Traction control system valve

A valve, for use with a vehicular air brake system including an electronic control unit, for controlling air flow from a pressurized air supply to the brake system during two modes of vehicle operation, the valve comprising:

• a valve body;
• a regulator assembly internal to the valve body in fluid communication with the pressurized air supply, the regulator assembly for pressure-regulating the air supplied to the brake system during one of the two modes of operation;
• a solenoid valve internal to the valve body for receiving pressure-regulated air from the regulator assembly, the solenoid valve being controlled by the electronic control unit during the two modes of operation;
• a single double-check valve internal to the valve body in fluid communication with the solenoid valve and the pressurized air supply from a treadle valve, the double-check valve allowing the pressure-regulated air to flow from the solenoid valve to the brake system during the one mode of operation, and allowing the pressurized air to flow from the pressurized air supply to the brake system during the other mode of operation;
• and
• wherein the brake system includes a relay valve having a control air line in fluid communication with the double-check valve, the relay valve amplifying the flow and maintaining the pressure of the air provided to the brake system from the solenoid valve during the one mode of operation.

A valve for controlling the traction of at least one vehicle wheel slipping on a road surface, the traction control valve for use with a vehicular air brake system including at least one brake valve controlled by an electronic control unit, the traction control valve comprising:

• a valve body;
• a regulator assembly internal to the body for pressure-regulating the air supplied to the brake system;
• and
• a single double-check valve internal to the body, the single double-check valve allowing the pressure-regulated air to flow from the regulator assembly to the at least one brake valve, the electronic control unit controlling the at least one brake valve to apply brake pressure to the at least one slipping wheel until traction with the road surface is obtained.

A valve for controlling the traction of at least one vehicle wheel slipping on road surface, the traction control valve for use with a vehicular air brake system including at least one brake valve controlled by an electronic control unit, the traction control valve comprising:

• a valve body;
• a regulator assembly internal to the body for pressure-regulating the air supplied to the brake system;
• a double-check valve internal to the body, the double-check valve allowing the pressure-regulated air to flow from the regulator assembly to the at least one brake valve, the electronic control unit controlling the at least one brake valve to apply brake pressure to the at least one slipping wheel until traction with the road surface is obtained;
• a solenoid valve internal to the body, the solenoid valve being controlled by the electronic control unit to allow the pressure-regulated air to flow from the regulator assembly to the double-check valve;
• and
• wherein the brake system includes a relay valve having a control air line in fluid communication with the double-check valve, the relay valve amplifying the flow and maintaining the pressure of the air provided to the at least one brake valve from the double-check valve.

A traction control valve for controlling the traction of at least one vehicle wheel slipping on a road surface, the traction control valve for use with a vehicular air brake system including at least one brake valve controlled by an electronic control unit, the traction control valve comprising:

• a valve body;
• a regulator assembly internal to the body, the regulator assembly for pressure-regulating the air supplied to the brake system;
• a single double-check valve internal to the body;
• and
• a solenoid valve internal to the body, the solenoid valve being controlled by the electronic control unit to allow the pressure-regulated air to flow from the regulator assembly to the double-check valve;
• the double-check valve allowing the pressure-regulated air to flow from the solenoid valve to the brake system, the electronic control unit controlling the at least one brake valve to apply brake pressure to the at least one slipping wheel until traction with the road surface is obtained.

A combination anti-lock air brake and traction control system for use on a vehicle having at least one wheel with a brake, the system being controlled by an electronic control unit during two modes of vehicle operation, the system comprising:

• a source of pressurized air;
• an air brake system relay valve in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air, the relay valve including a control air line;
• at least one brake valve, positioned proximate the brake, for supplying air from the relay valve to the brake, the at least one brake valve being controlled by the electronic control unit;
• and
• a traction control valve in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air and the control air line of the relay valve, the traction control valve including a valve body and a pressure regulator internal to the body, a solenoid valve internal to the body and a double-check valve internal to the body, the electronic control unit controlling the traction control valve to apply the brake to the wheel during the two modes of vehicle operation.