Axle assembly and the tire inflation system made therewith
An axle assembly includes a first axle shaft. The first axle shaft includes a first conduit. A second axle shaft includes a second conduit. The first conduit and the second conduit are in fluid communication through a chamber. A differential is operatively connected to the first axle shaft and the second axle shaft. The chamber is at least partially disposed within the differential.
1. An axle assembly, comprising:
a first axle shaft comprising a first conduit within the first axle shaft for transporting gas;
a second axle shaft comprising a second conduit within the second axle shaft for transporting gas;
a differential operatively connected to the first axle shaft and the second axle shaft; and
a chamber formed by a seal spanning a distance between an inboard surface of the first axle shaft and an inboard surface of the second axle shaft, the chamber formed within the differential, and the chamber connecting an inboard end of the first conduit with an inboard end of the second conduit.
2. The axle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first hub rotatably disposed on an axle housing and secured to the first axle shaft, the first hub comprising a hub conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit.
3. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal surrounds each of the inboard end of the first conduit and the inboard end of the second conduit.
4. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are coaxial with the first axle shaft and the second axle shaft.
5. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit extends from the differential to a flanged end of the first axle shaft.
6. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second conduit extends from the differential to a flanged end of the second axle shaft.
7. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit is concentric with the first axle shaft and the second conduit is concentric with the second axle shaft.
8. The axle assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a second hub rotatably disposed on the axle housing and secured to the second axle shaft.
9. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal is in sealing contact with the inboard surface of the first axle shaft and with the inboard surface of the second axle shaft.
10. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal is disposed radially out from the inboard end of the first conduit and radially out from the inboard end of the second conduit.
11. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a wall portion that is concertinaed.
12. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a wall portion and an annular sealing member attached to the wall portion.
13. An axle assembly, comprising:
a first hub rotatably disposed on an axle housing, the first hub comprising a hub conduit;
a first axle shaft secured to the first hub, the first axle shaft comprising a first conduit within the first axle shaft, the first conduit in fluid communication with the hub conduit;
a second axle shaft comprising a second conduit within the second axle shaft;
a differential operatively connected to the first axle shaft and the second axle shaft; and
a chamber formed within the differential by a seal spanning a distance between an inboard surface of the first axle shaft and an inboard surface of the second axle shaft, the chamber connecting an inboard end of the first conduit with an inboard end of the second conduit.
14. A tire inflation system comprising the axle assembly of claim 1 .
15. The axle assembly of claim 13 , wherein the seal is concertinaed and the seal expands and contracts while maintaining sealing contact with the inboard surface of the first axle shaft and the inboard surface of the second axle shaft.
16. The axle assembly of claim 13 , wherein annular sealing members are connected to each of the inboard surface of the first axle shaft and the inboard surface of the second axle shaft and a respective end of the seal.
17. The axle assembly of claim 13 , wherein the seal extends circumferentially around an axis of the first conduit and the second conduit and the seal extends axially in a direction of the axis to span the distance between the inboard surface of the first axle shaft and the inboard surface of the second axle shaft.