Quick drop valve

Claim 2

In a quick drop valve circuit for use with a loaded working cylinder having a ported head end and a ported rod end, the weight of the load having a dropping direction tending to extend the cylinder from its raised, foreshortened condition, the improvement comprising: a valve having a valve inlet-outlet port connected to a source of high and low pressure, and means intercommunicating said inlet-outlet port and the rod end of the cylinder including a conduit connection leading to the rod end of the cylinder and a first path in the valve connected between the valve inletoutlet port and the conduit connection leading to the rod end; a first path bypass which permits quick dropping of the load and with which the first path has a portion in common with the bypass, said bypass and a head inlet-outlet port on the head end of the cylinder being jointly connected to the source of high and low pressure; first means in the first path directing in-going flow of substantial amount to the rod end for foreshortening the cylinder to raise the load; unitary movable diverting valve means in the first path confronting the valve inlet-outlet port, said unitary diverting valve means cooperating in the first pAth with the first means to block reverse flow of any substantial amount outflowing from the rod end when quick dropping the load, and having an integral part in the common portion movable with the unitary diverting valve means to direct the excess of outflow through the bypass as regenerative flow passing through the head inletoutlet port thence into the head end when quick dropping the load; a permanently open orifice bleed in the first path independent of the unitary diverting valve means, and insuring limited ingoing flow to the rod end from the valve inlet-outlet port when foreshortening the cylinder and limited reverse flow to the valve inlet-outlet port from the rod end when extending the cylinder from a foreshortened condition; the regenerative flow through the bypass into the head end of the cylinder supplementing the flow thereto during a regenerative cycle; and there being flow blocking check means in the first path bypass to prevent flow reversal near or during the regenerative cycle.

Claim 3

In a quick drop valve circuit for use with a loaded working cylinder having a ported head end and a ported rod end, the weight of the load having a dropping direction tending to extend the cylinder from its raised, foreshortened condition, the improvement comprising: a valve having a valve inlet-outlet port connected to a source of high and low pressure, and means intercommunicating said inlet-outlet port and the rod end of the cylinder including a conduit connection leading to the rod end of the cylinder and a first path in the valve connected between the valve inlet-outlet port and the conduit connection leading to the rod end; a first path bypass which permits quick dropping of the load and with which the first path has a portion in common with the bypass, said bypass and a head inlet-outlet port on the head end of the cylinder being jointly connected to the source of high and low pressure; first means in the first path directing in-going flow of substantial amount to the rod end for foreshortening the cylinder to raise the load; unitary movable diverting valve means in the first path confronting the valve inlet-outlet port, said unitary diverting valve means cooperating in the first path with the first means to block reverse flow of any substantial amount outflowing from the rod end when quick dropping the load, and having an integral part in the common portion movable with the unitary diverting valve means to direct the excess of outflow through the bypass as regenerative flow passing through the head inlet-outlet port thence into the head end when quick dropping the load; the first means in the first path (50) defining therein parallel a large and small branches jointly carrying said in-going flow to the rod end to raise the load in the manner described; and said small branch (90) being removed from the path of movement of and independent of the unitary movable diverting valve means, whereas said large branch (76,72) is disposed along the path of movement of the diverting valve means and is closed thereby in the first path to block reverse flow wherein of any substantial amount from the rod end when quick dropping the load in the manner described.

