US3876193A — Boot controlled unitary valve and seal assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 512 words

A vehicle leveling system control valve assembly comprising: an air spring having a tubular sleeve with a rolling lobe at one end thereof, a piston member with an outer annular surface supportingly receiving said rolling lobe, means including said sleeve and piston member for forming a pressurizable chamber, said piston member and said sleeve moving relative to one another in accordance with vehicle load on said air spring, said piston having a lateral bore therein with an inner end in communication with said pressurizable chamber and an outer end intersecting the outer surface of said piston, said piston having a fluid exhaust passage therein said rolling lobe on said piston including an inner wall that covers said outer bore end when said air spring is loaded and which uncovers said outer bore when said air spring is unloaded, a valve insert supported within said bore said valve insert having an air passage therein for pneumatically connecting said chamber and said exhaust passage, said insert having a valve seat at one end thereof and having an annular outer end surface thereon located in surrounding relationship radially outwardly of said valve seat, a unitary valve and seal member of elastomer material having a flanged end thereon seated within said bore in sealed engagement with the outer end surface of said insert, said valve and seal member including a spherically shaped head located outwardly of said outer annular surface so as to be engageable by said inner wall of said rolling lobe, said valve member including an integral axially inwardly directed stem aligned with said spherical head and located co-axially of said seat, said stem including a flat end surface thereon engageable with said seat for controlling flow through said air passage into said fluid exhaust passage, an annular yieldable web on said valve member located in spaced surrounding relationship to said stem and integrally joining said spherical head with said flange, said valve member having a first operative position when said inner wall is off said annular surface, said stem having a length when said valve is in its first operative position to engage said seat and prestress said web to maintain a minimum retention of pressure witin said chamber when said valve is in its first operative position, said valve having a second operative position wherein said inner wall of said rolling lobe engages said spherical head and pressure within said lobe forces said stem axially toward said valve seat to increase the pressure on said stem to maintain it against said seat to hold a greater pressure within said chamber, said valve having a third operative position when said inner wall is off said annular surface and the pressure within said chamber exceeds the minimum pressure to produce a resultant force on the flat end surface of said stem to shift said stem against said spherical head and move it outwardly against the restraint of said web thereby to move said stem out of sealing engagement with said seat whereby pressurized fluid is exhausted across said seat to said fluid exhaust passage.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 512 words

A vehicle leveling system control valve assembly comprising: an air spring having a tubular sleeve with a rolling lobe at one end thereof, a piston member with an outer annular surface supportingly receiving said rolling lobe, means including said sleeve and piston member for forming a pressurizable chamber, said piston member and said sleeve moving relative to one another in accordance with vehicle load on said air spring, said piston having a lateral bore therein with an inner end in communication with said pressurizable chamber and an outer end intersecting the outer surface of said piston, said piston having a fluid exhaust passage therein said rolling lobe on said piston including an inner wall that covers said outer bore end when said air spring is loaded and which uncovers said outer bore when said air spring is unloaded, a valve insert supported within said bore said valve insert having an air passage therein for pneumatically connecting said chamber and said exhaust passage, said insert having a valve seat at one end thereof and having an annular outer end surface thereon located in surrounding relationship radially outwardly of said valve seat, a unitary valve and seal member of elastomer material having a flanged end thereon seated within said bore in sealed engagement with the outer end surface of said insert, said valve and seal member including a spherically shaped head located outwardly of said outer annular surface so as to be engageable by said inner wall of said rolling lobe, said valve member including an integral axially inwardly directed stem aligned with said spherical head and located co-axially of said seat, said stem including a flat end surface thereon engageable with said seat for controlling flow through said air passage into said fluid exhaust passage, an annular yieldable web on said valve member located in spaced surrounding relationship to said stem and integrally joining said spherical head with said flange, said valve member having a first operative position when said inner wall is off said annular surface, said stem having a length when said valve is in its first operative position to engage said seat and prestress said web to maintain a minimum retention of pressure witin said chamber when said valve is in its first operative position, said valve having a second operative position wherein said inner wall of said rolling lobe engages said spherical head and pressure within said lobe forces said stem axially toward said valve seat to increase the pressure on said stem to maintain it against said seat to hold a greater pressure within said chamber, said valve having a third operative position when said inner wall is off said annular surface and the pressure within said chamber exceeds the minimum pressure to produce a resultant force on the flat end surface of said stem to shift said stem against said spherical head and move it outwardly against the restraint of said web thereby to move said stem out of sealing engagement with said seat whereby pressurized fluid is exhausted across said seat to said fluid exhaust passage.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 468 words

