US3790129A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve detent mechanism
Assignee: Eaton Corp
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Filing: 1971-07-15
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1991-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A solenoid-operated detent mechanism for a spool valve having a spring centered neutral position and a detented operating position. The mechanism includes a locking device in the form of a movable solenoid armature having a cam surface locking the detent balls in engagement with grooves in the spool in the detented position and releasable when energized to permit the spool centering spring to return the spool to neutral. One embodiment contemplates a longitudinally moving armature spring biased in one direction to urge detent balls radially into a spool detent groove and pulled oppositely by the solenoid upon actuation to release the balls. Another embodiment has a rotating armature that through a cam surface lifts radially spring-pressed detent pawls from the spool groove.
Inventors
- 👤 C Pauls
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:29
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/02; F16K31/06; F16K31/0603; F16K31/061; F16K31/0613; F15; F15B; F15B13/00; F15B13/02; F15B13/04; F15B13/0401; F15B13/0402; F15B15/00; F15B15/20; F15B15/26; F15B15/261; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A valve mechanism controlling flow between a fluid source and a hydraulic motor, comprising: a valve body having a longitudinal bore, an inlet passage communicating with said source and an outlet passage communicating with the motor,said passages intersecting said bore at spaced locations; a spool in said bore manually shiftable between a first position blocking flow between said passages and a second position directing fluid from the inlet to the outlet passage through the bore, said spool having an outer reduced diameter section, an adjacent annular groove and a tapered land section therebetween; A first spring engaging the spool to urge same to the first position; a detent mechanism radially registering with said annular groove in said spool upon movement of the spool to the second position; second spring means urging the detent mechanism into said annular groove to hold the spool in said second position directing flow to the motor; a solenoid at one end of said spool having a movable armature with a blind bore accepting the outer end of said spool and a cam surface engaging said detent mechanism, said solenoid when energized actuating the armature to relieve the bias of said second spring means on the detent; and means sensing movement of the motor to a predetermined position and thereupon energizing the solenoid to relieve the bias of said second spring means and thereby permit said first spring means to return the spool to said first position blocking flow to the motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A valve mechanism controlling flow between a fluid source and a hydraulic motor, comprising: a valve body having a longitudinal bore, an inlet passage communicating with said source and an outlet passage communicating with the motor,said passages intersecting said bore at spaced locations; a spool in said bore manually shiftable between a first position blocking flow between said passages and a second position directing fluid from the inlet to the outlet passage through the bore, said spool having an outer reduced diameter section, an adjacent annular groove and a tapered land section therebetween; A first spring engaging the spool to urge same to the first position; a detent mechanism radially registering with said annular groove in said spool upon movement of the spool to the second position; second spring means urging the detent mechanism into said annular groove to hold the spool in said second position directing flow to the motor; a solenoid at one end of said spool having a movable armature with a blind bore accepting the outer end of said spool and a cam surface engaging said detent mechanism, said solenoid when energized actuating the armature to relieve the bias of said second spring means on the detent; and means sensing movement of the motor to a predetermined position and thereupon energizing the solenoid to relieve the bias of said second spring means and thereby permit said first spring means to return the spool to said first position blocking flow to the motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said second spring means directly engages said detent means to urge same radially into said spool groove and said armature rotates upon energizing the solenoid to oppose the biasing force of said second spring means and shift said locking means to said release position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said detent means are a plurality of pistons having inner ends engaging the spool groove in said second position and wherein said armature has a sleeve surrounding the spool, an exterior cam surface engaging a portion of said pistons, said solenoid when energized rotating said sleeve to lift said pistons out of the spool groove and permit the first spring means to return the spool to said first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said second spring means acts through said armature to bias the detent and wherein said armature shifts to relieve said second spring bias and permit said first spring means to urge said detent radially out of said groove and return the spool to said first position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said armature has an external cam surface engaging said detent and rotates upon actuation to lift said detent radially out of said groove, and wherein said second spring means extends radially between said valve body and detent to urge the latter inwardly toward said groove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a hydraulic spool control valve comprising a body having a longitudinal bore and fluid carrying passages intersecting the bores, a spool shiftable in said bore between first and second positions to control flow between said passages through said bore, and first spring means engaging and biasing said spool to the first position, wherein the improvement comprises: said spool having an outer reduced diameter section and adjacent annular groove and a tapered land section therebetween; radially movable ball detent means which register with said groove upon positioning the spool in said second position and which are accomodated in said reduced diametral section when said spool is in said first position; a solenoid armature having a bore accepting the spool end and a generally concave cam surface; second spring means biasing said armature into engagement with said detent balls and holding said balls in register with said groove when said spool is in said second position; and a solenoid cooperating with said armature, said solenoid when energized causing said armature to longitudinally shift against the bias of the second spring thereby permitting said detent to radially eject from said groove permitting said first spring to return said spool to said first position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a hydraulic spool control valve comprising a body having a longitudinal bore and fluid carrying passages intersecting the bores, a spool shiftable in said bore between first and second positions to control flow between said passages through said bore, and first spring means engaging and biasing said spool to the first position, wherein the improvement comprises: said spool having an outer reduced diameter section and adjacent annular groove and a tapered land section therebetween; radially movable ball detent means which register with said groove upon positioning the spool in said second position and which are accomodated in said reduced diametral section when said spool is in said first position; a solenoid armature having a bore accepting the spool end and a generally concave cam surface; second spring means biasing said armature into engagement with said detent balls and holding said balls in register with said groove when said spool is in said second position; and a solenoid cooperating with said armature, said solenoid when energized causing said armature to longitudinally shift against the bias of the second spring thereby permitting said detent to radially eject from said groove permitting said first spring to return said spool to said first position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |