Valve assembly and tire inflation system including said valve assembly

A tire inflation system, comprising:

• a valve assembly comprising a valve body comprising a first fluid port and a second fluid port;
• a piston disposed at least partially within the valve body and configured to be moved relative to the valve body between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the piston is in the open position the first fluid port is fluidly connected with the second fluid port, and wherein when the piston is in the closed position the first fluid port is fluidly isolated from the second fluid port,
• a sealed control chamber selectively fluidly connected with the atmosphere and the sealed control chamber changing in volume as the piston moves between the open position and the closed position,
• wherein when the piston is in the open position the first fluid port and the second fluid port are fluidly connected with one another by a fluid channel extending through the piston;
• a pneumatic tire fluidly connected with the second fluid port of the valve assembly;
• and
• a pressure source,
• wherein for pressurizing and for de-pressurizing the pneumatic tire the first fluid port of the valve assembly is selectively fluidly connected with the pressure source and with the atmosphere.

A valve assembly for use in a tire inflation system, the valve assembly comprising:

• a valve body comprising a first fluid port and a second fluid port;
• a piston disposed at least partially within the valve body and configured to be moved relative to the valve body between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the piston is in the open position the first fluid port is fluidly connected with the second fluid port, and wherein when the piston is in the closed position the first fluid port is fluidly isolated from the second fluid port,
• wherein when the piston is in the open position the first fluid port and the second fluid port are fluidly connected with one another by a fluid channel extending through the piston;
• and
• a sealed control chamber and a check valve selectively fluidly connecting the sealed control chamber with the atmosphere, wherein the sealed control chamber and the piston are configured such that a volume of the sealed control chamber changes as the piston is moved between the open position and the closed position, wherein the sealed control chamber, the piston, and the check valve are configured such that as the piston is moved toward the open position the volume of the sealed control chamber decreases and the check valve allows a fluid flow out of the sealed control chamber through the check valve, and as the piston is moved toward the closed position the volume of the sealed control chamber increases and the check valve blocks an inward fluid flow into the sealed control chamber through the check valve, the piston thereby creating an under-pressure condition in the sealed control chamber as the piston is moved toward the closed position.