Abstract A programming system for use in machine tools wherein a slide is reciprocable by a hydraulic motor which receives and discharges hydraulic fluid by way of a regulating valve on the slide. The valve has a spool which is reciprocable between two operative positions and a neutral position and has a radially extending follower which can be arrested by the projections of an indexible drum mounted adjacent to the path of the slide. The movements of the spool from its neutral position to a selected operative position (in which the motor receives fluid for moving the slide forwardly or rearwardly) are initiated by a control plunger secured to the follower and reciprocable in cylinder chambers of the housing in response to admission of pressurized control fluid by a four-way pilot valve. The follower moves against a first projection during forward movement of the slide to thereby return the spool from one operative position to neutral position, and against another projection during rearward movement of the slide to thereby return the spool from the other operative position to the neutral position. The nominal diameter of the plunger is a small fraction of the diameter of the spool.
In a programming system for machine tools or the like the combination of a control member having a plurality of projections each movable to and from a predetermined position in response to actuation of the control member; a hydraulic flow regulating valve including a housing, a valve member having an extension provided with two cylindrical guide portions slidable in said housing, said valve member being reciprocable in said housing between a neutral position and two operative positions, a follower extending laterally from said housing and being fixedly secured to said extension of said valve member between said guide portions thereof, and a plunger Parallel to said valve member fixedly secured to said follower and movable in said housing by a pressurized control fluid to shift said valve member from said neutral to a selected operative position; and means for moving said housing and said control member relative to each other, said follower being in register with each projection which assumes said predetermined position to move said valve member from an operative position selected by said plunger back to said neutral position while said housing and said contral member move relative to each other after said follower engages one of said projections in said predetermined position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a programming system for machine tools or the like the combination of a control member having a plurality of projections each movable to and from a predetermined position in response to actuation of the control member; a hydraulic flow regulating valve including a housing, a valve member having an extension provided with two cylindrical guide portions slidable in said housing, said valve member being reciprocable in said housing between a neutral position and two operative positions, a follower extending laterally from said housing and being fixedly secured to said extension of said valve member between said guide portions thereof, and a plunger Parallel to said valve member fixedly secured to said follower and movable in said housing by a pressurized control fluid to shift said valve member from said neutral to a selected operative position; and means for moving said housing and said control member relative to each other, said follower being in register with each projection which assumes said predetermined position to move said valve member from an operative position selected by said plunger back to said neutral position while said housing and said contral member move relative to each other after said follower engages one of said projections in said predetermined position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein the diameter of said plunger is a small fraction of the maximum diameter of said valve member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said follower has at least one inclined facet along which one of said projections of said control member moves while leaving said predetermined position in response to actuation of said control member and while said plunger urges said follower against said last mentioned projection whereby said valve member leaves said neutral position at the rate determined by the inclination of said facet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein said facet is provided on a separable exposed portion of said follower.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1, further comprising four way control valve means for regulating the flow of said control fluid.