Control valve

Claim 2

A control valve comprising: a housing, said housing including an inlet port subjecting said housing to supplied fluid pressure, an outlet port subjecting said housing to applied fluid pressure, and an exhaust port for exhausting fluid pressure from said housing to atmosphere; a piston; a push rod, said piston and push rod relatively and concertedly movable in said housing between one position to effect the application through said housing of said applied fluid pressure supplied thereto and another position to isolate the supplied and applied fluid pressures and vent the applied fluid pressure through said exhaust port to atmosphere; a pair of venting passage means within said housing and defined therewith by said piston and said push rod, said venting passage means connected in by-pass relation with each other for respectively venting the applied fluid pressure to atmosphere, one of said venting passage means being opened to vent the applied fluid pressure to atmosphere upon the movement of said push rod toward its other position relative to the piston and the other of said venting passage means being opened to vent the applied fluid pressure to atmosphere upon the concerted movement of said piston and push rod toward their other position; a control port subjecting said housing to control fluid pressure, said piston movable in said housing and defining therewith an expansible chamber subjected to control fluid pressure, said piston being urged against its own force toward its one position in response to said control fluid pressure in excess of a predetermined value acting thereon in said chamber and said piston being movable in response to its own force toward its other position when the control fluid pressure in said chamber acting on said piston is less than the predetermined value; a pair of opposed abutment means on said piston and said push rod for driving engagement, one of said abutment means being drivingly engaged with the other thereof to effect the concerted movement of said push rod with said piston toward their other position when the control fluid pressure in said chamber acting on said piston is less than the predetermined value; spring means engaged with said piston to urge it toward its other position; an effective area on said piston within said chamber and subjected to the control fluid pressure, said piston being movable toward its one position against said spring means in response to the control fluid pressure in excess of the predetermined value acting on said area and said spring means urging said piston toward its other position to drivingly engage said one abutment means with said other abutment means and effect the concerted movement of said push rod with said piston toward their respective one positions when the control fluid pressure acting on said area is less than the predetermined value; opposed end portions on said piston; a passage in said piston intersecting with said opposed end portions and defining at least a portion of said one venting passage means; and another passage in said piston having one end intersecting with said first named passage and the other end thereof intersecting with one of said opposed end portions, said other passage defining at least a portion of said other venting passage means.

Claim 3

A control valve according to claim 1, comprising: a pair of valve means on said piston and said push rod for controlling said first named and other passages, respectively, one of said valve means being movable toward an open position in said first named passage to establish the venting flow therethrough of the applied fluid pressure upon the relative movement of said push rod toward its other position and the other of said valve means being movable toward an open position in said other passage to establish the venting flow therethrough of the applied fluid pressure upon the concerted movement of said piston and push rod toward their other positions.

Claim 4

A control valve accoRding to claim 2, comprising a pair of valve seats on said piston means and housing about said first named passage and said other venting passage means for engagement with said one and other valve means, respectively, said one valve means being disengaged from one of said valve seats to open said first named passage upon the relative movement of said push rod means toward its other position and said other valve means being disengaged from the other of said valve seats to open said other venting passage means upon the concerted movement of said piston and push rod toward their other positions.

