Bypass tube for time delay height control valve
First Claim
1. A valve assembly comprising:
- a body having a first valve bore and a control bore transverse to and intersecting the first valve bore;
the body having a first port and a pressure chamber open to the first port;
the body having a second port and a second valve bore collinear with the first valve bore and open to the second port, the second valve bore having a first end open to the first valve bore and a second end open to the pressure chamber;
a valve seat in the body at the second valve bore second end and a sealing member at the valve seat for sealing the second end of the second valve bore when the sealing member is seated on the valve seat;
an actuator shaft disposed coaxially in the first and second valve bores and having a first end and a second end, the first end being disposed within the first bore and the second end being disposed in the second bore adjacent the valve seat whereby axial movement of the actuator shaft second end past the valve seat displaces the sealing member from the valve seat, and an actuator shaft biasing member between the body and the actuator shaft for biasing the actuator shaft away from the valve seat;
a spring cup in the first valve bore and having a first end abutting the actuator shaft;
a spring cup biasing member biasing the spring cup toward the actuator shaft;
a control member rotatably mounted within the control bore, the control member having an abutment surface abutting the first end of the spring cup wherein abutment of the spring cup with the control member abutment surface limits movement of the spring cup toward the actuator shaft and wherein rotation of the control member moves the abutment surface axially in the first valve bore;
wherein the rotation of the control member in one direction moves the control member abutment surface toward the valve seat and thereby moves the spring cup and the actuator shaft toward the valve seat to displace the sealing member from the valve seat to place the first and second ports into fluid communication with each other;
the first valve bore being filled with an incompressible fluid and wherein the actuator shaft further comprises a piston disposed within the first valve bore and having a first side facing the spring cup and a second side facing the valve seat whereby the piston and fluid dampen movement of the actuator shaft to provide a time delay in actuating the valve, the piston including an aperture that passes from the first side to the second side thereof and a hollow metering tube that extends from the aperture, whereby the size of the tube controls the damping effect of the piston as the actuator shaft moves toward the valve seat.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve assembly for controlling the delivery and exhaustion of pressurized air to and from an air spring. The valve assembly comprises a body having a bore and a port in communication with the bore. The port is adapted to receive an air connection with an air spring. Actuator shaft having a first end and a second end, is disposed coaxially in the valve bore for reciprocal movement between actuating and rest positions, and is biased toward the rest position. A valve block fixes within the bore and has an internal end and an external end. A stop chamber is disposed between the external end and the internal end. A stop member mounts on the actuator shaft within the stop chamber. Actuator shaft movement relative to the valve body is limited to the distance the stop moves within the stop chamber. The valve bore is filled with an incompressible fluid and the actuator has a piston disposed within the valve bore in order to dampen movement of the actuator shaft to provide a time delay in actuating the valve. The piston includes an aperture that passes therethrough and a hollow metering tube that extends from the aperture. The size of the tube controls the damping effect of the piston and thus the actuator shaft as the actuator shaft moves toward the valve seat.
37 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A valve assembly comprising:
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a body having a first valve bore and a control bore transverse to and intersecting the first valve bore; the body having a first port and a pressure chamber open to the first port; the body having a second port and a second valve bore collinear with the first valve bore and open to the second port, the second valve bore having a first end open to the first valve bore and a second end open to the pressure chamber; a valve seat in the body at the second valve bore second end and a sealing member at the valve seat for sealing the second end of the second valve bore when the sealing member is seated on the valve seat; an actuator shaft disposed coaxially in the first and second valve bores and having a first end and a second end, the first end being disposed within the first bore and the second end being disposed in the second bore adjacent the valve seat whereby axial movement of the actuator shaft second end past the valve seat displaces the sealing member from the valve seat, and an actuator shaft biasing member between the body and the actuator shaft for biasing the actuator shaft away from the valve seat; a spring cup in the first valve bore and having a first end abutting the actuator shaft; a spring cup biasing member biasing the spring cup toward the actuator shaft; a control member rotatably mounted within the control bore, the control member having an abutment surface abutting the first end of the spring cup wherein abutment of the spring cup with the control member abutment surface limits movement of the spring cup toward the actuator shaft and wherein rotation of the control member moves the abutment surface axially in the first valve bore; wherein the rotation of the control member in one direction moves the control member abutment surface toward the valve seat and thereby moves the spring cup and the actuator shaft toward the valve seat to displace the sealing member from the valve seat to place the first and second ports into fluid communication with each other; the first valve bore being filled with an incompressible fluid and wherein the actuator shaft further comprises a piston disposed within the first valve bore and having a first side facing the spring cup and a second side facing the valve seat whereby the piston and fluid dampen movement of the actuator shaft to provide a time delay in actuating the valve, the piston including an aperture that passes from the first side to the second side thereof and a hollow metering tube that extends from the aperture, whereby the size of the tube controls the damping effect of the piston as the actuator shaft moves toward the valve seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for dampening movement of a reciprocating shaft, comprising:
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a body having a bore therein being at least partially filled with an incompressible fluid; a reciprocating shaft mounted for sliding movement with respect to the body with at least a portion of the shaft passing through the bore; and
wherein the reciprocating shaft further comprises a piston disposed within the bore whereby the piston and fluid dampen movement of the actuator shaft, the piston including an aperture and a hollow metering tube extending from the aperture, whereby the size of the tube controls the damping effect of the piston as the shaft moves in a first direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A valve assembly comprising:
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a body having a first valve bore and a control bore transverse to and intersecting the first valve bore; the body having a first port and a pressure chamber open to the first port; the body having second port and a second valve bore collinear with the first valve bore and open to the second port, the second valve bore having a first end open to the first valve bore and a second end open to the pressure chamber; a valve seat in the body at the second valve bore second end and a sealing member at the valve seat for sealing the second end of the second valve bore when the sealing member is seated on the valve seat; an actuator shaft disposed coaxially in the first and second valve bores and having a first end and a second end, the first end being disposed within the first bore and the second end being disposed in the second bore adjacent the valve seat whereby axial movement of the actuator shaft second end past the valve seat displaces the sealing member from the valve seat, and an actuator shaft biasing member between the body and the actuator shaft biasing the actuator shaft away from the valve seat; a control member rotatably mounted within the control bore, the control member being operably coupled to the actuator shaft for axial movement of the actuator shaft upon rotation of the control member; and a motion damping piston on the actuator shaft having a first side facing away from the valve seat and a second side facing the valve seat, the piston being disposed within the first valve bore and the first valve bore being filled with an incompressible fluid wherein the piston and fluid dampen movement of the actuator shaft to provide a time delay in actuating the valve, the piston including an aperture that passes from the first side to the second side thereof and a hollow metering tube that extends from the aperture, whereby the size of the tube controls the damping effect of the piston as the actuator shaft moves toward the valve seat. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification