Hydraulic control unit

Claim 2

A one-piece base member for a hydraulic power unit, said base member having an inner reservoir defining surface area and an inner ram defining surface area, said base member having an exterior surface, a pump inlet passage in said base member extending from said reservoir defining surface area to said exterior surface, a pump outlet passage in said base member extending therethrough from a first portion of said exterior surface to a second portion of said exterior surface, said pump outlet passage having a first pump outlet opening in said first portion of said exterior surface and a second pump outlet opening in said second portion of said exterior surface, a ram energizing passage in said base member extending from said exterior surface to said ram defining surface area, said ram energizing passage having a ram energizing passage opening in said exterior surface, a ram relief valve receiving bore in said base member, and a ram relief passage in said base member extending from said ram defining surface areA to said reservoir defining surface area through said ram relief valve receiving bore.

Claim 3

The base member of claim 1 wherein said ram energizing passage opening is in said second portion of said exterior surface, and further including plate means for attachment to said base member over said second portion of said exterior surface, said plate member having a plate surface facing said second portion of said exterior surface, a communicating passage in said plate member having first and second spaced-apart communicating passage openings in said plate surface, said first communicating passage opening being aligned with said second pump outlet opening, and said second communicating passage opening being aligned with said ram energizing passage opening.

Claim 4

The base member of claim 1 and further including a first return passage therein extending from said reservoir defining surface area to said exterior surface and having a first return passage opening in said exterior surface.

Claim 5

The base member of claim 3 wherein said ram energizing passage opening and said first return passage opening are in said second portion of said exterior surface, and further including plate means for attachment to said base member over said second portion of said exterior surface, said plate member having a plate surface facing said second portion of said exterior surface, a communicating passage in said plate member having first and second spaced-apart communicating passage openings in said plate surface, said first communicating passage opening being aligned with said second pump outlet opening, and said second communicating passage opening being aligned with said ram energizing passage opening, said first return passage opening being blocked by a plate surface portion of said plate surface.

Claim 6

The base member of claim 3 wherein said ram energizing passage opening and said first return passage opening are in said second portion of said exterior surface, and further including a one-piece first control block for attachment to said base member over said second portion of said exterior surface, said first control block having first and second spaced-apart valve receiving bores therein, said first control block having a first control block surface facing said second portion of said exterior surface of said base member, said first control block having first and second spaced-apart control block passages extending from said first control block surface to said first valve receiving bore, said first and second control block passages having first and second spaced-apart control block passage openings in said first control block surface, said first control block passage opening being aligned with said second pump outlet opening, said second control block passage opening being aligned with said ram energizing passage opening, a bore connecting passage connecting said first and second valve receiving bores, a return passage extending from said second bore to said first control block surface and having a return passage opening on said control block surface aligned with said return passage opening in said exterior surface of said base member, first and second spaced-apart bore outlet passages extending from said second valve receiving bore to the exterior surface of said first control block.

Claim 7

The device of claim 5 and further including a check valve bore in said bore connecting passage between said first and second valve receiving bores.

Claim 8

The device of claim 6 and further including a pilot operated check valve bore in said return passage from said second valve receiving bore to said first control block surface, and a pilot passage connecting said pilot operated check valve bore with said bore connecting passage.

Claim 9

The device of claim 7 and further including cross-over check valve bores and passages connecting said bore outlet passages from said second valve receiving bore.

Claim 10

The device of claim 5 and further including cross-over check valve bores and passages connecting said bore outlet Passages from said second valve receiving bore.

Claim 11

The base member of claim 3 and further including a second return passage extending from said reservoir defining surface area to said exterior surface and having a second return passage opening in said exterior surface.

Claim 12

The base member of claim 10 wherein said ram energizing passage opening and said first and second return passage openings are in said second surface portion of said exterior surface, and further including plate means for attachment to said base member over said second portion of said exterior surface, said plate member having a plate surface facing said second portion of said exterior surface, a communicating passage in said plate member having first and second spaced-apart communicating passage openings in said plate surface, said first communicating passage opening being aligned with said second pump outlet opening, and said second communicating passage opening being aligned with said ram energizing passage opening, said first and second return passage openings being blocked by a portion of said plate surface.