Claim 5

A control valve comprising a housing having inlet, outlet, exhaust and control ports therein, selectively operable means movable in said housing including valve means for controlling pressure fluid communication between said inlet and outlet ports, said valve means being movable with said selectively operable means in response to an applied force thereon toward a position in said housing interrupting pressure fluid communication between said inlet and outlet ports, resiliently urged means movable in said housing for driving engagement with said selectively operable means and subjected to fluid pressure at said control port, said resiliently urged means being movable in response to fluid pressure less than a predetermined value acting thereon at said control port to drivingly engage and concertedly move said selectively operable means to actuate said valve means to its pressure fluid communication interrupting position, and a pair of exhaust valve means on said selectively operable means and resiliently urged means for controlling pressure fluid communication between said outlet and exhaust ports, respectively, said exhaust valve means being movable toward positions in said housing establishing pressure fluid communication between said outlet and exhaust ports upon the selective applied force movement of said selectively operable means and the concerted movement of said selectively operable means and resiliently urged means to actuate said first named valve means to its pressure fluid communication interrupting position, respectively, a pair of exhaust valve seats on said housing and said resiliently urged means between said outlet and exhaust ports for engagement with said exhaust valve means, respectively, said exhaust valve means being movable toward positions disengaged from said exhaust valve seats to establish the pressure fluid communication between said outlet and exhaust ports upon the selective applied force movement of said selectively operable means and the concerted movement of said selectively operable means and resiliently urged means to actuate said first named valve means toward its pressure fluid communication interrupting position, respectively, said resiliently urged means includes piston means movable in said housing between said outlet and exhaust ports, one of said exhaust valve means being on said piston means, an effective area on said piston means subjected to the fluid pressure at said control port, spring means biased between said piston means and housing, said piston means being movable against said spring means toward a position engaging said one exhaust valve means with one of said exhaust valve seats in response to fluid pressure in excess of the predetermined value at said control port acting on said area, the other of said exhaust valve seats being on said piston means.

Claim 6

A control valve comprising a housing having inlet, outlet, exhaust and control ports therein, selectively operable means movable in said housing including valve means for controlling pressure fluid communication between said inlet and outlet ports, said valve means being movable with said selectively operable means in response to an applied force thereon toward a position in said housing interrupting pressure fluid communication between said inlet and outlet ports, resiliently urged means movable in said housing for driving engagement with said selectively operable means and subjected to fluid pressure at said control port, said resiliently urged means being movable in response to fluid pressure less than a predetermined value acting thereon at said control port to drivingly engage and concertedly move said selectively operable means to actuate said valve means to its pressure fluid communication interrupting position, and a pair of exhaust valve means on said selectively operable means and resiliently urged means for controlling pressure fluid communication between said outlet and exhaust ports, respectively, said exhaust valve means being movable toward positions in said housing establishing pressure fluid communication between said outlet and exhaust ports upon the selective applied force movement of said selectively operable means and the concerted movement of said selectively operable means and resiliently urged means to actuate said first named valve means to its pressure fluid communication interrupting position, respectively, a pair of exhaust valve seats on said housing and said resiliently urged means between said outlet and exhaust ports for engagement with said exhaust valve means, respectively, said exhaust valve means being movable toward positions disengaged from said exhaust valve seats to establish the pressure fluid communication between said outlet and exhaust ports upon the selective applied force movement of said selectively operable means and the concerted movement of said selectively operable means and resiliently urged means to actuate said first named valve means toward its pressure fluid communication interrupting position, respectively, said resiliently urged means includes piston means movable in said housing between said outlet and exhaust ports, one of said exhaust valve means being on said piston means, an effective area on said piston means subjected to the fluid pressure at said control port, spring means biased between said piston means and housing, said piston means being movable against said spring means toward a position engaging said one exhaust valve means with one of said exhaust valve seats in response to fluid pressure in excess of the predetermined value at said control port acting on said area, the other of said exhaust valve seats being on said piston means.

Claim 7

A control valve according to claim 4, comprising first passage means in said piston means connected with said outlet and exhaust ports and extending through said other exhaust valve seat, and a second passage means in said piston means connected with said outlet and exhaust port and in by-pass relation with said other exhaust valve seat, said second passage means being closed when said one exhaust valve means is engaged with said one exhaust valve seat.

Claim 8

A control valve according to claim 5, comprising a pair of opposed abutment means on said housing for engagement with said pisTon means, said piston means being urged into engagement with one of said abutment means when the fluid pressure at said control port acting on said area is in excess of the predetermined value and said spring means being effective to concertedly move said piston means and selectively operable means to actuate said first named valve means toward its pressure fluid communication interrupting position and to engage said piston means with the other of said abutment means when the fluid pressure at said control port acting on said area is less than the predetermined value, and said one exhaust valve means being disengaged from said one exhaust valve seat to open said second passage means when said piston means is engaged with said other abutment means.

