Fluid flow valve with variable flow rate

• US 6,250,327 B1
• Filed: 02/25/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Corporation (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beverly, James A., Gerlofs, Kurt R., Freigang, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schoenfeld, Meredith H.
• Application Number:
  US09/257,439
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 137/224, 137/225, 137/226, 137/493.9, 137/513.3, 137/513.5, 152/415, 152/416
• US Class Current: 137/225
• 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: G05D 7/0133 within the flow-path
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/36 With pressure-responsive pressure-control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3631 Diaphragm, bellows or expansible tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3646 Co-axial inflation and relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/778 Axes of ports co-axial
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7848 Permits flow at valve interface

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).

Claims

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).

2. The wheel valve assembly (10) as defined in claim 1 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).

3. The wheel valve assembly (10) as defined in claim 1 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).

4. The wheel valve assembly (10) as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one secondary flow passage (54) comprises two secondary flow passages.

5. The wheel valve assembly (10) as defined in claim 4 wherein the mating relationship of said first portion (42a) and said seat (46) is frusto-conical.

6. The wheel valve assembly (10) as defined in claim 1 wherein said first resilient member (32) and said second resilient member (48) each comprise a spring.

7. A flow-regulating assembly (40) for a fluid flow valve (10), the assembly (40) comprising:

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).

8. The flow-regulating assembly (40) as defined in claim 7 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).

9. The flow-regulating assembly (40) as defined in claim 7 wherein said at least one secondary flow passage (54) comprises two secondary flow passages.

10. The flow-regulating assembly (40) as defined in claim 9 wherein the mating relationship of said first portion (42a) and said seat (46) is frusto-conical.

11. The flow-regulating assembly (40) as defined in claim 7 wherein said resilient member (48) comprises a spring.

12. A fluid flow valve 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, 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).

13. A fluid flow valve 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, 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).

14. A fluid flow valve assembly (10) comprising:

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.

15. The fluid flow valve assembly (10) as defined in claim 14 wherein the mating relationship of said first portion (42a) and said seat (46) is frusto-conical.

16. The fluid flow valve assembly as defined in claim 14.