Control valve

Claim 2

A control valve comprising a housing, means removably secured within said housing and defining therewith a pair of pressure fluid flow passages connected in bypass relation through said housing for one of separate fluid pressures supplied thereto, metering means movable in said first named means for controlling one of said flow passages, said metering means being movable in response to the one supplied fluid pressure toward a metering position in said one flow passage to establish metered applied fluid pressure in a predetermined ratio with the one supplied fluid pressure, and other means for comparing the magnitudes of the supplied fluid pressures and movable in said first-named means for controlling the other of said flow passages, said other means being movable in response to the one supplied fluid pressure in said other flow passage acting thereon toward a translated position to establish open pressure fluid communication between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure through said other flow passage in bypass relation with said one flow passage and obviate the metering actuation of said metering means in the event of the failure of the other of the supplied fluid pressures acting on said other means.

Claim 3

A control valve according to claim 1, wherein said first-named means includes a divider member in said housing between said metering means and said other means, a bore in said divider member defining a portion of said one flow passage, said metering means being movable in said bore in response to the one supplied fluid pressure to establish the metered applied fluid pressure.

Claim 4

A control valve according to claim 1, wherein said first-named means includes a divider member between said metering means and said other means, a bore in said divider member defining a portion of said other flow passage, and said other means being movable in said bore, said other means being movable from a normal position closing said bore to interrupt pressure fluid communication therethrough between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure toward its translated position opening said bore.

Claim 5

A control valve according to claim 3, comprising seal means normally engaged between said other means and said bore to close said other flow passage, said seal means being disengaged from one of said other means and said bore upon the movement of said other means toward its translated position to open said other flow passage.

Claim 6

A control valve according to claim 3, comprising seal means on said other means and normally engaged with said bore to close said other flow passage, said seal means being displaced from engagement with said bore to open said other flow passage upon the movement of said other means to its translated position.

Claim 7

A control valve according to claim 1, wherein said first-named means includes a divider member between said metering means and said other means, a pair of opposed bores in said divider member respectively defining portions of said flow passages, said metering means being movable in one of said bores in response to the one supplied fluid pressure to establish the applied fluid pressure, and said other means being movable in the other of said bores from a normal position closing said other bore to interrupt pressure fluid communication therethrough between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure toward its pressure fluid communication establishing position opening said bore.

Claim 8

A control valve according to claim 1, comprising a pair of opposed effective areas on said metering means for respective subjection to the one supplied and applied fluid pressures, said metering means being initially movable in response to the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure of a predetermined value respectively acting on said areas toward a position in said one flow passage isolating the one supplied fluid pressure from the applied fluid pressure and being thereafter further movable in response to increases in the one supplied fluid pressure in excess of the predetermined value acting on one of said opposed areas toward its metering position to effect a metered increase in the applied fluid pressure acting on the other of said opposed areas in a predeterMined ratio with the increased one supplied fluid pressure in excess of the predetermined value.

Claim 9

A control valve according to claim 1, comprising a pair of opposed areas on said other means respectively subjected to the supplied fluid pressures, said other means being movable toward its translated position when the magnitude of the one supplied fluid pressure acting on one of said opposed areas exceeds that of the other supplied fluid pressure acting on the other of said opposed areas by a predetermined amount.

Claim 10

A control valve according to claim 8, wherein said other opposed area is predeterminately greater than said one opposed area, centering means movable in said housing for engagement with said housing and said other means, and a third area on said centering means additive to said one opposed area and subjected to the applied fluid pressure, the force of the applied fluid pressure acting on said third area urging said centering means toward engagement with said housing and said other means and being additive to the force of the one supplied fluid pressure acting on said other means in response to the opposing force of the other supplied fluid pressure acting on said other area.

Claim 11

A control valve according to claim 1, comprising centering means movable in said housing for engagement with said housing and with said other means and subjected to the applied fluid pressure, said centering means being urged in response to the applied fluid pressure acting thereon toward engagement with said housing and said other means to oppose movement of said other means in response to the other supplied fluid pressure acting thereon.

Claim 12

A control valve comprising a housing, means removably secured within said housing and defining therewith a pair of pressure fluid flow passages connected in bypass relation through said housing for one of separate fluid pressures supplied thereto, metering means movable in said first-named means for controlling the application through one of said flow passages of the one supplied fluid pressure, said metering means being initially movable in response to the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure of a predetermined value toward a position in said one flow passage isolating the one supplied fluid pressure from the applied fluid pressure an being thereafter further movable in response to increases in the one supplied fluid pressure toward a metering position is said one flow passage effecting a metered increase in the applied fluid pressure in a predetermined ratio with the increased one supplied fluid pressure in excess of the predetermined value, other means movable in said first-named means and said housing for controlling the bypass flow of the one supplied fluid pressure through the other of said flow passages and for comparing the magnitudes of the supplied fluid pressures, said other means being movable from a normal position in said other flow passage isolating the one supplied fluid pressure from the applied fluid pressure in the event that the magnitude of the other of the supplied fluid pressures acting on said other means is reduced to a value predeterminately less than that of the one supplied fluid pressure acting on said other means in opposition to the other supplied fluid pressure toward a translated position effecting open pressure fluid communication between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure through said other flow passage in bypass relation with said one flow passage and said metering means to obviate the metering actuation thereof, and said first-named means, metering means, and other means being substantially coaxial within said housing.

Claim 13

A control valve comprising a housing, means removably secured within said housing and defining therewith a pair of pressure fluid flow passages connected in bypass relation through said housing for one of separate fluid pressures supplied thereto, metering means movable in said first-named means for controlling the application through one of said flow passages of the one supplied fluid pressure, said metering means being initially movable in response to the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure of a predetermined value toward a position in said one flow passage isolating the one supplied fluid pressure from the applied fluid pressure an being thereafter further movable in response to increases in the one supplied fluid pressure toward a metering position is said one flow passage effecting a metered increase in the applied fluid pressure in a predetermined ratio with the increased one supplied fluid pressure in excess of the predetermined value, other means movable in said first-named means and said housing for controlling the bypass flow of the one supplied fluid pressure through the other of said flow passages and for comparing the magnitudes of the supplied fluid pressures, said other means being movable from a normal position in said other flow passage isolating the one supplied fluid pressure from the applied fluid pressure in the event that the magnitude of the other of the supplied fluid pressures acting on said other means is reduced to a value predeterminately less than that of the one supplied fluid pressure acting on said other means in opposition to the other supplied fluid pressure toward a translated position effecting open pressure fluid communication between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure through said other flow passage in bypass relation with said one flow passage and said metering means to obviate the metering actuation thereof, and said first-named means, metering means, and other means being substantially coaxial within said housing.

Claim 14

A control valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet ports and an outlet port therein, a divider member removably secured within said housing between one of said inlet ports and said outlet port, a pair of passage means in said divider means respectively connected in bypass relation between said one inlet port and said outLet port, metering means movable in said divider member for controlling pressure fluid communication through one of said passage means between said one inlet port and said outlet port, said metering means being initially movable in response to fluid pressures at said one inlet port and said outlet port of a predetermined value toward an isolating position in said one passage means interrupting pressure fluid communication between said one inlet port and said outlet port and being thereafter further movable in response to increases in the fluid pressure at said one inlet port toward a metering position in said one passage means establishing metered pressure fluid communication between the fluid pressures at said one inlet port and outlet port to effect a metered increase in the fluid pressure at said outlet port in a predetermined ratio with the increased fluid pressure at said one inlet port in excess of the predetermined value, and other means movable in said divider means and housing for controlling pressure fluid communication through the other of said passage means between said one inlet port and said outlet port and for comparing the magnitudes of the fluid pressures at said inlet ports, said other means being movable from a normal position interrupting pressure fluid communication through said other passage means between said one inlet port and said outlet port toward a translated position establishing open pressure fluid communication between said one inlet port and said outlet port through said other passage means in bypass relation with said one passage means to obviate the metering actuation of said metering means when the magnitude of the fluid pressure at the other of said inlet ports acting on said other means is reduced to a value predeterminately less than that of the fluid pressure at said one inlet port acting on said other means in opposition to the fluid pressure at said other inlet port.

Claim 15

A control valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet ports and an outlet port therein, a divider member removably secured within said housing between one of said inlet ports and said outlet port, a pair of passage means in said divider means respectively connected in bypass relation between said one inlet port and said outLet port, metering means movable in said divider member for controlling pressure fluid communication through one of said passage means between said one inlet port and said outlet port, said metering means being initially movable in response to fluid pressures at said one inlet port and said outlet port of a predetermined value toward an isolating position in said one passage means interrupting pressure fluid communication between said one inlet port and said outlet port and being thereafter further movable in response to increases in the fluid pressure at said one inlet port toward a metering position in said one passage means establishing metered pressure fluid communication between the fluid pressures at said one inlet port and outlet port to effect a metered increase in the fluid pressure at said outlet port in a predetermined ratio with the increased fluid pressure at said one inlet port in excess of the predetermined value, and other means movable in said divider means and housing for controlling pressure fluid communication through the other of said passage means between said one inlet port and said outlet port and for comparing the magnitudes of the fluid pressures at said inlet ports, said other means being movable from a normal position interrupting pressure fluid communication through said other passage means between said one inlet port and said outlet port toward a translated position establishing open pressure fluid communication between said one inlet port and said outlet port through said other passage means in bypass relation with said one passage means to obviate the metering actuation of said metering means when the magnitude of the fluid pressure at the other of said inlet ports acting on said other means is reduced to a value predeterminately less than that of the fluid pressure at said one inlet port acting on said other means in opposition to the fluid pressure at said other inlet port.

Claim 16

A control valve according to claim 12, comprising abutment means on said divider member in said one passage means, means in said divider member defining a valve seat about said one passage means, said metering means including piston means movable in said divider member, valve means on said piston means for engagement with said valve seat, and resilient means urging said piston means toward a normal position in abutting engagement with said abutment means and displacing said valve means from said valve seat, said piston means being initially movable from its normal position to its isolating position against the force of said resilient means to engage said valve means with said valve seat and the force of said resilient means thereafter assisting movement of said piston means from its isolating position to its metering position to disengage said valve means from said valve seat.

Claim 17

A control valve according to claim 12, comprising a pair of stepped bores in said divider member defining a portion of said one passage means and respectively connected with said one inlet port and said outlet port, a shoulder on said divider member between said stepped bores, said valve seat, sealing means engaged with said shoulder and normally in sealing engagement with one of said stepped bores, a valve seat on said sealing means about said one passage means, said metering means including a piston slidable in said one stepped bore, extension means on said piston means extending through said valve seat into the other of said stepped bores, valve means on said extension means for engagement with said valve seat, and resilient means normally urging said piston means toward a position in said divider member displacing said valve means from said valve seat, said piston means being initially movable toward its isolating position against the force of said resilient means to engage said valve means with said valve seat and the force of said resilient means thereafter assisting movement of said piston means from its isolating position to its metering position to disengage said valve means fRom said valve seat.

Claim 18

A control valve according to claim 14, comprising a third bore in said divider member connected between said one inlet port and said outlet port, said other means including other piston means having opposed portions slidable in said third bore and said housing and subjected to the fluid pressures at said one and other inlet ports, respectively, and seal means engaged between said third bore and one of said opposed portions to interrupt pressure fluid communication through said third bore between said one inlet port and said outlet port when said other means is in its normal position, said seal means being disengaged from sealing engagement with one of said third bore and said one opposed portion upon the movement of said other means toward its translated position to establish open pressure fluid communication through said third bore between said one inlet port and said outlet port.

Claim 19

A control valve according to claim 12, comprising a bore in said divider member defining a portion of said other flow passage and having opposed ends respectively connected with said one inlet port and said outlet port, said other means including piston means having opposed portions slidable in said housing and said bore and subjected to the fluid pressures at said one and other inlet ports, respectively, and seal means engaged between said bore and one of said opposed portions to interrupt pressure fluid communication through said bore between said one inlet port and said outlet port when said piston means is in its normal position, said seal means being disengaged from one of said bore and said one opposed portion upon the movement of said piston means toward its translated position to establish open pressure fluid communication through said bore between said one inlet port and said outlet port.

