Patent Description:
In general, the present invention relates to devices for manual or automatic control of the tire inflation pressure while the vehicle is in motion, that is to say, a rotating joint between the vehicle and the tire.

In particular, the present invention relates to gaskets with a gasket ring expanded or pressed into position by pressure, for example, inflatable gaskets influenced by the pressure inside the element to be sealed.

<CIT> relates to a device for inflating and/or repairing a tire while a vehicle is running, the tire having a rim, a hub and a pivot pin on bearings, the device providing means for supplying pressurized air, a pressurized air inlet in the pin/hub/rim assembly, a chamber in the pin/hub/rim assembly. The device comprises a valve <NUM> sliding on the pin <NUM>, along a direction parallel to an axis of longitudinal extension of the pin <NUM> itself, following the introduction of the pressurized air into the chamber <NUM> to abut against the shoulders <NUM> to prevent the passage of pressurized air towards the bearings <NUM>, and move away from them following the removal of the supply of pressurized air, a channel <NUM> for the passage of air from the chamber <NUM> towards the tire <NUM>, and means for detecting the pressure of the tire <NUM> for activating alarm means, and means for actuating the device following the activation of the alarm means. Furthermore, on the channel <NUM> for the passage of the pressurized air towards the tire <NUM>, there is a two-way electric valve <NUM> for diverting air to a tank <NUM> of repair material, the air exiting the tank <NUM> mixed with repair product and going to the tire <NUM>.

<CIT> relates to a rotating passage for a compressed air supply system provided between a stator and a rotor rotating with respect to this stator. A compressed air channel arranged in the stator is connected to a compressed air line and leads into an annular chamber formed in the rotor, from which at least one working channel leads to a user. The stator is connected in the region of the rotating bushing to a control line. A frictional moment occurring in the region of the rotating bushing resulting in premature wear is reduced by providing a switchable non-return valve in the annular chamber. Locking elements extending inside the annular chamber concentrically to the axis of rotation of the rotor are movable in an open position by a driving element, which is displaced by the stator in the direction of the locking elements.

<CIT> relates to a retrofittable annular rotating passage consisting of an inner ring <NUM> and an outer ring <NUM>. A pair of floating sealing rings <NUM> and <NUM>, designed to allow multi-axis position displacements between the inner ring <NUM> and the outer ring <NUM> up to at least +/- <NUM>, without damage creates a precise guide between the inner ring <NUM> and the outer ring <NUM>. The task is solved by an O-ring gasket with the function of making a compressed air seal and two dirt sealing gaskets.

<CIT> relates to an air pressure supply device including an air pressure source provided in a non-rotating body of the vehicle, capable of supplying air pressure to at least one tire of a plurality of vehicle wheels, the air pressure supply device comprises a rotating seal to ensure the fluid connection between the rotating body which rotates together with the tire and the non-rotating body.

A relevant state of the art is represented by the following patent documents: <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>.

The device of <CIT> may present the problem of wear of the valve <NUM> sliding on the pin <NUM>, during the introduction of pressurized air into the chamber <NUM>, the valve <NUM> abutting against the shoulders <NUM> tending to rotate on the pin <NUM> subjected to a frictional moment which causes wear due to sanding inside the device.

The purpose of the present invention is solving the aforementioned prior art problems by providing a rotating joint free of relative motions of the parts that compose it to avoid the establishment of friction pairs and trigger problems of wear of the material.

Another object is providing a joint which ensures perfect pneumatic sealing of the internal chamber to the rotating joint and at the same time which remains protected from any external atmospheric agent such as dust, water, etc..

A further purpose is diversifying the use of a rotating joint in a split circuit to be able to inflate the tire and, in a further phase, to be able to repair the tire.

A further object is electronically controlling the circuit in which the rotating joint is located in order to be able to transmit data to an external console.

The aforementioned and other purposes and advantages of the invention, which will appear from the following description, are achieved with a rotating joint such as that described in claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variants of the present invention form the subject of the dependent claims. It is understood that all the attached claims form an integral part of the present description.

It will be immediately obvious that innumerable variations and modifications (for example relating to shape, dimensions, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what has been described without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the attached claims.

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, it is possible to note that a rotating joint, to allow pressurized air to be fed, through a hub <NUM>, from a rotation pin <NUM> with respect to an axis XX on bearings <NUM> to a tire <NUM> on a rim <NUM>, comprises a distribution spool <NUM> to prevent the passage of pressurized air through the bearings <NUM>. The distribution spool <NUM> comprises at least one valve <NUM>, <NUM>, against a respective disc with a first shoulder <NUM>, and a disc with a second shoulder <NUM>.