Claim 9

A control valve comprising a housing having a bore therein axially interposed between a pair of stepped counterbores and a third counterbore, a pair of shoulders on said housing between said stepped counterbores and between said bore and the smaller of said stepped counterbores, an inlet port in said housing intersecting with said third counterbore, an outlet port in said housing intersecting with said smaller stepped counterbore adjacent to one of said shoulders, a control port in said housing intersecting with the larger of said stepped counterbores adjacent to the other of said shoulders, a closure member connected with said housing including a hub portion extending into said larger stepped counterbore and having a free end thereon, and a bore extending through said closure member and hub portion connecting with said larger stepped counterbore, said bore defining an exhaust port and having a sidewall portion defining a first valve seat between said larger stepped counterbore and said exhaust port, a stepped piston movable in said housing between said outlet and exhaust ports including a sleeve member having first and second opposed end portions for respective engagement with said free end portion and said one shoulder, said sleeve member being slidable in said smaller stepped counterbore and extending coaxially into said larger stepped counterbore, flange means on said sleeve member and slidable in said larger stepped counterbore, said sleeve member and flange means defining with said housing an expansible chamber in said larger stepped counterbore and connected in pressure fluid communication with said control port, an effective area on said flange means within said chamber and subjected to the fluid pressure at said control port, said stepped piston being urged toward an inoperative position in said housing engaging said first opposed end portion with said hub free end when the fluid pressure at said control port acting on said area exceeds a predetermined value, spring means engaged with said stepped portion and opposing expansion of said chamber, extension means on said stepped piston having opposed ends, one of said extension means opposed ends being connected with said sleeve member and the other opposed end thereof being slidable in said hub bore, a first valve member on said extension means other opposed end for engagement with said first valve seat, first passage means extending through said sleeve member and extension means between said outlet and exhaust ports, said first passage means including a sidewall portion in said extension means defining a second valve seat, second passage means in said stepped piston connected in by-pass relation with said second valve seat between said first passage means and said exhaust port, said first valve member being engaged with said first valve seat to close said second passage means interrupting pressure fluid communication therethrough between said outlet and exhaust ports when said stepped piston is in its inoperative position, said housing bore having a sidewall portion defining a third valve seat between said inlet and outlet ports, a selectively operable valve member movable in said housing between one and other positions including opposed third and fourth end portions respectively slidable in said third counterbore and said first passage means, said third end portion extending exteriorly of said housing for receiving an operating applied force thereon, a reduced intermediate portion connected between said third and fourth end portions, a second valve member on said fourth portion for engagement with said second valve seat, said second valve member being engaged with said second valve seat to close said first passage means interrupting pressure fluid communication therethrough when said rod member and stepped pistons are in their respective in and inoperative positions and said rod member being movable in response to an applied force thereon toward its out position to disengage said second valve member from said second valve seating opening said first passage means and establishing pressure fluid communication therethrough between said outlet and exhaust ports when said stepped piston is in its inoperative position, a third valve member on said intermediate portion for engagement with said third valve seat, said third valve member being movable with said rod member between its in and out positions toward positions disengaged from and engaged with said third valve seat to establish and interrupt pressure fluid communication between said inlet and outlet ports, respectively, and a pair of opposed abutment means on said stepped piston and rod member for respective driving engagement, said stepped piston being movable in response to the force of said spring means toward an operative position in said housing engaging said second opposed end portion with said one shoulder and to drivingly engage one of said abutment means with the other thereof to effect concerted movement therewith of said rod member toward its out position when the fluid pressure at said control port acting on said area is less than the predetermined value, said first valve member being movable toward a position disengaged from said first valve seat to open said second passage means and establish pressure fluid communication therethrough between said outlet and exhaust ports upon the movement of said stepped piston toward its operative position.

