Central tire inflation wheel assembly, valve and central tire inflation system

摘要

The present invention is a valve for use in a central tire inflation system including a casing securable to the rim of a vehicle in communication with the tire that houses a main body connectable to a pressurized fluid supply of the central tire inflation system, and a valve member moveable within the main body to control the flow of air through the valve. The valve can be mounted flush on the exterior surface of the rim or in a recessed position within the rim, and can be connected to a manifold that is able to control the flow of pressurized fluid from the central tire inflation system to each valve and tire connected to the valve. The operation of the manifold and pressurized fluid supply can be controlled utilizing a controller operably connected to the manifold and fluid supply, and to sensing devices that supply information regarding the operational conditions of the vehicle to the controller to assist in adjusting the inflation of the tires as necessary.

主权项

1. A central tire inflation system for a work vehicle supported by a set of inflatable wheels, the central tire inflation system comprising:
a) a load transducer coupled to the work vehicle and configured to sense a load of an implement connected to the vehicle and to generate load signals representative thereof; b) an electronic control unit coupled to the load transducer configured to receive the load signals and to generate control signals at least partly in response thereto; c) an air manifold configured to receive the control signals from the electronic control unit, the control signals controlling actions of the air manifold to regulate the air supplied to the set of inflatable wheels; and d) at least one wheel valve operably connected to a wheel of the vehicle and including a casing securable to a rim of a vehicle, the casing having an open end and a closed end defining a cavity therein, a main valve body engaged with the casing within the cavity and extending outwardly from the casing through the open end, the main body including at least one aperture located at each of a lower and an upper end of an interior thereof; the lower aperture positioned in sealing engagement with a pressurized air inlet, a valve member movably disposed within the interior of the main body and sealingly engageable with the main body, the valve member including a number of openings therein to enable fluid communication between the lower aperture in the main body and the cavity in the casing through the valve member, and a biasing member disposed between the main body and the valve member.