Patent ID: 8122926

Claim:
A system, comprising: a circular wheel rim having a central rotational axis and having formed coaxially on opposite ends thereof outwardly flaring circumferential flange sections disposed to be engaged by the beads of a tire mounted on the rim; said wheel rim having intermediate said opposite ends thereof, a transverse wall section extending transversely of the axis of said rim, said transverse wall section being adapted to connect to a vehicle wheel hub having a hub port for the passage of air; a central tire inflation valve manifold mounted to said transverse wall section, wherein said manifold includes: a tire-side manifold air passageway; and a hub-side manifold air passageway; and a central tire inflation valve mounted to an exterior surface of said manifold, wherein said valve includes: a tire-side valve air passageway, said tire-side valve air passageway being in communication with said tire-side manifold air passageway; and a hub-side valve air passageway, said hub-side valve air passageway being in communication with said hub-side manifold air passageway, wherein said valve is in communication with: said hub port via said hub-side manifold air passageway if said transverse wall section is connected to said vehicle wheel hub; and an interior of said tire via said tire-side manifold air passageway if said tire is mounted on said rim; wherein at least one of the following: both a first end and a second end of the tire-side valve air passageway are axially offset from: a first end of a first air duct formed within the wheel rim; and a second end of the first air duct, wherein the second end of the first air duct is open at an outer periphery of the wheel rim; and both a first end and a second end of the hub-side valve air passageway are axially offset from: a first end of a second air duct formed within the transverse wall section; and a second end of the second air duct.