Claim 10

A control valve comprising a housing having a bore therein axially interposed between a pair of stepped counterbores and a third counterbore, a pair of shoulders on said housing between said stepped counterbores and between said bore and the smaller of said stepped counterbores, an inlet port in said housing intersecting with said third counterbore, an outlet port in said housing intersecting with said smaller stepped counterbore adjacent to one of said shoulders, a control port in said housing intersecting with the larger of said stepped counterbores adjacent to the other of said shoulders, a closure member connected with said housing including a hub portion extending into said larger stepped counterbore and having a free end thereon, and a bore extending through said closure member and hub portion connecting with said larger stepped counterbore, said bore defining an exhaust port and having a sidewall portion defining a first valve seat between said larger stepped counterbore and said exhaust port, a stepped piston movable in said housing between said outlet and exhaust ports including a sleeve member having first and second opposed end portions for respective engagement with said free end portion and said one shoulder, said sleeve member being slidable in said smaller stepped counterbore and extending coaxially into said larger stepped counterbore, flange means on said sleeve member and slidable in said larger stepped counterbore, said sleeve member and flange means defining with said housing an expansible chamber in said larger stepped counterbore and connected in pressure fluid communication with said control port, an effective area on said flange means within said chamber and subjected to the fluid pressure at said control port, said stepped piston being urged toward an inoperative position in said housing engaging said first opposed end portion with said hub free end when the fluid pressure at said control port acting on said area exceeds a predetermined value, spring means engaged with said stepped portion and opposing expansion of said chamber, extension means on said stepped piston having opposed ends, one of said extension means opposed ends being connected with said sleeve member and the other opposed end thereof being slidable in said hub bore, a first valve member on said extension means other opposed end for engagement with said first valve seat, first passage means extending through said sleeve member and extension means between said outlet and exhaust ports, said first passage means including a sidewall portion in said extension means defining a second valve seat, second passage means in said stepped piston connected in by-pass relation with said second valve seat between said first passage means and said exhaust port, said first valve member being engaged with said first valve seat to close said second passage means interrupting pressure fluid communication therethrough between said outlet and exhaust ports when said stepped piston is in its inoperative position, said housing bore having a sidewall portion defining a third valve seat between said inlet and outlet ports, a selectively operable valve member movable in said housing between one and other positions including opposed third and fourth end portions respectively slidable in said third counterbore and said first passage means, said third end portion extending exteriorly of said housing for receiving an operating applied force thereon, a reduced intermediate portion connected between said third and fourth end portions, a second valve member on said fourth portion for engagement with said second valve seat, said second valve member being engaged with said second valve seat to close said first passage means interrupting pressure fluid communication therethrough when said rod member and stepped pistons are in their respective in and inoperative positions and said rod member being movable in response to an applied force thereon toward its out position to disengage said second valve member from said second valve seating opening said first passage means and establishing pressure fluid communication therethrough between said outlet and exhaust ports when said stepped piston is in its inoperative position, a third valve member on said intermediate portion for engagement with said third valve seat, said third valve member being movable with said rod member between its in and out positions toward positions disengaged from and engaged with said third valve seat to establish and interrupt pressure fluid communication between said inlet and outlet ports, respectively, and a pair of opposed abutment means on said stepped piston and rod member for respective driving engagement, said stepped piston being movable in response to the force of said spring means toward an operative position in said housing engaging said second opposed end portion with said one shoulder and to drivingly engage one of said abutment means with the other thereof to effect concerted movement therewith of said rod member toward its out position when the fluid pressure at said control port acting on said area is less than the predetermined value, said first valve member being movable toward a position disengaged from said first valve seat to open said second passage means and establish pressure fluid communication therethrough between said outlet and exhaust ports upon the movement of said stepped piston toward its operative position.