Control valve

Claim 2

A control valve comprising a housing, means for comparing the magnitudes of separate fluid pressures supplied to said housing and movable therein from a normally centered position toward opposed translated positions in response to oppositely acting differentials in excess of a predetermined amount between the magnitudes of the supplied fluid pressures acting thereon, metering means defining with said housing a pressure fluid flow passage therethrough for one of the supplied fluid pressures and movable in said housing for controlling the application through said flow passage 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 acting thereon toward a position isolating the one supplied fluid pressure in said flow passage 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 toward a metering position effecting a metered increase in the applied fluid pressure in said flow passage in a predetermined ratio with the increased supplied fluid pressure in excess of the predetermined value, passage means in said metering means in bypass relation with said flow passage having one end connected in open pressure fluid communication with the one supplied fluid pressure and the other end thereof for connection in pressure fluid communication with the applied fluid pressure, and said first-named means including means movable in said other end of said passage means for controlling pressure fluid communication therethrough between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure, said included means being movable toward a bypass position establishing open pressure fluid communication through said passage means between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure to bypass said metering means and obviate the metering actuation thereof upon the movement of said firstnamed means toward one of its translated positions when the magnitude of one of the supplied fluid pressure and the other of the supplied fluid pressures exceeds that of the other of the one and other supplied fluid pressures acting on said first-named means by the predetermined amount.

Claim 3

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

Claim 4

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

Claim 5

A control valve according to claim 2, comprising other means movable in said housing for engagement with said housing and said first-named means and subjected to the applied fluid pressure, said other means being urged in response to the applied fluid pressure acting thereon toward engagement with said housing and with said first-named means to oppose movement of said first-named means toward another translated position in a direction opposite to its first-named translated position.

Claim 6

A control valve according to claim 2, comprising a pair of opposed areas on said first-named means for respective subjection to the one supplied fluid pressure in said passage means and the other supplied fluid pressure, said first-named 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 7

A control valve according to claim 2, wherein said passage means includes a bore in said metering means, said included means being movable in said bore and normally interrupting pressure fluid communication therethrough between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure, and said included means being movable toward its translated position to establish the open pressure fluid communication through said bore between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure.

Claim 8

A control valve according to claim 5, wherein said included means includes valve means normally engaged with said bore to interrupt pressure fluid communication therethrough between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure, said valve means being disengaged from said bore upon the movement of said included means with said first-named means to its translated position to establish the open pressure fluid communication through said bore between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure.

Claim 9

A control valve according to claim 6, wherein the sealing engagement of said valve means with said bore defines an effective area on said included means subjected to the one supplied fluid pressure, and another effective area on said first-named means opposed to said first-named effective area and subjected to the other supplied fluid pressure, said first-named means being movable toward its translated position when the magnitude of the one supplied fluid pressure acting on said first-named effective area exceeds that of the other supplied fluid pressure acting on said other effective area by a predetermined amount.

Claim 10

A control valve according to claim 7, comprising other means movable in said housing for engagement with said housing and said first-named means, said other means defining a third area subjected to the applied fluid pressure and additive to said first area, said second area being greater than said first area, and said other means being urged in response to the applied fluid pressure acting on said third area toward engagement with said housing and said first-named means to oppose movement of said first-named means in response to the other supplied fluid pressure acting on said second area.

Claim 11

A control valve according to claim 2, comprising sealing means engaged between said included means and said passage means normally interrupting pressure fluid communication through said passage means between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure, said sealing means being disengaged from one of said included means and said passage means upon the movement of said first-named means to its translated position to open said passage means and establish the open pressure fluid communication therethrough between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure.

Claim 12

A control valve according to claim 2, comprising a valve seat on said first-named means about said passage means, valve means on said included means normally engaged with said valve seat to close said passage means, said valve means being urged toward a position disengaged from said valve seat to open said passage means and establish the pressure fluid communication therethrough between the oNe supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure upon the movement of said first-named means toward its translated position.