Claim 4

In a quick drop valve circuit for use with a loaded working cylinder having a ported head end and a ported rod end, the weight of the load having a dropping direction tending to extend the cylinder from its raised, foreshortened condition, the improvement comprising: a valve having a valve inlet-outlet port connected to a source of high and low pressure, and means intercommunicating said inlet-outlet port and the rod end of the cylinder including a conduit connection leading to the rod end of the cylinder and a first path in the valve connected between the valve inlet-outlet port and the conduit connection leading to the rod end; a first path bypass which permits quick dropping of the load and with which the first path has a portion in common with the bypass, said bypass and a head inlet-outlet port on the head end of the cylinder being jointly connected to the source of high and low pressure; first means in the first path directing in-going flow of substantial amount to the rod end for foreshortening the cylinder to raise the load; unitary movable diverting valve means in the first path confronting the valve inlet-outlet port, said unitary diverting valve means cooperating in the first path with the first means to block reverse flow of any substantial amount outflowing from the rod end when quick dropping the load, and having an integral part in the common portion movable with the unitary diverting valve means to direct the excess of outflow through the bypass as regenerative flow passing through the head inlet-outlet port thence into the head end when quick dropping the load; the first means in the first path (50) defining therein parallel a large and small branches jointly carrying said in-going flow to the rod end to raise the load in the manner described; and said small branch (90) being removed from the path of movement of and independent of the unitary movable diverting valve means, whereas said large branch (76,72) is disposed along the path of movement of the diverting valve means and is closed thereby in the first path to block reverse flow wherein of any substantial amount from the rod end when quick dropping the load in the manner described.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 2, the unitary movable diverting valve means characterized by a unitary flow control valve element pressure movable in response to pressure a large-flow-receiving small-pressure-dropping orifice carried by the flow control valve element effective to create said pressure differential for the purposes described upon receiving reverse flow in any substantial amount.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 3, characterized by: the regenerative flow through the bypass into the head end of the cylinder supplementing the flow thereto during a regenerative cycle; and there being flow blocking means in the first path bypass to prevent flow reversal near or during the regenerative cycle.

Claim 7

For use in interposition in an hydraulic working circuit in the Individual connections between a load supporting double-acting differential cylinder having head and rod ends and a source of high and low pressure, the improvement of a three-port quick drop valve unit having: a series connected first path of flow defined in the valve unit and an inlet-outlet port presented by the valve unit; said inlet-outlet port adapted for connection to the high and low pressure source; a quick drop first path bypass with which the first path has a portion in common, said common portion comprising a rod port portion presented by the valve unit for connection to the rod end of the cylinder; a head port in said bypass presented by the valve unit for connection jointly to the source of high and low pressure and to the head end of the cylinder; first means in the first path for directing a substantial amount of in-going flow toward the rod end from the rod port portion of the valve unit to foreshorten the cylinder to raise the load; unitary movable diverting valve means in the first path confronting the inlet-outlet port, said unitary diverting valve means cooperating in the first path with the first means to block flow of any substantial amount in the rod port portion attendant with quick dropping the load and the resulting outflowing from the rod end of the cylinder, and having an integral part in the common rod port portion movable with the unitary diverting valve means to direct the excess of outflow through the first path bypass as regenerative flow discharged by said rod port portion for quick dropping the load by supplementing the fill of the head end of the cylinder; the first means in the first path defined in said valve unit comprising parallel large and small branches jointly carrying toward said rod port portion said in-going flow to the rod end to raise the load in the manner described; and said small branch being removed from the path of movement of and independent of the unitary movable diverting valve means, whereas said large branch is disposed along the path of movement of the diverting valve means and is closed thereby in the first path to block reverse flow therein of any substantial amount from the rod port portion.

Claim 8

For use in interposition in an hydraulic working circuit in the Individual connections between a load supporting double-acting differential cylinder having head and rod ends and a source of high and low pressure, the improvement of a three-port quick drop valve unit having: a series connected first path of flow defined in the valve unit and an inlet-outlet port presented by the valve unit; said inlet-outlet port adapted for connection to the high and low pressure source; a quick drop first path bypass with which the first path has a portion in common, said common portion comprising a rod port portion presented by the valve unit for connection to the rod end of the cylinder; a head port in said bypass presented by the valve unit for connection jointly to the source of high and low pressure and to the head end of the cylinder; first means in the first path for directing a substantial amount of in-going flow toward the rod end from the rod port portion of the valve unit to foreshorten the cylinder to raise the load; unitary movable diverting valve means in the first path confronting the inlet-outlet port, said unitary diverting valve means cooperating in the first path with the first means to block flow of any substantial amount in the rod port portion attendant with quick dropping the load and the resulting outflowing from the rod end of the cylinder, and having an integral part in the common rod port portion movable with the unitary diverting valve means to direct the excess of outflow through the first path bypass as regenerative flow discharged by said rod port portion for quick dropping the load by supplementing the fill of the head end of the cylinder; the first means in the first path defined in said valve unit comprising parallel large and small branches jointly carrying toward said rod port portion said in-going flow to the rod end to raise the load in the manner described; and said small branch being removed from the path of movement of and independent of the unitary movable diverting valve means, whereas said large branch is disposed along the path of movement of the diverting valve means and is closed thereby in the first path to block reverse flow therein of any substantial amount from the rod port portion.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 5, characterized by: flow blocking check means (92) in the first path bypass to prevent flow reversal near or during the regenerative cycle.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 6, further characterized by: said first means and said unitary movable diverting valve means in the first path constituting valve parts respectively fixed and movable and with portions mutually telescopically related; and the small branch in the first means comprising an orifice in the latter remote to the area of relative telescoping and the large branch comprising slots in the relatively telescoping portion of the first means blocked and unblocked by the relatively telescoping portion of the unitary movable diverting valve means.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 7, the unitary movable diverting valve means characterized by: a unitary flow control valve element (62) pressure movable in response to pressure differential; and a large-flow-receiving, small-pressure-dropping orifice (72) carried by the flow control valve element effective to create said pressure differential for the purposes described upon receiving reverse flow in any substantial amount.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 8, further characterized by: said integral part of the unitary flow control valve element and the common rod port portion constituting valve parts respectively fixed and movable and with mutually telescopically related portions that divert excess flow to produce the regenerative flow described upon relative telescoping.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 8, the valve unit characterized by: upper and lower bores; said upper bore (53) being including in the first path defined by said valve and, including therein said first means, said unitary flow control valve element and the integral part thereof, and tHe common rod port portion; and the lower bore (54) intersecting the quick drop first path bypass and having one portion in common therewith, said flow blocking check means reciprocating in said lower bore to block and unblock the first path bypass by closing and opening the just said one common portion.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 10, the upper and lower bores in the valve unit characterized by substantially parallel blind bores.

