US5720318A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solenoid actuated miniservo spool valve
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
•
Filing: 1995-05-26
•
Granted: 1998-02-24
•
Expires: 2015-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A valve includes a housing having a high pressure inlet, a low pressure inlet, an outlet and first and second sealing surfaces. A pilot valve is disposed in the housing and includes a valve element movable between first and second positions. A movable spool is also disposed in the housing and includes third and fourth sealing surfaces engagable with the first and second sealing surfaces, respectively, carried by the housing to connect the outlet to the low pressure inlet when the valve element is in the first position and to connect the outlet to the high pressure inlet when the valve element is in the second position.
Inventors
- 👤 Raj T. Nagarajan
- 👤 Charles R. Miller
- 👤 Craig W. Lohmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:38
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M63/00; F02M63/0012; F02M63/0014; F02M63/0015; F02M63/0017; F02M47/00; F02M47/02; F02M47/025; F02M47/027; F02M57/00; F02M57/02; F02M57/022; F02M57/025; F02M59/00; F02M59/02; F02M59/10; F02M59/105; F02M59/44; F02M59/46; F02M59/466; F02M63/0028; F02M63/0029; F02M63/0031; F02M63/004; F02M63/0045; F02M2200/00; F02M2200/21; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86574; Y10T137/86582; Y10T137/86614
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A valve, comprising: a housing including a high pressure inlet, a low pressure inlet, an outlet and first and second sealing surfaces; a pilot valve disposed in the housing and including a valve element movable between first and second positions; and a movable spool disposed in the housing and including third and fourth sealing surfaces engagable with the first and second sealing surfaces, respectively, carried by the housing to connect the outlet to the low pressure inlet when the valve element is in the first position and to connect the outlet to the high pressure inlet when the valve element is in the second position said spool having first and second ends wherein said first end is in fluid communication with said high pressure inlet regardless of said pilot valve's position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A valve, comprising: a housing including a high pressure inlet, a low pressure inlet, an outlet and first and second sealing surfaces; a pilot valve disposed in the housing and including a valve element movable between first and second positions; and a movable spool disposed in the housing and including third and fourth sealing surfaces engagable with the first and second sealing surfaces, respectively, carried by the housing to connect the outlet to the low pressure inlet when the valve element is in the first position and to connect the outlet to the high pressure inlet when the valve element is in the second position said spool having first and second ends wherein said first end is in fluid communication with said high pressure inlet regardless of said pilot valve's position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The valve of claim 1, further including an actuator actuable to move the valve element between the first and second positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The valve of claim 2, wherein the actuator is secured to the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve element and the spool are movable along parallel paths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The valve of claim 1, wherein the spool includes a longitudinal central axis substantially coincident with a path of movement of a center point of the valve element as the valve element moves between the first and second positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The valve of claim 1, wherein the first sealing surface is in fluid communication with the high pressure inlet and the second sealing surface is in fluid communication with the low pressure inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The valve of claim 1, further including a spring which biases the spool toward a particular position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The valve of claim 1, in combination with a high pressure fluid source coupled to the high pressure inlet and a low pressure fluid source coupled to the low pressure inlet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
The valve of claim 8, wherein the pilot valve includes a low pressure port, a high pressure port and an outlet port coupled to the high pressure port or to the low pressure port when the valve element is in the first or second positions, respectively, and wherein the valve further includes a first passage between the high pressure inlet and the high pressure port of the pilot valve and a second passage between the low pressure port of the pilot valve and a drain outlet and wherein said second end of the spool is in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pilot valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve element comprises a ball movable between first and second seats.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The valve of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a solenoid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
153 words
A valve adapted to actuate a fuel injector, comprising: an actuator; a body having a high pressure inlet, a low pressure inlet, an outlet adapted for connection to a fuel injector intensifier and first and second sealing surfaces; a pilot valve disposed in the body and including a high pressure port, a low pressure port, an outlet port and a ball element movable by the actuator between a first position wherein the high pressure port is in fluid communication with the outlet port and a second position wherein the low pressure port is in fluid communication with the outlet port; and a movable spool disposed in the body and having third and fourth sealing surfaces engagable with the first and second sealing surfaces, respectively, of the body, a first end in fluid communication with the high pressure inlet and a second end in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pilot valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
153 words
A valve adapted to actuate a fuel injector, comprising: an actuator; a body having a high pressure inlet, a low pressure inlet, an outlet adapted for connection to a fuel injector intensifier and first and second sealing surfaces; a pilot valve disposed in the body and including a high pressure port, a low pressure port, an outlet port and a ball element movable by the actuator between a first position wherein the high pressure port is in fluid communication with the outlet port and a second position wherein the low pressure port is in fluid communication with the outlet port; and a movable spool disposed in the body and having third and fourth sealing surfaces engagable with the first and second sealing surfaces, respectively, of the body, a first end in fluid communication with the high pressure inlet and a second end in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pilot valve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The valve of claim 12, wherein the actuator is secured to the body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The valve of claim 12, wherein the ball element and the spool are movable along parallel paths.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The valve of claim 12, wherein the spool includes a longitudinal central axis substantially coincident with a path of movement of a center point of the ball element as the ball element moves between the first and second positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The valve of claim 12, wherein the first sealing surface is in fluid communication with the high pressure inlet and the second sealing surface is in fluid communication with the low pressure inlet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The valve of claim 16, further including a spring which biases the spool toward a particular position at which the low pressure inlet is placed in fluid communication with the outlet of the body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The valve of claim 17, in combination with a high pressure fluid source coupled to the high pressure inlet and a low pressure fluid source coupled to the low pressure inlet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
