Control valve

Claim 2

A control valve comprising: a body having an elongated chamber, a slide shiftable longitudinally in said chamber, inlet and outlet passages in said body, said slide having passage-ways therethrough for communication between said inlet and outlet passages, said slide and said body having cooperative ribs and grooves for guiding said slide within said chamber, means for shifting said slide in said chamber, and face-to-face sealing means interposed between said body and said slide to divert the flow between said passages and passageways and to prevent the flow of fluid into said chamber, said sealing means comprising a tubular seal element having a port therethrough, a flat end face on said seal element, one of said body and said slide having a companion flat face engageable by the flat face of said seal element, the other end of said seal element being exposed to fluid pressure to force the flat end face of said sealing element into engagement with said companion flat face, and the confronting faces of said ribs and grooves being on planes normal to the direction of the force applied to said slide by said seal element.

Claim 3

A control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said cooperative ribs and grooves include elongated ribs on said slide and complemental grooves in said body.

Claim 4

A control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said slide is rectangular and said ribs extend along the corners of said slide, said chamber being complemental to said slide and having grooves along the corners of said chamber slidably receiving said ribs.

Claim 5

A control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said slide is rectangular and said ribs extend along the corners of said slide, said chamber being complemental to said slide and having grooves along the corners of said chamber slidably receiving said ribs, and including bearing means in said grooves engaged with said ribs.

Claim 6

A control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said slide is rectangular and said ribs extend along the corners of said slide, said chamber being complemental to said slide and having grooves along the corners of said chamber slidably receiving said ribs, and including bearing strips in said grooves engaged with said ribs.

Claim 7

A control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said slide is rectangular and said ribs extend along the corners of said slide, said chamber being complemental to said slide and having grooves along the corners of said chamber slidably receiving said ribs, and including bearing balls in said grooves engaged with said ribs.

Claim 8

A control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for shifting said slide includes spring means at one end of said slide for biasing said slide in one direction, and actuator means at the other end of said slide for shifting said slide in the other direction.

Claim 9

A control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for shifting said slide includes spring means at one end of said slide for holding said slide in a center position, and actuator means at the other end of said slide for shifting said slide in either direction from said center position.

Claim 10

A control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for shifting said slide includes a servo motor connected to one end of said slide.

Claim 11

A control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for shifting said slide includes a spring mEans at one end of said slide for biasing said slide to one position, and servo motor means at the other end of said slide for shifting said slide to another position.

Claim 12

A control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for shifting said slide includes spring means at one end of said slide for biasing said slide to one position, and electric servo motor means at the other end of said slide for shifting said slide to another position.

Claim 13

A control valve as defined in claim 1, including at least one additional outlet leading from said body between said ribs at one side of said slide.

Claim 14

A control valve comprising: a body having an elongated chamber of rectangular cross section, end closures for said chamber, a slide of rectangular form disposed in said chamber, parallel ribs projecting from said slide, said body having parallel grooves slidably receiving said ribs, inlet and outlet ports in said body, each of said ports having a sealing sleeve therein providing a central bore and an annular flat end surface slidably engaged with said slide, each of said sealing sleeves having its other end exposed to pressure to force said end surface into engagement with said slide, said ribs and surfaces of said body forming said grooves confronting in planes normal to the direction of the force applied to said slide by said sealing sleeves, said slide having passage means therein for conducting fluid between said ports, said passage means opening in the flat sides of said slide, and means for shifting said slide longitudinally in said body.

Claim 15

A control valve comprising: a body having an elongated chamber of rectangular cross section, end closures for said chamber, a slide of rectangular form disposed in said chamber, parallel ribs projecting from said slide, said body having parallel grooves slidably receiving said ribs, inlet and outlet ports in said body, each of said ports having a sealing sleeve therein providing a central bore and an annular flat end surface slidably engaged with said slide, each of said sealing sleeves having its other end exposed to pressure to force said end surface into engagement with said slide, said ribs and surfaces of said body forming said grooves confronting in planes normal to the direction of the force applied to said slide by said sealing sleeves, said slide having passage means therein for conducting fluid between said ports, said passage means opening in the flat sides of said slide, and means for shifting said slide longitudinally in said body.

Claim 16

A control valve as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for shifting said slide includes a rod extending into said body through an end closure.

