Tire Pressure Valve Block with Pneumatic Control Piston
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire pressure control systems require significant time to reduce internal tire pressure due to the long distance air must travel through narrow lines, and in some cases, like emergency vehicles, faster pressure reduction is necessary without using rotary unions or excessive electrical energy.
Innovation Solution
A device using a valve block with a check valve and a control piston that utilizes the internal tire pressure to open the air release valve, allowing the pressure to be used for quick tire pressure reduction, with an electromagnetic control valve that requires minimal energy and can be actuated using existing pneumatic control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If compressed air is transferred from the vehicle side to the tire side through rotary unions and narrow lines, then the tire pressure control system can adapt tire pressure to different conditions, but the distance air must travel is relatively long and the cross sections of the lines are not excessively large, which means that a reduction in tire pressure requires a certain amount of time
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent pathways: a supply pathway for pressure increase and a separate drainage pathway for rapid pressure reduction. The drainage pathway includes a drain valve arranged on the wheel side that opens directly into the environment, bypassing the long vehicle-side lines. This segmentation allows each pathway to be optimized for its specific function, enabling rapid pressure reduction without compromising the adaptability of the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
A control piston actuated by pneumatic control from the existing tire pressure control system serves as an intermediary to open the drain valve. This intermediary mechanism allows the existing pneumatic control signals to trigger rapid pressure reduction without requiring new control systems or rotary feedthroughs, thus resolving the time delay issue while maintaining system adaptability.
2Loss of time
If drain valves arranged on the wheel side are used to release air directly into the environment, then faster wheel ventilation and pressure reduction can be achieved, but the device complexity increases and requires additional pneumatic control components
Solution Approach 1:
The control piston serves multiple functions: it acts as both the actuator for opening the drain valve and as part of the valve mechanism itself. The existing pneumatic control lines from the tire pressure control system are reused to actuate the control piston, making the new rapid drainage function compatible with the existing control infrastructure. This multi-functionality approach adds rapid pressure reduction capability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control piston is actuated by pneumatic pressure from the existing tire pressure control system, using the system's own control signals to trigger the rapid drainage function. This self-service approach allows the drain valve to be activated by the existing control architecture without requiring separate actuators or additional complexity in the control system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a rotary union is used to transfer compressed air to the tires, then pressure control is possible, but in some special vehicles the use of a rotary union cannot be used for reasons of space and/or safety
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is extracted from the vehicle-side control system and placed directly on the wheel side. The drain valve and its control piston are arranged on a component that rotates synchronously with the wheel, eliminating the need for rotary unions to transfer air for pressure reduction. This extraction allows pressure control capability to be maintained while removing the problematic rotary feedthrough component for vehicles where space and safety are concerns.
4Use of energy by moving object
If an electromagnetic control valve is used to open the air release valve, then rapid pressure reduction can be achieved with minimal electrical energy consumption, but the control valve must be reliably actuated
Solution Approach 1:
The control piston is actuated by pneumatic pressure from the existing tire pressure control system rather than by electrical actuators. This pneumatic actuation method is inherently reliable as it uses the system's existing pneumatic infrastructure and does not depend on electrical power availability or electromagnetic component reliability. The electromagnetic control valve mentioned in the summary refers to a small valve in the control line, while the main drain valve uses reliable pneumatic actuation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid tire pressure reduction in a few seconds with minimal electrical energy consumption, suitable for emergency vehicles, and can be integrated into tire pressure monitoring systems without the need for rotary feedthroughs or complex energy supplies.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic control line acted upon by the internal tire pressure, which opens into the cylinder bore on the actuation side of the control piston
Implementation Method 2
a check valve which closes in the direction of the outlet
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A device (1) for reducing the inflation pressure in a vehicle pneumatic tyre comprises a valve block (4) having - an air discharge duct (10) which engages through the latter and at whose inlet (11) the tyre internal pressure is present and whose outlet (18) opens into the surroundings, into which air discharge duct (10) a non-return valve (12) which closes in the direction of the outlet (18) and comprises a valve body (13) is connected, - a control piston (19) which can be actuated pneumatically on one side in a cylinder drilled hole (20) located in the valve block (4), said control piston having a piston face which is larger than the cross-sectional area of the valve body (13) of the non-return valve (12), having a piston rod (21) which is embodied as an actuating rod, wherein the control piston (19) is arranged with its piston rod (21) with respect to the valve body (13) of the non-return valve (12) in such a way that, when activated pneumatically, the control piston (19) acts with its piston rod (21) on the valve body (13) of the non-return valve (12), - a pneumatic control line (22) to which the tyre internal pressure is applied and which opens on the activation side of the control piston (19) into the cylinder drilled hole (20) and - a control valve (7) for opening and closing the pneumatic control line (22).