Advantageously, at least one guiding device consisting of at least one protruding tooth <NUM>, <NUM> able to slide with respect to a grooved support <NUM>, <NUM>, prevents rotation of the valve <NUM>, <NUM> with respect to the rotation pin <NUM>.

The valve <NUM>, <NUM> slides freely along a direction parallel to the X-X axis.

This at least one protruding tooth <NUM>, <NUM> is integral with the valve <NUM>, <NUM>, while the grooved support <NUM>, <NUM> is integral with a ring <NUM>, <NUM>.

The ring <NUM>, <NUM> is keyed or one piece with respect to the rotation pin <NUM>.

The respective disk with a first shoulder <NUM>, disk with a second shoulder <NUM>, coaxial to the valve <NUM>, <NUM> comprises at least one sealing ring <NUM> keyed onto a shaped seat of an outer circular edge of the respective first shoulder <NUM>, second shoulder <NUM>.

Such at least one sealing ring <NUM> presses radially on the internal surface of the hub <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the valve <NUM>, <NUM> comprises at least one sealing ring <NUM> keyed onto a shaped seat of an internal circular edge of the valve <NUM>, <NUM>.

The sealing ring <NUM> presses radially on the surface of the rotation pin <NUM>.

The hub <NUM> comprises a breather channel <NUM> positioned at the height of this at least one sealing ring <NUM>. The breather channel <NUM> is adapted to connect the internal surface of the hub <NUM> with a pneumatic non-return valve <NUM> positioned on the external surface of the hub <NUM>, to allow the sliding of the valve <NUM>, <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the pressurized air is fed through a first channel <NUM>, with the valve <NUM> against the disc with a first shoulder <NUM>, to allow pressurized air to be fed through a tank <NUM> of repair material carried by the pressurized air.

Alternatively, the pressurized air is fed through a second channel <NUM>, with the valve <NUM> against the disc with a second shoulder <NUM>, to allow pressurized air to be fed through a tank <NUM> of repair material transported by pressurized air.

An electronic control unit <NUM> allows to selectively feed air under pressure through the first channel <NUM> and the second channel <NUM>.

Preferably, the tank <NUM> is arranged on the hub <NUM>. Alternatively, the tank <NUM> is detached from the hub <NUM> and made inside the rim <NUM>.

The tank <NUM> is refillable. Alternatively, the tank <NUM> can be replaced by means of a cartridge.

In a first variation, with reference to <FIG>, this at least one valve <NUM>, <NUM> is detached from the respective disc with a first shoulder <NUM>, and a disc with a second shoulder <NUM>, by means of elastic return means <NUM>, <NUM>.

In a second variation, referring to <FIG>, such at least one valve <NUM>, <NUM> is detached from the respective disc with a first shoulder <NUM>, and the disc with a second shoulder <NUM>, by means of supplying pressurized air <NUM>, <NUM>, connected with the respective first channel <NUM> and second channel <NUM>.

In a further variant, not shown, the respective disk with a first shoulder <NUM>, and the disk with a second shoulder <NUM>, comprises a rotating seal to ensure the sealing of the air under pressure between the respective disk with a first shoulder <NUM>, a disk with a second shoulder <NUM> and the rotation pin <NUM>. The rotating seal adhering to a temperature sensor connected to the electronic control unit <NUM> allows to selectively supply pressurized air through the first channel <NUM> and the second channel <NUM>, continuously or intermittently, depending on the temperature detected and the instantaneous rotation speed measured.

The valve <NUM>, <NUM> slides freely along a direction parallel to the XX axis, guaranteeing pressure tightness as inside it, on the XX axis side, sealing rings <NUM> are inserted in order to guarantee a perfect tightness to the pressurized air and totally preserve the valve <NUM>, <NUM>, from wear due to sanding.

The passage of the rotating cable only for about <NUM>% of the operating time, in any case corresponds to only a few minutes under pressure, the remaining <NUM>% of the operating time is used to make a seal without pneumatic load and with friction reduced to a minimum. Since the rotating union has to work without maintenance it is necessary to do without lubrication.

Therefore, the seal is almost frictionless against compressed air in the unpressurized state, the O-ring is designed as a floating O-ring. To achieve low coefficients of friction under pressure, the O-ring is not rubber, but a rigid and lubricating plastic is produced. In contrast to floating O-rings, as known in linear moving pneumatic cylinders, the O-ring is brought to its inner diameter with a conical surface, which is preferably a part of the inner ring wall in contact. The groove of the O-ring is significantly greater than the thickness of the O-ring in both width and height. The O-ring preferably has a diameter of about <NUM>. The O-ring can move in a buoyant relationship with the O-ring groove positioned both axially and radially and is applied when pressure is applied to the outward facing seal from the pressure side wall of the O-ring groove, which is preferably a part of the outer ring. The process is not temporarily free of losses, which does not affect the function of the rotating union. Preferably, the inner ring having the tapered surface towards the side wall of the O-ring groove has an angle of inclination with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating union of at least <NUM>°.

