Control valve

Claim 2

A control valve having pressure fluid supply and return passage means and a pair of service passages for connection with the opposite sides of a reversible fluid motor, characterized by: A. a first valve spool movable to a feed position communicating one of said service passages with the supply passage means; B. a second valve spool movable to a vent position communicating the other service passage with the return passage means; C. actuating means for said second valve spool operable when energized to shift said spool to its vent position; D. and means controlled by said first valve spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position thereof to effect energization of the actuating means for said second valve spool.

Claim 3

The control valve of claim 1, further characterized by: A. each valve spool being movable to such feed and vent positions and having actuating means for shifting the same to its vent position; B. and means controlled by each valve spool and rendered operative thereby upon movement there-of to its feed position to effect energization of the actuating means for the other valve spool.

Claim 4

and the other spool being movable to a vent position to communicate its service passage with the return passage; D. means providing an actuating cylinder for said other spool by which it is actuatable to its vent position in consequence of flow of pressure fluid into the cylinder; E. means providing a control passage which is governed by said one valve spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position thereof to communicate the associated service passage with said cylinder; F. and a groove in one face of the body providing a portion of said control passage.

Claim 5

and the other spool being movable to a vent position to communicate its service passage with the return passage; D. means providing an actuating cylinder for said other spool by which it is actuatable to its vent position in consequence of flow of pressure fluid into the cylinder; E. means providing a control passage which is governed by said one valve spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position thereof to communicate the associated service passage with said cylinder; F. and a groove in one face of the body providing a portion of said control passage.

Claim 6

A control valve having pressure fluid supply and return passage means and a pair of service passages for connection with the opposite sides of a reversible fluid motor, characterized by: A. a first valve spool movable to a feed position communicating one of said service passages with the supply passage means; B. a second valve spool movable to a vent position communicating the other service passage with the return passage means; C. fluid pressure actuating means for said second spool, having a cylinder into which pressure fluid can flow to effect actuation of said second spool to its vent position; D. and means controlled by said first valve spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position thereof to effect communication of the supply passage means with the cylinder of said actuating means.

Claim 7

A control valve having pressure fluid supply and return passage means and a pair of service passages for connection with the opposite sides of a reversible fluid motor, characterized by: A. a first valve spool movable to a feed position communicating one of said service passages with the supply passage means; B. a second valve spool movable to a vent position communicating the other service passage with the return passage means; C. fluid pressure actuating means for said second spool, having a cylinder into which pressure fluid can flow to effect actuation of said second spool to its vent position; D. and means controlled by said first valve spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position thereof to effect communication of the supply passage means with the cylinder of said actuating means.

Claim 8

The control valve of claim 3, wherein: A. pressure fluid flows from the supply passage means to said one service passage through an orifice whose size and flow limiting effect is determined by the position of said first valve spool; B. and further characterized by a pressure compensating valve operable to regulate flow of pressure fluid to said one service passage in accordance with variations in the pressure drop across said orifice.

Claim 9

The control valve of claim 3, further characterized by: A. each of said spools being movable to feed and vent positions to provide for communication of its associated service passage with either the supply or the return passage means; B. a pair of said fluid pressure actuating means, one for each valve spool; C. and means controlled by each spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position thereof to effect communication of the supply passage means with the cylinder for the other spool.

Claim 10

The control valve of claim 5, wherein pressure fluid flows to each service passage through an orifice whose size and flow limiting effect is determined by the setting of the associated valve spool in the feed position thereof; and further characterized by a pressure compensating valve operable to regulate the flow of pressure fluid to each of said orifices in accordance with variations in the pressure drop thereacross.

Claim 11

The control valve of claim 5, further characterized by: A. feeder passage means to communicate the supply passage means with each service passage in the feed position of its valve spool; B. means on each valve spool to provide an orifice through which fluid flows from the feeder passAge to the associated service passage in an amount determinable by the adjustment of the feed position of the valve spool; C. and a pressure compensating valve operable in the feed position of each spool to regulate fluid flow to the service passage thereof in accordance with variations in the pressure drop across the orifice through which fluid passes to said service passage.

