Anti-skid mechanism

Claim 2

An anti-lock device comprising a housing, means movable in said housing for controlling the application therethrough of supplied fluid pressure, resiliently urged means movable in said housing between opposed positions and drivingly engaged with said first named means in one of said positions to effect the application through said housing of the supplied fluid pressure, said resiliently urged means defining with said housing a pair of opposed expansible chambers, control means normally subjecting one of said chambers to vacuum and actuated upon the occurrence of preselected conditions for selectively applying and exhausting atmosphere to and from the other of said chambers, means in said housing defining passage means between said control means and said other chamber for the passage therethrough of the applied and exhausting atmosphere, said resiliently urged means being movable against its own force from its one position toward the other of its positions upon the selective application of atmosphere to said other chamber and said first named means being thereafter movable in response to the applied fluid pressure acting thereon toward following engagement with said resiliently urged means to isolate the applied fluid pressure and effect a reduction in the magnitude thereof, and throttling means in said passage means for controlling the passage therethrough of the atmosphere applied to and exhausting from said other chamber including uni-directional valve means for passing the applied aTmosphere only from said passage means into said other chamber to act on said resiliently urged means and initiate movement thereof toward its other position, other valve means engaged with said resiliently urged means in its one position and disengaged therefrom upon the movement of said resiliently urged means in excess of a predetermined amount toward its other position including means for passing both applied and exhausting atmosphere between said passage means and said other chamber when said other valve means is disengaged from said resiliently urged means, and orifice means in said uni-directional valve means for the restricted passage of exhausting atmosphere only from said other chamber to said passage means to damp the movement of said resiliently urged means toward its one position when said other valve means is engaged therewith.

Claim 3

An anti-lock device according to claim 1, comprising a valve seat on said other valve means about said included means for engagement with said resiliently urged means, said valve seat being engaged with said resiliently urged means in its one opposed position to preclude passage of applied and exhausting atmosphere to and from said other chamber through said included means and being disengaged from said resiliently urged means upon the movement thereof in excess of the predetermined amount toward its other position to effect the passage of applied and exhausting atmosphere to and from said other chamber through said included means.

Claim 4

An anti-lock device according to claim 2, wherein said included means comprises other passage means extending through said other valve means between said other chamber and said first named passage means.

Claim 5

An anti-lock device according to claim 1, comprising resilient menas urging said other valve means toward engagement with said resiliently urged means, and means for predeterminately limiting the movement of said other valve means in response to the force of said resilient means with said resiliently urged means in excess of the predetermined amount toward its other opposed position to effect the disengagement of said other valve means from said resiliently urged means.

Claim 6

An anti-lock device according to claim 1, wherein said included means comprises other passage means extending through said other valve means between said other chamber and said first named passage means, a value seat on said other valve means about said other passage means for engagement with said resiliently urged means, spring means engaged with said other valve means urging said valve seat toward engagement with said resiliently urged means in its one position to close said other passage means, and means for containing the force of said spring means and limiting the movement of said other valve means in response to the force of said spring means with said resiliently urged means in excess of the predetermined amount toward its other position, said valve seat being disengaged from said resiliently urged means to open said other passage means and effect the passage therethrough of both applied and exhausting atmosphere between said other chamber and said first named passage means upon the movement of said resiliently urged means in excess of the predetermined amount toward its other position.

Claim 7

An anti-lock device according to claim 5, wherein said first named means includes aperture means in said housing, said other valve means being movable in said aperture means, said last named means including flange means on said other valve means predeterminately spaced from said housing about said aperture means for engagement therewith when said other valve means is engaged with said resiliently urged means in its one opposed position, said flange means being movable with said other valve means into engagement with said housing about said aperture means to contain the force of said spring means and arrest the movement of said other valve means with said resiliently urged means in excess of the predetermined amount toward its other Position.

Claim 8

An anti-lock device according to claim 6, wherein said other valve means includes piston means movable in said aperture means and having opposed end portions, one of said end portions being within said other chamber and the other of said end portions being within said first named passage means, said other passage means being in said piston means and intersecting with said opposed end portions thereof, said valve seat being on said one end portion about said other passage means, and said flange means being connected with said piston means adjacent to said other end thereof.

