Fluid flow valve with variable flow rate
First Claim
1. A wheel valve assembly (10) for a vehicular tire air pressure system (110), the assembly (10) comprising:
- a first housing (13) including an inlet port (11) and an outlet port (20);
a valve device (22) in said first housing (13) including a valving member (34) movable between open and closed positions for respectively allowing and preventing air communication between said inlet (11) and outlet (20) ports, a first resilient member (32) for biasing said valving member (34) to said closed position, a valving surface (26a) responsive to positive air pressure in said inlet port (11) for moving said valving member (34) to said open position, and a flow regulating assembly (40) comprising;
a second housing (44) having a first opening and a second opening and a piston bore (15) formed therebetween, said second housing (44) including a seat (46);
a piston-like member (42) slideably disposed within said piston bore (15) and having a primary flow passage (52) and at least one secondary flow passage (54) formed therein for enabling the flow of air between said openings of said second housing (44), said piston-like member (42) having a first portion (42a) and a second portion (42b), said first portion (42a) configured for mating with said seat (46);
a second resilient member (48) for biasing said piston-like member (42) away from said seat (46); and
wherein said first portion (42a) mates with said seat (46) when at least a predetermined air pressure differential exists between the pressure at said second portion (42b) of said piston-like member (42) and the pressure at said first portion (42a) of said piston-like member (42), said mating causing said at least one secondary flow passage (54) to be at least substantially closed such that air can substantially flow only through said primary flow passage (52).
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved fluid flow valve (10) for a fluid flow control system. The flow valve (10) includes a flow-regulating assembly (40) having a housing (44) having a piston bore (15) within which is slideably disposed a piston-like member (42). The piston-like member (42) has a primary flow passage (52) and at least one secondary flow passage (54) formed therein. A first portion (42a) of the pistonlike member (42) is configured for mating with a seat (46) of the housing (44), and a resilient member (48) biases the piston-like member (42) away from the seat (46). When at least a predetermined fluid pressure differential exists, the first portion (42a) mates with the seat (46) and causes the at least one secondary flow passage (54) to be at least substantially closed such that fluid can substantially flow only through the primary flow passage (52).
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A wheel valve assembly (10) for a vehicular tire air pressure system (110), the assembly (10) comprising:
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a first housing (13) including an inlet port (11) and an outlet port (20);
a valve device (22) in said first housing (13) including a valving member (34) movable between open and closed positions for respectively allowing and preventing air communication between said inlet (11) and outlet (20) ports, a first resilient member (32) for biasing said valving member (34) to said closed position, a valving surface (26a) responsive to positive air pressure in said inlet port (11) for moving said valving member (34) to said open position, and a flow regulating assembly (40) comprising;
a second housing (44) having a first opening and a second opening and a piston bore (15) formed therebetween, said second housing (44) including a seat (46);
a piston-like member (42) slideably disposed within said piston bore (15) and having a primary flow passage (52) and at least one secondary flow passage (54) formed therein for enabling the flow of air between said openings of said second housing (44), said piston-like member (42) having a first portion (42a) and a second portion (42b), said first portion (42a) configured for mating with said seat (46);
a second resilient member (48) for biasing said piston-like member (42) away from said seat (46); and
wherein said first portion (42a) mates with said seat (46) when at least a predetermined air pressure differential exists between the pressure at said second portion (42b) of said piston-like member (42) and the pressure at said first portion (42a) of said piston-like member (42), said mating causing said at least one secondary flow passage (54) to be at least substantially closed such that air can substantially flow only through said primary flow passage (52). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A flow-regulating assembly (40) for a fluid flow valve (10), the assembly (40) comprising:
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a housing (44) disposed within said fluid flow valve (10) and having a first opening proximate a valving member (34) of said fluid flow valve (10) and a second opening and a piston bore (15) formed therebetween, said housing (44) including a seat (46);
a piston-like member (42) slideably disposed within said piston bore (15) and having a primary flow passage (52) and at least one secondary flow passage (54) formed therein for enabling the flow of fluid between said openings of said housing (44), said piston-like member (42) having a first portion (42a) and a second portion (42b), said first portion (42a) configured for mating with said seat (46);
a resilient member (48) for biasing said piston-like member (42) away from said seat (46); and