Claim 15

A quick drop valve housing comprising: a bore; a spaced-apart sleeve and plug therein; an intervening unitary sleeve-type valve element in the bore; the sleeve-type valve element at one end being mutually telescopically related with the plug in one end of the bore and having an integral sleeve part mutually telescopically related with the sleeve in another end of the bore to form a bypass path out of the bore; said valve element being pressure movable into intermediate positions, and into extreme positions comprising a first extreme position more fully telescoped relative to the plug and less fully telescoped relative to the sleeve, and a second extreme position more fully telescoped relative to the sleeve and less fully telescoped relative to the plug; means connected to the bore, forming side perforations in at least one of the sleeve and the sleeve part of the valve element and means connected to the bore, forming side openings in at least one of the plug and the valve element; said mutual telescoping of the plug and the valve element effecting closure of said side openings in the first position of the valve element and effecting opening of same in the second and intermediate positions thereof, said telescoping of the sleeve and sleeve part of the valve element effecting closure of said perforations in the second position of the valve element and effecting opening of same in the first and intermediate positions thereof for directing flow in the bypass path out of the bores; and a large-flow-receiving small-pressure-dropping means carried by the sleeve-type pressure movable valve element, and connected to the bore and effective upon receiving flow in a direct path in the bore between the ends of the element to create a pressure drop for providing the pressure differential to move said pressure movable element.

Claim 16

A quick drop valve housing comprising: a bore; a spaced-apart sleeve and plug therein; an intervening unitary sleeve-type valve element in the bore; the sleeve-type valve element at one end being mutually telescopically related with the plug in one end of the bore and having an integral sleeve part mutually telescopically related with the sleeve in another end of the bore to form a bypass path out of the bore; said valve element being pressure movable into intermediate positions, and into extreme positions comprising a first extreme position more fully telescoped relative to the plug and less fully telescoped relative to the sleeve, and a second extreme position more fully telescoped relative to the sleeve and less fully telescoped relative to the plug; means connected to the bore, forming side perforations in at least one of the sleeve and the sleeve part of the valve element and means connected to the bore, forming side openings in at least one of the plug and the valve element; said mutual telescoping of the plug and the valve element effecting closure of said side openings in the first position of the valve element and effecting opening of same in the second and intermediate positions thereof, said telescoping of the sleeve and sleeve part of the valve element effecting closure of said perforations in the second position of the valve element and effecting opening of same in the first and intermediate positions thereof for directing flow in the bypass path out of the bores; and a large-flow-receiving small-pressure-dropping means carried by the sleeve-type pressure movable valve element, and connected to the bore and effective upon receiving flow in a direct path in the bore between the ends of the element to create a pressure drop for providing the pressure differential to move said pressure movable element.

Claim 17

The invention of claim 12, characterized by: bleed means (90) forming a permanently open side orifice in at least one of said plug and valve element in a location effectively remote to and uncontrolled by the relatively telescoping portions.

