Wheel end valve for central tire inflation system

• US 4,883,105 A
• Filed: 09/12/1988
• Issued: 11/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Schultz, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilber, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US07/243,003
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 152/415, 152/416, 152/417, 152/427, 137/517, 137/859, 137/845
• US Class Current: 152/416
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00372 characterised by fluid diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/144 the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery

Abstract

An improved wheel end valve assembly for a Central Tire Inflation System having a single connection to the tire chamber and a single connection to the source of pressurized fluid, which requires no venting other than through the single supply conduit, is effective in response to pressurization and venting of the supply conduit to open and close communication to the tire, and to isolate the tire if inflation pressure thereof falls below a minimum reference pressure. A controlled bleed of air between the control circuit and the isolation circuit is provided by a elastomeric disk shaped, one way valve having an orifice formed therein which is self cleaning when the valve is actuated.

Claims

1. A wheel end valve assembly for a central tire inflation system comprising a valve body having a first fluid connection defined by a first port for connection to a selectively pressurized and exhausted conduit, a second fluid connection defined by a second port for connection to an interior pressurized chamber of an inflatable tire, said valve assembly comprising first valve means responsive to pressurization of said selectively pressurized and exhausted conduit to assume a first position for establishing fluid communication between said first and second ports and responsive to exhausting to atmosphere of said selectively pressurized and exhausted conduit to assume a second position for blocking fluid communication between said first and second ports thereof, said first valve means comprising a valve member having a first surface exposed to fluid pressure at said first port and an opposed second larger surface, said valve assembly comprising a second valve means constantly in fluid communication with said second port and responsive to a sensed pressurization of said interior chamber of said tire being less than a predetermined minimum reference pressure and an isolation circuit to conduct fluid from said first port past said second valve means to said second larger surface to maintain said first valve means in said second position thereof in response to said pressurization of said tire being less than said mimimum reference pressure, said assembly characterized by:

a normally opened third valve means in fluid communication with said first port and said isolation circuit, said third valve comprising an elastomeric disc shaped diaphragm having peripheral sealing means and a fixed post, an orifice formed in said diaphragm into which said post extends to thereby maintain a zero reference pressure differential between said first port and said second larger surface, said third valve being responsive to a rapid increase in pressure at said first port to flex said diaphragm causing said post to close said orifice and thereby permit said first valve means to open.

2. A wheel end valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which said fixed post is cone-shaped.