A pressure controller for a vehicle leveling system comprising: an air spring having a tubular sleeve with rolling lobes on each end thereof, a piston member sealingly connected to each of said rolling lobes, each of said piston members including an outer surface thereon supporting an inner wall portion of each of said rolling lobes as said rolling lobe moves onto and off of each of said pistons, means including said sleeve and said pistons for forming a pressurizable air chamber inflatable to produce a supplemental load supporting force between said pistons, said pistons moving toward each other when the vehicle is loaded and moving apart from one another when the vehicle is unloaded to cause said rolling lobes to move onto and off of the outer surface thereon, means forming an exhaust passageway in one of said pistons, means forming a bore in said one of said pistons intersecting said exhaust passageway means and communicating with said pressurizable chamber, a valve insert located within said bore including an annular seat therein and a flat end seal surface thereon located radially outwardly of and in surrounding relationship to said annular seat, said annular surface and said seat being located in a common plane, a unitary elastomeric seal and valve member including a flange thereon located within said bore and in sealed relationship with said annular insert seal surface for sealing said bore, said unitary member including a spherical head thereon located outwardly of said outer piston surface to be engageable with the inner wall of the lobe supported thereon, a web connecting said spherical head with said flange movable in an axial direction, an integral valve stem located centrally inwardly of said spherical head and extending axially therefrom to a point adjacent said seat, said stem having an outer peripheral surface thereon located radially inwardly of said web and including a flat surface on one end thereof maintained in a first operative position by said web against said seat to hold a minimum pressure within said chamber, said spherical head being engaged by the inner wall of the rolling lobe when the air spring is loaded to impose lobe pressure on said head to cause said web to buckle thereby to cause said stem to press more firmly at the flat surface thereon against said seat so as to hold a greater pressure within said pressurizable chamber, said valve web exerting a spring force against the force of said inner wall for returning said spherical head outwardly of said surface when said inner wall is moved from the outer surface of said piston upon unloading of said air spring and chamber pressure acting on said stem to move it axially from said seat to permit the exhaust of pressurized air from said pressurizable chamber to said exhaust passageway.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 468 words

A pressure controller for a vehicle leveling system comprising: an air spring having a tubular sleeve with rolling lobes on each end thereof, a piston member sealingly connected to each of said rolling lobes, each of said piston members including an outer surface thereon supporting an inner wall portion of each of said rolling lobes as said rolling lobe moves onto and off of each of said pistons, means including said sleeve and said pistons for forming a pressurizable air chamber inflatable to produce a supplemental load supporting force between said pistons, said pistons moving toward each other when the vehicle is loaded and moving apart from one another when the vehicle is unloaded to cause said rolling lobes to move onto and off of the outer surface thereon, means forming an exhaust passageway in one of said pistons, means forming a bore in said one of said pistons intersecting said exhaust passageway means and communicating with said pressurizable chamber, a valve insert located within said bore including an annular seat therein and a flat end seal surface thereon located radially outwardly of and in surrounding relationship to said annular seat, said annular surface and said seat being located in a common plane, a unitary elastomeric seal and valve member including a flange thereon located within said bore and in sealed relationship with said annular insert seal surface for sealing said bore, said unitary member including a spherical head thereon located outwardly of said outer piston surface to be engageable with the inner wall of the lobe supported thereon, a web connecting said spherical head with said flange movable in an axial direction, an integral valve stem located centrally inwardly of said spherical head and extending axially therefrom to a point adjacent said seat, said stem having an outer peripheral surface thereon located radially inwardly of said web and including a flat surface on one end thereof maintained in a first operative position by said web against said seat to hold a minimum pressure within said chamber, said spherical head being engaged by the inner wall of the rolling lobe when the air spring is loaded to impose lobe pressure on said head to cause said web to buckle thereby to cause said stem to press more firmly at the flat surface thereon against said seat so as to hold a greater pressure within said pressurizable chamber, said valve web exerting a spring force against the force of said inner wall for returning said spherical head outwardly of said surface when said inner wall is moved from the outer surface of said piston upon unloading of said air spring and chamber pressure acting on said stem to move it axially from said seat to permit the exhaust of pressurized air from said pressurizable chamber to said exhaust passageway.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 325 words

