Proportional valve

Claim 2

A fluid control valve comprising: a. a body having an inlet port, an exhaust port and a pair of outlet ports; b. first and second chambers in said body; c. passage means connecting said first and second chambers to said exhaust port; d. means in said valve body defining third and fourth chambers connecting said first and second chambers, respectively, with a corresponding one of said outlet ports; e. passage means connecting said third and fourth chambers to said inlet port; f. first and second flow controlling means in said first and second chambers, respectively, each of said flow controlling means being movable in its chamber from a seated position sealing its said chamber from a corresponding one of said third and fourth chambers to an unseated position wherein said flow controlling means allows fluid flow between the two chambers, and g. motion transmitting means operatively connected to each of said first and second flow controlling means and including a linearly movable element, said motion transmitting element having a neutral position wherein said first and second flow controlling means both are maintained in said seated position, and said motion transmitting element being movable out of said neutral position in directions unseating either of said flow controlling means while maintaining the other of said flow controlling means in said seated position.

Claim 3

The fluid control valve defined in claim 1 wherein each of said flow controlling means comprises: a. a first poppet member axially movable in a corresponding one of said first and second chambers; b. a second poppet member carried by said first poppet member so as to be moved thereby from a seated position blocking a corresponding one of said third and fourth chambeRs to an unseated position; and c. a spring urging said first poppet into operative contact with said motion transmitting means.

Claim 4

The fluid control valve defined in claim 2 wherein said second poppet is axially movable within said first poppet and wherein said valve further comprises: a. a follower positioned in operative contact between said first poppet and said motion transmitting element; and b. a spring contacting said follower and said second poppet.

Claim 5

The fluid control valve defined in claim 1 wherein said motion transmitting element comprises an elongated, generally cylindrical cam member supported in a chamber in said valve body for axial movement in both directions along a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of each of said first and second flow controlling means, said cam member having equal diameters at opposite ends thereof and a relatively larger diameter about midway from the ends thereof.

Claim 6

The fluid control valve defined in claim 4 further including a manually operable lever pivotally connected to said valve body and operatively connected at one end to said cam.

Claim 7

The fluid control valve defined in claim 1 wherein said means defining third and fourth chambers each comprises a generally hollow cylindrical nozzle member, one end of which extends into a corresponding one of said first and second chambers, the other end of which is in communication with a corresponding one of said valve outlet ports, said nozzle having a bore therethrough intermediate the ends thereof whereby the nozzle interior is in fluid communication with said passage connected to said valve inlet port.

Claim 8

In combination with the fluid control valve defined in claim 1: a. a source of operating fluid under pressure connected to said valve inlet port; b. first and second fluid cylinders each having a piston reciprocable therein; c. means connecting said first and second fluid cylinders to corresponding ones of said valve outlet ports; d. a mechanical load adapted for reciprocal movement along an axis, said load being connected at opposite ends thereof to corresponding ones of said cylinder pistons; and e. first and second elastic members each having linear force-displacement characteristics and each connected at one end to a corresponding one of said cylinder pistons and at the other end to a rigid body.

Claim 9

The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said mechanical load comprises a spool movable in the body of a master valve connected in a separate fluid circuit.

Claim 10

The combination defined in claim 8 wherein each of said elastic members comprises a spring comprises a spring positioned on the rod of a corresponding one of said cylinder pistons and connected at one end to the piston and at the other end to the body of said master valve.

Claim 11

A fluid control valve comprising: a. a body having an inlet port, an exhaust port and a pair of outlet ports; b. a generally cylindrical cam member supported for limited axial movement in a chamber in said valve body, the outer diameter of said cam member being a maximum about midway of the axial ends thereof and gradually decreasing in opposite axial directions; c. a manually operable lever pivotally connected to said valve body and operatively connected at one end thereof to said cam member; d. first and second chambers in said valve body extending from the chamber in which said cam member is movable; e. passage means connecting said first and second chambers to said bleed or exhaust port; f. a first, generally hollow cylindrical poppet member positioned in each of said first and second chambers; g. a follower seated in one end of said first poppet member and in operative contact with the outer surface of said cam member; h. a spring positioned in each of said first and second chambers urging said first poppet toward said cam member; i. a second poppet member carried in said first poppet member and axially movable therein; j. a spring positioned in said first poppet member, one end of said spring being in contact with said second poppet member and the other end in contact with said follower; k. first and second generally hollow cylindrical nozzle members positioned in said valve body so that one end thereof extends into a corresponding one of said first and second chambers and so that the interiors of said first and second nozzles are in communication with corresponding ones of said valve outlet ports, said second poppet members normally sealing the interiors of corresponding ones of said first and second nozzles from said first and second chambers; and l. passage means connecting the interiors of said first and second nozzles each to said valve inlet port.

