BRAKE CONTROL VALVE

A control valve (10) for a vehicle fluid pressure braking system includes a housing (12) having an inlet port (20), an outlet port (18) and an exhaust port (16). A plunger (28) is movable in the housing (12) to control communication between the ports (16, 18, 20). The plunger (28) is provided with a shoulder (40) which carries a seal (64) which engages with a seating area (26) on the housing (12) to provide a seal controlling communication between the aforementioned ports (16, 18, 20). The seal (64) includes a circumferentially extending cavity (60) on the plunger (28) in which the body portion (66) of the seal (64) is received. A pair of beads (68, 70) project from the body portion (66) of the seal (64) in opposite axial directions, so that when the seal (64) is moved into engagement with the seating surface (26), one of the beads (70) sealingly engages the seating surface (26), and the axial direction forces generated thereby force the bead (68) on the opposite side of the seal (64) into sealing engagement with a sealing surface (72) on the plunger (28). When the plunger (28) is moved away from the seating surface (26), thereby abruptly reducing the pressure level around the plunger (28), high pressure air which is trapped in the groove (58) receiving the body portion (66) of the seal may escape by deflecting the bead (68) away from the sealing surface (72) on the plunger (28), thereby preventing the high pressure fluid from forcing the seal from the groove.