A rotary union having a housing, a shaft rotatably disposed within the housing, and a tube having a first end sealingly disposed within the shaft and a second end sealingly coupled to the housing. A tire inflation system may comprise a rotary union externally mounted to a vehicle wheel end or mounted to a vehicle fairing.

A compact rotary union assembly for inflating and deflating a tire mounted to a hub having a hub housing. The compact rotary union assembly includes a spindle, an inner sleeve, and an outer sleeve. The spindle includes a spindle channel. The inner sleeve includes a flange portion, a cylinder portion coupled to the flange portion, a bore extending through the flange portion and the cylinder portion, and an inner sleeve channel located within the flange portion and the cylinder portion. The inner sleeve channel is coupled to a first port and to the spindle channel. An outer sleeve includes an outer sleeve channel, coupled to the spindle channel and to a second port, wherein the cylinder portion is located within an outer sleeve bore of the outer sleeve. A first and a second air seal are located within the outer sleeve on either side of an air track.

A hubcap and rotary union, the hubcap having the outer face forming a smooth-bore at the center of the face, and a rotary union body having a smooth lug, the smooth lug being rotatably disposed in the bore.

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.

Disclosed herein are valve assemblies, such as for use in a tire inflation system, the valve assemblies comprising: a first fluid port and a second fluid port fluidly connectable with one another via a fluid passage; a first valve having an open position and a closed position, the first valve in its closed position blocking the fluid passage and in its open position unblocking the fluid passage; a second valve having an open position and a closed position, the second valve in its closed position blocking the fluid passage and in its open position unblocking the fluid passage; and a control volume fluidly connected or fluidly connectable with the first fluid port via a flow restrictor, wherein the first valve, the second valve and the control volume are configured such that a fluid pressure in the control volume biases each of the first valve and the second valve toward their closed position.

An air inflation system is provided for a vehicle including an axle that supports a wheel and an air supply structure. The air inflation system includes a rotary coupler having a tubular member for communicating with the air supply, a sleeve member connected to an end portion of the tubular member, a bearing receiving the sleeve member, a housing body having a passageway therethrough, wherein the tubular member is received in the passageway, and a housing cap attached to the housing body, wherein the housing cap is provided for communicating with at least one air connection element in communication with the wheel. A first seal for sealing an area between the tubular member and the housing body, and a second seal for sealing an area between the housing body and the housing cap are included. The rotary coupler is provided for supplying air from the air supply to the wheel.

A rotary joint assembly for a tire inflation system for a vehicle includes a stationary portion defining a first fluid passage. The stationary portion includes a support portion and having a first annular sealing face. The first fluid passage ending in the first annular sealing face. The assembly also includes at least one bearing and a rotatable portion rotatably mounted on the support portion by way of the at least one bearing. The rotatable portion defines a second fluid passage and has a second annular sealing face, the second fluid passage ending in the second annular sealing face. The rotatable portion defines an axis of rotation of the rotatable portion and a radial direction oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The at least one bearing supporting an inner face of the rotatable portion, wherein the inner face of the rotatable portion faces toward the axis of rotation. An annular seal chamber is radially disposed between the first annular sealing face and the second annular sealing face and provides fluid communication between the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage. The at least one bearing and the annular seal chamber at least partially overlap along an axial direction oriented in parallel to the axis of rotation.

A wheel hub assembly having a non-rotating outer bearing flange and an inner bearing flange disposed at least partially concentrically within the outer bearing flange. At least one rolling element is disposed radially between the outer bearing flange and the inner bearing flange. A port is disposed in the outer bearing flange, and a first conduit is disposed through the outer bearing flange in fluid communication with the fluid port. A second conduit is disposed through the inner bearing flange, wherein the second conduit is in fluid communication with the first conduit. A rotating spindle is disposed at least partially through the inner bearing flange, and the spindle is coupled for rotation with the inner bearing flange.

A rotary union assembly for use with a tire inflation system includes a hollow tube configured to deliver air between proximal and distal ends, a bullet having a central axial aperture receiving the tube therethrough, a proximal retaining structure defined on the proximal end of the tube, and a distal retaining structure defined on a distal end of the tube, configured to retain the bullet on the tube therebetween. A cartridge is coupled to a distal end of the tube and includes one or more apertures on a sidewall thereof in fluid communication with the tube. In use, the rotary union assembly is coupled between a non-rotating axle of a vehicle and the rotating hubcap of a tire rotating about the axle and may be removed as a unit for repair and/or replacement of wear parts on the assembly.

A system for detection of non-pneumatic tire loading includes a non-pneumatic tire. The non-pneumatic tire includes a ground-contacting annular tread, a central rim, and at least one spoke disk disposed between the rim and the tread. The spoke disk includes an inner ring mounted on the central rim, an outer ring, and spokes extending radially between the inner ring and the outer ring. A shear band is disposed between the outer ring of the spoke disk and the tread. A flange is disposed on an outboard surface of the spokes of the spoke disk. Indicating means are formed on the outboard surface of the plurality of spokes of the spoke disk radially outwardly of the flange. The flange interfaces with the indicating means when the tire is in an overloaded state or is in need of replacement.