83 words
The valve of claim 18, wherein the pilot valve includes a low pressure port, a high pressure port and an outlet port coupled to the high pressure port or to the low pressure port when the valve element is in the first or second positions, respectively, and further including a first passage between the high pressure inlet and the high pressure port of the pilot valve and a second passage between the low pressure port of the pilot valve and a drain outlet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The valve of claim 12, in combination with a fuel injector coupled to the outlet of the body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The valve of claim 20, wherein the fuel injector is of the hydraulically-actuated, electronically-controlled type.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
251 words
A fuel injector actuation valve, comprising: an actuator; a body coupled to the actuator having a high pressure inlet, a low pressure inlet, an outlet adaptable for connection to a fuel injector intensifier and first and second sealing surfaces in fluid communication with the high pressure inlet and the low pressure inlet, respectively; a high pressure fluid source coupled to the high pressure inlet; a low pressure fluid source coupled to the low pressure inlet; a pilot valve disposed in the body and including a high pressure port in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid source, a low pressure port in fluid communication with a drain, an outlet port and a ball element movable by the actuator between a first ball element position wherein the high pressure port is in fluid communication with the outlet port and a second ball element position wherein the low pressure port is in fluid communication with the outlet port; a spool disposed in the body and having third and fourth sealing surfaces, a first end in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid source and a second end in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pilot valve, the spool being movable between a first spool position wherein the third sealing surface is engaged with the first sealing surface of the body and a second spool position wherein the fourth sealing surface is engaged with the second sealing surface of the body; and means for biasing the spool toward the first spool position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
251 words
A fuel injector actuation valve, comprising: an actuator; a body coupled to the actuator having a high pressure inlet, a low pressure inlet, an outlet adaptable for connection to a fuel injector intensifier and first and second sealing surfaces in fluid communication with the high pressure inlet and the low pressure inlet, respectively; a high pressure fluid source coupled to the high pressure inlet; a low pressure fluid source coupled to the low pressure inlet; a pilot valve disposed in the body and including a high pressure port in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid source, a low pressure port in fluid communication with a drain, an outlet port and a ball element movable by the actuator between a first ball element position wherein the high pressure port is in fluid communication with the outlet port and a second ball element position wherein the low pressure port is in fluid communication with the outlet port; a spool disposed in the body and having third and fourth sealing surfaces, a first end in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid source and a second end in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pilot valve, the spool being movable between a first spool position wherein the third sealing surface is engaged with the first sealing surface of the body and a second spool position wherein the fourth sealing surface is engaged with the second sealing surface of the body; and means for biasing the spool toward the first spool position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel injector actuation valve of claim 22, wherein the actuator comprises a solenoid having a plunger in contact with the ball element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fuel injector actuation valve of claim 23, wherein the ball element moves in a path coaxial with a path of movement of the spool.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fuel injector actuation valve of claim 22, wherein the spool is moved by a fluid pressure imbalance from the first spool position to the second spool position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fuel injector actuation valve of claim 22, in combination with a fuel injector coupled to the outlet of the body.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fuel injector actuation valve of claim 26, wherein the fuel injector is of the hydraulically-actuated, electronically-controlled type.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The valve of claim 2 wherein said actuator selectively provides an actuation force of less than 100 Newtons.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The valve of claim 12 wherein said actuator selectively provides an actuation force of less than 100 Newtons.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fuel injection actuation valve of claim 22 wherein said actuator selectively provides an actuation force of less than 100 Newtons.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The valve of claim 1 wherein said valve element is moveable from said second to said first position by fluid pressure alone.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The valve of claim 12 wherein said ball element is moveable from said second to said first position by fluid pressure alone.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The valve of claim 22 wherein ball element is moveable from said second ball element position to said first ball element position by fluid pressure alone.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
128 words
A valve, comprising: a housing including a high pressure inlet, a low pressure inlet, an outlet and first and second sealing surfaces; a pilot valve disposed in the housing and including a valve element movable between first and second positions wherein said valve element is movable from said second position to said first position by fluid pressure alone from said high pressure inlet; and a movable spool disposed in the housing and including third and fourth sealing surfaces engagable with the first and second sealing surfaces, respectively, carried by the housing to connect the outlet to the low pressure inlet when the valve element is in the first position and to connect the outlet to the high pressure inlet when the valve element is in the second position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
128 words
A valve, comprising: a housing including a high pressure inlet, a low pressure inlet, an outlet and first and second sealing surfaces; a pilot valve disposed in the housing and including a valve element movable between first and second positions wherein said valve element is movable from said second position to said first position by fluid pressure alone from said high pressure inlet; and a movable spool disposed in the housing and including third and fourth sealing surfaces engagable with the first and second sealing surfaces, respectively, carried by the housing to connect the outlet to the low pressure inlet when the valve element is in the first position and to connect the outlet to the high pressure inlet when the valve element is in the second position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-23 | 2001-08-25 | 2002-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-23 | 2005-08-25 | 2006-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-23 | 2009-08-25 | 2010-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |