Exhaust and relief valve assembly

Claim 2

A height controller for controlling pressurization in a fluid spring component of an automatic leveling system for a vehicle having a sprung and an unsprung mass comprising; a housing having an inlet adapted to be connected to the control chamber of a fluid spring component, an outlet adapted to be connected to a low-pressure point in the system, valve means within said housing including a valve seat and a valve closure element normally closed on said seat, an oscillatable member, spring means for biasing said oscillatable member to follow movement of one of the vehicle masses to detect relative movement therebetween, means to open the valve when the oscillatable member is positioned to indicate a predetermined raised height relationship between the sprung and unsprung masses for exhaust fluid flow from the fluid spring through said inlet and said outlet to the low-pressure point of the system, and means independent of said first means for opening said valve at a predetermined depressed height relationship between the sprung and unsprung masses that causes a predetermined maximum pressure within the fluid spring component thereby to allow relief fluid flow from the fluid spring component through said inlet and outlet ports of said housing.

Claim 3

A height controller for regulating pressure in a pressurized spring component in a leveling system for maintaining a desired height relationship between the sprung mass of a vehicle comprising; a housing having an inlet adapted to be in communication with a fluid spring component of a leveling system, an outlet in said housing adapted to be connected to a low-pressure point in a leveling system, a housing bore fluidly communicating said inlet and said outlet, a valve locaTed within said bore, means for supporting said valve for sliding movement relative to said bore including a piston member having an end surface thereon exposed to the pressure at the inlet port, a relief pressure spring biasing said piston in a first predetermined direction within said housing bore against the pressure acting on said exposed end surface, a shaft, damping means connected to said shaft for producing a predetermined resistance to movement of said shaft about its longitudinal axis, a sleeve member slidably received over said shaft, coupling means for connecting said sleeve member for concurrent damped movement with said shaft upon a first predetermined limited rotary movement thereof, said coupling means allowing free relative rotation between said sleeve and said shaft upon movement of said sleeve in an opposite direction of rotary movement with respect to said shaft, first valve operator means responsive to damped movement of said sleeve in a damped direction to condition said valve when the vehicle is leveled to open communication between said inlet and outlet for exhausting fluid from the fluid spring component, and second valve operator means including an abutment member fixedly secured within said bore engageable with said valve to open said valve when a predetermined pressure buildup occurs on the exposed end surface of said piston and the sprung mass of the vehicle is below a desired predetermined height relationship with the unsprung mass to allow relief flow of fluid from the fluid spring component through said inlet and outlet.

Claim 4

A height controller for regulating pressure in a pressurized spring component in a leveling system for maintaining a desired height relationship between the sprung mass of a vehicle comprising; a housing having an inlet adapted to be in communication with a fluid spring component of a leveling system, an outlet in said housing adapted to be connected to a low-pressure point in a leveling system, a housing bore fluidly communicating said inlet and said outlet, a valve locaTed within said bore, means for supporting said valve for sliding movement relative to said bore including a piston member having an end surface thereon exposed to the pressure at the inlet port, a relief pressure spring biasing said piston in a first predetermined direction within said housing bore against the pressure acting on said exposed end surface, a shaft, damping means connected to said shaft for producing a predetermined resistance to movement of said shaft about its longitudinal axis, a sleeve member slidably received over said shaft, coupling means for connecting said sleeve member for concurrent damped movement with said shaft upon a first predetermined limited rotary movement thereof, said coupling means allowing free relative rotation between said sleeve and said shaft upon movement of said sleeve in an opposite direction of rotary movement with respect to said shaft, first valve operator means responsive to damped movement of said sleeve in a damped direction to condition said valve when the vehicle is leveled to open communication between said inlet and outlet for exhausting fluid from the fluid spring component, and second valve operator means including an abutment member fixedly secured within said bore engageable with said valve to open said valve when a predetermined pressure buildup occurs on the exposed end surface of said piston and the sprung mass of the vehicle is below a desired predetermined height relationship with the unsprung mass to allow relief flow of fluid from the fluid spring component through said inlet and outlet.

Claim 5

A combination exhaust and relief valve assembly for controlling pressure within a fluid spring of an automatic leveling system to produce a predetermined height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass of the vehicle comprising; a valve housing having an inlet port adapted to be connected to the pressure control chamber of a fluid spring component, an outlet port in said housing adapted to be connected to a low-pressure point in the leveling system, a bore in said housing fluidly communicating said intake port with said outlet port, a valve located within said housing bore including an elongated operating stem arranged coaxially of the longitudinal axis of said bore, a piston connected to said valve, means for slidably supporting said piston within said housing bore for relative reciprocal movement with respect thereto, a first valve operator located for relative movement with respect to one end of said housing bore, means for moving said first valve operator within said bore in response to relative movements between the sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle, a second valve operator fixedly located within said housing bore at the opposite end thereof, a first spring connected between said first valve operator and said piston to produce a first resultant force on said piston causing it to move toward said fixed operator, a second spring in the opposite end of said housing engaging said piston and producing a greater resultant force on said piston than that of said first spring to prevent operation of said valve by said second operator during normal valving operation, said first valve operator being movable exteriorly of said housing bore during an exhaust phase of operation and operative to engage said stem to lift said closure element from said seat to cause flow through said valve and exteriorly of said outlet port, means for damping relative movement between said first valve operator and said housing bore when the vehicle masses have a predetermined height relationship, said piston and valve being movable against said second spring upon the occurrence of a predetermined maximum pressure in the fluid spring to cause said stem to engage said second operator to lift said closure element from said seat to relieve a predetermined maximum pressure buildup in the fluid spring when the sprung mass is located below a predetermined height relationship with said unsprung mass.

Claim 6

A combination exhaust and relief valve assembly for controlling pressure within a fluid spring of an automatic leveling system to produce a predetermined height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass of the vehicle comprising; a valve housing having an inlet port adapted to be connected to the pressure control chamber of a fluid spring component, an outlet port in said housing adapted to be connected to a low-pressure point in the leveling system, a bore in said housing fluidly communicating said intake port with said outlet port, a valve located within said housing bore including an elongated operating stem arranged coaxially of the longitudinal axis of said bore, a piston connected to said valve, means for slidably supporting said piston within said housing bore for relative reciprocal movement with respect thereto, a first valve operator located for relative movement with respect to one end of said housing bore, means for moving said first valve operator within said bore in response to relative movements between the sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle, a second valve operator fixedly located within said housing bore at the opposite end thereof, a first spring connected between said first valve operator and said piston to produce a first resultant force on said piston causing it to move toward said fixed operator, a second spring in the opposite end of said housing engaging said piston and producing a greater resultant force on said piston than that of said first spring to prevent operation of said valve by said second operator during normal valving operation, said first valve operator being movable exteriorly of said housing bore during an exhaust phase of operation and operative to engage said stem to lift said closure element from said seat to cause flow through said valve and exteriorly of said outlet port, means for damping relative movement between said first valve operator and said housing bore when the vehicle masses have a predetermined height relationship, said piston and valve being movable against said second spring upon the occurrence of a predetermined maximum pressure in the fluid spring to cause said stem to engage said second operator to lift said closure element from said seat to relieve a predetermined maximum pressure buildup in the fluid spring when the sprung mass is located below a predetermined height relationship with said unsprung mass.

Claim 7

A height controller for controllinG fluid flow between a high-pressure source and a low-pressure source in a system for leveling the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle comprising; a housing having an inlet and a outlet, an operating shaft journaled within said housing, means for damping limited rotation of said shaft about the longitudinal axis thereof, a sleeve member slidably received on said shaft, means for spring biasing said sleeve for rotation with respect to said shaft in a first predetermined direction, clutch means for connecting said shaft to said sleeve upon movement thereof in said first predetermined direction for damping movement of said sleeve, said clutch means decoupling said sleeve from said shaft upon movement of said sleeve in an opposite direction of rotation with respect to said shaft for causing undamped movement of said sleeve, a radially outwardly directed extension on said sleeve adapted to oscillate about the longitudinal axis of said shaft between first and second positions in response to road movements of vehicle, valve means interposed between said inlet and outlet having a first position to open communication between said inlet and outlet and a second position to close communication therebetween, means for operating said valve means in response to movement of said sleeve member and for returning said valve means to its second position without delay when said sleeve is moved in said opposite direction without damping.

Claim 8

A height controller for controllinG fluid flow between a high-pressure source and a low-pressure source in a system for leveling the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle comprising; a housing having an inlet and a outlet, an operating shaft journaled within said housing, means for damping limited rotation of said shaft about the longitudinal axis thereof, a sleeve member slidably received on said shaft, means for spring biasing said sleeve for rotation with respect to said shaft in a first predetermined direction, clutch means for connecting said shaft to said sleeve upon movement thereof in said first predetermined direction for damping movement of said sleeve, said clutch means decoupling said sleeve from said shaft upon movement of said sleeve in an opposite direction of rotation with respect to said shaft for causing undamped movement of said sleeve, a radially outwardly directed extension on said sleeve adapted to oscillate about the longitudinal axis of said shaft between first and second positions in response to road movements of vehicle, valve means interposed between said inlet and outlet having a first position to open communication between said inlet and outlet and a second position to close communication therebetween, means for operating said valve means in response to movement of said sleeve member and for returning said valve means to its second position without delay when said sleeve is moved in said opposite direction without damping.

Claim 9

A valve assembly for controlling fluid flow between a high-pressure source and a low-pressure source comprising; a housing having an inlet and an outlet, an operating shaft journaled within said housing, means for damping limited rotation of said shaft about the longitudinal axis thereof, a sleeve member slidably received on said shaft, means for spring biasing said sleeve for rotation with respect to said shaft in a first predetermined direction, clutch means for connecting said shaft to said sleeve upon movement thereof in said first predetermined direction for damping movement of said sleeve, said clutch means decoupling said sleeve from said shaft upon movement of said sleeve in an opposite direction of rotation with respect to said shaft for causing undamped movement of said sleeve, a radially outwardly directed extension on said sleeve adapted to oscillate about the longitudinal axis of said shaft between first and second positions, a housing bore, a cam surface on said sleeve, a follower element slidably supported within said bore and having a segment thereon in engagement with said cam surface so as to produce reciprocal movement of said follower within said bore in response to oscillatory movement of said sleeve, hollow carriage member supported within said bore in spaced relationship to said follower element, a piston slidably reciprocably received within said carriage having an end surface thereon directly exposed to pressure at said housing inlet, a valve carried by said piston for movement therewith including a seat and a closure element normally closed when said sleeve extension is in its second position, means for coupling said follower to said valve to open said valve closure element following a predetermined movement of said sleeve in said first predetermined direction to communicate said inlet and outlet ports of said housing when said sleeve extension is in its first position, a relief valve spring biasing said piston into engagement with said carriage member when said sleeve extension is in its first position, a valve operator fixedly secured in said bore in spaced relationship to said valve when said piston is so biased against said carriage member, said piston being responsive to a predetermined pressure buildup when said sleeve extension is in its second position to shift against said relief valve spring to move said valve into engagement with said valve operator to relieve a predetermined pressure buildup at said inlet and allow flow of fluid therefrom to said outlet.

Claim 10

A valve assembly for controlling fluid flow between a high-pressure source and a low-pressure source comprising; a housing having an inlet and an outlet, an operating shaft journaled within said housing, means for damping limited rotation of said shaft about the longitudinal axis thereof, a sleeve member slidably received on said shaft, means for spring biasing said sleeve for rotation with respect to said shaft in a first predetermined direction, clutch means for connecting said shaft to said sleeve upon movement thereof in said first predetermined direction for damping movement of said sleeve, said clutch means decoupling said sleeve from said shaft upon movement of said sleeve in an opposite direction of rotation with respect to said shaft for causing undamped movement of said sleeve, a radially outwardly directed extension on said sleeve adapted to oscillate about the longitudinal axis of said shaft between first and second positions, a housing bore, a cam surface on said sleeve, a follower element slidably supported within said bore and having a segment thereon in engagement with said cam surface so as to produce reciprocal movement of said follower within said bore in response to oscillatory movement of said sleeve, hollow carriage member supported within said bore in spaced relationship to said follower element, a piston slidably reciprocably received within said carriage having an end surface thereon directly exposed to pressure at said housing inlet, a valve carried by said piston for movement therewith including a seat and a closure element normally closed when said sleeve extension is in its second position, means for coupling said follower to said valve to open said valve closure element following a predetermined movement of said sleeve in said first predetermined direction to communicate said inlet and outlet ports of said housing when said sleeve extension is in its first position, a relief valve spring biasing said piston into engagement with said carriage member when said sleeve extension is in its first position, a valve operator fixedly secured in said bore in spaced relationship to said valve when said piston is so biased against said carriage member, said piston being responsive to a predetermined pressure buildup when said sleeve extension is in its second position to shift against said relief valve spring to move said valve into engagement with said valve operator to relieve a predetermined pressure buildup at said inlet and allow flow of fluid therefrom to said outlet.