Claim 18

A quick drop valve housing comprising: a bore; a spaced-apart sleeve and plug therein; an intervening unitary sleeve-type valve element in the bore; the sleeve-type valve element at one end being telescopically related with the plug in one end of the bore, and having a perforated integral sleeve part, which part is telescopically related with the sleeve in another end of the bore and the perforations of which part are connected to the bore; said valve element being pressure movable into intermediate positions, and into extreme positions comprising a first extreme position more fully telescoped relative to the plug and less fully telescoped relative to the sleeve, and a second extreme position more fully telescoped relative to the sleeve and less fully telescoped relative to the plug; means connected to the bore forming side sleeve-type the plug covered by the valve element in the first position and uncovered thereby in the second and intermediate positions thereof, said sleeve and said perforated integral sleeve part of the valve element covering the perforations of the latter in said second position, and uncovering the perforations in the first and intermediate positions of the valve element; and flow receiving orifice means carried by the sleeve type pressure movable valve element, and connected to the bore and effective upon receiving flow in a bore path between the ends of the element to create A pressure drop for providing pressure differential to move said pressure movable element.

Claim 19

A quick drop valve housing comprising: a bore; a spaced-apart sleeve and plug therein; an intervening unitary sleeve-type valve element in the bore; the sleeve-type valve element at one end being telescopically related with the plug in one end of the bore, and having a perforated integral sleeve part, which part is telescopically related with the sleeve in another end of the bore and the perforations of which part are connected to the bore; said valve element being pressure movable into intermediate positions, and into extreme positions comprising a first extreme position more fully telescoped relative to the plug and less fully telescoped relative to the sleeve, and a second extreme position more fully telescoped relative to the sleeve and less fully telescoped relative to the plug; means connected to the bore forming side sleeve-type the plug covered by the valve element in the first position and uncovered thereby in the second and intermediate positions thereof, said sleeve and said perforated integral sleeve part of the valve element covering the perforations of the latter in said second position, and uncovering the perforations in the first and intermediate positions of the valve element; and flow receiving orifice means carried by the sleeve type pressure movable valve element, and connected to the bore and effective upon receiving flow in a bore path between the ends of the element to create A pressure drop for providing pressure differential to move said pressure movable element.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 14, the valve unit characterized by: said bore and another bore therein comprising respective upper and lower bores; a first path, including the bore path through the upper bore (53); a first path bypass intersected by the lower bore (54); said sleeve (58) providing a portion common to the first path and first path bypass; and one way valve means (92) controlling flow in a portion (56) common to the bypass and lower bore.

Claim 21

In a quick drop valve circuit for use with a loaded working cylinder having a ported head end and a ported rod end, the weight of the load having a dropping direction tending to extend the cylinder from its raised, foreshortened condition, the improvement comprising: a valve having a valve inlet-outlet port connected to a source of high and low pressure, and means intercommunicating said inlet-outlet port and the rod end of the cylinder including a conduit connection leading to the rod end of the cylinder and a first path in the valve connected between the valve inlet-outlet port and the conduit connection leading to the rod end; a first path bypass which permits quick dropping of the load and with which the first path has a portion in common with the bypass, a said bypass and a head inlet-outlet port on the head end of the cylinder being jointly connected to the source of high and low pressure; first means in the first path directing in-going flow of substantial amount to the rod end for foreshortening the cylinder to raise the load; a permanently open, pressure-dropping bleed confronting the inlet-outlet port; and unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means in the first path confronting the valve inlet-outlet port independently of the bleed, said unitary pressure differential movable diverting valve means cooperating in the first path with the first means to block, except for said bleed, the reverse flow of any substantial amount outflowing from the rod end when quick dropping the load, said unitary pressure differential movable diverting valve means having an integral part in common portion movable with the unitary pressure differential movable diverting valve means to direct the excess of outflow through the bypass as regenerative flow passing through the head inlet-outlet port thence into the head end when quick dropping the load, said unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means having a large-flow-receiving, small-pressure-dropping restriction (72) carried thereby in a location in the first path downstream of the bypass, and effectively in said location creating the necessary moving differential for said unitary pressure differential movable diverting valve means.

