Abstract: A method of making a vehicle wheel end assembly (10) is adaptable for use with an on-board central tire inflation system. The assembly provides a passage for the routing of air between the on-board system and the vehicle tire. The assembly comprises a stationary spindle (12) and a rotational hub (14) mounted thereon. The hub is supported for rotation by first and second axially spaced bearing sets (16, 18), each having an inner race (20, 26) and an outer race (22, 28) associated with the spindle and hub, respectively. The inner race of the inboard bearing set (18) is formed with an axial air passage (46) which communicates with an internal chamber (36) in the hub to form a portion of the air passage between the tire and on-board system. In another feature, rotary seals (60, 62) are seated in opposed faces of the bearing sets and include sealing lips (72) which have a sealed contact with the upper surface of the inner bearing races.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel end assembly (10) is adaptable for use with an on-board central tire inflation system. The assembly provides a passage for the routing of air between the on-board system and the vehicle tire. The assembly comprises a stationary spindle (12) and a rotational hub (14) mounted thereon. The hub is supported for rotation by first and second axially spaced bearing sets (16, 18), each having an inner race (20, 26) and an outer race (22, 28) associated with the spindle and hub, respectively. The inner race of the inboard bearing set (18) is formed with an axial air passage (46) which communicates with an internal chamber (36) in the hub to form a portion of the air passage between the tire and on-board system. In another feature, rotary seals (60, 62) are seated in opposed faces of the bearing sets and include sealing lips (72) which have a sealed contact with the upper surface of the inner bearing races.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel end assembly (10) is adaptable for use with an on-board central tire inflation system. The assembly provides a passage for the routing of air between the on-board system and the vehicle tire. The assembly comprises a stationary spindle (12) and a rotational hub (14) mounted thereon. The hub is supported for rotation by first and second axially spaced bearing sets (16, 18), each having an inner race (20, 26) and an outer race (22, 28) associated with the spindle and hub, respectively. The inner race of the inboard bearing set (18) is formed with an axial air passage (46) which communicates with an internal chamber (36) in the hub to form a portion of the air passage between the tire and on-board system. In another feature, rotary seals (60, 62) are seated in opposed faces of the bearing sets and include sealing lips (72) which have a sealed contact with the upper surface of the inner bearing races.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel end assembly (10) is adaptable for use with an on-board central tire inflation system. The assembly provides a passage for the routing of air between a central source and the vehicle tire (25). The assembly comprises a stationary spindle (12) and a rotational hub (14) mounted thereon. A collar (34) is mounted on the inboard end of the spindle in interfacing relation with an inboard extension (50) of the hub. An air chamber, defined by the radial spacing of the collar (34) and hub extension (50), communicates air passages in the collar and hub (36, 44). The chamber is fitted with a pair of rotary seals (72, 74) to seal the air passage between the stationary collar (34) and rotating hub (14). The rotary seals (72, 74) each include an integral sealing lip (80) which responds to pressurization of the chamber by biasing into sealed relation with the outer surface of the collar (34).

Abstract: A vehicle wheel end assembly (10) is adaptable for use with an on-board central tire inflation system. The assembly provides a passage for the routing of air between the on-board system and the vehicle tire. The assembly comprises a stationary spindle (12) and a rotational hub (14) mounted thereon. The hub is supported for rotation by first and second axially spaced bearing sets (16, 18), each having an inner race (20, 26) and an outer race (22, 28) associated with the spindle and hub, respectively. The inner race of the inboard bearing set (18) is formed with an axial air pressure (46) which communicates with an internal chamber (36) in the hub to form a portion of the air passage between the tire and on-board system. In another feature, rotary seals (60, 62) are seated in opposed faces of the bearing sets and include sealing lips (72) which have a sealed contact with the upper surface of the inner bearing races.

