Steer axle high-temperature warning system

1. A high temperature warning system for a steer-axle wheel end assembly, the steer-axle wheel end assembly comprising a steer-axle spindle having an outer end, the system comprising:

a pressurized fluid supply;

the steer-axle spindle having a first channel in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply;

a first normally-closed valve sealing the first channel, the first normally-closed valve being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply;

a first heat sensitive control capable of opening the first normally-closed valve at a first predetermined temperature, the first heat sensitive control mounted on or near the steer-axle wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith; and

a warning indicator configured for actuation upon opening of the first normally-closed valve.

2. The system of claim 1 , the first channel extending to the outer end.

3. The system of claim 2 , the first channel extending from an external surface of the steer-axle spindle to the outer end, the first channel being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply at the external surface.

4. The system of claim 1 , the first channel extending to an external surface of the steer-axle spindle, the first normally-closed valve sealing the first channel at the external surface.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first heat sensitive control forms part of the first normally-closed valve.

6. The system of claim 5 , the first heat sensitive control comprising an eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the first normally-closed valve at the first predetermined temperature.

7. The system of claim 1 , the first normally-closed valve being an electrically-operated normally-closed valve, and the first heat sensitive control being a thermal electric switch.

8. The system of claim 2 , the steer-axle spindle having a central axis about which a wheel may rotate, a portion of the first channel extending approximately along the central axis; the spindle having a second channel formed therein extending from the first channel to the external surface of the spindle; and a second normally-closed valve sealing the second channel, the second heat sensitive control mounted on or near the steer-axle wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith, and the second normally closed valve being in sealed fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply.

9. The system of claim 8 , first heat sensitive control being capable of opening the second normally-closed valve at the first predetermined temperature.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a second heat sensitive control capable of opening the second normally-closed valve at the first predetermined temperature.

11. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a second heat sensitive control capable of opening the second normally-closed valve at a second predetermined temperature.

12. The system of claim 11 , the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature being the same.

13. The system of claim 8 , the second heat sensitive control comprising an eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the second normally-closed valve at the first predetermined temperature.

14. The system of claim 11 , the second heat sensitive control comprising an eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the second normally-closed valve at the second predetermined temperature.

15. The system of claim 9 , the first normally-closed valve and the second normally-closed valve each being an electrically operated, the first heat sensitive control being a thermal electric switch controlling the first normally-closed valve and the second normally-closed valve.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the warning indicator comprises either a flow switch capable of sensing air flow from the air pressure supply, and a warning light capable of activation by the flow switch; or a sound channel formed in the first normally-closed valve through which air may flow and produce sound audible to humans when the first normally-closed valve opens.

17. The system of claim 4 , the steer-axle wheel end assembly comprising a pneumatic tire, the system further comprising a tire inflation system rotary union in sealed fluid communication with the tire; the first channel further extending to the outer end of the steer-axle spindle, the rotary union being in sealed fluid communication with the first channel at the outer end of the spindle.

18. A high temperature warning system for a steer-axle wheel end assembly, the steer-axle wheel end assembly comprising a steer-axle spindle having an outer end, the system comprising:

a first normally-closed valve configured for sealing a first channel formed in the steer-axle spindle, the first normally-closed valve further configured for sealed fluid communication with a pressurized fluid supply through the first channel; and

a first heat sensitive control capable of opening the first normally-closed valve at a first predetermined temperature, the first heat sensitive control configured for mounting on or near the steer-axle wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith.

19. The system of claim 18 , the first heat sensitive control forming part of the first normally-closed valve.

20. The system of claim 19 , the first heat sensitive control comprising an eutectic alloy capable of melting and opening the first normally-closed valve at the first predetermined temperature.

21. The system of claim 18 , the first normally-closed valve being an electrically-operated normally-closed valve, and the first heat sensitive control being a thermal electric switch.

22. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a warning indicator configured for actuation upon opening of the first normally-closed valve.