Claim 13

The base member of claim 10 wherein said ram energizing passage opening and said first and second return passage openings are in said second portion of said exterior surface, and further including a one-piece control block attachable to said base member over said second portion of said exterior surface, said control block having a facing exterior surface portion facing said second portion of said exterior surface of said base member and a remaining control block exterior surface, said control block having first, second, third and fourth valve receiving bores therein, first and second spaced-apart control block passages extending from said facing exterior surface portion to said first valve receiving bore and having first and second spaced-apart control block passage openings in said facing exterior surface portion, said first control block passage opening being aligned with said second pump outlet opening on said second surface portion of said base member, said second control block passage opening being aligned with said ram energizing passage opening on said second surface portion of said base member, a first bore connecting passage connecting said first and second valve receiving bores, a second bore connecting passage connecting said second and third valve receiving bores, a third bore connecting passage connecting said second and fourth valve receiving bores, first and second spaced-apart third valve receiving bore outlet passages extending from said third valve receiving bore to said remaining control block exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart fourth valve receiving bore outlet passages extending from said fourth valve receiving bore to said remaining control block exterior surface, a first return passage extending from said third valve receiving bore to said facing exterior surface portion and having a first return passage opening therein, a second return passage extending from said fourth valve receiving bore to said facing exterior surface portion and having a second return passage opening therein, said first and second return passage openings on said facing exterior surface of said control block being aligned with said first and second return passage openings in said second surface portion on said base member.

Claim 14

The device of claim 12 and further including first and second check valve bores in said second and third bore connecting passages.

Claim 15

The device of claim 13 and further including first and second pilot operated check valve bores in said first and second return passages in said control block, and first and second pilot passages extending respectively from said second bore connecting passage to said first pilot operated check valve bore and from said third bore connecting passage to said second pilot operated check valve bore.

Claim 16

The device of claim 14 and further including cross-over pressure relief bores and passages connecting said first and second oUtlet passages from said third valve receiving bore in said control block.

Claim 17

A one-piece control block for use with a hydraulic power unit, said block having a substantially plane connecting exterior surface and a remaining exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart valve receiving bores in said remaining exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart passages extending from said connecting exterior surface to said first valve receiving bore, a bore connecting passage connecting said first and second valve receiving bores, first and second spaced-apart outlet passages extending from said second valve receiving bore to said remaining exterior surface, and a return passage extending from said second valve receiving bore to said connecting exterior surface.

Claim 18

A one-piece control block for use with a hydraulic power unit, said block having a substantially plane connecting exterior surface and a remaining exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart valve receiving bores in said remaining exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart passages extending from said connecting exterior surface to said first valve receiving bore, a bore connecting passage connecting said first and second valve receiving bores, first and second spaced-apart outlet passages extending from said second valve receiving bore to said remaining exterior surface, and a return passage extending from said second valve receiving bore to said connecting exterior surface.

Claim 19

The control block of claim 16 and further including a check valve bore in said bore connecting passage.

Claim 20

The control block of claim 17 and further including a pilot operated check valve bore in said return passage, and a pilot passage extending from said bore connecting passage to said pilot operated check valve bore.

Claim 21

The control block of claim 18 and further including cross-over check valve relief bores and passages connecting said first and second outlet passages.

Claim 22

A one-piece control block for a hydraulic power unit, said block having a substantially plane connecting exterior surface and a remaining exterior surface, said block having first, second, third and fourth valve receiving bores in said remaining exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart passages extending from said connecting exterior surface to said first valve receiving bore, a first bore connecting passage extending from said first valve receiving bore to said second valve receiving bore, a second bore connecting passage extending from said second valve receiving bore to said third valve receiving bore, a third bore connecting passage extending from said second valve receiving bore to said fourth valve receiving bore, first and second spaced-apart passages extending from said third valve receiving bore to said remaining exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart passages extending from said fourth valve receiving bore to said remaining exterior surface, a first return passage extending from said third valve receiving bore to said connecting exterior surface, and a second return passage extending from said fourth valve receiving bore to said connecting exterior surface.

