Patent ID: 7302980

Claim:
A rotary union assembly for maintaining a desired pressure in a plurality of pneumatic tires mounted on the wheels of a vehicle having a source of pressurized air, said assembly comprising: a stationary tubular member defining an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion, said upstream end portion extending axially into the interior of said axle through an end thereof and communicating with the source of pressurized air; a housing, attachable to the exterior of a hub cap for rotation with said hub cap, said housing defining at least one air passageway extending therethrough and being rotatably mounted on said downstream end portion of said tubular member such that said tubular member communicates the source of pressurized air with said passageway in said housing, whereby air flow is directed from said source through said stationary tubular member to said rotatable housing; and a rotary union comprising a rotary element and a stationary element, said elements being in an abutting disposition in said air passageway within said housing for communicating said air flow with at least one of said tires.