Wheel Valve Assembly & The Tire Inflation System Made Therewith

• US 20170368896A1
• Filed: 06/27/2017
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Balistreri, Lucas A., Blessing, Christopher D., Molloy, Philip M., Sidders, Jason M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,479,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/001 Devices for manually or automatically controlling or distributing tyre pressure whilst the vehicle is moving
• 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: B60C 29/002 characterised by particular features of the valve core
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/145 the closure elements being shaped as a solids of revolution, e.g. cylindrical or conical
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/0406 in the form of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/048 combined with other safety valves, or with pressure control devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3631 Diaphragm, bellows or expansible tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7869 Biased open

Abstract

A wheel valve assembly having a body portion coupled with a cover portion. A diaphragm disposed between the body portion and the cover portion. A first biasing member disposed between the cover portion and the diaphragm in a cover cavity defined thereby. A control cavity defined by the body portion and the diaphragm, and at least one control port defined by the body portion and in fluid communication with the control cavity. A tire port defined by the body portion and in selective fluid communication with the control cavity. A first and second conduit disposed in the body portion in fluid communication with a third and fourth conduit disposed in the cover portion. An equalization valve assembly disposed in one of the conduits to control fluid communication between the cover cavity and the control cavity.

Claims

1. A wheel valve assembly comprising:

a body portion coupled with a cover portion;

a diaphragm disposed between said body portion and said cover portion;

a first biasing member disposed between said cover portion and said diaphragm;

a control cavity defined by said body portion and said diaphragm;

a cover cavity defined by said cover portion and said diaphragm;

at least one control port defined by said body portion and in fluid communication with said control cavity;

a tire port defined by said body portion and in selective fluid communication with said control cavity;

a radially extending first conduit disposed in said body portion, wherein said first conduit is in fluid communication with said control cavity;

an axially extending second conduit disposed in said body portion, wherein said second conduit is in fluid communication with said first conduit;

an axially extending third conduit disposed in said cover portion, wherein said third conduit is in fluid communication with said second conduit;

a radially extending fourth conduit disposed in said cover portion, wherein said fourth conduit is in fluid communication with said third conduit and said cover cavity; and

an equalization valve assembly disposed in said second conduit.

2. The wheel valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said equalization valve assembly comprises:

a housing defining first and second apertures;

a spring cage disposed within said housing;

a ball at least partially disposed within said spring cage; and

a second biasing member engaged between a surface of said spring cage and said ball.

3. The wheel valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein at a first position:

said first biasing member seals said diaphragm against said tire port; and

said second biasing member seals said ball against said housing second aperture.

4. The wheel valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein at a second position:

said first biasing member seals said diaphragm against said tire port; and

said ball compresses said second biasing member within said spring cage.

5. The wheel valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein at a third position:

said diaphragm compresses said first biasing member; and

said second biasing member seals said ball against said housing second aperture.

6. The wheel valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said equalization valve assembly comprises:

a housing defining first and second apertures;

a spring cage disposed within said housing, wherein said spring cage comprises an end defining a plurality of apertures therethrough;

a ball at least partially disposed within said spring cage; and

a second biasing member engaged between a surface of said housing and said ball.

7. The wheel valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein at a first position:

said first biasing member seals said diaphragm against said tire port; and

said second biasing member biases said ball against said one of said plurality of spring cage apertures.

8. The wheel valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein at a second position:

said diaphragm compresses said first biasing member; and

said ball compresses said second biasing member and seals against a surface of said spring cage.

9. A wheel valve assembly comprising:

a body portion coupled with a cover portion;

a diaphragm disposed between said body portion and said cover portion;

a biasing member disposed between said cover portion and said diaphragm;

a control cavity defined by said body portion and said diaphragm;

a cover cavity defined by said cover portion and said diaphragm;

at least one control port in fluid communication with said control cavity;

a tire port in selective fluid communication with said control cavity;

a radially extending first conduit disposed in said body portion, wherein said first conduit is in fluid communication with said control cavity;

an axially extending second conduit disposed in said body portion, wherein said second conduit is in fluid communication with said first conduit;

an axially extending third conduit disposed in said cover portion, wherein said third conduit is in fluid communication with said second conduit;

a radially extending fourth conduit disposed in said cover portion, wherein said fourth conduit is in fluid communication with said third conduit and selective fluid communication with said cover cavity;

a flow regulator disposed in said second conduit, wherein said flow regulator comprises an aperture limiting the flow rate between said control cavity and said cover cavity;

a backing plate disposed between said diaphragm and said biasing member, wherein said backing plate comprises a cylindrical portion; and

said cylindrical portion having a sealing portion, wherein said sealing portion selectively seals against an inner surface of said cover portion during pressurization of said control cavity to prevent fluid communication between said fourth conduit and said cover cavity.

10. A wheel valve assembly comprising:

a body portion coupled with a cover portion;

a diaphragm disposed between said body portion and said cover portion;

a biasing member disposed between said cover portion and said diaphragm;

a control cavity defined by said body portion and said diaphragm;

a cover cavity defined by said cover portion and said diaphragm;

at least one control port defined by said body portion and in fluid communication with said control cavity;

a tire port defined by said body portion and in selective fluid communication with said control cavity;

a radially extending first conduit disposed in said body portion, wherein said first conduit is in fluid communication with said control cavity;

an axially extending second conduit disposed in said body portion, wherein said second conduit is in fluid communication with said first conduit;

an axially extending third conduit disposed in said cover portion, wherein said third conduit is in fluid communication with said second conduit;

a radially extending fourth conduit disposed in said cover portion, wherein said fourth conduit is in fluid communication with said third conduit and selective fluid communication with said cover cavity.

11. The wheel valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein at a first position:

said first biasing member seals said diaphragm against said tire port; and

said fourth fluid conduit is in fluid communication with said cover cavity.

12. The wheel valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein at a second position:

said diaphragm compresses said first biasing member to seal against said cover portion defining said fourth conduit; and

said tire port is in fluid communication with said control cavity.

13. A wheel valve assembly comprising:

a body portion coupled with a cover portion;

a diaphragm disposed between said body portion and said cover portion;

a biasing member disposed between said cover portion and said diaphragm;

a control cavity defined by said body portion and said diaphragm;

a cover cavity defined by said cover portion and said diaphragm;

at least one control port defined by said body portion and in fluid communication with said control cavity;

a tire port defined by said body portion and in selective fluid communication with said control cavity;

a first conduit disposed in said body portion, wherein said first conduit is in fluid communication with said control cavity;

an axially extending second conduit disposed in said body portion, wherein said second conduit is in fluid communication with said first conduit;

an axially extending third conduit disposed in said cover portion, wherein said third conduit is in fluid communication with said second conduit;

a fourth conduit disposed in said cover portion, wherein said fourth conduit is in fluid communication with said third conduit and selective fluid communication with said cover cavity;

a mechanical fastener at least partially disposed in said second and third conduits;

a fifth fluid conduit disposed through said mechanical fastener; and

a check valve disposed in said fifth fluid conduit, whereby said first fluid conduit is in selective fluid communication with said third fluid conduit via said check valve.