Abstract: A bead lock for locking the bead portion of a pneumatic tire against the outer periphery of a vehicle wheel is adapted to seat in the vehicle wheel. In a first embodiment, the bead lock includes first and second annular members. The first annular member includes an endless band of aeromatic polyamide fibers. The second annular member has radially inner and outer portions and interconnecting resilient side portions. The first annular member is received and retained within a circumferentially extending slot formed in one of the outer portions to urge the side portions against the bead portions of the tire. The second embodiment includes a pair of locking rings, a pair of resilent sealing rings and a clamping mechanism for selectively clamping the locking and sealing rings and the bead portions together against the outer periphery of the wheel.

Abstract: A lightweight military vehicle is provided with an unmanned turret for interchangeably supporting large weapon stations. Elastomer filled stanchions connected to a turret platform serve to isolate weapon impulse forces from the vehicle frame. Driver, commander and gunner seats are located externally to the turret and provided with said doors to enable quick exiting. Both powered and manual backup drives are external to the rotating turret disk and are accessible from the gunner's seat. The elevation drive employs a ball and socket joint connecting an upper yoke mounted to the weapon with a fixed lower portion controlling vertical movement of the yoke and thereby the elevation of the gun.

Abstract: A system for automated pressurization of pneumatic tires includes an air pump which is driven by the vehicle engine and provides a continuous output of pressurized air. The pressurized air can either be routed to the tires or vented to the atmosphere under control of a manually-actuated selector valve having inflate, neutral and deflate modes of operation. A second selector valve can be set to designate which of the vehicle tires are to be inflated or deflated.

Abstract: A lightweight military vehicle is provided with an unmanned turret for interchangeably supporting large weapon stations. Elastomer filled stanchions connected to a turret platform serve to isolate weapon impulse forces from the vehicle frame. Driver, commander and gunner seats are located externally to the turret and provided with side doors to enable quick exiting. Both powered and manual backup drives are external to the rotating turret disk and are accessible from the gunner's seat. The elevation drive employs a ball and socket joint connecting an upper yoke mounted to the weapon with a fixed lower portion controlling vertical movement of the yoke and thereby the elevation of the gun.

Abstract: A kit for retrofitting a vehicle to include an automatic tire inflation system is disclosed. The kit includes a control box for mounting within the cabin of the vehicle. The control box includes a selector device that is manually actuable by the operator to select the desired pressure for the tires. A valve is used to inflate or deflate the tires as a function of the pressure differential between the actual and the desired tire pressures. In the preferred embodiment, the actual tire pressure is monitored by way of a static pressure tank connected to the tires through a fixed orifice. The kit permits a manufacturer to mass produce a certain vehicle and then selectively choose which ones of the vehicles are to be provided with an automatic tire inflation system.

Abstract: An automatic tire inflation/deflation system for a vehicle (10) is disclosed. Air passageways for the pressurize air are provided internally through the wheel assemblies without cutting into load bearing members. A rotating seal is provided by way of a pair of sealing rings (52,54) located inboard of the hub bearings (32,33) to protect the seals from adverse environmental conditions. A kit for retrofitting vehicles to include an automatic tire inflation/deflation system is also disclosed. Ramp surfaces (90, 91, 92) formed in the hub (30') are provided to facilitate removal of the bearing assemblies (32, 33).

Abstract: An automatic tire inflation system for a vehicle (10) includes a plurality of wheel assemblies (14). Each wheel assembly includes a rotatable portion (30) connected to its associated tire (16) and a non-rotatable portion (24) connected to the vehicle chassis (28). A sealed air passageway is provided between an inlet (62) in the non-rotatable portion and an outlet (64) in the rotatable portion of the wheel assembly which is connected to the tire. The sealed air passageway is provided in part by way of a longitudinally extending bore (66) in the spindle (24) which communicates with a chamber (60) defined by a sleeve (42) and a pair of air seals (52, 54) between the sleeve and spindle. A manually actuable selector device (102) in the vehicle is provided to permit the user to select one of a plurality of preset air pressure settings for the tires.