Claim 20

A control valve according to claim 16, wherein said seal means is on said one opposed portion and slidable in one of the opposed ends of said bore in sealing engagement therewith when said piston means is in its normal position, said seal means being displaced from said one opposed end of said bore upon the movement of said piston means to its translated position.

Claim 21

A control valve comprising a housing, first, second and third bores in said housing substantially in axial alignment, a first shoulder on said housing between said first and second bores, a closure member connected with said housing and closing the end of said first bore opposite to said first shoulder, first and second inlet ports in said housing and connected with said first and third bores, respectively, an outlet port in said housing and connected with said second bore, a sleeve member substantially coaxial with said first bore and having first and second opposed ends in abutting engagement with said first shoulder and said closure member, respectively, a first seal engaged between said sleeve member and said first bore adjacent to said first shoulder, first extension means on said first opposed end extending into said second bore and having a first free end portion thereon, a fourth bore in said sleeve member extending through said extension means and having third and fourth opposed ends, said third opposed end intersecting with said free end portion and being connected in pressure fluid communication with said outlet port, a first passage in said sleeve portion having one end connected with the fourth opposed end of said fourth bore and the other end thereof connected in open pressure fluid communication with said first inlet port, fifth and sixth stepped bores in said sleeve member, said fifth bore intersecting with said second opposed end of said sleeve member, a second shoulder on said sleeve member between said fifth and sixth bores, a second passage in said sleeve member having one end connecting with said fifth bore and the other end thereof connected in open pressure fluid communication with said one inlet port, a third passage in said sleeve member having one end connected wiTh said sixth bore and the other end thereof connected in open pressure fluid communication with said outlet port, a second seal in said sleeve member engaged with said fifth bore and said second shoulder, an opening in said second seal between said fifth and sixth bores, a valve seat on said second seal about said opening, a first piston slidable in said fifth bore including second extension means extending through said second seal opening into said sixth bore, valve means on said second extension means for engagement with said valve seat, first abutment means on said sleeve member in said sixth bore, a second free end portion on said second extension means for engagement with said first abutment means, a metering spring in said fifth bore engaged between said first piston and said closure member normally urging said first piston toward a normal position engaging said second free end portion with said first abutment means and displacing said valve means from said valve seat, first and second opposed effective areas on said first piston for respective subjection to the fluid pressure at said one inlet port and said outlet port, said first piston being movable from its normal position against the force of said metering spring in response to fluid pressures at said one inlet port and said outlet port of a predetermined value respectively acting on said first and second areas toward an isolating position engaging said valve means with said valve seat to interrupt pressure fluid communication between said one inlet port and said outlet port through said fifth and sixth bores and said piston means being thereafter further movable and assisted by the force of said metering spring in response to increases in the fluid pressure at said one inlet port in excess of the predetermined value acting on said first area toward a metering position disengaging said valve means from said valve seat to effect a metered increase of the fluid pressure at said outlet port acting on said second area in a predetermined ratio with the increased fluid pressure at said one inlet port in excess of the predetermined value, a second piston movable in said housing between a centered position and opposed translated positions including fifth and sixth opposed ends slidable in said third and fourth bores, respectively, third and fourth opposed effective areas on said fifth and sixth opposed ends for subjection to the fluid pressures at said second and first inlet ports, respectively, and a third seal engaged between said fourth bore and said sixth opposed end to normally interrupt pressure fluid communication through said fourth bore between said first inlet port and said outlet port when said second piston is in its centered position, said third seal being disengaged form one of said fourth bore and said sixth opposed end upon the movement of said second piston from its centered position to one of its opposed translated positions in response to the fluid pressure at said first inlet port acting on said fourth area upon the failure of the fluid pressure at said second inlet port acting on said third area to establish open pressure fluid communication between said first inlet port and said outlet port through said fourth bore in bypass relation with said fifth and sixth bores and obviate the metering actuation of said first piston.

