Axle for use with a tire inflation system

Claim 1

An axle for use with a tire inflation system, said axle being of the type which includes a central portion with a pair of hollow spindles welded at opposite ends thereof, each of said spindles being capable of receiving a rotatable hub thereon for support of a wheel and tire, said hub including an intermediate cavity which is sealed to define with a wall of said spindle a reservoir for inflation air for said tire, said spindle being capable of being coupled at a region axially inwardly of said hub at a predetermined circumferential location thereon to said tire inflation system to provide said inflation air for said reservoir, said axle comprising: said spindle having a cylindrical outer surface at said region; said spindle having an axially extending passage in said wall thereof beginning at an interior surface thereof and terminating in alignment with said intermediate cavity of said hub; said spindle having a first radially extending passage from said cylindrical outer surface to terminate at said axially extending passage; said spindle having a second radially extending passage in said wall connecting said axially extending passage with said reservoir; said axially extending passage being sealed at said interior surface; a pair of collar elements, each said collar element having a cylindrical inner surface matching said cylindrical outer surface of said spindle, a coupling passage and a fitting for mating with said tire inflation system; a circumferential groove in said cylindrical inner surface of said collar element intersecting said coupling passage; and each of said collar elements being respectively mounted on said cylindrical outer surface of each of said spindles with said first radially extending passage and said coupling passage connected by said circumferential groove and said fitting positioned at said predetermined circumferential location for mating with said tire inflation system.