Claim 23

A one-piece control block for a hydraulic power unit, said block having a substantially plane connecting exterior surface and a remaining exterior surface, said block having first, second, third and fourth valve receiving bores in said remaining exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart passages extending from said connecting exterior surface to said first valve receiving bore, a first bore connecting passage extending from said first valve receiving bore to said second valve receiving bore, a second bore connecting passage extending from said second valve receiving bore to said third valve receiving bore, a third bore connecting passage extending from said second valve receiving bore to said fourth valve receiving bore, first and second spaced-apart passages extending from said third valve receiving bore to said remaining exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart passages extending from said fourth valve receiving bore to said remaining exterior surface, a first return passage extending from said third valve receiving bore to said connecting exterior surface, and a second return passage extending from said fourth valve receiving bore to said connecting exterior surface.

Claim 24

The control block of claim 20 and further including first and second check valve bores communicating respectively with said second and third bore connecting passages.

Claim 25

The control block of claim 20 and further including first and second pilot operated check valve bores communicating respectively with said first and second return passages.

Claim 26

The control block of claim 22 and further including first and second check valve bores communicating respectively with said second and third bore connecting passages.

Claim 27

The control block of claim 23 and further including cross-over relief check valve bores and passages interconnecting said passages extending from said third valve receiving bore.

Claim 28

The control block of claim 20 and further including cross-over relief check valve bores and passages interconnecting said passages extending from said third valve receiving bore.

Claim 29

A hydraulic power unit including a reservoir-ram unit including a reservoir and a ram and having a one-piece base member, pump means attached to said base member and having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a pump inlet passage in said base member extending from said reservoir to said pump inlet, said base member having a control exterior surface and a pump connecting exterior surface, a pump outlet passage extending therethrough from said pump connecting surface to said control exterior surface and having a pump outlet opening in said control exterior surface, pump check valve means for checking reverse flow of hydraulic fluid through said pump outlet, a ram Energizing passage extending from said control exterior surface to said ram and having a ram energizing passage opening in said control exterior surface, a ram relief valve attached to said base member and having first and second positions, a ram relief passage extending from said ram to said reservoir through said ram relief valve, said ram relief valve blocking flow of fluid through said ram relief passage in said first position thereof and opening said ram relief passage to flow of fluid from said ram to said reservoir in said second position thereof, and a one-piece control block attached to said base member over said control exterior surface, said control block having connecting passage means for interconnecting said pump outlet opening in said control exterior surface and said ram energizing passage opening in said control exterior surface, whereby energization of said pump means with said ram relief valve in said first position supplies fluid to said ram for extending said ram and movement of said ram relief valve to said second position with said pump means de-energized retracts said ram by exhausting fluid from said ram to said reservoir.

Claim 30

A hydraulic power unit including a reservoir-ram unit including a reservoir and a ram and having a one-piece base member, pump means attached to said base member and having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a pump inlet passage in said base member extending from said reservoir to said pump inlet, said base member having a control exterior surface and a pump connecting exterior surface, a pump outlet passage extending therethrough from said pump connecting surface to said control exterior surface and having a pump outlet opening in said control exterior surface, pump check valve means for checking reverse flow of hydraulic fluid through said pump outlet, a ram Energizing passage extending from said control exterior surface to said ram and having a ram energizing passage opening in said control exterior surface, a ram relief valve attached to said base member and having first and second positions, a ram relief passage extending from said ram to said reservoir through said ram relief valve, said ram relief valve blocking flow of fluid through said ram relief passage in said first position thereof and opening said ram relief passage to flow of fluid from said ram to said reservoir in said second position thereof, and a one-piece control block attached to said base member over said control exterior surface, said control block having connecting passage means for interconnecting said pump outlet opening in said control exterior surface and said ram energizing passage opening in said control exterior surface, whereby energization of said pump means with said ram relief valve in said first position supplies fluid to said ram for extending said ram and movement of said ram relief valve to said second position with said pump means de-energized retracts said ram by exhausting fluid from said ram to said reservoir.

Claim 31

The device of claim 26 wherein said control block comprises a one-piece plate member having said connecting passage means therein.

Claim 32

The device of claim 26 wherein said base member includes a first return passage extending between said control exterior surface and said reservoir and having a first return passage opening in said control exterior surface.

Claim 33

The device of claim 28 wherein said control block includes a plate member having a blocking surface for blocking said first return passage opening.