Claim 13

A control valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet ports and an outlet port therein, means in said housing defining a valve seat between one of said inlet ports and said outlet port, a metering piston movable in said housing between said one inlet port and said outlet port including valve means for engagement with said valve seat, said metering piston defining a flow passage between said one inlet port and said outlet port controlled by said valve means, resilient means urging said piston means toward a normal position in said housing to disengage said valve means from said valve seat and establish open pressure fluid communication through said flow passage between said one inlet port and said outlet port, said metering piston being movable against the force of said resilient means in response to fluid pressures at said one inlet port and said outlet port of a predetermined value toward an isolating position engaging said valve means with said valve seat to close said flow passage and interrupt 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 in excess of the predetermined value and assisted by the force of said resilient means toward a metering position disengaging said valve means from said valve seat to open said flow passage and establish metered pressure fluid communication between said one inlet port and said outlet port effecting a metered increase of the fluid pressure at said outlet port in a predetermined ratio with the fluid pressure at said one inlet port in excess of the predetermined value, passage means in said metering piston having one end connected in open pressure fluid communication with said one inlet port and the other end thereof for connection in pressure fluid communication with said outlet port in bypass relation with said flow passage, other piston means for comparing the magnitudes of the fluid pressures at said one inlet port and the other of said inlet ports and movable in said housing between said one inlet port and said outlet port from a normally centered position toward opposed translated positions in response to oppositely acting differentials in excess of a predetermined amount between the magnitudes of the fluid pressures at said one and other inlet ports acting thereon, said other piston means including a portion movable in said other end of said passage means and subjected to the fluid pressure at said one inlet port wherein said portion normally closes said passage means to interrupt pressure fluid communication therethrough between said one inlet port and said outlet port when said other piston means is in its centered position, and another portion on said other piston means opposed to said first-named portion and subjected to the fluid pressure at said other inlet port, said first-named portion being movable toward a position displaced from said passage means establishing pressure fluid communication therethrough between said one inlet port and said outlet port in bypass relation with said flow passage to obviate the metering actuation of said metering piston in response to the movement of said other piston means toward one of its opposed translated positions when the magnitude of the fluid pressure at said one inlet port acting on said first-named portion exceeds that of the fluid pressure at said other inlet port acting on said other portion by the predetermined amount.

Claim 14

A control valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet ports and an outlet port therein, means in said housing defining a valve seat between one of said inlet ports and said outlet port, a metering piston movable in said housing between said one inlet port and said outlet port including valve means for engagement with said valve seat, said metering piston defining a flow passage between said one inlet port and said outlet port controlled by said valve means, resilient means urging said piston means toward a normal position in said housing to disengage said valve means from said valve seat and establish open pressure fluid communication through said flow passage between said one inlet port and said outlet port, said metering piston being movable against the force of said resilient means in response to fluid pressures at said one inlet port and said outlet port of a predetermined value toward an isolating position engaging said valve means with said valve seat to close said flow passage and interrupt 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 in excess of the predetermined value and assisted by the force of said resilient means toward a metering position disengaging said valve means from said valve seat to open said flow passage and establish metered pressure fluid communication between said one inlet port and said outlet port effecting a metered increase of the fluid pressure at said outlet port in a predetermined ratio with the fluid pressure at said one inlet port in excess of the predetermined value, passage means in said metering piston having one end connected in open pressure fluid communication with said one inlet port and the other end thereof for connection in pressure fluid communication with said outlet port in bypass relation with said flow passage, other piston means for comparing the magnitudes of the fluid pressures at said one inlet port and the other of said inlet ports and movable in said housing between said one inlet port and said outlet port from a normally centered position toward opposed translated positions in response to oppositely acting differentials in excess of a predetermined amount between the magnitudes of the fluid pressures at said one and other inlet ports acting thereon, said other piston means including a portion movable in said other end of said passage means and subjected to the fluid pressure at said one inlet port wherein said portion normally closes said passage means to interrupt pressure fluid communication therethrough between said one inlet port and said outlet port when said other piston means is in its centered position, and another portion on said other piston means opposed to said first-named portion and subjected to the fluid pressure at said other inlet port, said first-named portion being movable toward a position displaced from said passage means establishing pressure fluid communication therethrough between said one inlet port and said outlet port in bypass relation with said flow passage to obviate the metering actuation of said metering piston in response to the movement of said other piston means toward one of its opposed translated positions when the magnitude of the fluid pressure at said one inlet port acting on said first-named portion exceeds that of the fluid pressure at said other inlet port acting on said other portion by the predetermined amount.

Claim 15

A control valve comprising a housing, a pressure fluid flow passage in said housing, metering means generally operable to effect the application through said flow passage of a metered applied fluid pressure in response to fluid pressure supplied thereto upon preselected conditions, passage means in said metering means in bypass relation with said flow passage for connection in oPen pressure fluid communication between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure, means for controlling said passage means including other means movable in said housing and said passage means for comparing the magnitude of the one supplied fluid pressure with another fluid pressure separately supplied to said housing, said other means being movable in response to the one supplied fluid pressure acting thereon toward a translated position establishing the open pressure fluid communication through said passage means between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure to bypass said metering means and prevent the metering actuation thereof in the event of the failure of the other supplied fluid pressure acting on said other means.

