An improved deflator valve is described herein. The deflator valve has a main body with one or more ports, one or more vents, or port or vent slots for introducing air into or relieving pressure from within the main body in a vortex, circular flow. The deflator valve also includes a piston having an O-ring disposed around an outer circumference of the piston. The O-ring of the piston and the ports and vents are effective for reducing noise and deflation time and improving accuracy and ease of adjusting a pressure setting. The deflator valve can further include a dual or variable rate spring that can achieve an extensive destination pressure range. The deflator valve can also include a threadless lead in, fewer valve stem threads, or a lock chuck for enhanced valve stem attachment methods.

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.

A central tire inflation system configured to maintain an air pressure on a first and second tire mounted to a wheel of a vehicle including a wheel assembly configured to be operably coupled to the wheel and including (1) a housing in fluid communication with an external air supply, (2) two check valves carried by the housing and in fluid communication with the air supply, (3) two tire air connectors carried by the housing and in fluid communication with the two check valves, respectively, and configured to be operably coupled to the two tires, respectively. The first tire, second tire, and air supply in fluid communication when both the first check valve and the second check valve are in an open position but not in fluid communication when either the first check valve or the second check valve is in a closed position.

An improved deflator valve is described herein. The deflator valve has a main body with one or more ports, one or more vents, or port or vent slots for introducing air into or relieving pressure from within the main body in a vortex, circular flow. The deflator valve also includes a piston having an O-ring disposed around an outer circumference of the piston. The O-ring of the piston and the ports and vents are effective for reducing noise and deflation time and improving accuracy and ease of adjusting a pressure setting. The deflator valve can further include a dual or variable rate spring that can achieve an extensive destination pressure range. The deflator valve can also include a threadless lead in, fewer valve stem threads, or a lock chuck for enhanced valve stem attachment methods.

A pneumatic pressure controller includes a body, an inflation plunger, a vent and a deflation diaphragm or piston. The body defines an input chamber and an output chamber for connection of a pneumatic pressure source and pneumatic container respectively. The plunger is biased towards a closed condition wherein it inhibits fluid flow from the input chamber to the output chamber and is movable against the bias to allow such fluid flow for inflation of the pneumatic container. The diaphragm or piston is variably biased towards a closed condition wherein it closes the vent. The diaphragm or piston is configured to move away from the vent to an open condition under the influence of fluid pressure in the output chamber when the inflation plunger is in the closed condition and the variable bias is sufficiently reduced, enabling fluid from the pneumatic container to egress to the atmosphere via the vent.

An assembly for a tire pressure management system includes a housing. The housing includes a first branch and a second branch. The second branch is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the first branch. The first branch and the second branch are in fluid communication with each other and a main branch. The main branch is rotatable with respect to the first branch. A valve assembly is housed within the first branch. The valve assembly provides selective fluid communication between a portion of the tire pressure management system and the main branch. A pressure relief valve assembly is housed within the second branch. The pressure relief valve assembly provides selective fluid communication between the assembly and the atmosphere.

An outboard wheel half has an axis and includes an outboard wheel structure configured to receive at least a portion of a tire. The outboard wheel half also includes a structure defining an alignment hole usable to align a hubcap relative to the structure. The structure defines a pocket circumferentially aligned with the alignment hole to reduce an amount of stress at a location of the alignment hole.

A wheel includes an inner wheel half defining a plurality of inner bolt apertures and having a mating surface. The wheel also includes an outer wheel half defining a plurality of outer bolt apertures and having an inner surface. The plurality of outer bolt apertures are configured to be aligned with the plurality of inner bolt apertures such that each of a plurality of bolts may be received by one of the plurality of outer bolt apertures and one of the plurality of inner bolt apertures, forming a seal between the mating surface and the inner surface in response to each of the plurality of bolts being tightened. In response to a predetermined number of bolts becoming loose, a first portion of the mating surface may separate from a second portion of the inner surface, breaking the seal.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the current trial and error method in deflating tires. The controlled tire deflation valve system allows for tires to automatically and accurately deflate to the desired pressure. The present invention comprises a shaft, a spring and a piston wherein the shaft runs through the spring until the spring rests on the shaft spring seat. The shaft spring seat is effective in restricting the movement of the spring.

An air maintenance tire assembly includes a tire having a tire cavity bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region, air pumping means for generating pressurized air for maintaining air pressure within the tire cavity at a preset pressure level, the air pumping means including a soft tubing and compression fittings for mitigating dynamic loading on the compression fittings, and a valve housing disposed adjacent an outward end of the valve stem and operative to selectively open and close pressurized air flow from the valve stem internal passageway into the tire cavity. The valve housing is connected to the air pumping means by the soft tubing and compression fittings for mitigating dynamic loading on the compression fittings.