Wheel and tire sealing system with fuse plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9970560-B2
Application number	US-201514801294-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2015
Priority date	Jul 16, 2015
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A sealing system is provided. The sealing system may include a wheel, a tire disposed about the wheel and defining a chamber between the wheel and the tire, and a first passage to the chamber through the wheel. A fuse plug may be disposed within the first passage. The fuse plug may comprise an annular body having a second passage defined by an inner wall. A groove may be formed circumferentially about an outer surface of the annular body. A seal ring may be configured to settle in the groove and sealably engage the first passage. A fusible material may be retained within the second passage defined by the inner wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuse plug, comprising:
an annular body having a length, an outer diameter and an inner wall defining a passage through the annular body, the outer diameter of the entire annular body being substantially constant and defining an outer wall along the length;
a groove formed circumferentially about and within the outer wall of the annular body;
a seal ring configured for placement in the groove; and
a fusible material retained within the passage defined by the inner wall.

2. The fuse plug of claim 1 , wherein the seal ring is configured to sealably engage a wall of an aperture.

3. The fuse plug of claim 1 , wherein the annular body comprises aluminum.

4. The fuse plug of claim 3 , wherein the fusible material comprises a tin and zinc alloy.

5. The fuse plug of claim 4 , wherein the seal ring comprises silicone.

6. The fuse plug of claim 4 , wherein the annular body comprises a layer of nickel on the inner wall.

7. The fuse plug of claim 5 , wherein the groove comprises a radial contour.

8. A plug, comprising:
an annular body having a length, an outer diameter and an inner wall defining a passage through the annular body, the outer diameter of the entire annular body being substantially constant and defining an outer wall along the length, wherein the inner wall comprises a nickel layer;
a groove formed circumferentially about the outer wall of the annular body;
a seal ring configured to settle in the groove, wherein the seal ring comprises at least one of silicone or rubber; and
a fusible material retained within the passage defined by the inner wall.

9. The plug of claim 8 , wherein the seal ring is configured to sealably engage a wall of an aperture.

10. The plug of claim 8 , wherein a diameter of the inner wall is between 0.149 inches and 0.151 inches.

11. The plug of claim 10 , wherein the outer diameter of the annular body is between 0.245 inches and 0.247 inches.

12. The plug of claim 11 , wherein an inner diameter of the seal ring is between 0.175 inches and 0.185 inches.

13. The plug of claim 10 , wherein the fusible material is flush within 0.015 inches of an end surface of the annular body.

14. The plug of claim 8 , wherein the annular body comprises aluminum.

15. The plug of claim 8 , wherein the fusible material comprises a tin and zinc alloy.

16. A wheel and tire system, comprising:
a wheel;
a tire disposed about the wheel and defining a chamber between the wheel and the tire;
a first passage to the chamber through the wheel; and
a fuse plug disposed within the first passage, the fuse plug comprising:
an annular body having a length, an outer diameter and an inner wall defining a second passage through the annular body, the outer diameter of the entire annular body being substantially constant and defining an outer wall along the length,
a groove formed circumferentially about the outer wall of the annular body,
a seal ring configured for disposition in the groove and to sealably engage the first passage, and
a fusible material retained within the second passage defined by the inner wall.

17. The wheel and tire system of claim 16 , wherein the annular body comprises aluminum.

18. The wheel and tire system of claim 17 , wherein the fusible material comprises a tin and zinc alloy.

19. The wheel and tire system of claim 18 , wherein the annular body comprises a layer of nickel on the inner wall.

20. The wheel and tire system of claim 19 , wherein the seal ring comprises at least one of silicone or rubber.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Kendricks Warren

Classifications

• B60B21/12 Primary

  Appurtenances, e.g. lining bands · CPC title

• B64C25/36 Primary

  Arrangements or adaptations of wheels, tyres or axles in general · CPC title

• F16K17/40

  with a fracturing member, e.g. fracturing diaphragm, glass, fusible joint (valves opening on surplus pressure F16K17/14) · CPC title

• B60B21/02

  characterised by transverse section · CPC title

• F16K17/383 Primary

  the valve comprising fusible, softening or meltable elements, e.g. used as link, blocking element, seal, closure plug (F16K17/386 takes precedence) · CPC title