The object of the present invention is an evolution of the device described in document <CIT>.

The rotating joint comes into operation by moving the valves towards the ends and in contact with the shoulders. The contact between the two elements causes the valves to rotate on the pivot pin, causing wear over time due to smoothing inside the valves.

To overcome this problem, the guiding device was introduced.

The guiding device is constituted by a grooved seat <NUM>, <NUM>, integral with the sliding valve <NUM>, <NUM>, with respect to the protruding tooth <NUM>, <NUM>, integral with a ring <NUM>, <NUM>, keyed or in one piece with respect to the rotation pin, to eliminate the rotation of the valve, eliminating wear due to smoothing thanks to the use of O-rings.

Two channels <NUM>, <NUM> are formed in the rotation pin of the wheel, with separate and independent inputs, in order to perform two distinct roles: tire inflation only; tire inflation and repair.

In the rotating joint, pressurized air is sent through the two channels <NUM>, <NUM>, selectively. The pressurized air is contained in a tank which is kept charged by a portable mini compressor even if low pressures such as those available at the outlet of the portable mini compressors on the market are required, both the tank and any mini compressor installed on board the vehicle.

The transmission of information and/or signals on the condition of the tire are brought to a control unit with wireless transmission systems through sensors installed on the valves of the tire itself, the data on the condition of the tire are visible to the driver by means of a screen mounted on the vehicle. The activation and deactivation of the inflation and repair functions takes place by means of an electronic system entirely mounted on the vehicle which does not require any electrical contact with the device, rotating joint, thus eliminating all the sliding electrical contacts and the relative rotating means. The system can be activated automatically by the electronic control unit or in second case manually by the driver.

Inflation of the tire. The first channel <NUM> passes through the rotation pin, up to approximately one third of the length of the rotation pin, the pressurized air introduced into the first channel <NUM> enters the portion of the distribution box delimited by the first two shoulders <NUM>. The pressurized air it pushes the valve <NUM> against the two first shoulders <NUM> with consequent output of the low pressure air from the channels <NUM> and from the pneumatic non-return valves <NUM>. In this way, the movement of the valve <NUM> takes place without any kind of disturbance. The pressurized air enters the tire through a channel <NUM> equipped with a safety valve.

Tire inflation and repair. Identical valve structure is provided for the second channel, always made inside the rotation pin, on the same side of the first channel, or alternatively, on the opposite side with respect to the first channel through the rotation pin up to about two thirds of the length of the rotation pin.

The pressurized air introduced into the second channel <NUM> enters the portion of the distribution box delimited by the two second shoulders <NUM>, the valve <NUM> striking against the two second shoulders allows the introduction of pressurized air into the tank containing the repair liquid through a channel <NUM> equipped with safety valve. From the tank starts a second channel <NUM> equipped with a safety valve that allows the injection of repair liquid and pressurized air inside the tire to allow the repair and inflation of the tire. The two second shoulders, on which the valves <NUM> and the vent channels <NUM> with the pneumatic non-return valves <NUM> rest, act in such a way as to avoid that, once the rotating joint is activated, the pressurized air introduced through the second channel can damage the bearings.

The refillable tank with sealant product is fixed around the hub or, in the second case, built inside the rim.

When the inflation and repair procedure is activated, pressurized air enters the tank causing the sealing product to escape from an additional channel downstream of the tank, bringing the pressurized air/repair product mixture to an additional valve on the tire.

Claim 1:
Rotating joint, to allow pressurized air to be fed, through a hub (<NUM>), from a rotation pin (<NUM>) with respect to an axis (XX) on bearings (<NUM>) to a tire (<NUM>) on a rim (<NUM>), comprising a distribution box (<NUM>) to prevent the passage of pressurized air through the bearings (<NUM>), said distribution box (<NUM>) comprising at least one valve (<NUM>, <NUM>), against a respective disc with a first shoulder (<NUM>), or a disc with a second shoulder (<NUM>), characterized in that said rotating joint comprises at least one guiding device consisting of at least one protruding tooth (<NUM>, <NUM>) able to slide relative to a grooved support (<NUM>, <NUM>) to prevent rotation of the valve (<NUM>, <NUM>) with respect to the rotation pin (<NUM>), the valve (<NUM>, <NUM>) sliding freely along a direction parallel to said axis (XX).