Hydraulic directional control valve device

Claim 2

A solenoid-operated hydraulic control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a cylindrical cavity in said housing; c. a plurality of hydraulic passage means in said housing each communicating with said cavity; d. a spool valve disposed for axial movement in said cavity to intercommunicate said plurality of passage means in different combinations in accordance with the axial position of said spool valve; e. a solenoid assembly mounted on said housing and including a plunger means disposed for axial movement in a plunger chamber, one end of said plunger means axially engageable with said spool valve to axially position said spool valve in accordance with energization of said solenoid assembly; f. means biasing said spool valve and said plunger means to a normal axial position when said solenoid assembly is deenergized; g. passage means communicating said plunger chamber with at least one of said plurality of hydraulic passage means; h. said solenoid assembly further including a pole piece having one end comprising one end of said plunger chamber and the other end comprising one end of said cavity; i. an axial throughbore in said pole piece communicating said plunger chamber with one end of said cavity; and j. said plunger means comprises a plunger member in said plunger chamber and a plunger extension extending with radial clearance through said throughbore into said cavity.

Claim 3

A solenoid-operated hydraulic control valve device, as recited in claim 1, in which, passage means intercommunicates both ends of said cavity.

Claim 4

a coil member having a chamber therein;

Claim 5

a coil member having a chamber therein;

Claim 6

a coil member having a chamber therein; and

Claim 7

a coil member having a chamber therein; and

Claim 8

a plunger member in said chamber for operating said slide valve member.

Claim 9

a plunger member in said chamber for operating said slide valve member.

Claim 10

a plunger member in said chamber for operating said slide valve member; and j. additional passage means communicating said chamber with one of said supply passage means, tank passage means or one of said pair of pressure passage means.

Claim 11

a plunger member in said chamber for operating said slide valve member; and j. additional passage means communicating said chamber with one of said supply passage means, tank passage means or one of said pair of pressure passage means.

Claim 12

A solenoid-operated hydraulic control valve device, as recited in claim 2, in which, said passage means which intercommunicates both ends of said cavity comprises axial throughbore means in said spool valve.

Claim 13

A solenoid-operated hydraulic control valve device, as recited in claim 10, in which: a. said axial throughbore means in said spool valve comprises an axial throughbore having a counterbore at the end adjacent said one end of said cavity forming a radial shoulder between said throughbore and said counterbore; b. one end of said plunger extension is axially disposed in said counterbore with radial clearance and axially seated on said shoulder; and c. means on said one end of said plunger extension communicated said bore with said counterbore around said one end of said plunger extension.

Claim 14

A solenoid-operated hydraulic control valve device, as recited in claim 1, in which: a. said cavity comprises a bottom bore in said housing and having a threaded counterbore opening at the surface of said housing; and b. said pole piece is threadedly received in said counterbore to removably mount the solenoid assembly on said housing.

Claim 15

A solenoid-operated hydraulic control valve device, as recited in claim 5, in which: a. a tubular member having one closed end is attached at the other end to said one end of said pole piece; and b. said plunger chamber being defined by the interior wall of said tubular member, said closed end and said one end of said pole piece.

Claim 16

A directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a slide valve in said Housing and having three axial positions; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing each receiving one of the opposing ends of said slide valve and each operable when pressurized to move said slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three axial positions; e. a pair of individually energizable solenoid-actuated pilot valves, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to exhaust, and each having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pressure chambers is communicated with a source of supply; and f. a pair of needle valves, each associated with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers to control the rate of exhaust therefrom.

Claim 17

A directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a slide valve in said Housing and having three axial positions; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing each receiving one of the opposing ends of said slide valve and each operable when pressurized to move said slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three axial positions; e. a pair of individually energizable solenoid-actuated pilot valves, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to exhaust, and each having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pressure chambers is communicated with a source of supply; and f. a pair of needle valves, each associated with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers to control the rate of exhaust therefrom.