Claim 9

An anti-lock device according to claim 1, wherein said throttling device includes mounting means connected with said housing between said passage means and other chamber, said uni-directional valve means being connected with said mounting means, and said other valve means being movable in said mounting means.

Claim 10

An anti-lock device according to claim 8, wherein said passage means include aperture means in said housing and connected with said other chamber, valve seating means on said housing about said aperture means and within said other chamber for engagement with said unidirectional valve means, said uni-directional valve means being movable toward a position disengaged from said valve seating means in response to the applied atmosphere in said passage means acting thereon to open said aperture means and permit only the passage of applied atmosphere therethrough into said other chamber and said uni-directional valve means being urged toward engagement with said valve seating means to close said aperture means in response to the exhausting atmosphere acting thereon.

Claim 11

An anti-lock device according to claim 8, wherein said passage means includes first and second aperture means in said housing connected between said control means and said other chamber, said mounting means including a portion sealably engaged with said housing about one of said first and second aperture means, a bore in said mounting means between said passage means and said other chamber, said other valve means being movable in said bore, said uni-directional valve means being disposed within said other chamber to permit only the passage of applied atmosphere through the other of said first and second aperture means into said other chamber, and said orifice means being aligned with said other of said first and second aperture means.

Claim 12

An anti-lock device according to claim 10, comprising valve seating means on said housing about said other of said first and second aperture means and within said other chamber for engagement with said uni-directional valve means, said uni-directional valve means being movable toward a position disengaged from said valve seating means in response to applied atmosphere acting thereon in said passage means to open said other of said first and second aperture means permitting only the passage therethrough of the applied atmosphere into said other chamber and said uni-directional valve means being urged into engagement with said other valve means to close said other of said first and second aperture means in response to the exhausting atmosphere in said passage means acting on said unidirectional valve means.

Claim 13

An anti-lock device according to claim 11, comprising other valve seating means on said other valve means about said included means and within said other chamber for engagement with said resiliently urged means, said other valve seating means being engaged with said resiliently urged means in its one position to preclude the passage of both applied and exhausting atmosphere through said included means into and from said other chamber being disengaged from said resiliently urged means upon the movement thereof in excess of the predetermined amount toward its other position to effect the passage of both applied and exhausting atmosphere into and from said chamber through said included means.

Claim 14

An anti-lock device according to claim 12, wherein said included means comprises other passage means extending through said other valve means between said other chamber and said first named passage means, said other valve seating means being on said other valve means about said other passage means and within said other chamber.

Claim 15

An anti-lock device according to claim 11, comprising resilient means engaged with said other valve means and urging said other valve means toward engagement with said resiliently urged means, and means for containing the force of said resilient means and limiting the movement of said other valve means in excess of the predetermined amount with said resiliently urged means toward its other position to effect the disengagement of said other valve means from said resiliently urged means.

Claim 16

An anti-lock device according to claim 11, wherein said included means comprises other passage means extending through said other valve means between said other chamber and said first named passage means, other valve seating means on said other valve means about said other passage means and within said other chamber for engagement with said resiliently urged means, spring means engaged with said other valve means urging said other valve seating means toward engagement with said resiliently urged means in its one position to close said other passage means, and means for containing the force of said spring means and limiting the movement of said other valve means to the predetermined amount with said resiliently urged means toward its other position, said other valve seating means being disengaged from said resiliently urged means to open said other passage means upon the movement of said resiliently urged means in excess of the predetermined amount toward its other position.

Claim 17

An anti-lock device according to claim 15, wherein said last named means includes flange means integral with said other valve means and predeterminately spaced from said mounting means for engagement therewith when said other valve means is engaged with said resiliently urged means in its one position, said flange means being movable with said other valve means into engagement with said mounting means to contain the force of said spring means and arrest the movement of said other valve means in excess of the predetermined amount with said resiliently urged means toward its one position.

Claim 18

An anti-lock device according to claim 16, wherein said other valve means includes piston means slidable in said bore and having opposed end portions, one of said end portions being in said other chamber and the other of said end portions being in said first named passage means, said other passage means being in said piston means and intersecting with said opposed end portions thereof, respectively, said other valve seating means being on said one end portion about said other passage means and within said other chamber, and said flange means extending radially outwardly of said piston means and being connected with said piston means adjacent to said other end portions thereof.

Claim 19

An anti-lock device according to claim 1, comprising atmospheric, vacuum and delivery chambers in said housing, said delivery chamber being connected with said passage means, said control means including control valve means movable in said housing for controlling communication between said atmospheric, vacuum and delivery chambers, said control valve means being movable in response to an applied force thereon between one position isolating said atmospheric chamber and communicating said vacuum and delivery chambers to effect the passage of exhausting atmosphere from said other chamber through said passage means toward another position isolating said vacuum chamber and communicating said atmospheric and delivery chambers to effect the passage of applied atmosphere through said passage means to said other chamber, said control valve means including other means defining with said housing a valve chamber within said atmospheric chamber and isolated therefrom, a pair of opposed and substantiAlly equal effective areas on said other included means for subjection to the applied and exhausting atmosphere in said delivery chamber at all times, and valve passage means in said other included means communicating said valve chamber with said delivery chamber.

Claim 20

An anti-lock device according to claim 18, comprising means on said other included means defining in said valve chamber one of said areas.

Claim 21

An anti-lock device according to claim 18, comprising a valve seat on said housing between said delivery and atmospheric chambers for engagement with said other included means when said control valve means is in its one position, the sealing engagement of said other included means with said valve seat defining one of said areas.

Claim 22

An anti-lock device according to claim 18, comprising means on said other included means defining in said valve chamber one of said areas, and a valve seat on said housing between said delivery and atmospheric chambers for engagement with said other included means when said control valve means is in its one position, the sealing engagement of said other included means and valve seat defining the other of said areas.

Claim 23

An anti-lock device according to claim 18, comprising a valve seat on said housing between said delivery and atmospheric chambers, said other included means including a valve portion for sealing engagement with said valve seat and defining therewith one of said areas, a sealing portion connected in sealing and displacement preventing engagement with said housing, and diaphragm means between said valve and sealing portions and defining therewith the other of said areas within said valve chamber, and said valve passage means extending through said valve portion to communicate said delivery and valve chambers.

Claim 24

An anti-lock device according to claim 22, comprising resilient means within said valve chamber engaged between said valve portion and housing and normally urging said valve portion into sealing engagement with said valve seat.

Claim 25

An anti-lock device according to claim 22, comprising another valve seat on said housing between said vacuum and delivery chambers, said control valve means including a valve member for engagement with said other valve seat and connected for concerted movement with said other included means, and resilient means engaged with said control valve means normally urging said valve portion into engagement with said first named valve seat isolating said atmospheric chamber and urging said valve member toward a position disengaged from said other valve seat to communicate said vacuum and delivery chambers, said control valve means being movable in response to the applied force thereon toward its other position against said resilient means to engage said valve member with said other valve seat and disengage said valve portion from said first named valve seat.

Claim 26

An anti-lock device according to claim 24, comprising another pair of opposed substantially equal effective areas on said valve member, one area of said other area pairs being subjected to the atmosphere in said delivery chamber and the other area of said other area pairs being subjected to the vacuum in said vacuum chamber to establish a differential force acting across said valve member and assisting said resilient means to return said valve means to its one position when it is in its other position.

Claim 27

An anti-lock device according to claim 24, comprising electric solenoid means connected with said control valve means and energized in response to the preselected conditions to exert the applied force for moving said control valve means to its other position.

Claim 28

An anti-lock device according to claim 25, comprising electric solenoid means in said housing drivingly connected with said control valve member and energized in response to the preselected conditions to drive said control valve member to its other position and concertedly move said valve member and valve portion toward engagement with said other valve seaT and disengagement from said first named valve seat, respectively.

Claim 29

An anti-lock device according to claim 24, wherein said control valve means includes a sleeve portion extending substantially coaxially through said valve portion, and means connected between said valve portion and sleeve portion in displacement preventing engagement, said valve passage means being within said sleeve portion connecting said delivery and valve chambers in communication, and connecting means between said sleeve portion and valve member to effect the concerted movement thereof in response to the applied force.

Claim 30

An anti-lock device according to claim 1, comprising atmospheric and vacuum ports in said housing for selective connection in communication with said passage means, said control means including control valve means movable in said housing between one position isolating said atmosphere port and connecting said vacuum port in communication with said passage means and another position isolating said vacuum port and connecting said atmospheric port in communication with said passage means, the vacuum and atmosphere at said vacuum and atmospheric ports acting on said control valve means to establish a force urging said control valve means toward its one position when said control valve means is in its other position and said force being eliminated upon movement of said control valve means to its one position, a valve seat on said housing between said atmospheric port and said passage means, said control valve means including a sleeve member, and an annular resilient member connected with said sleeve member, said resilient member including a valve portion for seating engagement with said valve seat and defining therewith an effective area for subjection to the vacuum and atmosphere in said passage means, a sealing portion connected in sealing and displacement preventing engagement with said housing, and diaphragm means integrally connected between said valve portion and sealing portion, said sleeve member and resilient member defining with said housing a valve chamber, said resilient member including means defining another effective area in said valve chamber and opposed to said first named area, said valve passage means extending through said sleeve member and connecting said valve chamber in communication with said passage means, and spring means urging said control valve means toward its one position.