Claim 17

A control valve as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for shifting said slide includes a rod extending into said body through an end closure, and means sealing said rod in said end closure.

Claim 18

A control valve as defined in claim 13, including bearing means in said grooves engaged with said ribs.

Claim 19

A control valve as defined in claim 13, wherein said slide has ribs at each corner, and said body has a companion groove for each rib.

Claim 20

A control valve as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for shifting said slide includes servo motor means having an operative connection with said slide.

Claim 21

A control valve as defined in claim 13, wherein said slide has ribs at each corner, and said body has a companion groove for each rib, said body having walls defining said groove and said slide and said rib having walls opposing said body walls to form a bearing space which is square in cross-section, and including ball bearings in said spaces engaging all of said walls to slidably support said slide with respect to said body.

Claim 22

A control valve as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for shifting said slide longitudinally in said body includes a rod projecting from an end of said slide through one of said end closures, and including a similar rod projecting from the other end of said slide through the other end closure, and sealing means between each of said rods and end closures.

Claim 23

A control valve as defined in claim 13, wherein said body is composed of a pair of L-shaped complemental body half parts secured together to form said chamber therebetween, said end closures being secured to said half parts.

Claim 24

A control valve comprising: a body having an elongated chamber, end closures for said chamber, an elongated slide disposed in said chamber, ports providing inlet and outlet passage means at longitudinally spaced locations in said body, said slide having ports providing passage means for conducting fluid between said ports, sealing means interposed between said body and said slide and including annular seals circumscribing certain of said ports, each of said seals having a flat end face engageable with an opposing flat face through which certain other ports open for controlling the flow of fluid between said passage means through said slide, each of said seals also having its other end face exposed to pressure in its port to force the flat end face into engagement with said slide, said body and said slide having on opposite sides of said slide walls defining opposing ball races extending longitudinally in said chamber and on said slide, bearing balls in said races, said ball races and balls providing means for holding said slide against cocking in said chamber under the influence of forces imposed on said slide by said seals, and operating means for shifting said slide in said chamber to establish and interrupt fluid flow through said passage means.

Claim 25

A control valve comprising: a body having an elongated chamber, end closures for said chamber, an elongated slide disposed in said chamber, ports providing inlet and outlet passage means at longitudinally spaced locations in said body, said slide having ports providing passage means for conducting fluid between said ports, sealing means interposed between said body and said slide and including annular seals circumscribing certain of said ports, each of said seals having a flat end face engageable with an opposing flat face through which certain other ports open for controlling the flow of fluid between said passage means through said slide, each of said seals also having its other end face exposed to pressure in its port to force the flat end face into engagement with said slide, said body and said slide having on opposite sides of said slide walls defining opposing ball races extending longitudinally in said chamber and on said slide, bearing balls in said races, said ball races and balls providing means for holding said slide against cocking in said chamber under the influence of forces imposed on said slide by said seals, and operating means for shifting said slide in said chamber to establish and interrupt fluid flow through said passage means.

Claim 26

A control valve as defined in claim 22, wherein said ball races define a square in cross-section and engage said balls on four sides.

Claim 27

A control valve as defined in claim 22, wherein said ball races define a square and engage said balls on four sides, and the angles of the ball races in said slide are all included in the slide.

Claim 28

A control valve as defined in claim 22, wherein said operating means includes a rod projecting from one end of said slide through one of said end closures, and including a similar rod projecting from the other end of said slide through the other end closure, and sealing means between each of said rods and end closures, whereby the ends of said slide are pressure balanced in said chamber.

Claim 29

A control valve comprising: a body having an elongated chamber closed at its ends, an elongated slide longitudinally shiftably disposed in said chamber, ports providing inlet and outlet passage means in said body, said slide having longitudinally spaced ports providing passage means for conducting fluid between said ports, sealing means interposed between said body and said slide and including tubular seals circumscribing certain of said ports, one of said body and said slide having a flat face through which certain of said ports open, each of said seals having a flat end face engageable with the first-mentioned flat face for controlling the flow of fluid between said passage means through said slide, each of said seals also having its other end face exposed to pressure in its port to apply a force to the seal urging its flat end face into engagement with the first-mentioned flat face, said body having elongated bearing surfaces extending longitudinally in said chamber and opposed to said slide and located in planes normal to the direction of application of force to said slide by said seals, bearing means interposed between said bearing surfaces and said slide, said bearing means being laterally spaced at opposite sides of said ports of said body and said slide for holding said slide against cocking in said chamber into binding engagement with said body under the influence of the force applied to said seals about an axis extending longitudinally of said chamber and about an axis extending transversely of said chamber, and operating means for shifting said slide in said chamber to establish and interrupt fluid flow through said passage means.

