Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
In a hydraulic valve having a valve housing defining a valve chamber, said housing to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure for transmission of said fluid to a valve outlet defined by said housing, a seat formed by said housing, a valve spool mounted for movement in said housing, said spool having a mating annular seat sealing against the housing seat, transmission of said fluid producing an axial force on said spool definable as a force vector, the improvement residing in that the valve spool has partial annulus openings on flow metering edges thereof to partially reduce the axial force on said spool, and shaped geometrical contours disposed in said valve spool for defining return flow edges thereof, said geometrical contours extending axially forward of said metering edges relative to the flow of said fluid, said geometrical contours configured to alter the force vector of said fluid on said spool, said annulus openings and said contours producing a substantially zero force port between the housing seat and the mating annular seat, the port being relatively free of fluid leakage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a hydraulic valve having a valve housing defining a valve chamber, said housing to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure for transmission of said fluid to a valve outlet defined by said housing, a seat formed by said housing, a valve spool mounted for movement in said housing, said spool having a mating annular seat sealing against the housing seat, transmission of said fluid producing an axial force on said spool definable as a force vector, the improvement residing in that the valve spool has partial annulus openings on flow metering edges thereof to partially reduce the axial force on said spool, and shaped geometrical contours disposed in said valve spool for defining return flow edges thereof, said geometrical contours extending axially forward of said metering edges relative to the flow of said fluid, said geometrical contours configured to alter the force vector of said fluid on said spool, said annulus openings and said contours producing a substantially zero force port between the housing seat and the mating annular seat, the port being relatively free of fluid leakage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The valve of claim 1 wherein the partial annulus openings comprise wedge cuts formed in the flow metering edges of the spool.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The valve of claim 2 wherein the plane of the wedge cuts are formed at an angle with respect to the extended exterior surface of the spool, the angle of the wedge cuts being predetermined from the range of 25° to 55°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The valve of claim 3 wherein the shaped geometrical contour defines a return flow edge which forms a flow exit angle which lies in the range of 60° to 85°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The valve of claim 4 wherein the wedge cuts are diametrically oppositely disposed on the flow metering edge and form an angle of 30°, the flow exit angle lying in the range of 70° to 80°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The valve of claim 4 wherein the wedge cuts are diametrically oppositely disposed on the flow metering edges and form an angle of 45°, the flow exit angle lying in the range of 60° to 75°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The valve of claim 1 wherein the shaped geometrical contour defines a return flow edge which forms a flow exit angle which is predetermined and lies in the range of 60° to 85°.