Patent US3831968A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3831968A
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Pressure control valve device with a two-position cam actuator for controlling pressure in a vehicle air spring
Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co
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Filing: 1973-07-30
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1993-07-30
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a cam-actuated control valve device for so controlling pressure of fluid in an air spring for interposition between a sprung portion and an unsprung portion of a vehicle as to support the sprung portion at a substantially constant preselected height relative to the unsprung portion irrespective of the load carried by the sprung portion. A supply valve and a release valve are operated by a cam to supply fluid under pressure to or release of fluid under pressure from the air spring accordingly as the cam is rocked in one direction or in an opposite direction from either one of a pair of neutral positions. The cam is moved from one neutral position to a second neutral position by a fluid motor subject to a brake applying fluid pressure whereby, in the absence of such pressure, limited arcuate or rocking movement of the cam in either direction from its one or corresponding neutral position, resulting from movement of the sprung portion relative to the unsprung portion in response to the shocks, jolts, vertical movement and sidewise rocking experienced by the body or sprung portion of the vehicle while traveling at high speed, is obtainable without effecting operation of either valve to change the pressure in the air spring. On the other hand, upon the supply of the brake applying fluid pressure to the fluid motor, the cam is so positioned in its second neutral position that any degree of rocking in either direction from this second neutral position causes a change in the pressure in the air spring that is proportional to this degree of rocking.
Inventors
- 👤 R Shaffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:06
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61F; B61F5/00; B61F5/02; B61F5/04; B61F5/10; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/02; B60G17/04; B60G17/052; B60G17/0523; B60G17/0525; B60G2500/00; B60G2500/20; B60G2500/202; B60G2500/2022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
389 words
A control valve device for so controlling the pressure of a fluid in an air spring for interposition between a sprung portion and an unsprung portion of a vehicle as to support the sprung portion at a substantially constant preselected height above the unsprung portion irrespective of the load carried by the sprung portion, said control valve device comprising: a. a casing for attachment to the sprung portion, b. a supply and release valve mechanism mounted in said casing having a pair of valve operating stems for effecting respectively the operation of the valve mechanism to cause the supply of fluid under pressure to and the release of fluid under pressure from the air spring to control the pressure therein, c. a movable cam rockably carried within said casing for effecting movement in one direction of one or the other of said pair of valve operating stems accordingly as said cam is rocked in one direction or in an opposite direction, d. fluid pressure operated motor means for effecting movement of said movable cam from a first position in which a chosen degree of rocking of said cam in said one direction or in said opposite direction is required prior to effecting movement of the corresponding valve stem to a second position in which any degree of rocking of said cam in said one direction or in said opposite direction effects movement of the corresponding valve stem, e. cam actuator means for controlling rocking of said cam in either of said directions, and f. a linkage for operatively connecting the unsprung portion of the vehicle with said cam actuator means and movable responsively to an increase in load on the sprung portion to cause said cam actuator means to rock said cam, while in either of its said positions, in said one direction to effect movement of one of said valve operating stems in the direction to operate said valve mechanism to supply fluid under pressure to the air spring, and to a decrease in load on the sprung portion to cause said cam actuator means to rock said cam, while in either of its said positions, in said opposite direction to effect movement of the other of said valve operating stems in the direction to operate said valve mechanism to release fluid under pressure from the air spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
389 words
A control valve device for so controlling the pressure of a fluid in an air spring for interposition between a sprung portion and an unsprung portion of a vehicle as to support the sprung portion at a substantially constant preselected height above the unsprung portion irrespective of the load carried by the sprung portion, said control valve device comprising: a. a casing for attachment to the sprung portion, b. a supply and release valve mechanism mounted in said casing having a pair of valve operating stems for effecting respectively the operation of the valve mechanism to cause the supply of fluid under pressure to and the release of fluid under pressure from the air spring to control the pressure therein, c. a movable cam rockably carried within said casing for effecting movement in one direction of one or the other of said pair of valve operating stems accordingly as said cam is rocked in one direction or in an opposite direction, d. fluid pressure operated motor means for effecting movement of said movable cam from a first position in which a chosen degree of rocking of said cam in said one direction or in said opposite direction is required prior to effecting movement of the corresponding valve stem to a second position in which any degree of rocking of said cam in said one direction or in said opposite direction effects movement of the corresponding valve stem, e. cam actuator means for controlling rocking of said cam in either of said directions, and f. a linkage for operatively connecting the unsprung portion of the vehicle with said cam actuator means and movable responsively to an increase in load on the sprung portion to cause said cam actuator means to rock said cam, while in either of its said positions, in said one direction to effect movement of one of said valve operating stems in the direction to operate said valve mechanism to supply fluid under pressure to the air spring, and to a decrease in load on the sprung portion to cause said cam actuator means to rock said cam, while in either of its said positions, in said opposite direction to effect movement of the other of said valve operating stems in the direction to operate said valve mechanism to release fluid under pressure from the air spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
134 words
A control device, as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that said casing is provided with a chamber having a pair of parallel spaced-apart walls in each of which is an elongated slot, and said cam actuator means comprises: a. a shaft extending through said chamber and said elongated slots and having one end connected to said linkage, said shaft carrying thereon within said chamber said cam, and b. a pair of spaced-apart sleeves each carried on said shaft and disposed within one of said elongateD slots in said casing whereby, while said sleeves abut one end of said slots, said cam carried on said shaft is disposed in its said first position, and, while said sleeves abut the other end of said slots, said cam is disposed in its said second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
282 words
A control valve device, as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that said supply and release valve mechanism comprises: a. an annular supply valve seat coaxially arranged with respect to one of said valve operating stems, b. a supply valve for cooperation with said supply valve seat to control the supply of fluid under pressure to the air spring in accordance with the movement of said one valve operating stem in response to rocking of said cam in said one direction, c. an annular exhaust valve seat coaxially arranged with respect to the other of said valve operating stems, d. an exhaust valve for cooperation with said exhaust valve seat to control the release of fluid under pressure from the air spring to atmosphere in accordance with the movement of said other valve operating stem in response to rocking of said cam in said opposite direction, and e. means for resiliently biasing each of said valves against its respective valve seat and the valve operating stem therefor to a corresponding position in which one end of said operating stem is disposed out of or into contact with said movable cam accordingly as said cam is disposed in its said first or in its said second position whereby, while said cam is in its said first position, the rocking of said cam in either of said directions in response to limited movement of the sprung portion of the vehicle relative to the unsprung portion caused by shocks and jolts while the vehicle is traveling at a substantial speed, is ineffective to cause unseating of either valve by its respective operating stem to effect a change of the pressure within the air spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A control valve device, as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that the axis of each of said valve operating stems forms substantially a right angle with the axis of the other stem.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A control valve device, as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that the axis of each of said valve operating stems is substantially parallel to the axis of the other stem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A control valve device, as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that said cam has substantially the shape of a heart having an apex, and said cam is so rockably mounted that, upon an excessive change of pressure in the air spring, the resulting abnormal degree of movement of the sprung portion of the vehicle relative to the unsprung portion rocks said cam sufficiently in said one direction or in said opposite direction to move said apex past one end of one or the other of said valve operating stems thereby preventing damage to said stems.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
A control valve device, as recited in claim 2, further comprising: a. a pair of spacers each carried on said shaft and disposed between one side of said cam and one of said sleeves, and b. an operating member having a yoke at one end for supporting said pair of spacers thereon, said member being interposed between said spacers and said fluid pressure operated motor means and effective to cause movement of said cam from its said first position to its said second position in response to the supply of fluid under pressure to said motor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
A control valve device, as recited in claim 2, further characterized in that said linkage comprises: a. a rigid link for pivotal connection at one end to the unsprung portion of the vehicle, and b. a resilient operating member pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said rigid link and rigidly connected at its opposite end to said shaft whereby, upon an excessive change of pressure in the air spring, said resilient operating member is flexed in response to the resulting abnormal degree of movement of the sprung portion relative to the unsprung portion thereby preventing damage to said Operating stems by said cam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
A control valve device, as recited in claim 8, further characterized in that said casing is provided with a pair of spaced-apart stops integral therewith for respectively limiting the rocking of said cam in said one direction and in said opposite direction whereby said resilient operating member is flexed in one direction or in an opposite direction in response to the abnormal movement of the sprung portion subsequent to rocking of said cam into abutting relationship with one or the other of said stops.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control valve device, as recited in claim 8, further characterized in that the shape of said cam constitutes substantially one-half of an ellipse disposed on one side of its major axis, and said cam is rockably mounted substantially midway the ends of said major axis.
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) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |