Integrated pressure exhaust valve and fluid coupling
First Claim
1. An integrated pressure exhaust valve and pneumatic coupling moiety comprising:
- a hollow body having a pneumatic pressure inlet port on one face of the body, an exhaust opening on the opposite face of the body, and a pneumatic pressure outlet port at an end of the body;
an elastomeric seal having an approximately flat annular face around the inlet port;
a wing at one end of the body having an arcuate locking surface substantially concentric with the inlet port;
a pocket at the opposite end of the body from the wing, having an arcuate locking surface substantially concentric with the inlet port and complementary with the locking surface on the wing so that a second coupling moiety having an identical seal, wing and pocket can be assembled in locking and sealing engagement with the integrated valve and coupling moiety by placing the seals in face to face engagement and twisting one moiety relative to the other moiety for engaging the respective wings and pockets;
a membrane dividing the interior of the body between the inlet port and the outlet port, and including a plurality of apertures through the membrane for permitting air flow therethrough;
a generally circular plug sealed in the exhaust opening and having a plurality of apertures between the interior and exterior of the plug for exhausting pneumatic pressure from within the body, a face of the plug being spaced apart from the membrane; and
a circular, elastomeric, diaphragm in the body between the membrane and plug, the diaphragm having a sufficiently large diameter for alternatively blocking the apertures through the plug or the apertures through the membrane.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated pressure exhaust valve and pneumatic coupling is used on a truck trailer for bringing air brake pressure from a tractor to the truck trailer. A gladhand coupling moiety is used for quick connection with an identical coupling moiety on the air pressure hose from the tractor. A check valve mechanism is incorporated in the body of the trailer coupling moiety for permitting air flow to the brakes when pressure from the tractor is greater than pressure in the trailer brake lines, and for permitting air flow from the brake lines to the atmosphere when pressure from the tractor is decreased. The integrated pressure exhaust valve and pneumatic coupling moiety can be mounted on the front of the trailer where it is found that pressure exhaust valve placement is most effective.
47 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An integrated pressure exhaust valve and pneumatic coupling moiety comprising:
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a hollow body having a pneumatic pressure inlet port on one face of the body, an exhaust opening on the opposite face of the body, and a pneumatic pressure outlet port at an end of the body; an elastomeric seal having an approximately flat annular face around the inlet port; a wing at one end of the body having an arcuate locking surface substantially concentric with the inlet port; a pocket at the opposite end of the body from the wing, having an arcuate locking surface substantially concentric with the inlet port and complementary with the locking surface on the wing so that a second coupling moiety having an identical seal, wing and pocket can be assembled in locking and sealing engagement with the integrated valve and coupling moiety by placing the seals in face to face engagement and twisting one moiety relative to the other moiety for engaging the respective wings and pockets; a membrane dividing the interior of the body between the inlet port and the outlet port, and including a plurality of apertures through the membrane for permitting air flow therethrough; a generally circular plug sealed in the exhaust opening and having a plurality of apertures between the interior and exterior of the plug for exhausting pneumatic pressure from within the body, a face of the plug being spaced apart from the membrane; and a circular, elastomeric, diaphragm in the body between the membrane and plug, the diaphragm having a sufficiently large diameter for alternatively blocking the apertures through the plug or the apertures through the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An integrated pneumatic coupling moiety and pressure exhaust valve comprising:
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a hollow body having a pneumatic pressure inlet port on one face of the body, an exhaust opening on the opposite face of the body, and a pneumatic pressure outlet port at an end of the body; a seal on the inlet port, a wing on the body, and a pocket complementary to the wing, the seal, wing and pocket conforming to SAE J318; and a check valve means in the body for (a) permitting air flow from the inlet port to the outlet port and preventing air flow from the exhaust opening when air pressure at the inlet port is greater than air pressure at the outlet port, and (b) permitting air flow from the outlet port to the exhaust opening and preventing air flow to the inlet port when air pressure is greater at the outlet port than at the inlet port. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An integrated fluid coupling moiety and pressure exhaust valve comprising:
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a hollow body having a valve chamber therein; a fluid inlet port to one side of the chamber from one face of the body; a fluid exhaust port from an opposite side of the chamber to the exterior of the body; a fluid outlet port from an end of the chamber to the exterior of the body; resilient seal means carried by the body about the inlet port; separate complementary male and female coupling configurations carried on the body at spaced locations about the inlet port adapting the body for fluid-sealing and locking engagement with a second coupling moiety having corresponding coupling configurations by placing the moieties in face-to-face engagement and twisting one relative to the other; and check valve means movable in the chamber in response to pressure differentials for closing the exhaust port from the chamber and for affording fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port when fluid pressure at the inlet port is greater than that at the outlet port, and for closing the inlet port from the chamber and for affording fluid flow from the outlet port through the exhaust port when fluid pressure at the outlet port is greater than that at the inlet port. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification