Air pressure control for dual tires

Claim 2

For use with a wheel assembly having dual pneumatic tires, the improvement comprising, in combination: a housing adapted to be mounted on the wheel assembly, means including separate passage means in the housing for establishing separate passageways communicating with the interior of each of the pneumatic tires, valve means including a movable valve element within said housing acting to close either of said passageways or to establish communication between them, a fill valve assembly mounted for axial movement on said housing for pressurizing said dual tires through said passageways, said assembly including a fill valve, means on the movable fill valve assembly for holding said movable valve element in position to establish communication between said passageways, whereby the tire pressures are equalized during filling, and means whereby said assembly is normally maintained in a retracted position to permit free movement of said valve element.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a pair of spaced co-axial valve seats in the housing and wherein said movable valve element comprises a valve shuttle movable axially to close against either valve seat.

Claim 4

In a wheel assembly having dual pneumatic tires, the improvement comprising, in combination: a housing mounted on the wheel assembly, means including separate passage means in the housing establishing separate passageways communicating with the interior of each of the pneumatic tires, valve means including a movable valve element within said housing acting to close either of said passageways or to establish communication between them, a fill valve assembly mounted for axial movement on said housing for pressurizing said dual tires through said valve means and said passageways, said assembly including a fill valve, means on the movable fill valve assembly for holding said movable valve element in position to establish communication between said passageways, whereby the tire pressures are equalized during filling, and means whereby said assembly is normally maintained in a retracted position to permit free movement of said valve element.

Claim 5

In a wheel assembly having dual pneumatic tires, the improvement comprising, in combination: a housing mounted on the wheel assembly, means including separate passage means in the housing establishing separate passageways communicating with the interior of each of the pneumatic tires, valve means including a movable valve element within said housing acting to close either of said passageways or to establish communication between them, a fill valve assembly mounted for axial movement on said housing for pressurizing said dual tires through said valve means and said passageways, said assembly including a fill valve, means on the movable fill valve assembly for holding said movable valve element in position to establish communication between said passageways, whereby the tire pressures are equalized during filling, and means whereby said assembly is normally maintained in a retracted position to permit free movement of said valve element.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said valve means includes a pair of spaced co-axial valve seats in the housing and wherein said movable valve element comprises a valve shuttle movable axially to close against either valve seat.

Claim 7

For use with a wheel assembly having dual pneumatic tires, the improvement comprising, in combination: a housing adapted to be mounted on tHe wheel assembly, means including separate passage means in the housing for establishing separate passageways communicating with the interior of each of the pneumatic tires, valve means including a valve element within the housing movable from a first position closing one of said passageways through a second position establishing communication between said passageways to a third position closing the other of said passageways, said valve element being movable by differential pressure to said first or third position to retain pressure in one tire in the event of loss of pressure from the other tire, a fill valve assembly mounted for axial movement on said housing for pressurizing said dual tires through said valve means and said passageways, said assembly including a fill valve, means on the movable fill valve assembly for maintaining said movable valve element in said second position, whereby the tire pressures are equalized during filling, and pneumatic pressure operated means for moving said fill valve assembly to a retracted position to permit free movement of said valve element.

Claim 8

For use with a wheel assembly having dual pneumatic tires, the improvement comprising, in combination: a housing adapted to be mounted on tHe wheel assembly, means including separate passage means in the housing for establishing separate passageways communicating with the interior of each of the pneumatic tires, valve means including a valve element within the housing movable from a first position closing one of said passageways through a second position establishing communication between said passageways to a third position closing the other of said passageways, said valve element being movable by differential pressure to said first or third position to retain pressure in one tire in the event of loss of pressure from the other tire, a fill valve assembly mounted for axial movement on said housing for pressurizing said dual tires through said valve means and said passageways, said assembly including a fill valve, means on the movable fill valve assembly for maintaining said movable valve element in said second position, whereby the tire pressures are equalized during filling, and pneumatic pressure operated means for moving said fill valve assembly to a retracted position to permit free movement of said valve element.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 5 in which said movable valve element comprises an axially movable valve shuttle.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 6 in which said means on the fill valve assembly includes a plunger slidably mounted on the housing and accessible for movement manually to engage said movable valve shuttle.

Claim 11

For use with a wheel assembly having dual pneumatic tires, the improvement comprising, in combination: a housing adapted to be mounted on the wheel assembly, means including separate passage means in the housing for establishing separate passageways communicating with the interior of each of the pneumatic tires, the housing having an internal cavity communicating with said separate passage means, axially spaced valve seats each positioned between said cavity and one of said separate passage means, respectively, a valve shuttle in said cavity axially movable to close against either valve seat or to establish communication between them, a fill valve assembly mounted for axial sliding movement on said housing for pressurizing said dual tires through said cavity and said passageways, said assembly including a fill valve, means on the movable fill valve assembly for holding said movable valve shuttle in position to establish communication between said passageways, whereby the tire pressures are equalized during filling, and means actuated by pneumatic pressure in said internal cavity for moving said fill valve assembly to a retracted position to permit free movement of said valve element.

Claim 12

For use with a wheel assembly having dual pneumatic tires, the improvement comprising, in combination: a housing adapted to be mounted on the wheel assembly, means including separate passage means in the housing for establishing separate passageways communicating with the interior of each of the pneumatic tires, the housing having an internal cavity communicating with said separate passage means, axially spaced valve seats each positioned between said cavity and one of said separate passage means, respectively, a valve shuttle in said cavity axially movable to close against either valve seat or to establish communication between them, a fill valve assembly mounted for axial sliding movement on said housing for pressurizing said dual tires through said cavity and said passageways, said assembly including a fill valve, means on the movable fill valve assembly for holding said movable valve shuttle in position to establish communication between said passageways, whereby the tire pressures are equalized during filling, and means actuated by pneumatic pressure in said internal cavity for moving said fill valve assembly to a retracted position to permit free movement of said valve element.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 8 in which the fill valve assembly has a part movable into a groove on the valve shuttle to hold it against axial movement.