Claim 22

A control valve comprising a housing, first, second and third bores in said housing substantially in axial alignment, a first shoulder on said housing between said first and second bores, a closure member connected with said housing and closing the end of said first bore opposite to said first shoulder, first and second inlet ports in said housing and connected with said first and third bores, respectively, an outlet port in said housing and connected with said second bore, a sleeve member substantially coaxial with said first bore and having first and second opposed ends in abutting engagement with said first shoulder and said closure member, respectively, a first seal engaged between said sleeve member and said first bore adjacent to said first shoulder, first extension means on said first opposed end extending into said second bore and having a first free end portion thereon, a fourth bore in said sleeve member extending through said extension means and having third and fourth opposed ends, said third opposed end intersecting with said free end portion and being connected in pressure fluid communication with said outlet port, a first passage in said sleeve portion having one end connected with the fourth opposed end of said fourth bore and the other end thereof connected in open pressure fluid communication with said first inlet port, fifth and sixth stepped bores in said sleeve member, said fifth bore intersecting with said second opposed end of said sleeve member, a second shoulder on said sleeve member between said fifth and sixth bores, a second passage in said sleeve member having one end connecting with said fifth bore and the other end thereof connected in open pressure fluid communication with said one inlet port, a third passage in said sleeve member having one end connected wiTh said sixth bore and the other end thereof connected in open pressure fluid communication with said outlet port, a second seal in said sleeve member engaged with said fifth bore and said second shoulder, an opening in said second seal between said fifth and sixth bores, a valve seat on said second seal about said opening, a first piston slidable in said fifth bore including second extension means extending through said second seal opening into said sixth bore, valve means on said second extension means for engagement with said valve seat, first abutment means on said sleeve member in said sixth bore, a second free end portion on said second extension means for engagement with said first abutment means, a metering spring in said fifth bore engaged between said first piston and said closure member normally urging said first piston toward a normal position engaging said second free end portion with said first abutment means and displacing said valve means from said valve seat, first and second opposed effective areas on said first piston for respective subjection to the fluid pressure at said one inlet port and said outlet port, said first piston being movable from its normal position against the force of said metering spring in response to fluid pressures at said one inlet port and said outlet port of a predetermined value respectively acting on said first and second areas toward an isolating position engaging said valve means with said valve seat to interrupt pressure fluid communication between said one inlet port and said outlet port through said fifth and sixth bores and said piston means being thereafter further movable and assisted by the force of said metering spring in response to increases in the fluid pressure at said one inlet port in excess of the predetermined value acting on said first area toward a metering position disengaging said valve means from said valve seat to effect a metered increase of the fluid pressure at said outlet port acting on said second area in a predetermined ratio with the increased fluid pressure at said one inlet port in excess of the predetermined value, a second piston movable in said housing between a centered position and opposed translated positions including fifth and sixth opposed ends slidable in said third and fourth bores, respectively, third and fourth opposed effective areas on said fifth and sixth opposed ends for subjection to the fluid pressures at said second and first inlet ports, respectively, and a third seal engaged between said fourth bore and said sixth opposed end to normally interrupt pressure fluid communication through said fourth bore between said first inlet port and said outlet port when said second piston is in its centered position, said third seal being disengaged form one of said fourth bore and said sixth opposed end upon the movement of said second piston from its centered position to one of its opposed translated positions in response to the fluid pressure at said first inlet port acting on said fourth area upon the failure of the fluid pressure at said second inlet port acting on said third area to establish open pressure fluid communication between said first inlet port and said outlet port through said fourth bore in bypass relation with said fifth and sixth bores and obviate the metering actuation of said first piston.

Claim 23

A control valve comprising a housing, means removably secured within said housing and defining therewith another inlet chamber, an outlet chamber in said housing between said first-named and other means and connected in pressure fluid communication with said first named inlet chamber, metering means movable in said first-named means and being generally operable to effect the application of metered fluid pressure from said first-named inlet chamber to said outlet chamber to establish a metered applied fluid pressure therein upon preselected conditions, passage means in said first named means between said first-named inlet chamber and said outlet chamber in bypass relation with said mEtering means, and said other means including means for controlling said passage means, said included means being movable with said other means in response to fluid pressure in said passage means acting on said included means toward a translated position establishing pressure fluid communication through said passage means between said first named inlet chamber and said outlet chamber bypassing said metering means upon the failure of fluid pressure in said other inlet chamber acting on said other means in opposition to the fluid pressure in said passage means acting on said included means.

