System and method for decreasing tire pressure

• US 9,403,410 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mozingo, Melvin B., Racine, Lloyd G., Sidders, Jason M., Kona, Venkata Ramakanth, Gillen, Kurt P., Knapke, Brian V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIGGS, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US15/052,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20160167456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 160 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00345 Details of the rotational joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/063 the valve being loaded by a spring
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/20 specially designed for inflatable bodies, e.g. tyres connecting valves to inflatable bodies B60C29/00

Abstract

A method for decreasing tire pressure includes providing a wheel assembly which defines a chamber that houses a pressurized fluid. A wheel valve assembly is provided in fluid communication with the chamber. The wheel valve assembly is operable between an open position and a closed position and includes an area having a first flow capacity. A variable area valve assembly is provided and is selectively in fluid communication with the wheel valve assembly. The variable area valve assembly includes an area formed in a perforation that has a second flow capacity. The second flow capacity is less than the first flow capacity. A target tire pressure is selected. If a pressure of the pressurized fluid in the chamber is greater than the target tire pressure, then the pressure of the pressurized fluid in the chamber is decreased.

Claims

1. A method for decreasing tire pressure, comprising:

providing a wheel assembly which defines a chamber that houses a pressurized fluid;

providing a wheel valve assembly in fluid communication with the chamber, the wheel valve assembly operable between an open position and a closed position and comprising an area having a first flow capacity;

providing a variable area valve assembly selectively in fluid communication with the wheel valve assembly, the variable area valve assembly comprising an area formed in a perforation that has a second flow capacity, the second flow capacity being less than the first flow capacity; and

selecting a target tire pressure;

wherein if a pressure of the pressurized fluid in the chamber is greater than the target tire pressure, then decreasing the pressure of the pressurized fluid in the chamber by directing a flow of pressurized fluid from the wheel assembly through the wheel valve assembly and the variable area valve assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a channel valve assembly in fluid communication with the wheel valve assembly via a fluid control circuit and selectively in fluid communication with the variable area valve assembly, the channel valve assembly permitting fluid communication between the fluid control circuit and an inner fluid conduit or between the fluid control circuit and atmosphere.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow of pressurized fluid through the variable area valve assembly is expelled into a space provided in a housing.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a pressure of the pressurized fluid utilizing a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer in fluid communication with an inner fluid conduit and providing a signal to a control device which corresponds to a tire pressure.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a deflate valve assembly which is in fluid communication with the variable area valve assembly via a fluid conduit and, when in an open position, permits fluid communication between the variable are valve assembly and an inner fluid conduit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressurized fluid is air.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a pressurized fluid source and directing a stream of pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source through a fluid control circuit to open the wheel valve assembly.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising increasing the size of the area as the flow of pressurized fluid is directed from the wheel assembly.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising opening the wheel valve assembly to enable fluid communication between the chamber and the variable area valve assembly.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the pressurized fluid is directed to atmosphere via a vent port provided through the housing.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the perforation is sized to receive a valve member, the valve member gradually reducing in diameter toward an end thereof and being movable toward or away from the perforation, and a shaft is attached to another end of the valve member, the shaft extending toward or retracting away from the perforation due to a signal provided to a motor assembly from a control device.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the inner fluid conduit is selectively in fluid communication with the wheel valve assembly via a channel valve assembly and is selectively in fluid communication with the variable area valve assembly via a deflate valve assembly.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a predetermined pressure differential between the pressurized fluid in the chamber and pressurized fluid in a fluid conduit, which is positioned between the wheel valve assembly and variable area valve assembly, to maintain the wheel valve assembly in an open position.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing pressurized fluid at a predetermined pressure in a fluid conduit positioned between the wheel valve assembly and variable area valve assembly to maintain the wheel valve assembly in an open position.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising opening a channel valve assembly and a deflate valve assembly to enable fluid communication between the chamber, an inner fluid conduit, and the variable area valve assembly.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein a guide rod is attached to the end of the valve member and extends through the perforation.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the inner fluid conduit provides a passageway for directing the pressurized fluid through a pneumatic control unit.