Description:TITLE OF THE INVENTION: A SELF-RETURN PNEUMATIC HAND BRAKE VALVE FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure is generally related to hand brake valves. Particularly, the present disclosure is related to a pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles. More particularly, the present disclosure is related to a self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Road transportation using commercial vehicles plays vital role for the movement of commodities and freight, both in India and around the world. A pneumatic hand brake valve is used to apply the brakes by releasing the air pressure at a spring side of a brake actuator when a commercial vehicle is stopped, descending a hill, or in a secondary braking situation.
According to recent regulations [BS 6], the presence of hand brake valve in all the vehicles is a mandatory requirement. In case of the failure of primary brake circuit, the hand brake valve can be used as a secondary barking alternative to handle the situation. A self-return type hand brake valve is one of its kind, where a user can gradually control the vehicle during secondary braking applications.
The user can typically operate a self-return type hand brake valve without first unlocking a lever from an OFF position. If the lever is left in any position between the OFF position and the ON position, a torsional member causes it to return automatically to the OFF position. The vehicle might be in the park position when the lever is locked and pressed to the ON position.
Currently, the process of manufacturing the self-return type hand brake valve become more complex and tedious because of the involvement of too many components. Particularly, components such as, reciprocating member are made of two separate pieces. Hence, for too many sealing points has to be incorporated to prevent leakages, thereby increases the number of components to be used. Further, to compensate the thread separation load, contact length of the reciprocating member has to be increased, which in turn increases the overall length of the reciprocating member and in turn the length of the hand brake valve.
There is, therefore, a need in the art, for a self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles, which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles is disclosed. Said hand brake valve broadly comprises: an at least a first sliding member; an at least a second sliding member; an at least a reciprocating member; an at least a retaining member; an enclosing member; an at least a profiled member; an at least a locking groove; a top cover; a dust cover; a holding member; an actuating member; an at least a sealing member; an at least a control member; an at least an inlet member; an inlet sealing member; an at least a delivery member; and an at least an exhaust member.
The at least a first sliding member is associated with an at least a second sliding member.
The at least a reciprocating member is associated with the at least one retaining member. said at least one reciprocating member broadly comprises: a plurality of flow path slots; an internal threaded joint; a top sealing surface; and a plurality of sealing points.
Said at least one reciprocating member is configured as a single undivided piece, thereby eliminating the occurrence of separation load. the association between the at least one retaining member and the at least one reciprocating member is balanced by the at least a control member, thereby enabling to reduce the thread length of the internal threaded joint, which in turn enabling to reduce the overall length of the at least one reciprocating member.
In an embodiment, the length of the at least one reciprocating member ranges between about 25 mm and about 27 mm, and the length reduction of the at least one reciprocating member ranges between about 15% and about 17%.
The at least one retaining member broadly comprises: an external threaded joint; an at least a couple of slots; an undercut; and a bottom sealing surface.
The external threaded joint is configured to mat with the internal threaded joint, and facilitates the associating of the at least one retaining member with the at least one reciprocating member through the internal threaded joint.
The at least a couple of slots is disposed at a top face of the at least one retaining member is configured to facilitate the tightening of the association between the at least one retaining member and the at least one reciprocating member.
The undercut disposed at a bottom of the at least one retaining member is configured to facilitate the butting of a bottom sealing surface with the top sealing surface of the at least one reciprocating member.
Said at least one first sliding member, said at least one second sliding member, said at least one reciprocating member, and said at least one retaining member are disposed the enclosing member. In an embodiment, the length of the enclosing member ranges between about 50 mm and about 55 mm.
The at least a profiled member is associated with the at least one first sliding member. Said at least one profiled member is enclosed within a top cover (18) and subsequently the top cover is enclosed by a dust cover.
The holding member is associated with a first end of an actuating member, and a second end of the actuating member is associated with the at least one profiled member.
The actuating member is moved between the positions of locked or unlocked by pushing the actuating member to be locked in an at least one locking groove or releasing the actuating member to be unlocked from the at least one locking groove, respectively;
The inlet sealing member is disposed within an at least one sealing member. Said at least one sealing member along with an at least a sealing ring is disposed on the at least a reciprocating member.
The at least one sealing member is sandwiched between the at least one retaining member and the at least one reciprocating member with the help of the internal threaded joint and the external threaded joint.
The at least an inlet member facilitates the compressed air to enter into the at least one reciprocating member. The at least a delivery member facilitates the compressed air to communicate an exhaust member through the sealing element.
The method of working of the self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles is also disclosed.