Claim 22

In a quick drop valve circuit for use with a loaded working cylinder having a ported head end and a ported rod end, the weight of the load having a dropping direction tending to extend the cylinder from its raised, foreshortened condition, the improvement comprising: a valve having a valve inlet-outlet port connected to a source of high and low pressure, and means intercommunicating said inlet-outlet port and the rod end of the cylinder including a conduit connection leading to the rod end of the cylinder and a first path in the valve connected between the valve inlet-outlet port and the conduit connection leading to the rod end; a first path bypass which permits quick dropping of the load and with which the first path has a portion in common with the bypass, a said bypass and a head inlet-outlet port on the head end of the cylinder being jointly connected to the source of high and low pressure; first means in the first path directing in-going flow of substantial amount to the rod end for foreshortening the cylinder to raise the load; a permanently open, pressure-dropping bleed confronting the inlet-outlet port; and unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means in the first path confronting the valve inlet-outlet port independently of the bleed, said unitary pressure differential movable diverting valve means cooperating in the first path with the first means to block, except for said bleed, the reverse flow of any substantial amount outflowing from the rod end when quick dropping the load, said unitary pressure differential movable diverting valve means having an integral part in common portion movable with the unitary pressure differential movable diverting valve means to direct the excess of outflow through the bypass as regenerative flow passing through the head inlet-outlet port thence into the head end when quick dropping the load, said unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means having a large-flow-receiving, small-pressure-dropping restriction (72) carried thereby in a location in the first path downstream of the bypass, and effectively in said location creating the necessary moving differential for said unitary pressure differential movable diverting valve means.

Claim 23

For use in interposition in an hydraulic working circuit in the individual connections between a load supporting double-acting differential cylinder having head and rod ends and a source of high and low pressure, the improvement of a three-port quick drop valve unit having: a series connected first path of flow defined in the valve unit and an inlet-outlet port presented by the valve unit, said inlet-outlet port adapted for connection to the source of high and low pressure; a quick drop first path bypass with which the first path has a portion in common, said common portion comprising a rod port portion presented by the valve unit for connection to the rod end of the cylinder; first means in the first path for directing a substantial amount of in-going flow toward the rod end from the rod port portion of the valve unit to foreshorten the cylinder to raise the load; a permanently open, pressure-dropping bleed confronting the inlet-outlet port; and unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means in the first path confronting the inlet-outlet port independently of the bleed, said unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means being pressure movable into cooperation in the first path with the first means to block, except for said bleed, the reverse flow of any substantial amount outflowing through the rod port portion attendant with quick dropping the load and the resulting outflowing from the rod end of the cylinder, said unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means having an integral part in the common rod port portion movable with the unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means to direct the excess of outflow through the first path bypass as regenerative flow discharged by said head port for quick dropping the load by supplementing the fill of the head end of the cylinder, said unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means having a large-flow-receiving, small-pressure-dropping restriction (72) carried by thereby in a location in the first path downstream of the bypass and effectively in said location creating the necessary moving differential for said unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means.

Claim 24

For use in interposition in an hydraulic working circuit in the individual connections between a load supporting double-acting differential cylinder having head and rod ends and a source of high and low pressure, the improvement of a three-port quick drop valve unit having: a series connected first path of flow defined in the valve unit and an inlet-outlet port presented by the valve unit, said inlet-outlet port adapted for connection to the source of high and low pressure; a quick drop first path bypass with which the first path has a portion in common, said common portion comprising a rod port portion presented by the valve unit for connection to the rod end of the cylinder; first means in the first path for directing a substantial amount of in-going flow toward the rod end from the rod port portion of the valve unit to foreshorten the cylinder to raise the load; a permanently open, pressure-dropping bleed confronting the inlet-outlet port; and unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means in the first path confronting the inlet-outlet port independently of the bleed, said unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means being pressure movable into cooperation in the first path with the first means to block, except for said bleed, the reverse flow of any substantial amount outflowing through the rod port portion attendant with quick dropping the load and the resulting outflowing from the rod end of the cylinder, said unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means having an integral part in the common rod port portion movable with the unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means to direct the excess of outflow through the first path bypass as regenerative flow discharged by said head port for quick dropping the load by supplementing the fill of the head end of the cylinder, said unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means having a large-flow-receiving, small-pressure-dropping restriction (72) carried by thereby in a location in the first path downstream of the bypass and effectively in said location creating the necessary moving differential for said unitary pressure-differential-movable diverting valve means.