A high temperature warning system for a vehicle steer axle an air pressure supply, a normally-closed valve in fluid communication with pressure supply, a heat sensitive control capable of opening the normally-closed valve upon a predetermined temperature, the heat sensitive control mounted adjacent to the wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith, and a warning system connected to the air pressure supply for actuation upon opening of the normally-closed valve.

A steer axle spindle may have one or more channels formed therein. A rotary union may be mounted to a steer axle wheel end assembly. The rotary union may be sealingly connected to a pressurized fluid source through the channel, and sealingly connected to a vehicle tire.

An axle assembly having a spindle yoke defining at least one fluid conduit therethrough. A collector ring disposed about the spindle yoke. A seal housing coupled with a knuckle, and the seal housing disposed coaxially with the collector ring. First and second rotary seals disposed radially between the collector ring and the seal housing. Additionally, a port disposed in the knuckle, wherein the port is in fluid communication with the spindle yoke at least one fluid conduit via the seal housing and the collector ring.

A steer axle spindle may have one or more channels formed therein. A rotary union may be mounted to a steer axle wheel end assembly. The rotary union may be sealingly connected to a pressurized fluid source through the channel, and sealingly connected to a vehicle tire.

A rotary joint assembly including a rotating portion. The rotating portion includes an annular body and a pair of annular sealing members. Each annular sealing member of the pair of annular sealing members is attached to a side of the annular body. An air passageway is formed in the annular body. The rotary joint assembly also includes a non-rotating portion. The non-rotating portion has a non-rotating portion air passageway formed therein. The non-rotating portion air passageway is in fluid communication with the air passageway formed in the annular body. A pair of annular air seal members are provided between the rotating portion and the non-rotating portion. Each annular air seal member of the pair of annular air seal members contacts a sealing surface of one of the annular seal members to provide a seal around an interface between the air passageway formed in the annular body and the non-rotating portion air passageway.

A system and method/apparatus are provided which dynamically and optionally automatically and individually adjust air pressure in the tire or tires of a vehicle. In one purely mechanical embodiment, the system is adapted for use with at least one tire mounted on a rim. The tire has an internal volume inflated with air. The rim is made up of two nested portions adapted such that relative rotation of the nested portions from a neutral position in which tire pressure is at a highest level causes a device in the system to increase the volume inside the tire so as to reduce the tire pressure, thereby increasing grip. The invention adjusts tire pressure quickly and dynamically, depending on braking or acceleration forces acting on the vehicle, and optionally, based on the terrain and the particular road or track conditions to which the vehicle is subjected.

Valves and related systems are described for equalization of pressure between vehicle tires. Valves may, for example, comprise a valve body which selectively opens when a vehicle is in motion so as to selectively allow two-way communication between vehicle tires.

A rotary transmission apparatus (1) for the transmission of control and/or working pressures to a fluid duet (51) which is received or configured at least in regions in the interior of a shaft (50), in particular, a drive shaft. The rotary transmission apparatus (1) has a stator assembly (2) which is arranged in a stationary manner with respect to a rotational movement of the shaft (50) and has at least one fluid feed/discharge line (3) and a control element (4) which can be displaced in the shaft longitudinal direction (L) relative to the shaft (50) between a first position and a second position. A flow connection between the at least one fluid feed/discharge line (3) and the fluid duct (51) is interrupted in the first position of the control element (4), and a flow connection between the at least one fluid feed/discharge line (3) and the fluid duct (51) is established in the second position of the control element (4).

An apparatus for use in a tire inflation system may include a steer-axle spindle, wherein the steer-axle spindle may include a first side, a second side, and a channel formed in the steer-axle spindle through the first side and the second side. A fluid conduit may be configured to be disposed through the channel from the first side of the steer-axle spindle to the second side of the steer-axle spindle, wherein a first end of the fluid conduit may be configured to be in fluid communication with a rotary union, and a second end of the fluid conduit may be configured to be in fluid communication with an air supply for the tire inflation system.

Various systems and methods are provided for a central tire inflation system with a wheel hub including an integrated sealing surface. In one embodiment, a system includes a vehicle wheel hub including a gas passage and a sealing surface shaped to engage directly with a seal to fluidly couple the gas passage to a counterpart gas passage of a stationary vehicle component. The sealing surface may be formed integrally with the vehicle wheel hub and shaped to engage directly with the seal with no other components disposed between the sealing surface and the seal.