Claim 18

A directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a slide valve in said housing and having three axial positions; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing each receiving one of the opposing ends of said slide valve and each operable when pressurized to move said slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three axial positions; e. a pair of individually energizable solenoid-actuated pilot valves, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to exhaust, and each having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pressure chambers is communicated with a source of supply; and f. a pair of needle valves, each associated with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers to control the rate of supply thereto.

Claim 19

A directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a slide valve in said housing and having three axial positions; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing each receiving one of the opposing ends of said slide valve and each operable when pressurized to move said slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three axial positions; e. a pair of individually energizable solenoid-actuated pilot valves, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to exhaust, and each having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pressure chambers is communicated with a source of supply; and f. a pair of needle valves, each associated with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers to control the rate of supply thereto.

Claim 20

A hydraulic directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a three-position pressure-operated slide valve in said housing; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing disposed to act on the opposite ends of the slide valve and each operable when pressurized while the other is depressurized to move the slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three positions; e. supply passage means in said housing; f. tank passage means in said housing; g. a pair of pressure passage means in said housing, each communicating with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers; h. a pair of solenoid-actuated pilot valves in said housing, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to said tank passage in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers, and having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pair of chambers is communicated with said supply passage means in bypass of the other one of said pair of chamber; and i. a pair of adjustable needle valves disposed in said tank passage, each operable to control the fluid flow only from a corresponding one of said pressure chambers.

Claim 21

A hydraulic directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a three-position pressure-operated slide valve in said housing; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing disposed to act on the opposite ends of the slide valve and each operable when pressurized while the other is depressurized to move the slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three positions; e. supply passage means in said housing; f. tank passage means in said housing; g. a pair of pressure passage means in said housing, each communicating with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers; h. a pair of solenoid-actuated pilot valves in said housing, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to said tank passage in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers, and having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pair of chambers is communicated with said supply passage means in bypass of the other one of said pair of chamber; and i. a pair of adjustable needle valves disposed in said tank passage, each operable to control the fluid flow only from a corresponding one of said pressure chambers.

Claim 22

A hydraulic directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a three-position pressure-operated slide valve in said housing; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing disposed to act on the opposite ends of the slide valve and each operable when pressurized while the other is depressurized to move the slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three positions; e. supply passage means in said housing; f. tank passage means in said housing; g. a pair of pressure passage means in said housing, each communicating with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers; h. a pair of solenoid-actuated pilot valves in said housing, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to said tank passage in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers, and having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pair of chambers is communicated with said supply passage means in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers; i. said supply passage means comprises a pair of supply passage means for connection to a common source of supply; j. said tank passage means comprises a pair of tank passages for connection to a common tank; and k. each of said solenoid-actuated pilot valves communicates a different one of said pair of supply passages to the corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers when energized, and communicates a different one of said pair of tank passages to the corresponding one of said pressure chambers when deenergized; and

Claim 23

A hydraulic directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a three-position pressure-operated slide valve in said housing; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing disposed to act on the opposite ends of the slide valve and each operable when pressurized while the other is depressurized to move the slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three positions; e. supply passage means in said housing; f. tank passage means in said housing; g. a pair of pressure passage means in said housing, each communicating with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers; h. a pair of solenoid-actuated pilot valves in said housing, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to said tank passage in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers, and having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pair of chambers is communicated with said supply passage means in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers; i. said supply passage means comprises a pair of supply passage means for connection to a common source of supply; j. said tank passage means comprises a pair of tank passages for connection to a common tank; and k. each of said solenoid-actuated pilot valves communicates a different one of said pair of supply passages to the corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers when energized, and communicates a different one of said pair of tank passages to the corresponding one of said pressure chambers when deenergized; and

