Wheel valve assembly for tire inflation/deflation system

A valve for use in an inflation/deflation system, comprising:

• a valve body having a first inlet/outlet port fluidly connectable to a second inlet/outlet port;
• a valve member movable within the valve body between a first position and a second position for fluidly connecting or disconnecting the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port;
• and
• a fluid-operated damper operably connected to the valve member to dampen movement of the valve member from the second position to the first position;
• wherein, when in a first state, the first inlet/outlet port is fluidly disconnected from the second inlet/outlet port by the valve member;
• wherein the valve is configured to transition to a second state when a fluid pressure at the first inlet/outlet port is at or above a prescribed pressure threshold, and when in the second state the first inlet/outlet port is fluidly disconnected from the second inlet/outlet port;
• wherein, when the valve is in the second state, lowering the fluid pressure below the prescribed pressure threshold causes the valve to transition from the second state to a third state;
• wherein, when in the third state, the first inlet/outlet port is fluidly connected to the second inlet/outlet port while the damper dampens movement of the valve member from the second position to the first position to maintain the valve in the third state for a prescribed period of time;
• wherein the fluid-operated damper includes a body portion that at least partially forms a fluid timing chamber, and a timing piston movable in the timing chamber, the timing piston separating the timing chamber into a first portion and a second portion;
• wherein the body portion includes a fluid passage for restricting fluid flow from the first portion of a timing chamber to the second portion of the timing chamber;
• and
• wherein the fluid passage is a helical passage that encompasses a longitudinal axis of the valve member and/or the damper.

A valve for use in an inflation/deflation system, comprising:

• a valve body having a first inlet/outlet port fluidly connectable to a second inlet/outlet port;
• a valve member movable within the valve body between a first position and a second position for fluidly connecting or disconnecting the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port;
• and
• a fluid-operated damper operably connected to the valve member to dampen movement of the valve member from the second position to the first position;
• wherein, when in a first state, the first inlet/outlet port is fluidly disconnected from the second inlet/outlet port by the valve member;
• wherein the valve is configured to transition to a second state when a fluid pressure at the first inlet/outlet port is at or above a prescribed pressure threshold, and when in the second state the first inlet/outlet port is fluidly disconnected from the second inlet/outlet port;
• wherein, when the valve is in the second state, lowering the fluid pressure below the prescribed pressure threshold causes the valve to transition from the second state to a third state;
• wherein, when in the third state, the first inlet/outlet port is fluidly connected to the second inlet/outlet port while the damper dampens movement of the valve member from the second position to the first position to maintain the valve in the third state for a prescribed period of time;
• wherein the damper includes a damper fluid chamber, a timing piston movable in the damper fluid chamber, and a seal member disposed in a radial groove of the timing piston for abutting a surface forming at least a portion of the damper fluid chamber,
• wherein the seal member is movable within the radial groove of the timing piston to serve as a check valve, the check valve being configured to restrict fluid flow from a first portion of the timing chamber to a second portion of the timing chamber across the radial groove when the seal member engages a first axial face of the radial groove, and the check valve being configured to permit fluid flow from the second portion of the timing chamber to the first portion of the timing chamber across the radial groove when the seal member engages a second axial face of the radial groove;
• and
• wherein at least one of the first axial face and the second axial face includes a stepped surface for reducing surface area contact with the seal member.