US3661176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Leveling valve
Assignee: Bostrom Seating Inc
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Filing: 1970-08-27
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1990-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A leveling valve for use in an air-suspension system of a vehicle seat. An air-flow control valve is operated by displacement of a seat part. A damper, comprised of a roller biased laterally into a flexible tube containing fluid and traveling parallel to the tube introduces a delay into the operation of the leveling valve in response to movement of the seat part.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles B Lowe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:55
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/50; B60N2/501; B60N2/505; B60N2/52; B60N2/525; F; F16; F16F; F16F15/00; F16F15/02; F16F15/023; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S297/00; Y10S297/03; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8376
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A leveling valve for use in an air-suspension system of a vehicle seat, comprising an actuating member movable in response to upward and downward movement of a seat part of the vehicle seat relative to a base part thereof, a closed flexible tube containing a fluid, a roller arranged to roll along the outside of the tube and biased to press against and indent the tube thus forming a constriction in the tube, said constriction being effective to restrict flow of the fluid along the tube and thereby damp the movement of the roller along the tube, a spring coupling connecting the roller to said actuating member, and an air-supply valve having a flow control member responsive to the position of the roller to control the flow of air through the valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A leveling valve for use in an air-suspension system of a vehicle seat, comprising an actuating member movable in response to upward and downward movement of a seat part of the vehicle seat relative to a base part thereof, a closed flexible tube containing a fluid, a roller arranged to roll along the outside of the tube and biased to press against and indent the tube thus forming a constriction in the tube, said constriction being effective to restrict flow of the fluid along the tube and thereby damp the movement of the roller along the tube, a spring coupling connecting the roller to said actuating member, and an air-supply valve having a flow control member responsive to the position of the roller to control the flow of air through the valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A valve according to claim 1 wherein the side of the tube opposite the roller abuts a support which is movable towards or away from the roller to vary the constriction and thereby vary the damping effect.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A valve according to claim 1 wherein the flow control member is movable between a position in which it connects a compressed-air inlet with an air-flow outlet to the seat and a position in which it connects said compressed-air inlet with a vent to atmosphere.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
123 words
A leveling valve, for use in an air-suspension system of a vehicle seat, comprising an air-supply valve having a flow control member, an actuating member movable in response to upward and downward movement of a seat and connected to the flow control member of the valve via a spring coupling, and a damper connected to the flow control member and operative to load the spring coupling, the damper comprising a closed fluid container having a flexible wall and a variable constriction dividing the interior of the container into two chambers, and actuating means movable with the flow control member to flex said wall and thereby cause fluid to flow through said constriction and so damp any sudden movement of the flow control member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
A leveling valve, for use in an air-suspension system of a vehicle seat, comprising an air-supply valve having a flow control member, an actuating member movable in response to upward and downward movement of a seat and connected to the flow control member of the valve via a spring coupling, and a damper connected to the flow control member and operative to load the spring coupling, the damper comprising a closed fluid container having a flexible wall and a variable constriction dividing the interior of the container into two chambers, and actuating means movable with the flow control member to flex said wall and thereby cause fluid to flow through said constriction and so damp any sudden movement of the flow control member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A leveling valve according to claim 4 wherein said actuating means comprise a roller which is spring-urged against said flexible wall to indent the wall and produce said constriction in the fluid container, said roller being movable in opposite directions along said wall to cause said fluid to flow through the constriction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A valve according to claim 4 wherein the roller is mounted on a pivoted arm, said spring coupling being connected between the pivoted arm and said actuating member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A valve according to claim 4 wherein a control coupling movable in response to movement of the seat is connected to the actuating member and is operative to move it to opposite sides of a central position as the seat moves to opposite sides of a ride position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |