Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to pressure relief valves used in vehicles for relieving of mechanical shock loads.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Pressure relief valves are used in vehicles for relieving mechanical shock loads, for example when a trailer is attached to the rear side of the vehicle by a hitch system, the trailer observes shock loads while it is overloaded or passes over a bumpy road. The pressure relief valves employ a piston-cylinder arrangement wherein a pressurized fluid is used to relieve the fluid pressure inside the cylinder. Conventional pressure relief valves are not efficient in relieving the fluid pressure inside the cylinder due to several reasons. Firstly, the response of the pressure relieving valve in terms of amount of valve displacement is not proportional to the sensed fluid pressure inside the piston-cylinder arrangement. Secondly, the path of the pressurized fluid inside the piston-cylinder arrangement is subjected to resistance and therefore the alignment of the valve is compromised during operation. Thirdly, the components of the pressure relieving valve assembly are not interchangeable which leads to increase in manufacturing cost of the pressure relieving valve assembly. Fourthly, the sealing performance of valve is compromised due to complex geometry thereof. Any leakages in the construction of the pressure relief valve results in compromised performance as well as increased risk of damaging other components of the vehicle or the trailer. Lastly, the valve assembly construction is prone tampering which significantly alters the operating characteristics of the valve assembly.
There is, therefore, felt a need of a pressure relief valve assembly, that alleviates the above-mentioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a pressure relief valve assembly that offers an efficient shock relieving performance.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a pressure relief valve assembly that offers tamper proof construction.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a pressure relief valve assembly that offers a modular construction.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a pressure relief valve assembly that allows ease of pressurized fluid flow through passages.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a pressure relief valve assembly that prevents misalignment of the valve during operation.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a pressure relief valve assembly that offers better sealing and compactness of construction.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure discloses a pressure relief valve assembly comprising a housing configured to be attached to a piston of a vehicle hitch system, and the housing having a passage for flow of a pressurized fluid. A seat is configured to be disposed inside the housing. A valve configured to be slidably disposed at least partially inside the seat. The displacement of the valve is biased by the force of a spring. In an operative configuration the valve and the spring are displaced due to the force of the pressurized fluid with respect to a predefined pressure, thereby relieving pressure in the vehicle hitch system.
In a preferred embodiment, the dimension of the valve is greater than the dimension of the seat along the operative axial direction A.
In an embodiment, a portion of the valve has different geometry along the operative axial direction A.
In a preferred embodiment, the portion is conically profiled.
In a preferred embodiment, the portion is located centrally of the valve along the operative axial direction A.
In a preferred embodiment, in an inoperative configuration the portion of the valve abuts the seat.
In a preferred embodiment, wherein the pressure relief valve assembly is configured on each of the arms, of the vehicle hitch system.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one spacer is disposed between a surface of the valve and the spring for retaining the spring.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one shim is disposed between the spacer and the portion of the valve to adjust the precompression load of the spring, thereby allowing adjustment of the predefined pressure of the pressure relief valve assembly.
In a preferred embodiment, a port is configured to be in fluid communication with the passage.
In a preferred embodiment, the pressure relief valve assembly is operated either hydraulically or pneumatically.
In yet another embodiment, the seat is configured to be adapted to housing of varying geomtries.
In another embodiment, the housing is attached to the piston by fastening means or press-fit means.
In a preferred embodiment, the port is oriented at an angle to the operative axial direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
The pressure relief valve assembly, of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 shows a side view of a vehicle attached with a trailer, in accordance with an embodiment of the prior art;
Figure 2 shows a detail of the Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the vehicle hitch system of the Figure 2 having two arms;
Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the pressure relieving valve assembly attached to the piston of a hitch system, in an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 shows another sectional view of the pressure relieving valve assembly depicting the constructional details thereof and the fluid passage; and
Figure 6 shows a side view of the pressure relieving valve assembly.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND DRAWING
10 – housing
20 – seal
30 – seat
40 – valve
42 – portion
50 – spring
60 – spacer
70 – shim
80 – passage
90 – port
100 - pressure relief valve assembly
120 – vehicle structure
130 – trailer
140 – hitch system
142, 144 – arm
146 – cylinder
150 – piston
A – operative axial direction
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
When an element is referred to as being "mounted on", “engaged to”, “connected to”, or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
Terms such as “inner,” “outer,” "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.
Referring to the Figures 1-6, a pressure relief valve assembly 100 is shown. The pressure relief valve assembly 100 is configured to be supported on an arm 142 of a vehicle hitch system 140. The vehicle hitch system 140 facilitates connection between a trailer 130 and a vehicle structure 120. The hitch system 140 has a piston-cylinder arrangement which facilitates relieving of the mechanical shock loads incident on the vehicle structure 120 as well as the trailer. The pressure relief valve assembly 100 comprises a housing 10 configured to be concentrically attached to the piston 150 of the vehicle hitch system 140. Thus, the pressure relief valve assembly 100 directly senses the pressure of a fluid present inside the cylinder 146 of the vehicle hitch system 140. The housing 10 has a passage 80 for flow of a pressurized fluid. A seat 30 is configured to be concentrically disposed inside the housing 10. A valve 40 is configured to be slidably disposed at least partially inside the seat 30. The displacement of the valve 40 is biased by the force of a spring 50. One end of the spring 50 is attached to the piston 150, and the other end of the spring 50 is configured to be attached to the valve 40. The axis of the housing 10, the axis of the seat 30 and the axis of the valve 40 are oriented in the same direction as that of the operative axial dirction A of the pressure relief valve assembly 100. In an operative configuration, the valve 40 and the spring 50 is displaced due to the force of the pressurized fluid in the operative axial direction A. A predefined pressure value is set by the user to enable actuation of the valve 40 under the force of a pressurized fluid. The actuation of the valve 40 results in relieving the fluid pressure inside the cylinder 146.
In an embodiment, the dimension of the valve 40 is greater than the dimension of the seat 30 along the operative axial direction A.
A portion 42 of the valve 40 has different geometry along the operative axial direction A. The portion 42 facilitates abutment of the valve 40 onto the seat 30 in an inoperative configuration of the pressure relief valve assembly 100, as shown in the figures 4 and 5.
In another embodiment, the portion 42 is conically profiled.
In a preferred embodiment, the portion 42 is located centrally of the valve 40 with respect to the operative axial direction A.
In an embodiment, the pressure relief valve assembly 100 is configured to be supported on each of the arms 142, 144 of the vehicle hitch system 140.
At least one spacer 60 is disposed between a surface of the valve 40 and the spring 50 for retaining the spring 50. At least one shim 70 is disposed between the spacer 60 and the portion 42 of the valve 40 to adjust the precompression load of the spring 50. The shims 70 facilitate adjustment of the predefined pressure of the pressure relief valve assembly 100. A port 90 is configured on a wall of the cylinder 146 to be in fluid communication with the passage 80 to facilitate flow of the pressurized fluid.
In an embodiment, the pressure relief valve assembly 100 is hydraulically driven.
In an embodiment, the pressure relief valve assembly 100 is pneumatically driven.
In a preferred embodiment, the housing 10 and the seat 20 have a modular construction. The seat 20 is configured to be adapted onto another housings 10 having varying geometry i.e. different size or shape, and thus offers interchangeability of components.
In a preferred embodiment, the port 90 is oriented at an angle to the operative axial direction A.
In a preferred embodiment, the housing 10 has a hexagonal geometry on an outer side to facilitate tightening of the housing 10 inside the piston 150.
In an embodiment, the housing 10 is fastened to the piston 150.
In yet another embodiment, the housing 10 is press fitted into the piston 150.
The pressure relieving valve 100 facilitates efficient relieving of shock loads transferred from the equipment attached to the vehicle hitch system 140. The modular construction of the housing 10 and the seat 20 reduces cost of manufacturing, as the construction of the seat 20 offers interchangeability. Thus, the seat 20 can be assembled with another housing 10 having different size or shape. Since, the shims 70 are located on an internal side of the housing 100, possibility of tampering with the operating characteristics of the pressure relieving valve 100 is eliminated. The valve 40 is guided coaxial to the piston 150, as the pressure of the fluid in the cylinder 146 acts in the operative axial direction A. Due to this, the misalignment of the valve 40 during operation is prevented. The need for an additional passage for the pressurized fluid is eliminated. Moreover, the pressure of the fluid in the cylinder 146 is directly sensed by the valve 40, which results in an accurate amount of displacement of the valve 40 as desired.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a pressure relief valve assembly, that:
• increases shock relieving performance;
• eliminates possibility of tampering thereof;
• offers simplicity of construction;
• reduces resistance to flow of pressurized fluid; and
• eliminates misalignment of the valve during operation.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveals the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, or step, or group of elements, or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, or step, or group of elements, or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation. , Claims:The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveals the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, or step, or group of elements, or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, or step, or group of elements, or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
 
