Wheel Valve Venting Assembly for Stable Tire Pressure Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wheel valves for tire inflation/deflation systems are susceptible to environmental factors such as changes in fluid pressure and contamination, which can affect the reliable control of the valve timing and lead to performance issues.
Innovation Solution
A wheel valve assembly with a fluid-operated damper and vent passage system, featuring a resilient fluid pressure-energized vent valve, such as a U-cup seal, that maintains desired pressure levels and reduces contamination by allowing excess fluid to vent, thereby ensuring consistent valve timing and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional wheel valve is used without a vent passage system, then the structure is simpler, but the valve timing control becomes unreliable due to pressure changes and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel valve assembly is segmented into functional modules: a valve body with a valve member, a fluid-operated damper with a damper member, and a vent passage system with vent valves. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent passage system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the damper chamber and the external environment. It mediates pressure changes by allowing controlled venting of fluid, thereby protecting the valve timing control system from harmful pressure fluctuations and contamination while maintaining reliable operation.
2Reliability
If the damper chamber is sealed without a vent passage, then contamination is reduced, but pressure buildup from fluid leakage affects valve member timing
Solution Approach 1:
The vent passage system provides feedback control for pressure management in the damper chamber. When pressure exceeds a certain threshold due to fluid leakage or thermal expansion, the vent valves automatically open to release excess pressure, then close when pressure normalizes. This automatic feedback mechanism maintains consistent valve member timing without requiring external intervention or complex pressure regulation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper chamber system is designed to be self-regulating through the vent passage mechanism. The system automatically detects and corrects pressure imbalances by venting fluid when needed, eliminating the need for external pressure monitoring or manual intervention. This self-service capability ensures consistent valve timing while simplifying the overall control system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vent valves are added to the wheel valve assembly, then pressure control and contamination reduction are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent passage system is merged with the existing damper chamber structure, sharing common walls and integration points. The vent valves are integrated into the valve body or damper assembly rather than being separate external components. This merging approach adds the necessary pressure control and contamination protection functions while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity through efficient spatial arrangement and shared structures.
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
The solution enhances the reliable control of the wheel valve assembly by maintaining desired pressure levels and reducing contamination, ensuring consistent valve timing and operation, even in the presence of environmental factors like debris or pressure changes.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid-operated damper that is configured to control the timing of a valve member of the wheel valve assembly
Implementation Method 2
when the vent valve is activated to open the vent passage, fluid in the damper chamber is permitted to escape, thereby maintaining a desired pressure level in the damper chamber
Implementation Method 3
The resilient valve element may be activated to open the vent passage when a pressure differential on opposite sides of the resilient valve element reaches or exceeds a certain level
Data Source
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AI summary
A valve assembly for a tire inflation/deflation system includes a body having a control port and a tire port, and a valve member for fluidly connecting or disconnecting the control port with the tire port. In one embodiment, the valve includes a fluid-operated damper having a damper chamber for controlling a timing of the valve member. A vent valve is provided for permitting excess fluid pressure to escape from the damper chamber. In another embodiment, the valve member includes a diaphragm separating first and second fluid chambers. A vent passage and at least one resilient fluid pressure-operated valve element are provided for enabling fluid to vent from the first chamber to the second chamber. Multiple-redundant valve elements may be provided to form an isolation gap that restricts contamination of the valve assembly.