| CPC B60C 23/00327 (2020.05) [B60C 23/00347 (2020.05); B60C 23/00354 (2020.05)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A steer axle tire pressure management system comprising:
a steer spindle enclosing a pressurized fluid;
a hubcap, the hubcap in communication with the steer spindle, the hubcap provides an interior, an exterior, and a bulkhead port, the bulkhead port provides access from the interior of the hubcap to the exterior of the hubcap; and
a rotary union axially aligned with the steer spindle and mounted to the hubcap from the interior of the hubcap, the rotary union in fluidic communication with the pressurized fluid, the rotary union comprising:
a rotary union housing, the rotary union housing provides at least a fluid distribution channel and a central bore, the central bore provides an internal surface;
a bearing sleeve adjacent the internal surface of the central bore;
a fluid conduit, the fluid conduit having an internal surface, an external surface, a downstream end and an upstream end, the fluid conduit supported by the bearing sleeve;
a pair of bearings, each of the pair of bearings provides an inner race and an outer race, each inner race of the pair of bearings in non-sliding contact adjacency with the external surface of the fluid conduit, each outer race of the pair of bearings in pressing communication with an internal surface of the bearing sleeve, a first bearing of the pair of bearings adjacent the downstream end of said fluid conduit, and a second bearing of the pair of bearings adjacent the upstream end of said fluid conduit;
a pair of fluid seals, the pair of fluid seals each engage an external surface of said bearing sleeve as well as said internal surface of said central bore; and
a support web disposed between said rotary union housing and said bulkhead port, said rotary union housing provides a fluidic pathway.
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