Claim 16

A control valve comprising a housing, a pressure fluid flow passage in said housing, metering means generally operable to effect the application through said flow passage of a metered applied fluid pressure in response to fluid pressure supplied thereto upon preselected conditions, passage means in said metering means in bypass relation with said flow passage for connection in oPen pressure fluid communication between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure, means for controlling said passage means including other means movable in said housing and said passage means for comparing the magnitude of the one supplied fluid pressure with another fluid pressure separately supplied to said housing, said other means being movable in response to the one supplied fluid pressure acting thereon toward a translated position establishing the open pressure fluid communication through said passage means between the one supplied fluid pressure and the applied fluid pressure to bypass said metering means and prevent the metering actuation thereof in the event of the failure of the other supplied fluid pressure acting on said other means.

Claim 17

A control valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet chambers and an outlet chamber therein, metering means in said housing between one of said inlet chambers and said outlet chamber and defining a flow passage therebetween, said metering means being generally operable to meter fluid pressure from said one inlet chamber through said flow passage to establish a metered applied fluid pressure in said outlet chamber, passage means in said metering means in bypass relation with said flow passage and connected between said one inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, other means for comparing the magnitudes of the respective fluid pressures in said inlet chambers including means movable in said passage means and normally interrupting pressure fluid communication therethrough between said one inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said other means being movable in response to the fluid pressure in said one inlet chamber acting on said included means toward a translated position displacing said included means from said passage means and establishing open pressure fluid communication therethrough between said one inlet chamber and said outlet chamber to bypass said flow passage and prevent the metering actuation of said metering means in the event of the failure of fluid pressure in the other of said inlet chambers acting on said other means in opposition to the fluid pressure in said one inlet chamber acting on said included means.

Claim 18

A control valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet chambers and an outlet chamber therein, metering means in said housing between one of said inlet chambers and said outlet chamber and defining a flow passage therebetween, said metering means being generally operable to meter fluid pressure from said one inlet chamber through said flow passage to establish a metered applied fluid pressure in said outlet chamber, passage means in said metering means in bypass relation with said flow passage and connected between said one inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, other means for comparing the magnitudes of the respective fluid pressures in said inlet chambers including means movable in said passage means and normally interrupting pressure fluid communication therethrough between said one inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said other means being movable in response to the fluid pressure in said one inlet chamber acting on said included means toward a translated position displacing said included means from said passage means and establishing open pressure fluid communication therethrough between said one inlet chamber and said outlet chamber to bypass said flow passage and prevent the metering actuation of said metering means in the event of the failure of fluid pressure in the other of said inlet chambers acting on said other means in opposition to the fluid pressure in said one inlet chamber acting on said included means.

Claim 19

A control valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet ports and an outlet port, metering means defining with said housing a pressure fluid flow passage between one of said inlet ports and said outlet port and generally operable to effect the application through said flow passage of fluid pressure at said one inlet port to establish a metered fluid pressure at said outlet port, passage means in said metering means in bypass relation with said flow passage and having one end subjected to fluid pressure at said one inlet port and the other end thereof adapted for subjection to the fluid pressure at said outlet port, comparator means movable in said housing for comparing the magnitudes of the respective fluid pressures at said inlet ports including means normally in sealing engagement with said metering means about said passage means other end to interrupt pressure fluid communication through said passage means between the fluid pressure at said one inlet port and the applied fluid pressure at said outlet port, said comparator means being movable toward a translated position in response to the fluid pressure at said one inlet port acting on said included means to displace said included means from sealing engagement with said metering means opening said passage means to establish open pressure fluid communication therethrough between the fluid pressure at said one inlet port and the applied fluid pressure at said outlet port bypassing said flow passage in order to prevent the metering actuation of said metering means upon the failure of the fluid pressure at the other of said inlet ports acting on said comparator means.

Claim 20

A control valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet ports and an outlet port, metering means defining with said housing a pressure fluid flow passage between one of said inlet ports and said outlet port and generally operable to effect the application through said flow passage of fluid pressure at said one inlet port to establish a metered fluid pressure at said outlet port, passage means in said metering means in bypass relation with said flow passage and having one end subjected to fluid pressure at said one inlet port and the other end thereof adapted for subjection to the fluid pressure at said outlet port, comparator means movable in said housing for comparing the magnitudes of the respective fluid pressures at said inlet ports including means normally in sealing engagement with said metering means about said passage means other end to interrupt pressure fluid communication through said passage means between the fluid pressure at said one inlet port and the applied fluid pressure at said outlet port, said comparator means being movable toward a translated position in response to the fluid pressure at said one inlet port acting on said included means to displace said included means from sealing engagement with said metering means opening said passage means to establish open pressure fluid communication therethrough between the fluid pressure at said one inlet port and the applied fluid pressure at said outlet port bypassing said flow passage in order to prevent the metering actuation of said metering means upon the failure of the fluid pressure at the other of said inlet ports acting on said comparator means.