Height control valve for vehicle leveling

Claim 2

A height control valve for a vehicle leveling system comprising: a housing having a cavity therein, means forming a fluid flow path having a first open end thereon extending from said cavity adapted to be connected to a first pressure source and a second end thereon extending from said cavity adapted to be connected to a second pressure source, an outlet fitting connected to said fluid flow path between said first and second ends thereof adapted to be connected to a vehicle leveler unit, oscillatable valve means within said cavity producing an inertial force in response to ordinary vehicle road movements, a torsion shaft extending through said cavity having one end thereof fixedly secured to said oscillatable valve means, a valve operating lever connected to the other end of the shaft adapted to be connected to a vehicle suspension to operate said shaft and valve means in response to vehicle movements, said valve means including means moved upon oscillation of said shaft to selectively control fluid flow between each of said pressure sources and said outlet fitting, said shaft having a first centered position wherein said valve means is positioned to prevent fluid communication between each of the pressure sources and said outlet fitting to the leveler unit, said shaft having a rebound position wherein said valve means is positioned to open one of the pressure sources to said outlet fitting while the other of the pressure sources is closed, said shaft being movable to a third position wherein the oscillatable valve means is moved to a third position to disconnect said one of said pressure sources from the outlet while connecting the other of said pressure sources to the outlet, said shaft having a torsional compliance which causes said shaft to twist between the valve operator and the oscillator valve means when said oscillatable member is moved in either direction from its centered position in response to ordinary road movements, said torsional twist of said shaft being of a magnitude to mechanically damp out small amplitude high frequency input movements to the shaft whereby the oscillatable valve means is held in its centered position to prevent communication between the outlet of the valve and the first and second pressure sources during normal road movements.

Claim 3

A height control valve for a vehicle leveling system comprising: a housing having a cavity therein, means forming a fluid flow path having a first open end thereon extending from said cavity adapted to be connected to a first pressure source and a second end thereon extending from said cavity adapted to be connected to a second pressure source, an outlet fitting connected to said fluid flow path between said first and second ends thereof adapted to be connected to a vehicle leveler unit, oscillatable valve means within said cavity producing an inertial force in response to ordinary vehicle road movements, said valve means including a roller member and a tube located in juxtaposed relationship with said roller member, said tube member forming part of said fluid path, a torsion shaft extending through said cavity having one end thereof fixedly secured to said oscillatable valve means, a valve operating lever connected to the other end of the shaft adapted to be connected to a vehicle suspensioN to operate said shaft and valve means in response to vehicle movement, said valve means roller being moved upon oscillation of said shaft to selectively engage said tube to control fluid flow between each of said pressure sources and said outlet fitting, said shaft having a first centered position wherein said roller is positioned on said tube to prevent fluid communication between each of the pressure sources and said outlet fitting to the leveler unit, said shaft having a rebound position wherein said roller is positioned on said tube to open one of the pressure sources to said outlet fitting while the other of the pressure sources is closed, said shaft being movable to a third position wherein the oscillatable valve means roller is moved to a third position on said tube to disconnect said one of said pressure sources from the outlet while connecting the other of said pressure sources to the outlet, said shaft having a torsional compliance which causes said shaft to twist between the valve operator and the oscillator valve means when said oscillatable member is moved in either direction from its centered position in response to ordinary road movements, said torsional twist of said shaft being of a magnitude to mechanically damp out small amplitude high frequency input movements to the shaft whereby the oscillatable valve means is held in its centered position to prevent communication between the outlet of the valve and the first and second pressure sources during normal road movements.

Claim 4

A height control valve for a vehicle leveling system comprising: a housing having a cavity therein, means forming a fluid flow path having a first open end thereon extending from said cavity adapted to be connected to a first pressure source and a second end thereon extending from said cavity adapted to be connected to a second pressure source, an outlet fitting connected to said fluid flow path between said first and second ends thereof adapted to be connected to a vehicle leveler unit, oscillatable valve means within said cavity producing an inertial force in response to ordinary vehicle road movements, said valve means including a roller member and a tube located in juxtaposed relationship with said roller member, said tube member forming part of said fluid path, a torsion shaft extending through said cavity having one end thereof fixedly secured to said oscillatable valve means, a valve operating lever connected to the other end of the shaft adapted to be connected to a vehicle suspensioN to operate said shaft and valve means in response to vehicle movement, said valve means roller being moved upon oscillation of said shaft to selectively engage said tube to control fluid flow between each of said pressure sources and said outlet fitting, said shaft having a first centered position wherein said roller is positioned on said tube to prevent fluid communication between each of the pressure sources and said outlet fitting to the leveler unit, said shaft having a rebound position wherein said roller is positioned on said tube to open one of the pressure sources to said outlet fitting while the other of the pressure sources is closed, said shaft being movable to a third position wherein the oscillatable valve means roller is moved to a third position on said tube to disconnect said one of said pressure sources from the outlet while connecting the other of said pressure sources to the outlet, said shaft having a torsional compliance which causes said shaft to twist between the valve operator and the oscillator valve means when said oscillatable member is moved in either direction from its centered position in response to ordinary road movements, said torsional twist of said shaft being of a magnitude to mechanically damp out small amplitude high frequency input movements to the shaft whereby the oscillatable valve means is held in its centered position to prevent communication between the outlet of the valve and the first and second pressure sources during normal road movements.

Claim 5

A height control valve for a vehicle leveling system comprising: a housing having a cavity therein with a wall having an arcuate segment thereon, a tube located within said cavity in support juxtaposed relationship with said cavity wall segments, said tube having a first open end thereon extending from said cavity adapted to be connected to a first pressure source and a second end thereon extending from said cavity adapted to be connected to a second pressure source, an outlet fitting connected to said tube between said first and second ends thereon adapted to be connected to a vehicle leveler unit, an oscillatable member within said cavity having first and second leg portions thereon joined together at one end thereof at a juncture point, a torsion shaft having one end thereof fixedly secured to said oscillatable member for moving said oscillatable member, a valve operating lever connected to the other end of said shaft, said arms each having a roller pivotally supported thereon, each of said rollers having centers with a path eccentric to that of said arcuate wall segments to engage the outer periphery of said tube member and being movable with respect thereto on oscillation of said shaft to selectively control fluid flow between each of said pressure sources and said outlet fitting, said shaft having a first centered position wherein said rollers are located against a portion of said tube member to pinch said tube member between said rollers and said cavity wall to prevent fluid communication between each of the pressure sorces and said outlet fitting to the leveler unit, said shaft having a rebound position wherein one of said rollers is moved in a direction away from said cavity wall to open one of the pressure sources to said outlet fitting while the other of said rollers is moved toward said cavity wall against a resistance established by an interference fit between said other roller and a segment of the tube which is pressed closed between said other roller and the cavity wall to close the other of said pressure sources, said shaft being movable to a third position wherein the oscillatable member is moved to a third position wherein said other of said rollers is moved away from said cavity wall while said one of said rollers is moved into proximity with said cavity wall against a resistance established by an interference fit between said one roller and said tube to disconnect said one of said pressure sources from the outlet while connecting the other of said pressure sources to the outlet, said shaft having a torsional compliance which causes said shaft to twist between said valve operating lever and said oscillatable member upon movement of the oscillatable member in either direction from its centered position, said torsional twist of said shaft being of a magnitude to mechanically damp out small amplitude high frequency input movements from said lever and the oscillatable member to hold it in its centered position during normal road movements.

Claim 6

A height control valve for a vehicle leveling system comprising: a housing having a cavity therein with a wall having an arcuate segment thereon, a tube located within said cavity in support juxtaposed relationship with said cavity wall segments, said tube having a first open end thereon extending from said cavity adapted to be connected to a first pressure source and a second end thereon extending from said cavity adapted to be connected to a second pressure source, an outlet fitting connected to said tube between said first and second ends thereon adapted to be connected to a vehicle leveler unit, an oscillatable member within said cavity having first and second leg portions thereon joined together at one end thereof at a juncture point, a torsion shaft having one end thereof fixedly secured to said oscillatable member for moving said oscillatable member, a valve operating lever connected to the other end of said shaft, said arms each having a roller pivotally supported thereon, each of said rollers having centers with a path eccentric to that of said arcuate wall segments to engage the outer periphery of said tube member and being movable with respect thereto on oscillation of said shaft to selectively control fluid flow between each of said pressure sources and said outlet fitting, said shaft having a first centered position wherein said rollers are located against a portion of said tube member to pinch said tube member between said rollers and said cavity wall to prevent fluid communication between each of the pressure sorces and said outlet fitting to the leveler unit, said shaft having a rebound position wherein one of said rollers is moved in a direction away from said cavity wall to open one of the pressure sources to said outlet fitting while the other of said rollers is moved toward said cavity wall against a resistance established by an interference fit between said other roller and a segment of the tube which is pressed closed between said other roller and the cavity wall to close the other of said pressure sources, said shaft being movable to a third position wherein the oscillatable member is moved to a third position wherein said other of said rollers is moved away from said cavity wall while said one of said rollers is moved into proximity with said cavity wall against a resistance established by an interference fit between said one roller and said tube to disconnect said one of said pressure sources from the outlet while connecting the other of said pressure sources to the outlet, said shaft having a torsional compliance which causes said shaft to twist between said valve operating lever and said oscillatable member upon movement of the oscillatable member in either direction from its centered position, said torsional twist of said shaft being of a magnitude to mechanically damp out small amplitude high frequency input movements from said lever and the oscillatable member to hold it in its centered position during normal road movements.

Claim 7

A vehicle leveling system comprising a load leveler unit with first and second portions adapted to be connected between sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle, means including said first and second portions of said leveler unit for defining a variable volume control chamber therein, a pressure source of fluid for supplying the control chamber, a height responsive control valve having a housing adapted to be connected to one of the sprung or unsprung masses of the vehicle, said housing having a cavity therein with cavity walls having a first arcuate segment thereon, a flexible tube within said cavity being supported in juxtaposed relationship with the cavity wall, a divider within said cavity, one end of said tube extending from the cavity on one side of the separator and the other end of said tube extending from the cavity on the other side of said divider, an outlet fitting from said cavity in communication with said tube between said first and second ends, said tube having a uniform cross section along portions thereof in juxtaposed relationship with said cavity wall and being formed of yieldable elastic material, a valve actuating lever, means for connecting one end of said valve actuating lever to the other of the sprung or unsprung masses, a torsion shaft extending through said housing having one end thereof rigidly connected to the other end of said lever, an arm in said cavity having angularly spaced legs joined together at a juncture, means for fixedly securing said juncture to the other end of said torsion shaft, said arms each having rollers secured thereon at a point in engagement with the outer surface of said tube, said rollers having centers with a path eccentric to that of said cavity walls, said shaft having a first centered position when the vehicle is level wherein each of said rollers squeeze a portion of the tube between the rollers and the cavity wall, said arm being movable by said shaft when the vehicle is below a desired height relationship to cause the arm to move one of the rollers in a direction away from the cavity wall while moving the other of the rollers along the tube to maintain it closed between said other roller and the wall to open communication between one pressure source with the outlet thereto, said arm being movable in an opposite direction of rotation when the vehicle is unloaded to cause the one of said rollers to close the tube against the wall of the cavity while moving the other of the rollers away from the wall of the cavity to open the other end of the tube to communicate the other pressure source with the outlet while closing the outlet to the one pressure source, said shaft having a torsional compliance to cause the shaft to twist without movement of the arm when it is in its centered position within the cavity and subjected to normal vehicle road movements.

Claim 8

A vehicle leveling system comprising a load leveler unit with first and second portions adapted to be connected between sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle, means including said first and second portions of said leveler unit for defining a variable volume control chamber therein, a pressure source of fluid for supplying the control chamber, a height responsive control valve having a housing adapted to be connected to one of the sprung or unsprung masses of the vehicle, said housing having a cavity therein with cavity walls having a first arcuate segment thereon, a flexible tube within said cavity being supported in juxtaposed relationship with the cavity wall, a divider within said cavity, one end of said tube extending from the cavity on one side of the separator and the other end of said tube extending from the cavity on the other side of said divider, an outlet fitting from said cavity in communication with said tube between said first and second ends, said tube having a uniform cross section along portions thereof in juxtaposed relationship with said cavity wall and being formed of yieldable elastic material, a valve actuating lever, means for connecting one end of said valve actuating lever to the other of the sprung or unsprung masses, a torsion shaft extending through said housing having one end thereof rigidly connected to the other end of said lever, an arm in said cavity having angularly spaced legs joined together at a juncture, means for fixedly securing said juncture to the other end of said torsion shaft, said arms each having rollers secured thereon at a point in engagement with the outer surface of said tube, said rollers having centers with a path eccentric to that of said cavity walls, said shaft having a first centered position when the vehicle is level wherein each of said rollers squeeze a portion of the tube between the rollers and the cavity wall, said arm being movable by said shaft when the vehicle is below a desired height relationship to cause the arm to move one of the rollers in a direction away from the cavity wall while moving the other of the rollers along the tube to maintain it closed between said other roller and the wall to open communication between one pressure source with the outlet thereto, said arm being movable in an opposite direction of rotation when the vehicle is unloaded to cause the one of said rollers to close the tube against the wall of the cavity while moving the other of the rollers away from the wall of the cavity to open the other end of the tube to communicate the other pressure source with the outlet while closing the outlet to the one pressure source, said shaft having a torsional compliance to cause the shaft to twist without movement of the arm when it is in its centered position within the cavity and subjected to normal vehicle road movements.