Since the at least one reciprocating member is configured as a single piece: overall manufacturing complexity is reduced; the length of the at least one reciprocating member largely reduced and in turn aids to reduce the overall height of the self-return type hand brake valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 1a illustrates an exploded view of a self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates an at least a reciprocating member of a self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates an at least a retaining member of a self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates a self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles with an at least an actuating member is in a locked position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 illustrates a self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles with an at least an actuating member is in a release position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6 illustrates a self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles with an at least an actuating member is in between a locked position and release position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7 illustrates an at least a retaining member fastened with an at least a reciprocating member, of a self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 8 illustrates the components of a self-return type pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles, along with an at least a compression member of an actuator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Throughout this specification, the use of the words “comprise” and “include”, and variations such as “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and “including” may imply the inclusion of an element or elements not specifically recited. Further, the disclosed embodiments may be embodied in various other forms as well.
Throughout this specification, the use of the phrase “commercial vehicle” and its variations is to be construed as being inclusive of: trucks; buses; vans; and/or the like.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “member” is to be construed as a technical component that is communicatively and/or operably associated with other technical components, which function together as part of a mechanism to achieve a desired technical result.
Throughout this specification, the use of the words “communication”, “couple”, and their variations (such as communicatively) is to be construed as being inclusive of: one-way communication (or coupling); and two-way communication (or coupling), as the case may be, irrespective of the directions of arrows in the drawings.
Throughout this specification, where applicable, the use of the phrase “at least” is to be construed in association with the suffix “one” or the suffix “two” i.e. it is to be read along with the suffix “one” as “at least one”, which is used in the meaning of “one or more” (likewise for the other suffix). A person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the phrase “at least one” is a standard term that is used in Patent Specifications to denote any component of a disclosure that may be present or disposed in a single quantity or more than a single quantity (likewise for the other suffix).
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “plurality” is to be construed as being inclusive of “at least one”.
Throughout this specification, the words “the” and “said” are used interchangeably.
Throughout this specification, the disclosure of a range is to be construed as being inclusive of: the lower limit of the range; and the upper limit of the range.
Throughout this specification, the phrases “at least a”, “at least an”, and “at least one” are used interchangeably.
Also, it is to be noted that embodiments may be described as a method. Although the operations in a method are described as a sequential process, many of the operations may be performed in parallel, concurrently, or simultaneously. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A method may be terminated when its operations are completed, but may also have additional steps.
A self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles (also referred to as “hand brake valve”) is disclosed. As illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 1a, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, said hand brake valve broadly comprises: an at least a first sliding member (11); an at least a second sliding member (12); an at least a reciprocating member (13); an at least a retaining member (14); an enclosing member (15; for example, a body); an at least a profiled member (16); an at least a locking groove (17); a top cover (18); a dust cover (19); a holding member (20; for example, a knob); an actuating member (21; for example, a lever); an at least a sealing member (22); an at least a control member (23); an at least an inlet member (25); an at least a delivery member(26); and an at least an exhaust member (28).
The holding member (20) is associated with a first end of the actuating member (21), and a second end of the actuating member (21) is associated with the at least one profiled member (16). The at least one profiled member (16) is enclosed within a top cover (18) and subsequently the top cover (18) is enclosed by the dust cover (19).
The actuating member (21) can be moved between the positions of locked [or applied] and unlocked [or released] by pushing the actuating member (21) to be locked in the at least one locking groove (17) or releasing the actuating member (21) to be unlocked from the at least one locking groove (17), respectively.
The at least one profiled member (16) is also associated with the at least one first sliding member (11) and said at least one first sliding member (11) is associated with [or fastened with or threaded with] the at least one second sliding member (12).
An inlet sealing member (24) is disposed within [or positioned within or placed within] the at least one sealing member (22), and said at least one sealing member (22) along with an at least a sealing ring (29) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the at least a reciprocating member (13). The at least one reciprocating member (13) is then associated with [or fastened with or threaded with] the at least one retaining member (14).
Said at least one first sliding member (11), said at least one second sliding member (12), said at least one reciprocating member (13), and said at least one retaining member (14) are disposed within [or enclosed with] the enclosing member (15).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the enclosing member (15) ranges between about 50 mm and about 55 mm.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one reciprocating member (13) is configured as a single undivided piece, thereby the occurrence of separation load is eliminated. As illustrated in Figure 2, said at least one reciprocating member (13) broadly comprises: a plurality of flow path slots (13a); an internal threaded joint (13b); a top sealing surface (13c); and a plurality of sealing points (13d).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in Figure 3, the at least one retaining member (14) broadly comprising: an external threaded joint (14a); an at least a couple of slots (14b); an undercut (14c); and a bottom sealing surface (14d).
