Valve block assembly

Claim 2

A valve block assembly comprising: at least one electromagnetically actuatable hydraulic valve defining at least one positionally fixed exposed electrical contact; a valve receiving member carrying said valve; a cover matingly mounted to said valve receiving member in a fixed positional relationship therewith and co-acting therewith to sealingly enclose said valve; and an electrically conductive network insulatively carried by said cover and including a mating contact positionally aligned with said valve contact for completion of an electrical circuit upon mounting of said cover upon said valve receiving member, an electrical interface operative to provide external access to said network, and at least one electrical conductor interconnecting said mating contact and interface, said mating contact and electrical conductor formed by stamping a generally planar sheet of conductive material.

Claim 3

The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve receiving member comprises a manifold defining fluid passageways adapted for interconnection with an external hydraulic circuit.

Claim 4

The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein said cover is formed of electrically insulating material.

Claim 5

The valve block assembly of claim 3, wherein said electrically conductive network is injection molded in said cover.

Claim 6

The valve block assembly of claim 1, further comprising means operative to continually bias said valve contact and mating contact into intimate contact whenever said cover is mounted to said valve receiving member.

Claim 7

The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve contact is resiliently erect and operative to maintain itself intimate contact with said mating contact whenever said cover is mounted to said valve receiving member.

Claim 8

The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein said mating contact is resiliently erect and operative to maintain itself in intimate contact with said valve contact whenever said cover is mounted to said valve receiving member.

Claim 9

The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive network is attached by a fixing element on an inner surface of said cover.

Claim 10

A valve block assembly of claim 8 wherein at least on said fixing element comprises a clip.

Claim 11

A valve block assembly of claim 8 wherein at least one said fixing element comprises a snap hook.

Claim 12

A valve block assembly of claim 8 wherein at least one said fixing element is integrally formed with the cover.

Claim 13

A valve block assembly of claim 8 wherein at least one said fixing element is a press fastener.

Claim 14

A valve block assembly of claim 1 wherein said contacts comprise contact pins and plugs shaped from said conductive material.

Claim 15

A valve block assembly of claim 1 the cover engages the valve-receiving member by a system of angle bars and recesses.

Claim 16

A valve block assembly of claim 1 wherein the electric conductors in the cover are interlaced according to a predetermined wiring diagram and are in connection with a multiple plug assembly mounted on the outside of the cover.

Claim 17

A valve block assembly of claim 1 further comprising resilient elements disposed intermediate said cover and valve to effect an inner sealed cavity for the electrical contacts.

Claim 18

A valve block assembly comprising: a plurality of electromagnetically actuable hydraulic valves, each said valve defining at least one exposed electrical contact; a valve receiving member carrying said valves in a fixed array; a unitary cover matingly mounted to said valve receiving member in a fixed positional relationship therewith and co-acting therewith to sealingly enclose said valves; and an electrically conductive network insulatively carried by said cover and including a separate mating contact positionally aligned with each said valve contact for completion of an electrical circuit upon mounting of said cover upon said valve receiving member, an electrical interface operative to provide external access to said network, and electrical conductors stamped from a generally planar sheet of conductive material interconnecting said mating contacts and interface, whereby mounting of said cover upon said valve receiving member simultaneously establishes connection between all valve-mating contact pairs.

Claim 19

A valve block assembly comprising: a plurality of electromagnetically actuable hydraulic valves, each said valve defining at least one exposed electrical contact; a valve receiving member carrying said valves in a fixed array; a unitary cover matingly mounted to said valve receiving member in a fixed positional relationship therewith and co-acting therewith to sealingly enclose said valves; and an electrically conductive network insulatively carried by said cover and including a separate mating contact positionally aligned with each said valve contact for completion of an electrical circuit upon mounting of said cover upon said valve receiving member, an electrical interface operative to provide external access to said network, and electrical conductors stamped from a generally planar sheet of conductive material interconnecting said mating contacts and interface, whereby mounting of said cover upon said valve receiving member simultaneously establishes connection between all valve-mating contact pairs.

Claim 20

In a valve block assembly having at least one electromagnetically actuatable hydraulic valve means, block means for supporting said valve means, cover means for sealingly enclosing said valve means and power supply means for energizing said valve means, the improvement comprising: said at least one electromagnetically actuatable hydraulic valve means defining at least one positionally fixed exposed electrical contact; said cover means formed of an electrically insulative material and sealingly enclosing said valve means when matingly mounted to said block means in a fixed positional relationship; said power supply means including external connector means for electrically connecting power externally of said cover means, internal connector means for electrically connecting power internally of said cover means and conducting means for electrically interconnecting said internal connector means with said external connector means, said power supply means insulatively carried by said cover means and positionally fixed with respect to said cover means, said internal connector means including at least one mating contact positionally aligned with said at lest one exposed electrical contact of said valve means for completion of an electrical circuit when said cover means is mounted on said block means, at least a portion of said external connector means integrally formed as part of an external surface of said cover means, said internal connector means and said conducting means formed by stamping a generally planar sheet of conductive material.

Claim 21

In a valve block assembly having at least one electromagnetically actuatable hydraulic valve means, block means for supporting said valve means, cover means for sealingly enclosing said valve means and power supply means for energizing said valve means, the improvement comprising: said at least one electromagnetically actuatable hydraulic valve means defining at least one positionally fixed exposed electrical contact; said cover means formed of an electrically insulative material and sealingly enclosing said valve means when matingly mounted to said block means in a fixed positional relationship; said power supply means including external connector means for electrically connecting power externally of said cover means, internal connector means for electrically connecting power internally of said cover means and conducting means for electrically interconnecting said internal connector means with said external connector means, said power supply means insulatively carried by said cover means and positionally fixed with respect to said cover means, said internal connector means including at least one mating contact positionally aligned with said at lest one exposed electrical contact of said valve means for completion of an electrical circuit when said cover means is mounted on said block means, at least a portion of said external connector means integrally formed as part of an external surface of said cover means, said internal connector means and said conducting means formed by stamping a generally planar sheet of conductive material.

Claim 22

The valve block assembly of claim 18 further comprising said external connector means, said internal connector means and said conducting means formed by stamping a generally planar sheet of conductive material.

Claim 23

The valve block assembly of claim 19 further comprising said conducting means injection molded in said cover means.