WE CLAIM:
1. A pressure relief valve assembly (100) comprising:
• a housing (10) configured to be attached to a piston (150) of a vehicle hitch system (140), said housing (10) having a passage (80) for flow of a pressurized fluid;
• a seat (30) configured to be attached inside said housing (10); and
• a valve (40) configured to be slidably disposed at least partially inside said seat (30), the displacement of said valve (40) being biased by the force of a spring (50), in an operative configuration said valve (40) and said spring (50) are displaced due to the force of the pressurized fluid with respect to a predefined pressure and allow the fluid to pass through the passage (80), thereby relieving pressure in the vehicle hitch system (140).
2. The pressure relief valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimension of said valve (40) is greater than the dimension of said seat (30) along the operative axial direction (A).
3. The pressure relief valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion (42) of said valve (40) has different geometry along its operative axial direction (A).
4. The pressure relief valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said portion (42) is conically profiled.
5. The pressure relief valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said portion (42) is located centrally of the valve (40) in the operative axial direction (A).
6. The pressure relief valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein, in an inoperative configuration said portion (42) of said valve (40) abuts said seat (30).
7. The pressure relief valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure relief valve assembly (100) is configured on each of the arms (142, 144) of the vehicle hitch system (140).
8. The pressure relief valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the spring (50) is attached to the piston (150) and the other end of the spring (50) is configured to be attached to said valve (40), said seat (30) is configured to be adapted to said housing (10) with varying geometry, and said housing (10) is attached to said piston (150) by fastening means or press-fit means.
9. The pressure relief valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one spacer (60) is disposed between a surface of said valve (40) and said spring (50) for retaining the spring (50), at least one shim (70) is disposed between said spacer (60) and said portion (42) of said valve (40) to adjust the precompression load of the spring (50), thereby allowing adjustment of the predefined pressure of said pressure relief valve assembly (100), and a port (90) is configured to be in fluid communication with said passage (80) and said port (90) is oriented at an angle to the operative axial direction (A).

10. The pressure relief valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure relief valve assembly (100) is configured to be attached to a vehicle hitch system (140), said pressure relied valve assembly (100) being operated either hydraulically or pneumatically.

Dated this 28th day of June, 2022

_______________________________
MOHAN RAJKUMAR DEWAN, IN/PA – 25
of R.K.DEWAN & CO.
Authorized Agent of Applicant

TO,
THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS
THE PATENT OFFICE, AT CHENNAI