The external threaded joint (14a) is configured to mat with the internal threaded joint (13b). As illustrated in Figure 7, said external threaded joint (14a) facilitates the associating of [or fastening of or thread joining of] the at least one retaining member (14) with the at least one reciprocating member (13) through the internal threaded joint (13b).
The association between the at least one retaining member (14) and the at least one reciprocating member (13) is balanced by the at least a control member (23), thereby enabling to reduce the thread length of the internal threaded joint (13b), which in turn enabling to reduce the overall length of the at least one reciprocating member (13). The at least one sealing member (22) is sandwiched between the at least one retaining member (14) and the at least one reciprocating member (13) with the help of the internal threaded joint (13b) and the external threaded joint (14a).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the at least one reciprocating member (13) ranges between about 25 mm and about 27 mm, and the diameter of compressed air flowing paths throughout the hand brake valve is maintained between about 3.5 mm and about 4 mm.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the length reduction of the at least one reciprocating member (13) ranges between about 15% and about 17%.
The at least a couple of slots (14b) disposed at [or provided at] a top face of the at least one retaining member (14) is configured to facilitate the tightening of the association between the at least one retaining member (14) and the at least one reciprocating member (13).
The undercut (14c) disposed at [or provided at] a bottom of the at least one retaining member (14) is configured to facilitate the butting of the bottom sealing surface (14d) with the top sealing surface (13c) of the at least one reciprocating member (13).
The working of the disclosed self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles shall now be explained.
As illustrated in Figure 4, when the actuating member (21) is in locked position [i.e., when applying the hand brake], the at least one profiled member (16) is actuated through the actuating member (21) by pushing the actuating member (21) toward the at least one locking groove (17) to get locked. The at least one profiled member (16) shall in turn actuates the at least one first sliding member (11) to seal the entry of compressed air through the inlet member (25) to the at least one reciprocating member (13) with the help of the at least one sealing member (22), thereby enabling the exhaust member (28) to open. Hence, compressed air present at the delivery member (26) is communicated to the atmosphere through the exhaust member (28), thereby applying the brake.
During the actuating member (21) is in locked position, the inlet sealing member (24) is configured to ensure that the entry of compressed air passing through the inlet member (25) is sealed between the at least one reciprocating member (13) and the at least one sealing member (22) through the plurality of sealing points (13d).
Therefore, the compressed air at the delivery member (26) is communicated to the exhaust member (28) through the sealing element (22). This makes the compressed air at a spring brake actuator chamber (30; Figure 8) to exhaust due to the decompression of an at least a compression member [for example, a spring] for applying the brakes.
As illustrated in Figure 5, when the actuating member (21) is in unlocked position [i.e., when releasing the hand brake], the at least one profiled member (16) is actuated through the actuating member (21) by unlocking the actuating member (21) from the at least one locking groove (17). The at least one profiled member (16) shall in turn actuates the at least one first sliding member (11) to seal the exhaust member (28) with the help of the at least one sealing member (22), thereby stopping the exhaust of compressed air from the at least one reciprocating member (13). Hence, opens up the communication between the inlet member (25) and the delivery member (26), thereby enabling the flow of compressed air from the deliver member (26) to the inlet member (25) through the plurality of flow path slots (13a) provided in the at least one reciprocating member (13), and hence the brake is released.
During the actuating member (21) is in unlocked position, the exhaust sealing member (27) is configured to ensure that the exhaust of the compressed air through the exhaust member (28) is sealed between at least one reciprocating member (13) and the at least one second sliding member (12).
As illustrated in Figure 6, if the actuating member (21) is in between the locked position and the unlocked position, the at least one profiled member (16) is actuated through the actuating member (21) accordingly to the incremental movement of the actuating member (21). This movement of the actuating member (21) enables the exhaust member (28) to open correspondingly, thereby making compressed air to deplete in the delivery member (26). The compressed air is depleted until the at least one control member (23) is counter-balanced by the force generated by the delivered compressed air. Now, at the particular position of the actuating member (21), the delivered compressed air is maintained at a balanced pressure in the spring brake actuator chamber (30).
This process gets repeated until the actuating member (21) reaches any one of either the locked position or the unlocked position.
The pressure is any braking pressure in between about 0 bar to vehicle system pressure, as demanded by the situation of the user. The system pressure can go up to 8 bar or 9 bar or 10 bar, depending on the type of vehicle.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the device and its various components may be made of any suitable materials known in the art. Likewise, a person skilled in the art will also appreciate the fact that the configuration of the device and its various components may be varied based on requirements.
