Vacuum control valve for automotive heating and airconditioning systems

Claim 2

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, said soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient compressibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, said carriage being formed with a pattern of shallow grooves for receiving and stabilizing the rear portions of said fins, the depth of said grooves being small in comparison with the depth of said fins.

Claim 3

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, said soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient compressibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, and cross ribs extending between certain of said fins and affording lateral stability for said fins.

Claim 4

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, said soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient compressibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, and cross ribs extending between certain of said fins and affording lateral stability for said fins.

Claim 5

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, said soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient compressibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, said passage means comprising a pattern of ridges alternating with hollows on said control surface of said valve member, the configuration of said pattern of fins are recesses being similar to the configuration of said pattern of ridges and hollows, whereby said fins afford resilient backup for said ridges.

Claim 6

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, said soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient compressibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, said passage means comprising a pattern of ridges alternating with hollows on said control surface of said valve member, the configuration of said pattern of fins are recesses being similar to the configuration of said pattern of ridges and hollows, whereby said fins afford resilient backup for said ridges.

Claim 7

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said body having guide means for slidably guiding said carriage for sliding movement along said predetermined path, said guide means including a flat guide member spaced from and parallel with said valve surface, said valve member and said carriage being movable in the space between said valve surface and said guide member, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, said soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient compressibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, said fins having a depth substantially greater than the width of said fins to provide sufficient resilient compressibility of said fins to afford a spring action constituting the sole spring action for resiliently pressing said valve member against said valve surface to maintain said valve member in slidable sealing engagement with said valve surface, said fins also constituting the sole spring action resiliently pressing said carriage into direct sliding engagement with said guide member.

Claim 8

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said body having guide means for slidably guiding said carriage for sliding movement along said predetermined path, said guide means including a flat guide member spaced from and parallel with said valve surface, said valve member and said carriage being movable in the space between said valve surface and said guide member, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, said soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient compressibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, said fins having a depth substantially greater than the width of said fins to provide sufficient resilient compressibility of said fins to afford a spring action constituting the sole spring action for resiliently pressing said valve member against said valve surface to maintain said valve member in slidable sealing engagement with said valve surface, said fins also constituting the sole spring action resiliently pressing said carriage into direct sliding engagement with said guide member.

Claim 9

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said body having guide means for slidably guiding said carriage for sliding movement along said predetermined path, said guide means including a flat guide member spaced from and parallel with said valve surface, said valve member and said carriage being movable in the space between said valve surface and said guide member, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, said soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient compressibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, said fins tapering in width toward the extremities of said fins and providing sufficient resilient compressibility of said fins to afford a spring action constituting the sole spring action for resiliently pressing said valve member against said valve surface to maintain said valve member in slidable sealing engagement with said valve surface, said fins also constituting the sole spring action resiliently pressing said carriage into direct sliding engagement with guide member.

Claim 10

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said body having guide means for slidably guiding said carriage for sliding movement along said predetermined path, said guide means including a flat guide member spaced from and parallel with said valve surface, said valve member and said carriage being movable in the space between said valve surface and said guide member, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, said soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient compressibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, said fins tapering in width toward the extremities of said fins and providing sufficient resilient compressibility of said fins to afford a spring action constituting the sole spring action for resiliently pressing said valve member against said valve surface to maintain said valve member in slidable sealing engagement with said valve surface, said fins also constituting the sole spring action resiliently pressing said carriage into direct sliding engagement with guide member.

Claim 11

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said body having guide means for slidably guiding said carriage for sliding movement along said predetermined path, said guide means including a flat guide member spaced from and parallel with said valve surface, said valve member and said carriage being movable in the space between said valve surface and said guide member, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, aid soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient comressibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, said passage means comprising a pattern of ridges alternating with hollows on said control surface of said valve member, said ridges slidably engaging said valve surface, said fins having a depth substantially greater than the depth of said ridges and providing sufficient resilient compressibility of said fins to afford a spring action constituting the sole spring action for resiliently pressing said valve member against said valve surface to maintain said ridges in sealing engagement with said valve surface, said fins also constituting the sole spring action resiliently pressing said carriage into direct sliding engagement with said guide member.

Claim 12

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said body having guide means for slidably guiding said carriage for sliding movement along said predetermined path, said guide means including a flat guide member spaced from and parallel with said valve surface, said valve member and said carriage being movable in the space between said valve surface and said guide member, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, aid soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient comressibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, said passage means comprising a pattern of ridges alternating with hollows on said control surface of said valve member, said ridges slidably engaging said valve surface, said fins having a depth substantially greater than the depth of said ridges and providing sufficient resilient compressibility of said fins to afford a spring action constituting the sole spring action for resiliently pressing said valve member against said valve surface to maintain said ridges in sealing engagement with said valve surface, said fins also constituting the sole spring action resiliently pressing said carriage into direct sliding engagement with said guide member.

Claim 13

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft, resilient rubber valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said body having guide means for slidably guiding said carriage for sliding movement along said predetermined path, said guide means including a flat guide member spaced from and parallel with said valve surface, said valve member and said carriage being movable in the space between said valve surface and said guide member, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rubber rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, said soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for resiliently exerting pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of rubber fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient compessibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, said passage means comprising a pattern of ridges alternating with hollows on said control surface of said valve member, said ridges slidably engaging said valve surface, said fins tapering in width toward the extremities of said fins and having a depth substantially greater than the greatest width of said fins to provide sufficient resilient compressibility of said fins to afford a spring action constituting the sole spring action resiliently biasing said valve member against said valve surface to produce pressure and maintain said ridges in slidable sealing engagement with said valve surface, said fins having a depth substantially greater than the depth of said ridges and affording substantially greater resilient compressibility than afforded by said ridges, said fins also constituting the sole spring action resiliently biasing said carriage into direct sliding engagement with said guide member and resiliently maintaining pressure between said carriage and said guide member.

Claim 14

A vacuum control valve, comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through said body from said surface, a soft, resilient rubber valve member having a control surface slidable along said valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with said valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting said valve member, and means for moving said carriage along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said valve surface, said body having guide means for slidably guiding said carriage for sliding movement along said predetermined path, said guide means including a flat guide member spaced from and parallel with said valve surface, said valve member and said carriage being movable in the space between said valve surface and said guide member, said soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rubber rear portion formed integrally with said valve member on the opposite side thereof from said control surface, said soft resilient valve member being confined between said carriage and said valve surface with said soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for resiliently exerting pressure between said control surface of said valve member and said valve surface of said body, said soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of rubber fins on said valve member and alternating with recesses therein to afford resilient compessibility, said fins projecting from said valve member toward said carriage and engaging said carriage, said passage means comprising a pattern of ridges alternating with hollows on said control surface of said valve member, said ridges slidably engaging said valve surface, said fins tapering in width toward the extremities of said fins and having a depth substantially greater than the greatest width of said fins to provide sufficient resilient compressibility of said fins to afford a spring action constituting the sole spring action resiliently biasing said valve member against said valve surface to produce pressure and maintain said ridges in slidable sealing engagement with said valve surface, said fins having a depth substantially greater than the depth of said ridges and affording substantially greater resilient compressibility than afforded by said ridges, said fins also constituting the sole spring action resiliently biasing said carriage into direct sliding engagement with said guide member and resiliently maintaining pressure between said carriage and said guide member.