Spool position detection for a hydraulic valve
First Claim
1. A valve spool monitor comprising position sensing means arranged to be mounted adjacent to a valve spool of a hydraulic valve, to measure the absolute position of the spool within the valve and to provide an output signal indicative of the absolute position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A position sensor senses the position of an article that moves over a short predetermined path. The position sensor is contained in a housing which is mounted in a fixed location adjacent the article and has an internal cavity in which a valve follower travels guided by the walls of the cavity to describe a predetermined path in the axial direction. The valve follower is operatively coupled with the article and carries a sensed magnetic element. A sensor is mounted in the housing adjacent the path of the valve follower, such that the sensed element moves laterally under the sensor and the sensor generates a signal indicative of its position.
29 Citations
32 Claims
- 1. A valve spool monitor comprising position sensing means arranged to be mounted adjacent to a valve spool of a hydraulic valve, to measure the absolute position of the spool within the valve and to provide an output signal indicative of the absolute position.
- 10. A position sensor for sensing the position of an article that moves over a short predetermined path, the position sensor comprising a housing, mounting means arranged to permit mounting of the housing in a fixed location adjacent the article, the housing having an internal cavity and internal guiding surfaces extending in an axial direction of the cavity and between which is located a travelling member configured to co-operate with the guiding surfaces to be guided to describe a predetermined path in the axial direction, coupling means arranged to operatively couple the travelling member with the article, a sensed element being mounted relative to the travelling member and a sensor being mounted adjacent the path of the travelling member, such that the sensed element moves laterally under the sensor and whereby the sensor senses the position of the sensed element and generates a signal indicative of its position, to indicate the position of the article.
- 17. A method of monitoring a valve spool, the method comprising locating a position sensing means adjacent to a valve spool of a hydraulic valve, to measure the absolute position of the spool within the valve and to provide an output signal indicative of the absolute position.
- 26. A method of sensing the position of an article that moves over a short predetermined path comprising mounting a housing enclosing a monitor assembly in a fixed location adjacent the article, providing the housing with an internal cavity and internal guiding surfaces extending in an axial direction of the cavity, locating a travelling member between the guiding surfaces to be guided to describe a predetermined path in the axial direction, operatively coupling the travelling member with the article, locating a sensed element relative to the travelling member and locating a sensor adjacent the path of the travelling member, such that the sensed element moves laterally under the sensor and whereby the sensor senses the position of the sensed element and generates a signal indicative of its position, to indicate the position of the article.
Specification