An actuator for an assembly in a motor vehicle may have a moving armature in an armature chamber, where the actuator has a fluid path that is configured for fluid transfer between the armature chamber and a fluid reservoir in the assembly when the actuator is installed in an assembly, where the actuator is configured to fill the armature chamber with fluid, in particular oil, when the armature moves axially, thereby drawing fluid into the armature chamber when the actuator is operated in a fluid chamber, in particular an oil chamber.

A smart damping control valve having a failsafe mode is provided. The control valve includes a movable valve assembly within a valve housing. The moveable valve assembly includes a shuttle valve concentrically positioned with respect to a spool valve, with the spool valve and the shuttle valve each being axially moveable within a bore in the valve housing. The control valve includes a solenoid assembly having an electromagnetically actuated armature that varies the opening pressure of the movable valve assembly. At a first electrical current, the valve assembly provides a first opening pressure, and at a second electrical current, the valve assembly provides a second opening pressure. The valve assembly provides a third opening pressure, between the first and second opening pressures, in the absence of an electrical current to the solenoid assembly.

A smart damping control valve having a failsafe mode is provided. The control valve includes a movable valve assembly within a valve housing. The moveable valve assembly includes a shuttle valve concentrically positioned with respect to a spool valve, with the spool valve and the shuttle valve each being axially moveable within a bore in the valve housing. The control valve includes a solenoid assembly having an electromagnetically actuated armature that varies the opening pressure of the movable valve assembly. At a first electrical current, the valve assembly provides a first opening pressure, and at a second electrical current, the valve assembly provides a second opening pressure. The valve assembly provides a third opening pressure, between the first and second opening pressures, in the absence of an electrical current to the solenoid assembly.

Fluid damped check valves are described herein. A representative check valve includes a piston assembly movably positioned within a housing. The housing can include a flow chamber, a damping chamber containing a damping fluid, and a leak chamber fluidly coupled between the flow chamber and the damping chamber. The piston assembly can include a poppet positioned in the flow chamber, and a flange positioned in the damping chamber. In operation, the piston assembly is movable between (i) a closed position in which the poppet sealingly engages the housing to at least inhibit fluid flow through the flow chamber and (ii) an open position in which the poppet disengages from the housing and permits fluid flow through the flow chamber. When the piston assembly moves between the open and closed positions, the flange moves through the damping fluid in the damping chamber to slow the movement of the poppet.

The present invention relates to a check valve unit (1, 100, 200, 300, 400) having a shaft bearing body (10, 110, 210, 310, 410) with an at least substantially cylindrical mounting portion (11) extending along an axial direction (A) and an axially extending valve shaft (20, 120) mounted therein. The latter is displaceable along the axial direction (A). The check valve unit (1, 100, 200, 300, 400) further includes a valve head (25, 125) with a sealing surface (33, 133), wherein the valve head (25, 125) is disposed on a distal end (21) of the valve shaft (20, 120) in the axial direction (A), the distal end (21) facing away from the mounting portion (11). Further, a damping reservoir (50) is provided inside the shaft bearing body (10, 110, 210, 310, 410). A volume of the damping reservoir (50) is changed by axial movement of the valve shaft (20, 120). In order to obtain a well-defined times for opening and closing under given conditions and to make the check valve unit (1, 100, 200, 300, 400) less prone to making noise, at least two channels (46a, 46b) are provided in parallel, each of them constituting a fluid connection between the damping reservoir (50) and an outside (70). The damping reservoir (50) is, apart from the channels (46a, 46b), at least substantially enclosed. Each channel (46a, 46b) has a length being at least ten times a hydraulic diameter of the respective channel (46a, 46b).

The present disclosure relates to a check valve unit (1, 100, 200, 300, 400) having a shaft bearing body (10, 110, 210, 310, 410) with an at least substantially cylindrical mounting portion (11) extending along an axial direction (A) and an axially extending valve shaft (20, 120) mounted therein. The latter is displaceable along the axial direction (A). The check valve unit (1, 100, 200, 300, 400) further includes a valve head (25, 125) with a sealing surface (33, 133), wherein the valve head (25, 125) is disposed on a distal end (21) of the valve shaft (20, 120) in the axial direction (A), the distal end (21) facing away from the mounting portion (11). Further, a damping reservoir (50) is provided inside the shaft bearing body (10, 110, 210, 310, 410). A volume of the damping reservoir (50) is changed by axial movement of the valve shaft (20, 120). In order to obtain a well-defined times for opening and closing under given conditions and to make the check valve unit (1, 100, 200, 300, 400) less prone to making noise, at least two channels (46a, 46b) are provided in parallel, each of them constituting a fluid connection between the damping reservoir (50) and an outside (70). The damping reservoir (50) is, apart from the channels (46a, 46b), at least substantially enclosed. Each channel (46a, 46b) has a length being at least ten times a hydraulic diameter of the respective channel (46a, 46b).

A valve assembly for a tire inflation/deflation system includes a body having a control port and a tire port, and a valve member for fluidly connecting or disconnecting the control port with the tire port. In one embodiment, the valve includes a fluid-operated damper having a damper chamber for controlling a timing of the valve member. A vent valve is provided for permitting excess fluid pressure to escape from the damper chamber. In another embodiment, the valve member includes a diaphragm separating first and second fluid chambers. A vent passage and at least one resilient fluid pressure-operated valve element are provided for enabling fluid to vent from the first chamber to the second chamber. Multiple-redundant valve elements may be provided to form an isolation gap that restricts contamination of the valve assembly.