US3586389A — Apportioning valves for braking systems

Claim 1

Independent Claim 195 words

An apportioning valve assembly for use in a fluid pressure braking system for a motor vehicle, comprising valve means controlling flow of fluid under pressure to brake actuator means in said system and having a movably mounted member, displaceable fluid pressure responsive means mounted in operative association with said valve means and having direct engagement with said valve member, means for applying an actuating signal pressure directly to said pressure responsive means to displace said fluid pressure responsive means in a predetermined direction for positively moving said valve member in the same direction to actuate said valve means to admit operative fluid pressure to said brake actuator means, and fluid pressure sensitive reaction means mounted in spaced relation to said valve means for movement independently of said valve member connected to be responsive to said operative braking pressure and having a motion transmitting connection to said displaceable fluid pressure responsive means, said motion transmitting connection comprising means defining an inclined plane surface adapted to be varied in accord with load on the vehicle and a member movable along said inclined surface and operatively connected between said reaction means and said displaceable fluid pressure responsive means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 195 words

An apportioning valve assembly for use in a fluid pressure braking system for a motor vehicle, comprising valve means controlling flow of fluid under pressure to brake actuator means in said system and having a movably mounted member, displaceable fluid pressure responsive means mounted in operative association with said valve means and having direct engagement with said valve member, means for applying an actuating signal pressure directly to said pressure responsive means to displace said fluid pressure responsive means in a predetermined direction for positively moving said valve member in the same direction to actuate said valve means to admit operative fluid pressure to said brake actuator means, and fluid pressure sensitive reaction means mounted in spaced relation to said valve means for movement independently of said valve member connected to be responsive to said operative braking pressure and having a motion transmitting connection to said displaceable fluid pressure responsive means, said motion transmitting connection comprising means defining an inclined plane surface adapted to be varied in accord with load on the vehicle and a member movable along said inclined surface and operatively connected between said reaction means and said displaceable fluid pressure responsive means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 116 words

An apportioning valve assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said displaceable fluid pressure responsive means comprises piston means operable to engage and displace a valve element from its seating thereby to connect a port leading to the brake actuators selectively to exhaust or to a source of pressure air, and wherein said reaction means also consists of piston means which is movable in a cylinder in communication with the brake actuator connected port, the two piston means being movable in directions at right angles one to the other, and a thrust-transmitting connection between said piston means consisting of two piston rods which support at their point of interconnection a roller riding on said inclined surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 61 words

An apportioning valve assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inclined surface is provided on a yoke-shaped member supported for oscillatory movement in the housing of the valve and provided externally of the housing with an operating lever by which the yoke is angularly displaced in accordance with variations in distance between a road wheel axle and the vehicle frame.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 63 words

A valve assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means is resiliently biased to normally close a passage conducting fluid under pressure to said actuator means, and said displaceable fluid pressure responsive means comprises piston means exposed at one side to said signal pressure and adapted at the other side to engage and move said valve member to open said passage.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 104 words

A valve assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said valve member comprises a hollow element which is resiliently seated in valve closed position to block said passage against transmission of fluid pressure to said actuator means and to connect said actuator means through said passage to exhaust in the absence of signal pressure acting on said piston, and which is unseated by said piston to provide for transmission of fluid pressure through said passage to the actuator means, said piston closing said hollow element to block connection between said actuator means and exhaust when said hollow element has been unseated by the piston.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

A valve assembly as defined in claim 5, said piston having a hollow stem coaxial with and adapted to engage said hollow valve element.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

A valve assembly as defined in claim 6, said motion transmitting connection comprising a rod extending through said hollow valve element and the piston stem to engage said piston.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 66 words

A valve assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said displaceable fluid pressure responsive means comprises slidably connected inner and outer pistons both exposed to said signal pressure and oppositely biased by compression spring means disposed between them, and means for limiting displacement of the outer piston after predetermined travel while permitting continued spring opposed movement of the inner piston in the valve means actuation direction.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 64 words

A valve assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve assembly is disposed in a housing having passage means for applying fluid at operative brake line pressure to said pressure responsive means, where it functions as said signal pressure, and to said brake actuator means when said valve means has been opened, whereby said valve assembly acts as a direct-acting single line valve.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 87 words

A valve assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve assembly is disposed in a housing and said signal pressure in introduced to a side of said displaceable fluid pressure responsive means through a first inlet port, and a second inlet port adapted to be connected to a source of operative brake line pressure separate from said signal pressure is connected through housing passage means with a valve chamber from which operative fluid pressure is delivered to said brake actuators under control of said valve means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 204 words

An apportioning valve assembly for use in an air pressure braking system for motor vehicles, comprising means displaceable by signal pressure and arranged to actuate directly valve means controlling flow of pressure air to the brake actuators said displaceable means comprising a first piston means operable to directly engage and displace a spring-biased valve element from its seating thereby to control connection of a port leading to the brake actuators selectively to exhaust or to a source of braking air pressure, and pressure sensitive reaction means mounted for movement independently of said valve element and being responsive to the active braking air pressure and acting in opposition to said displaceable means, said reaction means exerting its force through a member movable along an inclined plane surface the angle of which is adapted to be varied in accord with vehicle load and comprising a second piston means which is movable in a cylinder in communication with said brake actuator connected port, said two piston means being movable in directions at right angles one to the other and there being a thrust-transmitting connection between said piston means comprising two interconnected piston rods that support at their point of interconnection a roller riding on said inclined surface.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 204 words

An apportioning valve assembly for use in an air pressure braking system for motor vehicles, comprising means displaceable by signal pressure and arranged to actuate directly valve means controlling flow of pressure air to the brake actuators said displaceable means comprising a first piston means operable to directly engage and displace a spring-biased valve element from its seating thereby to control connection of a port leading to the brake actuators selectively to exhaust or to a source of braking air pressure, and pressure sensitive reaction means mounted for movement independently of said valve element and being responsive to the active braking air pressure and acting in opposition to said displaceable means, said reaction means exerting its force through a member movable along an inclined plane surface the angle of which is adapted to be varied in accord with vehicle load and comprising a second piston means which is movable in a cylinder in communication with said brake actuator connected port, said two piston means being movable in directions at right angles one to the other and there being a thrust-transmitting connection between said piston means comprising two interconnected piston rods that support at their point of interconnection a roller riding on said inclined surface.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 122 words

An apportioning valve assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said signal pressure actuated piston means comprises inner and outer concentric pistons, the inner piston having a stem structure by which it actuates said vaLve element and by which it has said thrust-transmitting connection with the reaction piston means, while the outer piston is supported for limited axial movement upon the inner piston and is spring loaded, said two pistons initially moving in unison in response to signal pressure to provide a low valve ''''crack-off'''' and there being means provided to arrest the outer piston after predetermined movement so that thereafter the inner piston moves alone under signal pressure while both pistons continue to oppose the reactive force from the reaction piston.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 57 words

An apportioning valve assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said reaction piston means has a tubular axial extension within which slides a hollow piston guide, the associated piston rod of said thrust-transmitting connection having operative engagement with the piston guide which is normally held in spaced relation to the reaction piston means by a light spring.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-06-21	1974-12-21	1975-06-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-06-21	1978-12-21	1979-06-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-06-21	1982-12-21	1983-06-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apportioning valves for braking systems

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