wherein said first portion (42a) mates with said seat (46) when at least a predetermined fluid pressure differential exists between the pressure at said second portion (42b) of said piston-like member (42) and the pressure at said first portion (42a) of said piston-like member (42), said mating causing said at least one secondary flow passage (54) to be at least substantially closed such that fluid can substantially flow only through said primary flow passage (52). - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A fluid flow valve assembly (10) comprising:
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a first housing (13) including an inlet port (11) and an outlet port (20);
a valve device (22) in said first housing (13) including a valving member (34) movable between open and closed positions for respectively allowing and preventing air communication between said inlet (11) and outlet (20) ports, and a flow regulating assembly (40) comprising;
a second housing (44) having a first opening and a second opening and a piston bore (15) formed therebetween, said second housing (44) including a seat (46);
a piston-like member (42) slideably disposed within said piston bore (15) and having a primary flow passage (52) and at least one secondary flow passage (54) formed therein for enabling the flow of fluid between said openings of said second housing (44), said piston-like member (42) having a first portion (42a) and a second portion (42b), said first portion (42a) configured for mating with said seat (46);
a resilient member (48) for biasing said piston-like member (42) away from said seat (46); and
wherein said first portion (42a) mates with said seat (46) when at least a predetermined fluid pressure differential exists between the pressure at said second portion (42b) of said piston-like member (42), said mating causing said at least one secondary flow passage (54) to be at least substantially closed such tat fluid can substantially flow only through said primary flow passage (52) wherein said valve device (22) is a single diaphragm valve device and said valving member (34) and said valving surface (26a) comprise a flexible diaphragm (26).
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13. A fluid flow valve assembly (10) comprising:
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a first housing (13) including an inlet port (11) and an outlet port (20);
a valve device (22) in said first housing (13) including a valving member (34) movable between open and closed positions for respectively allowing and preventing air communication between said inlet (11) and outlet (20) ports, and a flow regulating assembly (40) comprising;
a second housing (44) having a first opening and a second opening and a piston bore (15) formed therebetween, said second housing (44) including a seat (46);
a piston-like member (42) slideably disposed within said piston bore (15) and having a Primary flow passage (52) and at least one secondary flow passage (54) formed therein for enabling the flow of fluid between said openings of said second housing (44), said piston-like member (42) having a first portion (42a) and a second portion (42b), said first portion (42a) configured for mating with said seat (46);
a resilient member (48) for biasing said piston-like member (42) away from said seat (46); and
wherein said first portion (42a) mates with said seat (46) when at least a predetermined fluid Pressure differential exists between the pressure at said second portion (42b) of said piston-like member (42), said mating causing said at least one secondary flow passage (54) to be at least substantially closed such tat fluid can substantially flow only through said primary flow passage (52) wherein said primary flow passage (52) and said at least one secondary flow passage (54) are axially formed in parallel relationship within said piston-like member (42).
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14. A fluid flow valve assembly (10) comprising:
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a first housing (13) including an inlet port (11) and an outlet sort (20);
a valve device (22) in said first housing (13) including a valving member (34) movable between open and closed positions for respectively allowing and preventing air communication between said inlet (11) and outlet (20) ports, and a flow regulating assembly (40) comprising;
a second housing (44) having a first opening and a second opening and a piston bore (15) formed therebetween, said second housing (44) including a seat (46);
a piston-like member (42) slideably disposed within said piston bore (15) and having a primary flow passage (52) and at least one secondary flow passage (54) formed therein for enabling the flow of fluid between said openings of said second housing (44), said piston-like member (42) having a first portion (42a) and a second portion (42b), said first portion (42a) configured for mating with said seat (46);
a resilient member (48) for biasing said piston-like member (42) away from said seat (46); and
wherein said first portion (42a) mates with said seat (46) when at least a predetermined fluid pressure differential exists between the pressure at said second portion (42b) of said piston-like member (42), said mating causing said at least one secondary flow passage (54) to be at least substantially closed such tat fluid can substantially flow only through said primary flow passage (52) wherein said at least one secondary flow passage (54) comprises two secondary flow passages. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification