Patent ID: 8307869

Claim:
A wheel assembly to be utilized on a vehicle including a central tire inflation system, the assembly comprising: a) a rim securable to a hub for a vehicle, the rim including at least one aperture therein extending completely through the rim, and at least one air passageway extending from the at least one aperture through the rim to an exterior surface of the rim; and b) a valve cartridge releasably secured within the aperture to extend completely through the aperture, the cartridge including an exterior housing and an interior valve mechanism disposed within the exterior housing, the exterior housing positioned in sealing engagement with the at least one air passageway and adapted to be positioned in sealing engagement with a pressurized air inlet disposed on a hub of the vehicle, and the interior valve mechanism including a valve stem that is positioned partially within the exterior housing and that selectively opens and closes the interior valve mechanism, the valve stem including a central air passage therein that is adapted to communicate with the pressurized air inlet to move the valve stem, wherein the valve stem is biased to close the interior valve mechanism by a spring disposed within the valve seat and engaged between the valve seat and the valve stem.