Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of shifting a valve spool having ends of equal effective area from one end to the other end of a first chamber, comprising the steps: a. providing a second chamber in communication with said other end of the first chamber wherein the combined volumes of said second chamber and said other end outwardly of the valve spool exceeds the volume of said one end outwardly of the valve spool in all operative positions of the spool, b. introducing a fluid under pressure simultaneously and at substantially the same flow rate into said one end of the first chamber and one of said other end of the first chamber and said second chamber and thereby causing said valve spool to be shifted to said other end of the first chamber, c. venting said one end of the first chamber while maintaining fluid flow into said one of the other first chamber end and the second chamber and thereBy causing said valve spool to be shifted to said one end of the first chamber, d. withdrawing at least a portion of said fluid from the ends of said first chamber and from said second chamber, and e. repeating Step b and thereby causing the valve spool to be shifted to said other end of the first chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of shifting a valve spool having ends of equal effective area from one end to the other end of a first chamber, comprising the steps: a. providing a second chamber in communication with said other end of the first chamber wherein the combined volumes of said second chamber and said other end outwardly of the valve spool exceeds the volume of said one end outwardly of the valve spool in all operative positions of the spool, b. introducing a fluid under pressure simultaneously and at substantially the same flow rate into said one end of the first chamber and one of said other end of the first chamber and said second chamber and thereby causing said valve spool to be shifted to said other end of the first chamber, c. venting said one end of the first chamber while maintaining fluid flow into said one of the other first chamber end and the second chamber and thereBy causing said valve spool to be shifted to said one end of the first chamber, d. withdrawing at least a portion of said fluid from the ends of said first chamber and from said second chamber, and e. repeating Step b and thereby causing the valve spool to be shifted to said other end of the first chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
312 words
A valve assembly responsive to a pressurized fluid comprising a housing having a chamber therein with first and second ends, a valve spool having piston-like end portions of equal effective area carried within said chamber and being axially shiftable between said first and second ends therein, said valve spool having a first operative position wherein one end portion of said spool is located adjacent said first chamber end and a second operative position wherein the other end portion of said spool is located adjacent said second chamber end, a fluid inlet including an inlet port in communication with said chamber outwardly of said one end portion of said spool in all operative positions thereof and another inlet port in communication with said chamber outwardly of said other end portion of said spool in all operative positions thereof, said inlet ports being sized so that the fluid flow rate through said ports is substantially equal, said one spool end and said first chamber end defining a first fluid receiving volume, fluid receiving means in communication with said chamber at its said second end defining in cooperation with said chamber a second fluid receiving volume located outwardly of said other spool end portion which is greater than the first fluid receiving volume located outwardly of said one spool end in all operative positions of said valve spool so as to enable said spool to be shifted from said first operative position into said second operative position when said fluid is introduced into said fluid inlet and simultaneously through said ports into said chamber, valve means normally closed communicating with said chamber outwardly of said one spool end portion for venting that part of said chamber which is outwardly of said one spool end portion, said spool being shiftable from its second operative position into its first operative position when said valve means is actuated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
312 words
A valve assembly responsive to a pressurized fluid comprising a housing having a chamber therein with first and second ends, a valve spool having piston-like end portions of equal effective area carried within said chamber and being axially shiftable between said first and second ends therein, said valve spool having a first operative position wherein one end portion of said spool is located adjacent said first chamber end and a second operative position wherein the other end portion of said spool is located adjacent said second chamber end, a fluid inlet including an inlet port in communication with said chamber outwardly of said one end portion of said spool in all operative positions thereof and another inlet port in communication with said chamber outwardly of said other end portion of said spool in all operative positions thereof, said inlet ports being sized so that the fluid flow rate through said ports is substantially equal, said one spool end and said first chamber end defining a first fluid receiving volume, fluid receiving means in communication with said chamber at its said second end defining in cooperation with said chamber a second fluid receiving volume located outwardly of said other spool end portion which is greater than the first fluid receiving volume located outwardly of said one spool end in all operative positions of said valve spool so as to enable said spool to be shifted from said first operative position into said second operative position when said fluid is introduced into said fluid inlet and simultaneously through said ports into said chamber, valve means normally closed communicating with said chamber outwardly of said one spool end portion for venting that part of said chamber which is outwardly of said one spool end portion, said spool being shiftable from its second operative position into its first operative position when said valve means is actuated.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of shifting a valve spool having first and second ends of equal effective area from one end to the other end of a chamber, comprising the steps: a. providing said other end of the chamber with a fluid-receiving volume located outwardly of the first end of said valve spool which exceeds the fluid-receiving volume located outwardly of the second end of said spool at said one end of said chamber in all operative positions of said spool, b. introducing a fluid under pressure simultaneously and at substantially the same flow rate into said one and other ends of the chamber and thereby causing said valve spool to be shifted to said other end of the chamber, c. venting said one end of the chamber while maintaining fluid flow into said other chamber end and thereby causing said valve spool to be shifted to said one end of the chamber, d. withdrawing at least a portion of said fluid from the ends of said chamber, and e. repeating Step b and thereby causing the valve spool to be shifted to said other end of the chamber.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of shifting a valve spool having first and second ends of equal effective area from one end to the other end of a chamber, comprising the steps: a. providing said other end of the chamber with a fluid-receiving volume located outwardly of the first end of said valve spool which exceeds the fluid-receiving volume located outwardly of the second end of said spool at said one end of said chamber in all operative positions of said spool, b. introducing a fluid under pressure simultaneously and at substantially the same flow rate into said one and other ends of the chamber and thereby causing said valve spool to be shifted to said other end of the chamber, c. venting said one end of the chamber while maintaining fluid flow into said other chamber end and thereby causing said valve spool to be shifted to said one end of the chamber, d. withdrawing at least a portion of said fluid from the ends of said chamber, and e. repeating Step b and thereby causing the valve spool to be shifted to said other end of the chamber.