Claim 24

A hydraulic directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a three-position pressure-operated slide valve in said housing; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing disposed to act on the opposite ends of the slide valve and each operable when pressurized while the other is depressurized to move the slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three positions; e. supply passage means in said housing; f. tank passage means in said housing; g. a pair of pressure passage means in said housing, each communicating with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers; h. a pair of solenoid-actuated pilot valves in said housing, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to said tank passage in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers, and having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pair of chambers is communicated with said supply passage means in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers; i. said supply passage means comprises a pair of supply passage means for connection to a common source of supply; j. said tank passage means comprises a pair of tank passages for connection to a common tank; k. each of said solenoid-actuated pilot valves communicates a different one of said pair of supply passages to the corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers when energized, and communicates a different one of said pair of tank passages to the corresponding one of said pressure chambers when deenergized; and l. a needle valve device is disposed in each of said pair of supply passages.

Claim 25

A hydraulic directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a three-position pressure-operated slide valve in said housing; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing disposed to act on the opposite ends of the slide valve and each operable when pressurized while the other is depressurized to move the slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three positions; e. supply passage means in said housing; f. tank passage means in said housing; g. a pair of pressure passage means in said housing, each communicating with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers; h. a pair of solenoid-actuated pilot valves in said housing, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to said tank passage in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers, and having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pair of chambers is communicated with said supply passage means in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers; i. said supply passage means comprises a pair of supply passage means for connection to a common source of supply; j. said tank passage means comprises a pair of tank passages for connection to a common tank; k. each of said solenoid-actuated pilot valves communicates a different one of said pair of supply passages to the corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers when energized, and communicates a different one of said pair of tank passages to the corresponding one of said pressure chambers when deenergized; and l. a needle valve device is disposed in each of said pair of supply passages.

Claim 26

A directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a slide valve in said housing and having three axial positions; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing each receiving one of the opposing ends of said slide valve and each operable when pressurized to move said slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three axial positions; e. a pair of individually energizable solenoid-actuated pilot valves, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to exhaust, and each having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pressure chambers is communicated with a source of supply; and f. said pair of solenoid-operated pilot valves each comprise:

Claim 27

A directional control valve device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a slide valve in said housing and having three axial positions; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a pair of pressure chambers in said housing each receiving one of the opposing ends of said slide valve and each operable when pressurized to move said slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three axial positions; e. a pair of individually energizable solenoid-actuated pilot valves, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to exhaust, and each having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pressure chambers is communicated with a source of supply; and f. said pair of solenoid-operated pilot valves each comprise:

Claim 28

A hydraulic directional control valve, comprising: a. a housing; b. a three-position pressure-operated slide valve in said housing; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a Pair of pressure chambers in said housing disposed to act on the opposite ends of the slide valve and each operable when pressurized while the other is depressurized to move the slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three positions; e. supply passage means in said housing; f. tank passage means in said housing; g. a pair of pressure passage means in said housing, each communicating with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers; h. a pair of solenoid-actuated pilot valves in said housing, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to said tank passage in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers, and having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pair of chambers is communicated with said supply passage means in; i. said pair of solenoid-operated pilot valves each comprise:

Claim 29

A hydraulic directional control valve, comprising: a. a housing; b. a three-position pressure-operated slide valve in said housing; c. means biasing said slide valve to the central one of said three positions; d. a Pair of pressure chambers in said housing disposed to act on the opposite ends of the slide valve and each operable when pressurized while the other is depressurized to move the slide valve to a different one of the two end positions of said three positions; e. supply passage means in said housing; f. tank passage means in said housing; g. a pair of pressure passage means in said housing, each communicating with a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers; h. a pair of solenoid-actuated pilot valves in said housing, each having a deenergized position in which a corresponding one of said pair of pressure chambers is communicated to said tank passage in bypass of the other one of said pair of chambers, and having an energized position in which the corresponding one of said pair of chambers is communicated with said supply passage means in; i. said pair of solenoid-operated pilot valves each comprise:

Claim 30

A hydraulic directional control valve device, as recited in claim 13, in which: said slide valve member of each of said pilot valves includes an axial throughbore communicating with said additional passage means.