Claim 24

A control valve comprising a housing, means removably secured within said housing and defining therewith another inlet chamber, an outlet chamber in said housing between said first-named and other means and connected in pressure fluid communication with said first named inlet chamber, metering means movable in said first-named means and being generally operable to effect the application of metered fluid pressure from said first-named inlet chamber to said outlet chamber to establish a metered applied fluid pressure therein upon preselected conditions, passage means in said first named means between said first-named inlet chamber and said outlet chamber in bypass relation with said mEtering means, and said other means including means for controlling said passage means, said included means being movable with said other means in response to fluid pressure in said passage means acting on said included means toward a translated position establishing pressure fluid communication through said passage means between said first named inlet chamber and said outlet chamber bypassing said metering means upon the failure of fluid pressure in said other inlet chamber acting on said other means in opposition to the fluid pressure in said passage means acting on said included means.

Claim 25

A control valve according to claim 19, comprising means on said first-named means defining a valve seat about said passage means, valve means on said included means and normally engaged with said valve seat closing said passage means, said valve means being disengaged from said valve seat to open said passage means upon the movement of said other means to its translated position.

Claim 26

A control valve according to claim 19, wherein said included means is movable in said passage means, sealing means on said included means and normally in sealing engagement with said first named means within said passage means to interrupt pressure fluid communication therethrough between said first named inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said sealing means being disengaged from said first-named means to open said passage means and establish pressure fluid communication therethrough between said first named inlet chamber and said outlet chamber upon the movement of said other means to its translated position.

Claim 27

A control valve comprising a housing, means removably secured within said housing and defining a flow passage therethrough for one of separate fluid pressures supplied to said housing, metering means movable in said first-named means controlling said flow passage and generally operable to effect the application therethrough of a metered applied fluid pressure in response to the one supplied fluid pressure acting thereon upon preselected conditions, means in said first-named means defining another flow passage through said housing in bypass relation with said first-named flow passage for the one supplied fluid pressure, other means movable in said housing for comparing the magnitudes of the supplied fluid pressures including means for controlling said other flow passage, said included means being movable with said other means in response to the one supplied fluid pressure in said other flow passage acting on said included means toward a translated position establishing flow of the one supplied fluid pressure through said other flow passage bypassing said metering means in the event of the failure of the other of the supplied fluid pressures acting on said other means.

Claim 28

A control valve comprising a housing, means removably secured within said housing and defining a flow passage therethrough for one of separate fluid pressures supplied to said housing, metering means movable in said first-named means controlling said flow passage and generally operable to effect the application therethrough of a metered applied fluid pressure in response to the one supplied fluid pressure acting thereon upon preselected conditions, means in said first-named means defining another flow passage through said housing in bypass relation with said first-named flow passage for the one supplied fluid pressure, other means movable in said housing for comparing the magnitudes of the supplied fluid pressures including means for controlling said other flow passage, said included means being movable with said other means in response to the one supplied fluid pressure in said other flow passage acting on said included means toward a translated position establishing flow of the one supplied fluid pressure through said other flow passage bypassing said metering means in the event of the failure of the other of the supplied fluid pressures acting on said other means.

Claim 29

A control valve according to claim 22, wherein a portion of said other flow passage defines a valve seat in said first-named means about said other flow passage, valve means on said included means and normally engaged with said valve seat closing said other flow passage to interrupt the flow of the one supplied fluid pressure therethrough, said valve means being disengaged from said valve seat to open said other flow passage and establish the flow of the one supplied fluid pressure therethrough upon the movement of said other means to its translated position.

Claim 30

A control valve according to claim 22, wherein said included means is movable in said other flow passage, sealing means engaged between said included means and said other flow passage to interrupt the flow of said one supplied fluid pressure therethrough, said sealing means being disengaged from one of said included means and other flow passage to establish the flow of the one supplied fluid pressure through said other flow passage upon the movement of said other means to its translated position.