초록 ▼

A central tire inflation and deflation system which quickly inflates or deflates tires to any one of a plurality of pressures selected by the vehicle operator. Inflation pressure is greater than the pressure to which the tires are to be inflated. The system uses a tire valve which deflates the tires

A central tire inflation and deflation system which quickly inflates or deflates tires to any one of a plurality of pressures selected by the vehicle operator. Inflation pressure is greater than the pressure to which the tires are to be inflated. The system uses a tire valve which deflates the tires when a pressure less than the instantaneous tire pressure but greater than a minimum value is applied to the valve. Pressure on rotary seals which connect the tires to the system is relieved when the system is not operating.

대표청구항 ▼

A tire inflation and deflation valve for use on a vehicle having pressurized tires comprising: a body defining a fluid chamber having a tire port, a supply port and an atmospheric exhaust port therebetween and two separate seal seats positioned in the chamber between the tire port and the exhaust po

A tire inflation and deflation valve for use on a vehicle having pressurized tires comprising: a body defining a fluid chamber having a tire port, a supply port and an atmospheric exhaust port therebetween and two separate seal seats positioned in the chamber between the tire port and the exhaust port; a three position seal support member movably positioned within the chamber between first, second and third positions, having first and second seals positioned thereon a distance apart greater than the separation distance between the seal seats for independent engagement with the seal seats so that the support member in the first and third positions prevents fluid communication between the tire port and the exhaust port and allows fluid communication therebetween to deflate the tire when the seal support is in the second intermediate position; and a movable, pressure reaction member having first and second stages positioned in the fluid chamber between the exhaust and supply ports to control the position of the seal support member and responsive to pressure applied at the supply port, the first stage having a pressure reaction surface exposed to the supply port and means for transferring the motion thereof to the seal support member over a limited distance, the second stage having a pressure reaction surface and means for transferring motion thereof to the seal support member wherein the combined effective area of both reaction surfaces is substantially larger than the area sealable by the first seal and wherein the effective area of the second stage is larger than the area sealable by the second seal so that a supply pressure, less than the tire pressure and greater than a preselected fraction of the tire pressure causes both stages to traverse the limited distance and move the support member from the first sealing position to the second, intermediate exhaust position to deflate the tires and so that reduction of the tire pressure approximately to the supply pressure causes the second stage to move the support member from the second, intermediate exhaust position to the third, sealing position, preventing further deflation of the tires. A tire inflation and deflation valve for use on a vehicle having pressurized tires comprising: a valve body defining a fluid chamber having a tire port, a supply port and an atmospheric exhaust port; valve means for allowing fluid communication between the tire and exhaust ports to deflate the tire, only when fluid pressure at the supply port is less than the tire port pressure and greater than a predetermined fraction of the tire port pressure wherein the valve means for allowing fluid communications between the tire and exhaust ports has restricting means for quickly preventing fluid flow therebetween when the tire port pressure is approximately equal to the supply port pressure and comprising means for decreasing the air flow-resistance of the restricting means while the valve means is closing, and means for allowing fluid communication between the tire and supply ports to inflate the tire only when the supply port pressure exceeds the tire port pressure.