Claim 31

An anti-lock device for use in a vehicle brake system comprising a housing having inlet, outlet, vacuum and atmospheric ports therein adapted for connection with a fluid pressure source, a vehicle brake, a vacuum source and the atmosphere, respectively, a first valve seat in said housing between said inlet and outlet ports, first valve means movable in said housing for engagement with said first valve seat, first resilient means urging said first valve means toward engagement with said first valve seat, first piston means movable in said housing and defining therewith an expansible fluid pressure outlet chamber connected in communication with said outlet port, a driving end on said piston means for engagement with said first valve means, second piston means movable in said housing between opposed operating positions for driving engagement with said first piston means in one of said operating positions, said second piston means defining with said housing a pair of opposed expansible chambers, second resilient means in one of said opposed chambers and engaged with said second piston means, the force of said second resilient means urging said second piston means toward its one operating position in driving engagement with said first piston means to engage said driving end thereof with said first valve means and normally urge said first valve means against said first resilient means toward a position disengaged from said first valve seat establishing pressure fluid communication between said inlet and outlet ports, first passage means in said housing for selective subjection to the vacUum and atmosphere at said vacuum and atmospheric ports including first and second aperture means connected with the other of said opposed chambers, second and third valve seats in said housing between said passage means and said vacuum and atmospheric ports, respectively, second and third valve means connected for concerted movement in said housing for engagement with said second and third valve seats, respectively, third resilient means normally urging said second and third valve means toward a normal position disengaged from and engaged with said second and third valve seats to communicate said passage means with said vacuum port and isolate said passage means from said atmospheric port, respectively, means for connecting said one opposed chamber with said vacuum port at all times, electric solenoid means in said housing for energization in response to preselected conditions and for driving engagement with said second and third valve means, said solenoid means being energized upon the occurrence of the preselected conditions to drive said second valve means toward an actuated position engaged with said second valve seat to isolate said vacuum port from said passage means and to concertedly drive said third valve means with said second valve means toward an actuated position disengaged from said third valve seat to communicate said atmospheric port and said passage means effecting the application therethrough of atmosphere into said other opposed chamber, said second piston means being movable from its one operating position toward the other of its operating positions against the force of said second resilient means in response to a differential force established between the vacuum and selectively applied atmosphere in said opposed chambers acting across said second piston means upon the energization of said solenoid means and the concerted actuation of said second and third valve means, a first effective area on said first piston means in said outlet chamber and subjected to the established fluid pressure at said outlet port, said first piston means being initially movable toward following engagement with said second piston means upon movement thereof toward its other operating position to disengage said driving end from said first valve means and effect the movement thereof into engagement with said first valve seat in response to the force of said first resilient means isolating said inlet and outlet ports and said first piston means also being thereafter further movable toward following engagement with said second piston means in its other operating position to effect volumetric expansion of said outlet chamber and a corresponding reduction of the established fluid pressure at said outlet port, second and third opposed and substantially equal effective areas on said second valve means for subjection to the vacuum at said vacuum port and for subjection to the vacuum and atmosphere at said vacuum and atmospheric ports when said second and third valve means are in their normal and actuated positions, respectively, the atmosphere at said atmospheric port acting on said second area and the vacuum at said vacuum port acting on said third area when said second and third valve means are in their actuated positions to establish another differential force acting across said second valve means additive to the force of said third resilient means and urging said second and third valve means toward their normal positions, said third valve means defining with said housing a valve chamber and including a sleeve member connected with said second valve means, a valve portion for engagement with said third valve seat and connected with said sleeve portion, a fourth effective area on said valve portion subjected to the vacuum and atmosphere in said passage means, a sealing portion connected in sealing and displacement preventing engagement with said housing, diaphragm means connected between said valve and sealing portions, second passage means in said sleeve member connecting said valve chamber in communication with the vacuum and atmosphere in said first passage means, a fifth effective area on said third valve means within said valve chamber opposed and substantially equal to said fourth area and subjected to the vacuum and atmosphere in said first passage means and in said valve chamber, respectively, a throttling device in said first passage means for controlling the passage therethrough of the atmosphere applied to said other opposed chamber when said second and third valve means are in their actuated positions and the atmosphere exhausting from said other opposed chambers when said second and third valve means are in their normal positions, respectively, including mounting means disposed in sealing and displacement preventing engagement with said housing about said first aperture means, a bore in said mounting means between said other opposed chamber and said first passage means, third piston means movable in said bore and having opposed end portions thereon, one of said opposed end portions being in said other opposed chamber and the other of said opposed ends being in said first passage means, a third passage means in said third piston means intersecting with said opposed end portions thereof, a fourth valve seat on said one end portion about said third passage means for engagement with said third piston means in its one operating position, fourth resilient means engaged with said third piston means urging said fourth valve seat toward engagement with said second piston means, and flange means on said third piston means adjacent to the other end portion thereof for engagement with said mounting means and predeterminately spaced therefrom when said second piston means is in its one operating position, the force of said fourth resilient means initially urging said third piston means in concert with said second piston means upon the movement thereof toward its other operating position and said second piston means being disengaged from said fourth valve seat to open said third passage means and effect the passage of applied and exhausting atmosphere therethrough upon the engagement of said flange means with said mounting means, a fifth valve seat in said housing about said second aperture means and within said other

Claim 32

An anti-lock device for use in a vehicle brake system comprising a housing having inlet, outlet, vacuum and atmospheric ports therein adapted for connection with a fluid pressure source, a vehicle brake, a vacuum source and the atmosphere, respectively, a first valve seat in said housing between said inlet and outlet ports, first valve means movable in said housing for engagement with said first valve seat, first resilient means urging said first valve means toward engagement with said first valve seat, first piston means movable in said housing and defining therewith an expansible fluid pressure outlet chamber connected in communication with said outlet port, a driving end on said piston means for engagement with said first valve means, second piston means movable in said housing between opposed operating positions for driving engagement with said first piston means in one of said operating positions, said second piston means defining with said housing a pair of opposed expansible chambers, second resilient means in one of said opposed chambers and engaged with said second piston means, the force of said second resilient means urging said second piston means toward its one operating position in driving engagement with said first piston means to engage said driving end thereof with said first valve means and normally urge said first valve means against said first resilient means toward a position disengaged from said first valve seat establishing pressure fluid communication between said inlet and outlet ports, first passage means in said housing for selective subjection to the vacUum and atmosphere at said vacuum and atmospheric ports including first and second aperture means connected with the other of said opposed chambers, second and third valve seats in said housing between said passage means and said vacuum and atmospheric ports, respectively, second and third valve means connected for concerted movement in said housing for engagement with said second and third valve seats, respectively, third resilient means normally urging said second and third valve means toward a normal position disengaged from and engaged with said second and third valve seats to communicate said passage means with said vacuum port and isolate said passage means from said atmospheric port, respectively, means for connecting said one opposed chamber with said vacuum port at all times, electric solenoid means in said housing for energization in response to preselected conditions and for driving engagement with said second and third valve means, said solenoid means being energized upon the occurrence of the preselected conditions to drive said second valve means toward an actuated position engaged with said second valve seat to isolate said vacuum port from said passage means and to concertedly drive said third valve means with said second valve means toward an actuated position disengaged from said third valve seat to communicate said atmospheric port and said passage means effecting the application therethrough of atmosphere into said other opposed chamber, said second piston means being movable from its one operating position toward the other of its operating positions against the force of said second resilient means in response to a differential force established between the vacuum and selectively applied atmosphere in said opposed chambers acting across said second piston means upon the energization of said solenoid means and the concerted actuation of said second and third valve means, a first effective area on said first piston means in said outlet chamber and subjected to the established fluid pressure at said outlet port, said first piston means being initially movable toward following engagement with said second piston means upon movement thereof toward its other operating position to disengage said driving end from said first valve means and effect the movement thereof into engagement with said first valve seat in response to the force of said first resilient means isolating said inlet and outlet ports and said first piston means also being thereafter further movable toward following engagement with said second piston means in its other operating position to effect volumetric expansion of said outlet chamber and a corresponding reduction of the established fluid pressure at said outlet port, second and third opposed and substantially equal effective areas on said second valve means for subjection to the vacuum at said vacuum port and for subjection to the vacuum and atmosphere at said vacuum and atmospheric ports when said second and third valve means are in their normal and actuated positions, respectively, the atmosphere at said atmospheric port acting on said second area and the vacuum at said vacuum port acting on said third area when said second and third valve means are in their actuated positions to establish another differential force acting across said second valve means additive to the force of said third resilient means and urging said second and third valve means toward their normal positions, said third valve means defining with said housing a valve chamber and including a sleeve member connected with said second valve means, a valve portion for engagement with said third valve seat and connected with said sleeve portion, a fourth effective area on said valve portion subjected to the vacuum and atmosphere in said passage means, a sealing portion connected in sealing and displacement preventing engagement with said housing, diaphragm means connected between said valve and sealing portions, second passage means in said sleeve member connecting said valve chamber in communication with the vacuum and atmosphere in said first passage means, a fifth effective area on said third valve means within said valve chamber opposed and substantially equal to said fourth area and subjected to the vacuum and atmosphere in said first passage means and in said valve chamber, respectively, a throttling device in said first passage means for controlling the passage therethrough of the atmosphere applied to said other opposed chamber when said second and third valve means are in their actuated positions and the atmosphere exhausting from said other opposed chambers when said second and third valve means are in their normal positions, respectively, including mounting means disposed in sealing and displacement preventing engagement with said housing about said first aperture means, a bore in said mounting means between said other opposed chamber and said first passage means, third piston means movable in said bore and having opposed end portions thereon, one of said opposed end portions being in said other opposed chamber and the other of said opposed ends being in said first passage means, a third passage means in said third piston means intersecting with said opposed end portions thereof, a fourth valve seat on said one end portion about said third passage means for engagement with said third piston means in its one operating position, fourth resilient means engaged with said third piston means urging said fourth valve seat toward engagement with said second piston means, and flange means on said third piston means adjacent to the other end portion thereof for engagement with said mounting means and predeterminately spaced therefrom when said second piston means is in its one operating position, the force of said fourth resilient means initially urging said third piston means in concert with said second piston means upon the movement thereof toward its other operating position and said second piston means being disengaged from said fourth valve seat to open said third passage means and effect the passage of applied and exhausting atmosphere therethrough upon the engagement of said flange means with said mounting means, a fifth valve seat in said housing about said second aperture means and within said other