (38) is provided in the housing. The second chamber is selectively in fluid communication with the first chamber. A third chamber (44) is provided in the housing. The third chamber is selectively in fluid communication with the second chamber. A deflate piston (120) is at least partially provided in the third chamber and the second chamber. The deflate piston (120) selectively permits or prevents fluid communication between the second chamber and the third chamber. An inflate piston (72) is attached to the deflate piston (120). The inflate piston (72) is at least partially provided in the second chamber and the first chamber. The inflate piston (72) selectively permits or prevents fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. At a first pressure, the second chamber is in direct fluid communication with the first chamber and, at a second pressure, the second chamber is in direct fluid communication with the third chamber. The second pressure is greater than the first pressure and the first pressure is greater than an initial pressure.

A central tire inflation system configured to monitor and maintain an air pressure on the tires of a vehicle includes a housing, a central processing unit, a controller, and a valve. The housing has a plurality of walls and a bottom forming an interior volume. The central processing unit has the necessary electronics to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data. The controller has a plurality of modes of operation wherein the modes of operation include default parameters for air pressure within the tires of the vehicle. The valve is configured to direct air flow as required into or out of the tires, the valve being operably coupled to the controller. The central tire inflation system is configured to monitor air pressure of the tires and provide inflation or deflation thereof based the mode of operation.

An axle assembly includes a first axle shaft. The first axle shaft includes a first conduit. A second axle shaft includes a second conduit. The first conduit and the second conduit are in fluid communication through a chamber. A differential is operatively connected to the first axle shaft and the second axle shaft. The chamber is at least partially disposed within the differential.

A tire pressure management system includes at least an axle, a hubcap supported by the axle and having an interior and an exterior, and a rotary union mounted to the hubcap. The rotary union includes at least rotary union housing providing a central bore, a fluid conduit having upstream and downstream ends, and a bearing in contact engagement with the fluid conduit via an inner race of the bearing, and in sliding engagement with a bearing sleeve via an outer race of the bearing. The bearing sleeve in pressing contact with the central bore; and a seal, is disposed between the bearing and the downstream end of the fluid conduit.

A tire inflation system safety valve includes at least an air line disposed between a rotary union and a tire communicating with an axle supporting a hubcap, the rotary union axially aligned with the axle and mounted to the hubcap. The air line facilitating pressurized air transferred between the rotary union and the tire. The tire inflation system safety valve including at least a valve housing providing a valve activation chamber, a fluid conduit, supported by the valve housing, having a downstream end and an upstream end and in fluid communication with the valve activation chamber, and a diaphragm disposed within the valve activation chamber and communicating with the fluid conduit. The diaphragm, in response to the pressurized air of a predetermined pressure, automatically precludes air transfer between the upstream end of the fluid conduit and the downstream end of the fluid conduit.