Claim 12

A fluid control valve comprising: a. a body having an inlet port, an exhaust port and a pair of outlet ports; b. a generally cylindrical cam member supported for limited axial movement in a chamber in said valve body, the outer diameter of said cam member being a maximum about midway of the axial ends thereof and gradually decreasing in opposite axial directions; c. a manually operable lever pivotally connected to said valve body and operatively connected at one end thereof to said cam member; d. first and second chambers in said valve body extending from the chamber in which said cam member is movable; e. passage means connecting said first and second chambers to said bleed or exhaust port; f. a first, generally hollow cylindrical poppet member positioned in each of said first and second chambers; g. a follower seated in one end of said first poppet member and in operative contact with the outer surface of said cam member; h. a spring positioned in each of said first and second chambers urging said first poppet toward said cam member; i. a second poppet member carried in said first poppet member and axially movable therein; j. a spring positioned in said first poppet member, one end of said spring being in contact with said second poppet member and the other end in contact with said follower; k. first and second generally hollow cylindrical nozzle members positioned in said valve body so that one end thereof extends into a corresponding one of said first and second chambers and so that the interiors of said first and second nozzles are in communication with corresponding ones of said valve outlet ports, said second poppet members normally sealing the interiors of corresponding ones of said first and second nozzles from said first and second chambers; and l. passage means connecting the interiors of said first and second nozzles each to said valve inlet port.

Claim 13

A fluid control valve comprising: a. a body having an inlet port, an exhaust port and four outlet ports; b. four chambers in said body; c. passage means connecting each of said four chambers to said bleed or exhaust port; d. four hollow generally cylindrical nozzle members in said body each of said nozzle members being positioned so that one end is in fluid communication with a corresponding one of said four chambers and so that the opposite end of said nozzle is connected to a corresponding one of said four outlet ports; e. passage means connecting the interiors of said nozzles each to said inlet port; f. flow controlling means in each of said four chambers, each of said flow controlling means being movable in the chamber wherein it is located from a seated position sealing the chamber from the interior of a corresponding one of said nozzle members to an unseated position wherein said flow controlling means allows a flow of fluid from the nozzle interior to the chamber; g. four motion transmitting elements each axially movable in said valve body and positioned so as to be operatively connected to a corresponding one of said flow controlling means, each of said elements having a tapered outer surface whereby in response to axial movement thereof the corresponding flow controlling means is moved between seated and unseated positions; and h. a manually operable lever journaled in said valve body for universal movement and operatively connected at one end to each of said motion transmitting elements.

Claim 14

A fluid control valve comprising: a. a body having an inlet port, an exhaust port and four outlet ports; b. four chambers in said body; c. passage means connecting each of said four chambers to said bleed or exhaust port; d. four hollow generally cylindrical nozzle members in said body each of said nozzle members being positioned so that one end is in fluid communication with a corresponding one of said four chambers and so that the opposite end of said nozzle is connected to a corresponding one of said four outlet ports; e. passage means connecting the interiors of said nozzles each to said inlet port; f. flow controlling means in each of said four chambers, each of said flow controlling means being movable in the chamber wherein it is located from a seated position sealing the chamber from the interior of a corresponding one of said nozzle members to an unseated position wherein said flow controlling means allows a flow of fluid from the nozzle interior to the chamber; g. four motion transmitting elements each axially movable in said valve body and positioned so as to be operatively connected to a corresponding one of said flow controlling means, each of said elements having a tapered outer surface whereby in response to axial movement thereof the corresponding flow controlling means is moved between seated and unseated positions; and h. a manually operable lever journaled in said valve body for universal movement and operatively connected at one end to each of said motion transmitting elements.

Claim 15

The fluid control valve defined in claim 11 wherein the axes of said motion transmitting elements are disposed in mutually perpendicular relation.

Claim 16

The fluid control valve defined in claim 11 wherein each of said motion transmitting elements is provided with a slight step or rise in the outer surface intermediate the ends thereof.

Claim 17

The fluid control valve defined in claim 11 wherein each of said flow controlling means comprises; a. a first poppet member axially movable in the corresponding chamber; b. a second poppet member carried by said first poppet member so as to be moved thereby from a seated position on the end of a corresponding one of said nozzles to an unseated position; and c. a spring urging said first poppet member into operative contact with a corresponding one of said cams.

Claim 18

The fluid control valve defined in claim 14 wherein said second poppet is axially movable within said first poppet and wherein said valve further comprises: a. a follower positioned in operative contact between said first poppet and a corresponding one of said motion transmitting elements; and b. a spring contacting said follower and said second poppet.

Claim 19

In combination with the fluid control valve defined in claim 11: a. a first hydraulic circuit connected to two of said outlet ports and including a mechanical load movable in two directions; b. a second hydraulic circuit connected to the remaining two of said outlet ports and including a mechanical load movable in two directions; and c. a source of operating fluid under pressure connected to said valve inlet port.

Claim 20

The combination defined in claim 16 wherein each of said First and second hydraulic circuits further includes: a. first and second fluid cylinders each having a piston reciprocable therein in response to the flow of said operating fluid; b. said mechanical load being connected at opposite ends thereof to corresponding ones of said cylinder pistons; and c. first and second elastic members each having linear force-displacement characteristics and each connected at one end to a corresponding one of said cylinder pistons and at the other end to a rigid body.

Claim 21

In combination with the fluid control valve defined in claim 11: a. a single mechanical load reciprocable along two independent axes; b. two pair of hydraulic cylinders, each pair operatively connected to said load with the two cylinders comprising the pair at opposite ends of said load along one of the axes; c. an hydraulic circuit connecting each pair of hydraulic cylinders to a corresponding pair of said valve outlet ports; d. a source of operating fluid under pressure connected to said valve inlet port; and e. two pair of elastic members each having linear force-displacement characteristics, each of said elastic members being connected at one end to the piston of a corresponding one of said hydraulic cylinders and at the other end to a rigid body.