Claim 12

A control valve having pressure fluid supply and return passage means and a pair of service passages for connection with the opposite sides of a double acting cylinder or other reversible fluid motor, characterized by: A. a feeder passage common to the service passages and through which they are communicable with the supply passage means; B. a valve spool for each service passage, to communicate the same with either the feeder passage or with the return passage means; C. a fluid pressure actuatable valve plunger to regulate flow of pressure fluid to the feeder passage in accordance with variations in the pressure differential between the feeder passage and whichever service passage is in communication therewith; D. pressure chambers into which the opposite end portions of said plunger project to be subjected to the force of pressure fluid therein; E. passage defining means including a passage leading through the interior of each valve spool, for subjecting one of said chambers to the pressure obtaining in whichever service passage is in communication with the feeder passage; F. means defining a passageway communicating the other of said chambers with the feeder passage; G. fluid pressure actuating means for each valve spool, having an actuating cylinder into which pressure fluid can flow to effect actuation of the spool to its vent position; H. and means controlled by each valve spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position thereof to effect flow of pressure fluid from the feeder passage into the actuating cylinder associated with the other valve spool.

Claim 13

A control valve having pressure fluid supply and return passage means and a pair of service passages for connection with the opposite sides of a double acting cylinder or other reversible fluid motor, characterized by: A. a feeder passage common to the service passages and through which they are communicable with the supply passage means; B. a valve spool for each service passage, to communicate the same with either the feeder passage or with the return passage means; C. a fluid pressure actuatable valve plunger to regulate flow of pressure fluid to the feeder passage in accordance with variations in the pressure differential between the feeder passage and whichever service passage is in communication therewith; D. pressure chambers into which the opposite end portions of said plunger project to be subjected to the force of pressure fluid therein; E. passage defining means including a passage leading through the interior of each valve spool, for subjecting one of said chambers to the pressure obtaining in whichever service passage is in communication with the feeder passage; F. means defining a passageway communicating the other of said chambers with the feeder passage; G. fluid pressure actuating means for each valve spool, having an actuating cylinder into which pressure fluid can flow to effect actuation of the spool to its vent position; H. and means controlled by each valve spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position thereof to effect flow of pressure fluid from the feeder passage into the actuating cylinder associated with the other valve spool.

Claim 14

The control valve of claim 8, wherein said passage defining means comprises: A. a shuttle valve having a pair of inlet ports, a common outlet port, and a valve member to close off the outlet port from either inlet port in consequence of flow of pressure fluid into the other inlet port; B. and said shuttle valve having its outlet port communicated with said one chamber of the compensating valve mechanism, and one of its inlet ports being connectable with the internal passage in one of said valve spools, and the other of its inlet ports being connectable with the internal passage in the other valve spool.

Claim 15

A valve section for a stacked control valve, having a body with a pair of service passages for connection with the opposite sides of a reversible fluid motor, and having supply and return carryover passage means opening to opposite faces of the body, characterized by: A. a feeder passage through which the service passages are fed from said supply passage means; B. a pair of bores, one for each service passage and intersected thereby and by said feeder passage; C. a valve spool in each bore movable to feed and vent positions to communicate its service passage with the feeder passage in said feed position or with the return passage means in said vent position; D. a pressure compensating valve reciprocable in a third bore in the body, to regulate flow of supply fluid to said feeder passage in accordance with variations in the pressure differential between fluid in the feeder passage and that in either service passage communicated with the feeder passage by its valve spool; E. fluid pressure actuating means for each valve spool, comprising a cylinder into which pressure fluid can be delivered to effect movement of the spool to its vent position; F. and passage defining means under the control of each valve spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position of said spool for effecting deliveRy of pressure fluid from its associated service passage to the cylinder of the other valve spool, portions of said passage defining means comprising grooves in said faces of the body.

