Central tire inflation system

Claim 1

A tire valve assembly for a central tire inflation system comprising an inflatable tire mounted on a tire rim by means of an annular bead lock to define an interior pressurized chamber and to define a fluid passage communicating with a fluid fitting extending through said tire rim for connection to a selectivity pressurized and exhausted conduit, said valve assembly comprising a valve body defining an exterior surface and an interior valving chamber, said valve body having only a first and a second fluid connection from the exterior surface to the interior valving chamber thereof, said first fluid connection defined by a first port for connection to said fluid passage, said second fluid connection defined by a second port for connection to the interior pressurized chamber of said inflatable tire, said valve body adapted to be mounted entirely within said pressurized chamber in a cavity provided in said bead lock, said valve assembly comprising first valve means within said valving chamber responsive to pressurization of said selectivity pressurized and exhausted conduit to assume a first position for establishing fluid communication between said first and second ports and responsive to exhausting to atmosphere of said selectivity pressurized and exhausted conduit to assume a second position for blocking fluid communication between said first and second ports thereof, said valve assembly comprising second valve means within said valving chamber constantly in fluid communication with said second port and responsive to a sensed pressurization of said interior chamber of said tire being less than a predetermined minimum reference pressure to automatically maintain said first valve means in said second position thereof regardless of the fluid pressure at said first port.