Claim 11

A valve assembly for controlling fluid flow between a high-pressuRe source and a low-pressure source comprising; a housing having an inlet and an outlet, an operating shaft journaled within said housing, a sleeve member slidably received on said shaft, means for spring biasing said sleeve for rotation with respect to said shaft in a first predetermined direction, clutch means for connecting said shaft to said sleeve upon movement thereof in said first predetermined direction for damping movement of said sleeve, said clutch means decoupling said sleeve from said shaft upon movement of said sleeve in an opposite direction of rotation with respect to said shaft for causing undamped movement of said sleeve, a radially outwardly directed extension on said sleeve adapted to oscillate about the longitudinal axis of said shaft between first and second positions, a housing bore, a cam surface on said sleeve, a follower element slidably supported within said bore and having a segment thereon in engagement with said cam surface so as to produce reciprocal movement of said follower element within said bore in response to oscillatory movement of said sleeve, hollow carriage member supported within said bore in spaced relationship to said follower element, means for adjustably positioning said carriage with respect to said housing bore and fixedly securing it in one of a plurality of adjusted positions, a stop shoulder on one end of said carriage defining an opening interiorly thereof, a piston slidably reciprocably received within said carriage having an end surface thereon directly exposed to pressure at said housing inlet, a valve carried by said piston for movement therewith including a seat and a closure element normally closed when said sleeve extension is in its second position, means for coupling said follower to said valve to open said valve closure element following a predetermined movement of said sleeve in said first predetermined direction to communicate said inlet and outlet ports of said housing when said sleeve extension is in its first position, a relief valve spring biasing said piston into engagement with said shoulder when said sleeve extension is in its first position, a valve operator fixedly secured in said bore in spaced relationship to said valve when said piston is so biased against said shoulder, said piston being responsive to a predetermined pressure buildup when said sleeve extension is in its second position to shift against said relief valve spring to move said valve into engagement with said valve operator to relieve a predetermined pressure buildup at said inlet and allow flow of fluid therefrom to said outlet.

Claim 12

A valve assembly for controlling fluid flow between a high-pressuRe source and a low-pressure source comprising; a housing having an inlet and an outlet, an operating shaft journaled within said housing, a sleeve member slidably received on said shaft, means for spring biasing said sleeve for rotation with respect to said shaft in a first predetermined direction, clutch means for connecting said shaft to said sleeve upon movement thereof in said first predetermined direction for damping movement of said sleeve, said clutch means decoupling said sleeve from said shaft upon movement of said sleeve in an opposite direction of rotation with respect to said shaft for causing undamped movement of said sleeve, a radially outwardly directed extension on said sleeve adapted to oscillate about the longitudinal axis of said shaft between first and second positions, a housing bore, a cam surface on said sleeve, a follower element slidably supported within said bore and having a segment thereon in engagement with said cam surface so as to produce reciprocal movement of said follower element within said bore in response to oscillatory movement of said sleeve, hollow carriage member supported within said bore in spaced relationship to said follower element, means for adjustably positioning said carriage with respect to said housing bore and fixedly securing it in one of a plurality of adjusted positions, a stop shoulder on one end of said carriage defining an opening interiorly thereof, a piston slidably reciprocably received within said carriage having an end surface thereon directly exposed to pressure at said housing inlet, a valve carried by said piston for movement therewith including a seat and a closure element normally closed when said sleeve extension is in its second position, means for coupling said follower to said valve to open said valve closure element following a predetermined movement of said sleeve in said first predetermined direction to communicate said inlet and outlet ports of said housing when said sleeve extension is in its first position, a relief valve spring biasing said piston into engagement with said shoulder when said sleeve extension is in its first position, a valve operator fixedly secured in said bore in spaced relationship to said valve when said piston is so biased against said shoulder, said piston being responsive to a predetermined pressure buildup when said sleeve extension is in its second position to shift against said relief valve spring to move said valve into engagement with said valve operator to relieve a predetermined pressure buildup at said inlet and allow flow of fluid therefrom to said outlet.

Claim 13

A height controller for regulating the pressure within a fluid spring component of a vehicle leveling system for maintaining a predetermined height relationship between the sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle comprising; a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, an oscillatable shaft located within said housing having one end thereof extending exteriorly of said housing, a damping element fixedly secured to said one end, means defining a fluid-filled chamber surrounding said damping element and cooperating therewith to produce a fluid damping of oscillatory movement of said shaft about its longitudinal axis, a sleeve element slidably received on said shaft for relative oscillating movement with respect thereto, a spring clutch element connected between said sleeve element and said shaft and operative upon a first predetermined angular movement of said sleeve element with respect to said shaft to directly couple said sleeve element to said shaft to be damped therewith during such movement, a finger on said sleeve extending exteriorly of said housing adapted to follow movement of at least one of the sprung and unsprung masses for detecting relative movement therebetween, a cam surface on the outer periphery of said sleeve, a bore through said housing in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet ports, a cam follower located within said bore for reciprocal movement therein in response to oscillatIons of said sleeve element about the longitudinal axis of said shaft, a first spring for biasing said cam follower into engagement with said cam surface, a cylindrical carriage located within said bore in spaced relationship to said cam follower, means for adjustably locating said carriage at a predetermined fixed axial relationship with respect to said reciprocal cam follower, a longitudinal bore through said carriage, a piston slidably reciprocably received within said carriage bore, a valve supported by said piston for movement therewith, said valve including a seat and a valve closure element, an elongated operator stem secured to said closure element having opposite ends thereon, said stem being arranged coaxially of said carriage bore and having one end thereof located within said bore and the opposite end thereof extending within said housing bore in the direction of said cam surface, a stop on said opposite end, a spring seat supported by said stop and movable with respect to said stem in a direction away from said cam follower, a second spring having one end thereof in engagement with said piston and the opposite end thereof supported by said seat, said second spring holding said seat against said cam follower to cause said cam follower to open said valve for fluid flow therethrough when said cam surface is shifted to permit movement of said cam follower outwardly of said housing bore during an exhaust phase of operation, a valve operating plug fixedly secured within said carriage bore for selectively engaging said one end of said stem, a relief valve spring within said carriage bore for maintaining a predetermined force on said piston to prevent movement of said piston and said valve toward said valve operating plug, said one end of said stem being located between said piston and said operating plug and engageable therewith when a predetermined pressure is imposed on said piston to cause it to shift inwardly of said carriage bore against the force of said relief valve spring to open said valve and thereby connect said inlet and outlet ports during a relief phase of valve operation.

Claim 14

A height controller for regulating the pressure within a fluid spring component of a vehicle leveling system for maintaining a predetermined height relationship between the sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle comprising; a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, an oscillatable shaft located within said housing having one end thereof extending exteriorly of said housing, a damping element fixedly secured to said one end, means defining a fluid-filled chamber surrounding said damping element and cooperating therewith to produce a fluid damping of oscillatory movement of said shaft about its longitudinal axis, a sleeve element slidably received on said shaft for relative oscillating movement with respect thereto, a spring clutch element connected between said sleeve element and said shaft and operative upon a first predetermined angular movement of said sleeve element with respect to said shaft to directly couple said sleeve element to said shaft to be damped therewith during such movement, a finger on said sleeve extending exteriorly of said housing adapted to follow movement of at least one of the sprung and unsprung masses for detecting relative movement therebetween, a cam surface on the outer periphery of said sleeve, a bore through said housing in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet ports, a cam follower located within said bore for reciprocal movement therein in response to oscillatIons of said sleeve element about the longitudinal axis of said shaft, a first spring for biasing said cam follower into engagement with said cam surface, a cylindrical carriage located within said bore in spaced relationship to said cam follower, means for adjustably locating said carriage at a predetermined fixed axial relationship with respect to said reciprocal cam follower, a longitudinal bore through said carriage, a piston slidably reciprocably received within said carriage bore, a valve supported by said piston for movement therewith, said valve including a seat and a valve closure element, an elongated operator stem secured to said closure element having opposite ends thereon, said stem being arranged coaxially of said carriage bore and having one end thereof located within said bore and the opposite end thereof extending within said housing bore in the direction of said cam surface, a stop on said opposite end, a spring seat supported by said stop and movable with respect to said stem in a direction away from said cam follower, a second spring having one end thereof in engagement with said piston and the opposite end thereof supported by said seat, said second spring holding said seat against said cam follower to cause said cam follower to open said valve for fluid flow therethrough when said cam surface is shifted to permit movement of said cam follower outwardly of said housing bore during an exhaust phase of operation, a valve operating plug fixedly secured within said carriage bore for selectively engaging said one end of said stem, a relief valve spring within said carriage bore for maintaining a predetermined force on said piston to prevent movement of said piston and said valve toward said valve operating plug, said one end of said stem being located between said piston and said operating plug and engageable therewith when a predetermined pressure is imposed on said piston to cause it to shift inwardly of said carriage bore against the force of said relief valve spring to open said valve and thereby connect said inlet and outlet ports during a relief phase of valve operation.

Claim 15

In the combination of claim 5, said means for adjustably positioning said carriage including a side opening in said housing, a plug seated within said side opening for limited relative rotation therein, means for sealing between said plug and said housing, said plug including a flange located exteriorly of said housing and in engagement therewith to prevent axially inward movement of said plug with respect to said housing opening, a slotted head on said plug located axially outwardly of said flange, an extension on the opposite end of said plug located eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of said plug, a slot in the side of said carriage member receiving said extension whereby upon rotation of said plug within said housing opening said cylinder is reciprocated with respect to said housing bore, and means for locking said flange against rotation with respect to said housing when the cylindrical carriage member is in its adjusted position.