A leveling unit for a vehicle having sprung and unsprung components comprising in combination an upper member adapted to be connected to said sprung component of said vehicle, a lower member spacially aligned with said upper member adapted to be connected to said unsprung component of said vehicle, one of said members having a collar portion which extends toward the other of said members, a tubular sleeve of elastomeric material having upper and lower end portions respectively connected to said upper and lower members to form an expansible and contractible cylinder, said sleeve having rolling lobe means adapted to surround said collar portion and move axially thereon, supply means operatively connected to the interior of said cylinder for supplying a pressure fluid thereto to linearly expand said cylinder to linearly move said upper member away from said lower member and to cause the rolling movement of said lobe means linearly on said collar portion, an exhaust port in said one of said members, fluid control means for exhausting fluid from said cylinder in response to the movement of said upper member a predetermined distance away from said lower member, said fluid control means comprising fluid exhaust passage means in one of said members, said fluid control means further comprising valve means operatively mounted in said exhaust passage means movable between first and second positions to respectively open and close said exhaust passage means with respect to said exhaust port means, said valve means having contact means extensible beyond said collar portion for engagement by said rolling lobe means so that said rolling lobe means can move said valve means to said first position to close said exhaust passage means, and said valve means being movable to said second position by pressure in said exhaust passage means to open said passage means to said exhaust port means in response to movement of said rolling lobe on said collar portion out of contact with said contact means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 325 words

A leveling unit for a vehicle having sprung and unsprung components comprising in combination an upper member adapted to be connected to said sprung component of said vehicle, a lower member spacially aligned with said upper member adapted to be connected to said unsprung component of said vehicle, one of said members having a collar portion which extends toward the other of said members, a tubular sleeve of elastomeric material having upper and lower end portions respectively connected to said upper and lower members to form an expansible and contractible cylinder, said sleeve having rolling lobe means adapted to surround said collar portion and move axially thereon, supply means operatively connected to the interior of said cylinder for supplying a pressure fluid thereto to linearly expand said cylinder to linearly move said upper member away from said lower member and to cause the rolling movement of said lobe means linearly on said collar portion, an exhaust port in said one of said members, fluid control means for exhausting fluid from said cylinder in response to the movement of said upper member a predetermined distance away from said lower member, said fluid control means comprising fluid exhaust passage means in one of said members, said fluid control means further comprising valve means operatively mounted in said exhaust passage means movable between first and second positions to respectively open and close said exhaust passage means with respect to said exhaust port means, said valve means having contact means extensible beyond said collar portion for engagement by said rolling lobe means so that said rolling lobe means can move said valve means to said first position to close said exhaust passage means, and said valve means being movable to said second position by pressure in said exhaust passage means to open said passage means to said exhaust port means in response to movement of said rolling lobe on said collar portion out of contact with said contact means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 357 words

A vehicle leveling unit operatively connected between sprung and unsprung portions of a vehicle comprising axially aligned first and second members connected respectively to the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle, said first member having a base and a wall extending axially from said base toward said second member, an elastomeric sleeve operatively connected to said first and second members providing an expansible and contractible fluid chamber therebetween, fastener means securing one end portion of said sleeve to said wall adjacent to the end thereof, said sleeve having an inner wall portion extending into direct engagement with said wall of said first member and an outer wall portion spaced outwardly from said inner wall portion, said sleeve further having an intermediate portion connecting said first and scond wall portions and cooperating therewith to form a rolling lobe means for moving axially on said wall of said first member in a first direction when said chamber expands and in an opposite direction when said chamber contracts, pressure fluid supply means operatively connected to said chamber for supplying said chamber with pressure fluid for expanding said chamber to move said first and second members axially away from each other, an exhaust port in said first member, exhaust control means operatively connected to said chamber for exhausting fluid therefrom to said exhaust port to cause said chamber to contract and said first and second members to move axially toward each other, said exhaust means comprising an insert having an exhaust passage extending from the interior to the exterior of said chamber, said exhaust passage having an inlet and an outlet, a one piece elastomeric exhaust valve element operatively disposed in sealing engagement in said wall of said first member adjacent to said outlet of said exhaust passage, said valve element having a head and a stem portion movable inwardly by said lobe means so that said stem portion closes said exhaust passage, said stem portion and said valve element being movable outwardly to open said exhaust passage in response to predetermined linear expansion of said chamber and movement of said lobe means out of contact with said head portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 357 words

