FST applies 'automatic' tire-pressure sealing system to off-road vehicles

Weinheim, Germany – Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) is applying its advanced seal technology for central tire inflation systems (CTIS) to applications in construction and agricultural machinery.

The sealing systems are designed to automatically adjust the tire pressure of off-highway vehicles to varying ground conditions and vehicle loads.

The system combines "cutting-edge" materials and sensor technology with a double-lipped sealing component mounted inside the wheel hub, said a 15 Aug FST release.

The design separates the oil in the wheel hub from the compressed air entering the tire and eliminates the need for a hose mounted on the outside of the tire.

An air lip ensures stable CTIS operation at pressures up to 8 bar and circumferential speeds up to 4.5 m/s, FST further explained.

By ‘automatically’ adjusting the tire pressure to ground conditions, the sealing system eliminated the need for drivers to leave their cabs to operate manual CTIS systems.

“This saves time and significantly improves driver safety,” said Jens Wolfram, global segment director, mobile machinery agriculture.

Current systems with external cables, according to Wolfram, are vulnerable to premature failure, as any damage to the system or cables puts their components at risk.

Tire pressure can ‘greatly impact’ the performance of tractors and heavy machinery, allowing operators to conserve fuel and reduce soil compaction.

The FST systems, Wolfram added, enable drivers to ‘save time, reduce CO2 emissions and extend service life of tires with the push of a button.’