Leak compensating valve with flow switch indicator
First Claim
1. A vehicle control valve for a vehicle with a cab, which flows pressured air that is received at a valve inlet of a valve housing, to a valve outlet of the housing to maintain the valve outlet at a predetermined pressure below the inlet pressure, comprising:
- a passage that extends within said housing between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, said passage including an inlet passage portion connected to said inlet and an outlet passage portion connected to said outlet, said inlet passage portion including a blockable passage part;
a piston that has a forward piston end that lies in said blockable passage part and blocks it, said piston being moveable rearward along a piston path away from an initial piston position and then forward to its initial position, said housing having a spring chamber extending rearward from said blockable passage part and rearward of said piston, said passage including a chamber hole that connects said spring chamber to said outlet passage portion;
a spring lying in said spring chamber and pressing said piston forwardly, in addition to force applied by air pressure in said chamber, so a low pressure in said outlet and in said chamber results in the piston front end moving rearward to a position in said blockable passage part where pressured air can flow past the piston front end to flow into said outlet passage portion;
said valve flow control including an electrical switch with an actuator lying in the path of movement of said piston to operate the switch when the piston moves rearward from said initial piston position, and an indicator viewable by a driver in said cab which is energized by operation of said switch.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve (10) for use on a large truck with a tire inflation system, flows air into a leaking tire and energizes a light to indicate the presence of a leak to the driver. The valve has a passage (22) that connects a high pressure inlet (14) to an outlet (16) that connects to the tire. The passage has a blockable part (24) extending in forward-rearward (F, R) longitudinal directions, and the valve has a piston (26) with a front end (30) that slides in the blockable passage part and that is biased forwardly by a spring (36). The spring lies in a spring chamber (40) extending rearward of the blockable passage part. An electric switch (50) senses rearward piston movement to energize a warning light (62) in the vehicle cab. In one valve, the passage blockable part has a tapered rear end (24R) to rapidly increase air flow as the piston begins to allow air flow. In another valve, a passage connection section (272) is provided that intersects the blockable passage part (276) and connects to an outlet passage portion (284).
17 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A vehicle control valve for a vehicle with a cab, which flows pressured air that is received at a valve inlet of a valve housing, to a valve outlet of the housing to maintain the valve outlet at a predetermined pressure below the inlet pressure, comprising:
-
a passage that extends within said housing between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, said passage including an inlet passage portion connected to said inlet and an outlet passage portion connected to said outlet, said inlet passage portion including a blockable passage part; a piston that has a forward piston end that lies in said blockable passage part and blocks it, said piston being moveable rearward along a piston path away from an initial piston position and then forward to its initial position, said housing having a spring chamber extending rearward from said blockable passage part and rearward of said piston, said passage including a chamber hole that connects said spring chamber to said outlet passage portion; a spring lying in said spring chamber and pressing said piston forwardly, in addition to force applied by air pressure in said chamber, so a low pressure in said outlet and in said chamber results in the piston front end moving rearward to a position in said blockable passage part where pressured air can flow past the piston front end to flow into said outlet passage portion; said valve flow control including an electrical switch with an actuator lying in the path of movement of said piston to operate the switch when the piston moves rearward from said initial piston position, and an indicator viewable by a driver in said cab which is energized by operation of said switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A vehicle flow control valve which flows pressured air received at an inlet of a valve housing, to an outlet of the housing, to maintain the pressure at the outlet at a predetermined pressure below the inlet pressure, comprising:
-
a passage that extends within said housing between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, said passage including an inlet passage portion that extends from said inlet and that has a blockable passage part that extends in forward and rearward longitudinal directions, and a spring chamber that extends rearward of said blockable passage part, said passage also including an outlet passage portion that extends to said outlet; a piston with a front end that lies in said blockable passage part, and a spring that lies in said spring chamber and presses said piston forwardly toward an initial piston position; an electrical switch that operates when it senses rearward movement of said piston away from said initial piston position, and that then generates an indication of flow to a driver in a vehicle cab; said passage including a passage connecting section that has a downstream end connected to said outlet passage portion and an upstream end connected to said blockable passage part at a connect location rearward of said piston front end in the initial piston position and forward of a front end of said passage blockable part, with said connect location positioned so said piston front end lies rearward of a front end of said connect location but still in said blockable passage part when the piston is moved sufficiently rearward. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
Specification