Claim 34

The device of claim 28 and further including a second return passage in said base member extending from said control exterior surface to said reservoir and having a second return passage opening in said control exterior surface.

Claim 35

The device of claim 30 wherein said control block includes a blocking surface for blocking said first and second return passage openings in said control exterior surface.

Claim 36

The device of claim 26 and further including a first return passage in said base member extending from said control exterior surface to said reservoir and having a first return passage opening in said control exterior surface, said control block having first and second selector valves thereon movable between first and second positions, said control block having a connecting exterior surface facing said control exterior surface on said base member and a remaining exterior control block surface, first and second spaced-apart control block passages extending from said control block connecting surface to said first selector valve, said first and second control block passages defining said connecting passage means, said first control block passage communicating with said pump outlet passage opening in said control exterior surface and said base member and said second control block passage communicating with said ram energizing passage opening in said control exterior surface of said base member, a valve connecting passage connecting said first and second selector valves, said first selector valve being operative in said first position thereof to establish fluid flow therethrough from said first control block passage to said second control block passage and to block fluid flow therethrough from said first control block passage to said valve connecting passage, said first selector valve being operative in said second position thereof to block fluid flow therethrough from said first control block passage to said second control block passage and to establish fluid flow therethrough from said first control block passage to said valve connecting passage, first and second spaced-apart operating passages extending from said second selector valve to said remaining control block exterior surface, a control block return passage extending from said second selector valve to said control block connecting surface and communicating wIth said first return passage in said base member, said second selector valve being operative in said first position thereof to establish fluid communication therethrough from said valve connecting passage to said first operating passage and from said second operating passage to said control block return passage and to block fluid flow therethrough from said valve connecting passage to said second operating passage and said control block return passage, said control block being operative in said second position thereof to establish fluid flow therethrough from said valve connecting passage to said second operating passage and from said first operating passage to said control block return passage, and to block fluid flow therethrough from said valve connecting passage to said first operating passage and said control block return passage.

Claim 37

The device of claim 32 and further including check valve means in said valve connecting passage for allowing fluid flow from said first selector valve to said second selector valve and blocking fluid flow from said second selector valve to said first selector valve.

Claim 38

The device of claim 33 and further including a pilot operated check valve in said control block return passage, a pilot passage extending from said valve connecting passage to said pilot operated control valve, said pilot operated check being movable between a closed position blocking fluid flow therethrough from said second selector valve and an open position allowing fluid flow therethrough from said second selector valve, said pilot operated check valve being in said closed position when said first selector valve is in said first position so that no fluid is flowing under pressure through said valve connecting passage, said pilot operated check valve being in said open position when said first selector valve is in said second position so that fluid is flowing under pressure through said valve connecting passage and into said pilot passage to move said pilot operated check valve to said open position.

Claim 39

The device of claim 34 and further including a pair of cross-over relief check valves interconnecting said first and second operating passages, said cross-over relief check valves being normally closed to block communication between said first and second operating passages and being openable under predetermined pressure in either of said first or second operating passages to establish fluid flow therebetween.

Claim 40

The device of claim 32 and further including a second return passage in said base member extending from said control exterior surface to said reservoir and having a second return passage opening in said control exterior surface, said control block having a blocking surface for blocking said second return passage opening.

Claim 41

The device of claim 26 and further including first and second spaced-apart return passages in said base member extending from said control exterior surface to said reservoir, said control block having spaced-apart first, second, third and fourth selector valves movable between first and second positions, said control block having a connecting exterior surface facing said control exterior surface on said base member and a remaining exterior control block exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart control block passages extending from said connecting exterior surface to said first selector valve, said first and second passages defining said connecting passage means, said first control block passage communicating with said pump outlet passage opening in said control surface of said base member and said second control block passage communcating with said ram energizing passage opening in said control exterior surface of said base member, a first valve connecting passage connecting said first and second selector valves, said first selector valve being operative in said first position thereof to establish fluid flow therethrough from said first control block passage to said second control block passage and to block fluid flow therethRough from said first control block passage to said first valve connecting passage, said first selector valve being operative in said second position thereof to block fluid flow therethrough from said first control block passage to said second control block passage and to establish fluid flow therethrough from said first control block passage to said first valve connecting passage, a second valve connecting passage extending from said second selector valve to said third selector valve, a third valve connecting passage extending from said second selector valve to said fourth selector valve, said second selector valve being operative in said first position thereof to establish fluid flow therethrough from said first valve connecting passage to said second valve connecting passage and to block fluid flow therethrough from said first valve connecting passage to said third valve connecting passage, said second selector valve being operative in said second position thereof to establish fluid flow therethrough from said first valve connecting passage to said third valve connecting passage and to block fluid flow therethrough from said first valve connecting passage to said second valve connecting passage, first and second spaced-apart operating passages extending from said third selector valve to said remaining exterior surface of said control block, a first control block return passage extending from said third selector valve to said control block connecting exterior surface, and communicating with said first return passage on said base member, said third selector valve being opeartive in said first position thereof to establish fluid flow therethrough from said second valve connecting passage to said first operating passage and from said second operating passage to said first return passage and to block fluid flow from said second valve connecting passage to said second operating passage and said first return passage, said third selector valve being operative in said second position thereof to establish fluid flow from said second valve connecting passage to said second operating passage and from said first operating passage to said first return passage and to block fluid flow therethrough from said second valve connecting passage to said first operating passage and said first return passage, spaced-apart third and fourth operating passages extending from said fourth selector valve to said remaining control block exterior surface, a second control block return passage extending from said fourth selector valve to said connecting exterior surface and communicating with said second return passage in said base member, said fourth selector valve being operative in said first position thereof to establish fluid flow therethrough from said third valve connecting passage to said third operating passage and from said fourth operating passage to said second return passage and to block fluid flow therethrough from said third valve connecting passage to said fourth operating passage and said second return passage, and said fourth selector valve being operative in said second position thereof to establish fluid flow therethrough from said third valve connecting passage to said fourth operating passage and from said third operating passage to said second return passage and to block fluid flow therethrough from said third valve connecting passage to said third operating passage and said second return passage.

Claim 42

The device of claim 37 and further including first and second check valves respectively in said second and third valve connecting passages for allowing fluid flow from said second selector valve to said third and fourth selector valves and blocking fluid flow from said third and fourth selector valves to said second selector valve.

Claim 43

The device of claim 38 and further including first and second pilot operated check valves respectively in said first and second control block return passages, a first pilot passage extending from said second valve connecting passage to said first pIlot operated check valve, a second pilot passage extending from said third valve connecting passage to said second pilot operated check valve, said first and second pilot operated check valves being normally closed to block fluid flow through said first and second control block return passages from said third and fourth selector valves, said pilot operated check valves being movable to open position to allow fluid flow through said first and second control block return passages by fluid flowing under pressure through said second and third valve connecting passages and into said first and second pilot passages.

Claim 44

The device of claim 39 and further including cross-over pressure relief check valve means interconnecting said first and second operating passages, said relief check valve means being normally closed to block fluid flow between said first and second operating passages and being movable to open position under predetermined pressure in either of said first and second operating passages to establish fluid flow therebetween.

Claim 45

A power unit and control device for controlling the position of a plow blade including an extendable and retractable ram for raising and lowering said blade and power angling cylinder means for angling said blade in either of opposite directions, said device including a reservoir-ram unit having a one-piece base member and a one-piece control block directly connected to said base member, said base member and control block having a plurality of interconnected passageways bored therein and connected through selector valve means for selectively extending and retracting said ram to raise and lower said blade and for selectively energizing said power angling cylinder means to angle said blade to a desirable position.

Claim 46

A power unit and control device for controlling the position of a plow blade including an extendable and retractable ram for raising and lowering said blade and power angling cylinder means for angling said blade in either of opposite directions, said device including a reservoir-ram unit having a one-piece base member and a one-piece control block directly connected to said base member, said base member and control block having a plurality of interconnected passageways bored therein and connected through selector valve means for selectively extending and retracting said ram to raise and lower said blade and for selectively energizing said power angling cylinder means to angle said blade to a desirable position.

Claim 47

The device of claim 41 wherein said base member and one-piece control block further include interconnected passageways bored therein and connected through selector valve means for selectively controlling energization of an additional plow blade.