Since the at least one reciprocating member (13) is configured as a single piece: overall manufacturing complexity is reduced; length of the at least one reciprocating member (13) is largely reduced and in turn aids to reduce the overall height of the self-return type hand brake valve.
It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the above description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting. Various modifications, additions, alterations, and improvements without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the disclosure may be made by a person skilled in the art. Such modifications, additions, alterations, and improvements should be construed as being within the scope of this disclosure.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
11 – At Least one First Sliding Member
12 – At Least one Second Sliding Member
13 – At Least one Reciprocating Member
13a – Plurality of Flow Path Slots
13b - Internal Threaded Joint
13c - Top Sealing Surface
13d – Sealing Points
14 – At Least one Retaining Member
14a - External Threaded Joint
14b - Slots
14c - Undercut
14d – Bottom Sealing Surface
15 – Enclosing Member
16 – At Least one Profiled Member
17 – At Least one Locking Groove
18 – Top Cover
19 – Dust Cover
20 – Holding Member
21 – Actuating Member
22 – At Least one Sealing Member
23 – At Least one Control Member
24 – Inlet Sealing Member
25 – Inlet Member
26 – Delivery Member
27 – Exhaust Sealing Member
28 – Exhaust Member
29 –At Least a Sealing Ring
30 – Spring Brake Actuator Chamber , Claims:1. A self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles, comprising:
an at least a first sliding member (11) that is associated with an at least a second sliding member (12);
an at least a reciprocating member (13) being associated with an at least one retaining member (14), said at least one reciprocating member (13) comprising:
a plurality of flow path slots (13a);
an internal threaded joint (13b);
a top sealing surface (13c); and
a plurality of sealing points (13d); with:
said at least one reciprocating member (13) being configured as a single undivided piece, thereby eliminating the occurrence of separation load; and
said association between the at least one retaining member (14) and the at least one reciprocating member (13) being balanced by an at least a control member (23), thereby enabling to reduce the thread length of the internal threaded joint (13b), which in turn enabling to reduce the overall length of the at least one reciprocating member (13);
the at least one retaining member (14) comprising:
an external threaded joint (14a) that is configured to mat with the internal threaded joint (13b), and facilitates the associating of the at least one retaining member (14) with the at least one reciprocating member (13) through the internal threaded joint (13b);
an at least a couple of slots (14b) that is disposed at a top face of the at least one retaining member (14) being configured to facilitate the tightening of the association between the at least one retaining member (14) and the at least one reciprocating member (13); and
an undercut (14c) that is disposed at a bottom of the at least one retaining member (14), said undercut (14c) is configured to facilitate the butting of a bottom sealing surface (14d) with the top sealing surface (13c) of the at least one reciprocating member (13);
an enclosing member (15) that facilitates the disposing of said at least one first sliding member (11), said at least one second sliding member (12), said at least one reciprocating member (13), and said at least one retaining member (14);
an at least a profiled member (16) that is associated with the at least one first sliding member (11), said at least one profiled member (16) being enclosed within a top cover (18) and subsequently the top cover being enclosed by a dust cover (19);
a holding member (20) that is associated with a first end of an actuating member (21), and a second end of the actuating member (21) being associated with the at least one profiled member (16), with:
said actuating member (21) being moved between the positions of locked or unlocked by pushing the actuating member (21) to be locked in an at least one locking groove (17) or releasing the actuating member (21) to be unlocked from the at least one locking groove (17), respectively;
an inlet sealing member (24) that is disposed within an at least one sealing member (22), and said at least one sealing member (22) along with an at least a sealing ring (29) is disposed on the at least a reciprocating member (13), with:
said at least one sealing member (22) being sandwiched between the at least one retaining member (14) and the at least one reciprocating member (13) with the help of the internal threaded joint (13b) and the external threaded joint (14a);
an at least an inlet member (25) that facilitates the compressed air to enter into the at least one reciprocating member (13); and
an at least a delivery member (26) that facilitates the compressed air to communicate an exhaust member (28) through the sealing element (22).
2. The self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the length of the enclosing member (15) ranges between 50 mm and 55 mm.
3. The self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the length of the at least one reciprocating member (13) ranges between 25 mm and 27 mm.
4. The self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the diameter of compressed air flowing paths throughout the hand brake valve is maintained between 3.5 mm and 4 mm.
5. The self-return pneumatic hand brake valve for commercial vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the length reduction of the at least one reciprocating member (13) ranges between 15% and 17%.