Valve arrangement and traffic calming device incorporating such an arrangement

• US 7,004,193 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autospan Limited
• Original Assignee: Autospan Limited
• Inventors: Fox, Nigel Peter, Heeks, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US10/782,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 137/493.2, 137/512.2, 137/512.3, 137/517, 137/550, 137/493.3, 137/493.4, 137/493.6, 137/493.9
• US Class Current: 137/512.2
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/529 specially adapted for signalling by sound or vibrations, e.g. rumble strips; specially adapted for enforcing reduced speed, e.g. speed bumps
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/048 combined with other safety valves, or with pressure control devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/30 spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7841 One valve carries head and seat for second valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7869 Biased open
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8122 Planar strainer normal to flow path
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87394 Carried valve is direct response valve [e.g., check valve, etc.]

Abstract

A reactive speed hump (2) includes a fluid flow control valve assembly (4). A first valve (18, 20, 21) is naturally open and a second valve (10, 14, 15, 16, 17), naturally closed. Application of fluid pressure on the control valve assembly below a first lower threshold level or above a second higher threshold level allows a flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, but an application of fluid pressure on the control valve between said first and second threshold levels allows substantially no fluid to flow between the inlet (7) and the outlet (9).

Claims

1. An air flow control valve arrangement comprising at least a first and a second valve, and a body for housing the first and second valves, the body defining an air outlet, and an annularly-shaped air inlet having a diameter substantially smaller than the air outlet so that the air inlet forms a jet, wherein the first valve includes a first valve closure, movable against a first biasing means from its natural open state to a closed state, and wherein the second valve includes a second valve closure, movable against a second biasing means from its natural closed state to its open state such that the application of air pressure on the control valve assembly below a first lower threshold level or above a second higher threshold level allows a flow of air through the valve arrangement but an application of air pressure on the control valve between said first and second threshold levels allows substantially no air to flow through the valve arrangement, said first valve closure comprising a member having a shaft portion and a broad flat head portion defining an annular sealing face connected to the shaft portion, the first valve closure being located in an axial bore having an annular seat such that in the closed position the head portion of the first valve closure sealably engages with the annular seat, and wherein the second valve closure comprises a generally annular member, the periphery of the generally annular member cooperating with the annular seat of the first valve and which defines a central passageway incorporating the first valve closure, the first valve closure being operative to open and close the passageway.

2. An air flow control valve as described in claim 1 wherein said biasing means are compression springs.

3. An air flow control valve as described in claim 1 wherein the body housing is generally cylindrical with the air inlet and the air outlet being located at opposite ends thereof.

4. An air flow control valve as described in claim 1 wherein a filter element is located at the air outlet.

5. An air flow control valve as described in claim 1 wherein the first biasing means is a compression spring positioned at least in part within the axial bore and contacting the first and second valve closures.

6. An air flow control valve as described in claim 1 wherein the first valve closure comprise a pair of locating legs that locate the first valve closure in the axial bore by a snap fit.

7. An air flow control valve as described in claim 1 wherein the first valve is movable from the open to the closed state in a first direction, and the annular sealing face of the broad flat head portion is located in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

8. An air flow control valve as described in claim 1 further comprising a retaining disk mounted on an end of the body, wherein the second biasing means comprises a spring located between the retaining disk and the second closure.

9. An air flow control valve as described in claim 1 wherein the first valve is movable from the open to the closed state along a central axis of the body, and the air line and the air outlet are located substantially along the central axis.

10. An air flow control valve arrangement comprising at least a first and a second valve, wherein the first valve includes a first valve closure, movable against a first biasing means from its natural open state to a closed state, and wherein the second valve includes a second valve closure, movable against a second biasing means from its natural closed state to its open state such that the application of air pressure on the control valve assembly below a first lower threshold level or above a second higher threshold lever allows a flow of air through the valve arrangement but an application of air pressure on the control valve between said first and second threshold levels allows substantially no air to flow through the valve arrangement, said first valve closure comprising a member having a shaft portion and a broad flat head portion defining an annular sealing face connected to the shaft portion, the first valve closure being located in an axial bore having an annular seat such that in the closed position the head portion of the first valve closure sealably engages with the annular seat, the first valve closure comprising a pair of locating legs that locate the first valve closure in the axial bore by a snap fit, and wherein the second valve closure comprises a generally annular member, the periphery of the generally annular member cooperating with the annular seat of the first valve and which defines a central passageway incorporating the first valve closure, the first valve closure being operative to open and close the passageway.