Claim 16

A valve section for a stacked control valve, having a body with a pair of service passages for connection with the opposite sides of a reversible fluid motor, and having supply and return carryover passage means opening to opposite faces of the body, characterized by: A. a feeder passage through which the service passages are fed from said supply passage means; B. a pair of bores, one for each service passage and intersected thereby and by said feeder passage; C. a valve spool in each bore movable to feed and vent positions to communicate its service passage with the feeder passage in said feed position or with the return passage means in said vent position; D. a pressure compensating valve reciprocable in a third bore in the body, to regulate flow of supply fluid to said feeder passage in accordance with variations in the pressure differential between fluid in the feeder passage and that in either service passage communicated with the feeder passage by its valve spool; E. fluid pressure actuating means for each valve spool, comprising a cylinder into which pressure fluid can be delivered to effect movement of the spool to its vent position; F. and passage defining means under the control of each valve spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position of said spool for effecting deliveRy of pressure fluid from its associated service passage to the cylinder of the other valve spool, portions of said passage defining means comprising grooves in said faces of the body.

Claim 17

A valve section for stacked control valves, characterized by: A. a flat body which can be sandwiched between other sections of a stack; B. passage means in the body providing supply and return passages, and a pair of service passages which are connectible with the opposite sides of a reversible fluid motor; C. a pair of valve spools, one for each service passage,

Claim 18

A valve section for stacked control valves, characterized by: A. a flat body which can be sandwiched between other sections of a stack; B. passage means in the body providing supply and return passages, and a pair of service passages which are connectible with the opposite sides of a reversible fluid motor; C. a pair of valve spools, one for each service passage,

Claim 19

The valve section of claim 11, further characterized by a flat plate overlying and in intimate engagement with said grooved face of the body.

Claim 20

The valve section of claim 11, further characterized by: A. each valve spool being movable to such feed and vent positions and having its own actuating cylinder; B. a control passage associated with each valve spool to be rendered operative thereby in the feed position thereof to communicate the associated service passage with the actuating cylinder for the other valve spool; C. and grooves in the opposite faces of the body, one for each control passage and providing a portion thereof.

Claim 21

The control valve of claim 13, further characterized by a flat plate covering the groove in each of said faces of the body.

Claim 22

The valve section of claim 13, further characterized by: A. said valve spools being reciprocably received in spaced apart parallel bores in the body; B. one end of each of said bores being closed and cooperable with the adjacent end of the valve spool in the provision of said actuating cylinder for the spool; C. and said supply passage having a feeder branch which is common to said valve spools and intersects the bores in which they operate.

Claim 23

A control valve having pressure fluid supply and return passage means and a pair of service passages for connection with the opposite sides of a reversible fluid motor, characterized by: A. a first valve spool movable to a feed position communicating one of said service passages with the supply passage means; B. a second valve spool movable to a vent position communicating the other service passage with the return passage means; C. a pressure compensating valve mechanism for regulating fluid flow to said one service passage in accordance with variations in the pressure differential between fluid in the supply passage means and that in said one service passage; D. actuating means for said second valve spool operable to shift the same to its vent position; E. and means controlled by said first valve spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position thereof the effect energization of the actuating means for said second valve spool.

Claim 24

A control valve having pressure fluid supply and return passage means and a pair of service passages for connection with the opposite sides of a reversible fluid motor, characterized by: A. a first valve spool movable to a feed position communicating one of said service passages with the supply passage means; B. a second valve spool movable to a vent position communicating the other service passage with the return passage means; C. a pressure compensating valve mechanism for regulating fluid flow to said one service passage in accordance with variations in the pressure differential between fluid in the supply passage means and that in said one service passage; D. actuating means for said second valve spool operable to shift the same to its vent position; E. and means controlled by said first valve spool and rendered operative thereby in the feed position thereof the effect energization of the actuating means for said second valve spool.

Claim 25

The control valve of claim 16, further characterized by: A. each valve spool being movable to such feed and vent positions; B. said supply passage means comprising a feeder passage common to said spools and through which pressure fluid flows to said service passages in the feed positions of their respective spools; C. and means rendering said pressure compensating valve mechanism operative to regulate flow of pressure fluid tO the feeder passage in accordance with variations in the pressure differential between fluid in the feeder passage and that in either service passage receiving fluid from the feeder passage.

Claim 26

The control valve of claim 17, further characterized by: A. actuating means for each valve spool operable when activated to effect shifting of the spool to its vent position; B. and means controlled by each valve spool and rendered operative thereby upon movement thereof to its feed position to effect activation of the actuating means for the other valve spool.

Claim 27

A control valve having a body with spaced apart first and second parallel bores each containing a valve spool which is movable to feed and vent positions at opposite sides of a neutral position to communicate an associated service passage with either pressure fluid supply or return means, characterized by: A. each service passage opening to its associated bore at a first zone which is spaced from and intermediate second and third zones of said bore; B. said return passage means communicating with each of said third zones; C. a third bore between and parallel to said first and second bores; D. said pressure fluid supply means comprising a supply passage which opens to said third bore at a location between said first zones, and a feeder passage which extends crosswise of said bores to terminate at said second zones and which joins with the third bore at a location spaced to one side of its junction with the supply passage to be communicable therewith through said third bore; E. a compensating valve mechanism in said third bore operable in the feed position of either valve spool to regulate flow of pressure fluid from the supply passage to the feeder passage in accordance with variations in the pressure differential between the feeder passage and whichever service passage is in communication therewith; F. and means for effecting actuation of either valve spool to its vent position in consequence of actuation of the other spool to its feed position.

Claim 28

A control valve having a body with spaced apart first and second parallel bores each containing a valve spool which is movable to feed and vent positions at opposite sides of a neutral position to communicate an associated service passage with either pressure fluid supply or return means, characterized by: A. each service passage opening to its associated bore at a first zone which is spaced from and intermediate second and third zones of said bore; B. said return passage means communicating with each of said third zones; C. a third bore between and parallel to said first and second bores; D. said pressure fluid supply means comprising a supply passage which opens to said third bore at a location between said first zones, and a feeder passage which extends crosswise of said bores to terminate at said second zones and which joins with the third bore at a location spaced to one side of its junction with the supply passage to be communicable therewith through said third bore; E. a compensating valve mechanism in said third bore operable in the feed position of either valve spool to regulate flow of pressure fluid from the supply passage to the feeder passage in accordance with variations in the pressure differential between the feeder passage and whichever service passage is in communication therewith; F. and means for effecting actuation of either valve spool to its vent position in consequence of actuation of the other spool to its feed position.

Claim 29

The control valve of claim 19, further characterized by: A. said first, second and third zones of said valve spool receiving bores being direct-ly opposite one another; B. and said means for effecting actuation of the valve spools comprising a hydraulic actuator for each spool, and means for energizing the same by pressure fluid flowing to the service passage associated with the other spool.

Claim 30

The control valve of claim 19, further characterized by: A. wherein said supply passage comprises the inlet branch of said fluid supply means; B. said fluid supply means having an outlet branch from which a second control valve can be supplied with pressure fluid; C. and passage means communicating said outlet branch with said third zone of one of the spool receiving bores whereby return fluid in the service passage governed by the spool in said last named bore can flow to said outlet branch of the supply means in the vent position of the valve spool in said bore to make pressure fluid available to the inlet branch of another control valve.

Claim 31

The control valve of claim 19, further characterized by: A. said supply passage comprising the inlet branch of said fluid supply means; B. said fluid supply means having an outlet branch from which a second control valve can be supplied with pressure fluid; C. and passage means communicating said outlet branch with the said third zone of each of the spool receiving bores whereby return fluid in either service passage can flow to said outlet branch of the supply means in the vent position of its spool to make pressure fluid available to the inlet branch of another such control valve.