A vehicle leveling unit operatively connected between sprung and unsprung portions of a vehicle comprising axially aligned first and second members connected respectively to the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle, said first member having a base and a wall extending axially from said base toward said second member, an elastomeric sleeve operatively connected to said first and second members providing an expansible and contractible fluid chamber therebetween, fastener means securing one end portion of said sleeve to said wall adjacent to the end thereof, said sleeve having an inner wall portion extending into direct engagement with said wall of said first member and an outer wall portion spaced outwardly from said inner wall portion, said sleeve further having an intermediate portion connecting said first and scond wall portions and cooperating therewith to form a rolling lobe means for moving axially on said wall of said first member in a first direction when said chamber expands and in an opposite direction when said chamber contracts, pressure fluid supply means operatively connected to said chamber for supplying said chamber with pressure fluid for expanding said chamber to move said first and second members axially away from each other, an exhaust port in said first member, exhaust control means operatively connected to said chamber for exhausting fluid therefrom to said exhaust port to cause said chamber to contract and said first and second members to move axially toward each other, said exhaust means comprising an insert having an exhaust passage extending from the interior to the exterior of said chamber, said exhaust passage having an inlet and an outlet, a one piece elastomeric exhaust valve element operatively disposed in sealing engagement in said wall of said first member adjacent to said outlet of said exhaust passage, said valve element having a head and a stem portion movable inwardly by said lobe means so that said stem portion closes said exhaust passage, said stem portion and said valve element being movable outwardly to open said exhaust passage in response to predetermined linear expansion of said chamber and movement of said lobe means out of contact with said head portion.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 370 words

In a vehicle leveling unit connected between sprung and unsprung portions of a vehicle comprising first and second axially spaced connector members secured respectively to said sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle, said first member having a generally cylindrical wall extending axially toward said second member, a tubular elastomeric sleeve operatively connected to said first and second members to form an axially extensible and contractible fluid chamber therebetween, said sleeve having an annular lobed portion positioned annularly around a portion of said wall, fluid supply means for supplying pressure fluid to said fluid chamber to effect the axial extension thereof and to thereby respectively move said first and second members axially away from each other, and to cause said lobed portion to roll on said cylindrical wall toward said second member, said cylindrical wall having a bore extending radially therethrough, a seal and valve member operatively mounted in the outer end of said bore to seal one end of said bore to prevent entry of foreign matter therein, exhaust passage means communicating with said bore, insert means operatively disposed in said bore, said insert means having a first passage therethrough communicating with said chamber and a second passage therein for connecting said first passage to said exhaust passage, said insert means having a valve seat at the outer end of said first passage, said seal and valve member comprising a valve element with a stem portion for engaging said valve seat, said seal and valve member having a contact portion which extends beyond the limit of said cylindrical wall for contact by said lobe portion so that said lobed portion can move and said stem portion into engagement said valve seat to seal said first passage to thereby prevent the exhaust of fluid into said chamber, and permit the axial extension of said chamber, and said stem portion being movable off of said valve seat in response to predetermined pressure in said chamber and movement of said lobed portion out of contact with said contact portion to permit exhaust of fluid from said chamber so that said chamber axially contracts until said lobed portion moves said seal and valve means radially inwardly into sealing engagement with said valve seat.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 370 words

In a vehicle leveling unit connected between sprung and unsprung portions of a vehicle comprising first and second axially spaced connector members secured respectively to said sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle, said first member having a generally cylindrical wall extending axially toward said second member, a tubular elastomeric sleeve operatively connected to said first and second members to form an axially extensible and contractible fluid chamber therebetween, said sleeve having an annular lobed portion positioned annularly around a portion of said wall, fluid supply means for supplying pressure fluid to said fluid chamber to effect the axial extension thereof and to thereby respectively move said first and second members axially away from each other, and to cause said lobed portion to roll on said cylindrical wall toward said second member, said cylindrical wall having a bore extending radially therethrough, a seal and valve member operatively mounted in the outer end of said bore to seal one end of said bore to prevent entry of foreign matter therein, exhaust passage means communicating with said bore, insert means operatively disposed in said bore, said insert means having a first passage therethrough communicating with said chamber and a second passage therein for connecting said first passage to said exhaust passage, said insert means having a valve seat at the outer end of said first passage, said seal and valve member comprising a valve element with a stem portion for engaging said valve seat, said seal and valve member having a contact portion which extends beyond the limit of said cylindrical wall for contact by said lobe portion so that said lobed portion can move and said stem portion into engagement said valve seat to seal said first passage to thereby prevent the exhaust of fluid into said chamber, and permit the axial extension of said chamber, and said stem portion being movable off of said valve seat in response to predetermined pressure in said chamber and movement of said lobed portion out of contact with said contact portion to permit exhaust of fluid from said chamber so that said chamber axially contracts until said lobed portion moves said seal and valve means radially inwardly into sealing engagement with said valve seat.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-04-07	1978-10-07	1979-04-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-04-07	1982-10-07	1983-04-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-04-07	1986-10-07	1987-04-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Boot controlled unitary valve and seal assembly

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