System and method using a pressure reduction valve
An automatic tire inflation system or wheel end assembly may be provided with a pressure reduction valve to allow rapid deflation of a tire. A method of rapidly reducing tire pressure may include use of a pressure reduction valve.
1. A wheel end assembly, comprising a hubcap mounted to a wheel rotatable on an axle on a vehicle,
an air pressure supply positioned inside the axle and connected to a pressure source on the vehicle,
a rotary union mounted to the hubcap and in fluid communication with the air pressure supply,
a valve stem mounted to the wheel, the valve stem comprising a normally-closed pressure-actuatable valve and an auxiliary port,
an air hose connected at a first end to the rotary union and at a second end to the valve stem so as to allow air to flow from the air pressure supply through the air hose to the valve stem and through the normally-closed pressure-actuatable valve, and
a manually-operable pressure reduction valve connected to the auxiliary port.
2. The wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the manually-operable pressure reduction valve comprises one of a metering, timed or deceleration valve.
3. A wheel end assembly, comprising
a hubcap mounted to a wheel rotatable on an axle on a vehicle,
an air pressure supply positioned inside the axle and connected to a pressure source on the vehicle,
a rotary union mounted to the hubcap and in fluid communication with the air pressure supply,
a valve stem mounted to the wheel, the valve stem comprising a normally-closed pressure-actuatable valve,
an air hose connected at a first end to the rotary union and at a second end to the valve stem so as to allow air to flow from the air pressure supply through the air hose to the valve stem and through the normally-closed pressure-actuatable valve, and
a manually-operable pressure reduction valve connected to the rotary union.
4. The wheel assembly of claim 3 , wherein the manually-operable pressure reduction valve comprises one of a metering, timed or deceleration valve.
5. A wheel end assembly, comprising
a hubcap mounted to a wheel rotatable on an axle on a vehicle,
an air pressure supply positioned inside the axle and connected to a pressure source on the vehicle,
a rotary union mounted to the hubcap and in fluid communication with the air pressure supply,
a first valve stem mounted to the wheel, the valve stem comprising a first normally-closed pressure-actuatable valve,
a second valve stem mounted to the wheel, the second valve stem comprising a second normally-closed pressure-actuatable valve and an auxiliary port,
an air hose connected at a first end to the rotary union and at a second end to the first valve stem so as to allow air to flow from the air pressure supply through the air hose to the first normally-closed pressure-actuatable valve stem, and
a manually-operable pressure reduction valve connected to the auxiliary port of the second valve stem.
6. The wheel assembly of claim 5 , wherein the manually-operable pressure reduction valve comprises one of a metering, timed or deceleration valve.
7. In a vehicle comprising one or more tires, an automatic tire inflation system configured to automatically inflate the one or more tires to a desired pressure upon activation, and a pressure reduction valve configured to rapidly release air from the one or more tires, a method of equalizing air pressure in vehicle tires, the method comprising:
while the automatic tire inflation system is de-activated, opening a pressure reduction valve to release air from the one or more tires at a substantially higher air flow volume than the air flow volume than the automatic tire inflation system provides for tire inflation, so as to reduce the tire pressure below a desired air pressure; and
after releasing air, activating the automatic tire inflation system to substantially equally inflate the one or more tires to the desired air pressure.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pressure reduction valve comprises one of a metering, timed or deceleration valve.