Claim 30

A control valve comprising: a body having an elongated chamber closed at its ends, an elongated slide longitudinally shiftably disposed in said chamber, ports providing inlet and outlet passage means in said body, said slide having longitudinally spaced ports providing passage means for conducting fluid between said ports, sealing means interposed between said body and said slide and including tubular seals circumscribing certain of said ports, one of said body and said slide having a flat face through which certain of said ports open, each of said seals having a flat end face engageable with the first-mentioned flat face for controlling the flow of fluid between said passage means through said slide, each of said seals also having its other end face exposed to pressure in its port to apply a force to the seal urging its flat end face into engagement with the first-mentioned flat face, said body having elongated bearing surfaces extending longitudinally in said chamber and opposed to said slide and located in planes normal to the direction of application of force to said slide by said seals, bearing means interposed between said bearing surfaces and said slide, said bearing means being laterally spaced at opposite sides of said ports of said body and said slide for holding said slide against cocking in said chamber into binding engagement with said body under the influence of the force applied to said seals about an axis extending longitudinally of said chamber and about an axis extending transversely of said chamber, and operating means for shifting said slide in said chamber to establish and interrupt fluid flow through said passage means.

Claim 31

A control valve as defined in claim 26, wherein said bearing means comprises rolling bearing elements.

Claim 32

A control valve as defined in claim 26, wherein said bearing means comprises ball bearings.

Claim 33

A control valve as defined in claim 26, wherein said bearing means comprises bearing strips.

Claim 34

A control valve as defined in claim 26, wherein said bearing means comprise bearing members carried at the ends of said slide and engaged with opposed portions of said body spanning said inlet and outlet passage means.

Claim 35

A control valve comprising: a body having an elongated chamber closed at its ends, an elongated slide longitudinally shiftably disposed in said chamber, ports providing inlet and outlet passage means in said body, said slide having longitudinally spaced ports providing passage means for conducting fluid between said ports, sealing means interposed between said body and said slide and including tubular seals circumscribing certain of said ports, one of said body and said slide haVing a sealing face through which certain of said ports open, each of said seals having an end sealing face engageable with the first-mentioned sealing face for controlling the flow of fluid between said passage means through said slide, means for urging said sealing end face of said seals into engagement with the first-mentioned sealing face, bearing means interposed between said body and said slide and located in planes normal to the direction of application of force to said slide by said seals for supporting said slide at its opposite sides and at its ends for holding said slide against cocking in said chamber into binding engagement with said body under the influence of forces applied to said slide about an axis extending longitudinally of said chamber and about an axis extending transversely of said chamber, and operating means for shifting said slide in said chamber to establish and interrupt fluid flow through said passage means.

Claim 36

A control valve comprising: a body having an elongated chamber closed at its ends, an elongated slide longitudinally shiftably disposed in said chamber, ports providing inlet and outlet passage means in said body, said slide having longitudinally spaced ports providing passage means for conducting fluid between said ports, sealing means interposed between said body and said slide and including tubular seals circumscribing certain of said ports, one of said body and said slide haVing a sealing face through which certain of said ports open, each of said seals having an end sealing face engageable with the first-mentioned sealing face for controlling the flow of fluid between said passage means through said slide, means for urging said sealing end face of said seals into engagement with the first-mentioned sealing face, bearing means interposed between said body and said slide and located in planes normal to the direction of application of force to said slide by said seals for supporting said slide at its opposite sides and at its ends for holding said slide against cocking in said chamber into binding engagement with said body under the influence of forces applied to said slide about an axis extending longitudinally of said chamber and about an axis extending transversely of said chamber, and operating means for shifting said slide in said chamber to establish and interrupt fluid flow through said passage means.

Claim 37

A control valve as defined in claim 32, wherein said bearing means comprise bearing members carried at the ends of said slide and engaged with opposed portions of said body.

Claim 38

A control valve as defined in claim 31, wherein said operating means includes servo-motor means, and a member extending from said body and connecting said slide with said servo-motor means.