VALVE CONTROLLED FLUID PROGRAMMER

• US 3,552,436 A
• Filed: 10/06/1967
• Issued: 01/05/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Weldon R. Stewart
• Original Assignee: Weldon R. Stewart
• Inventors: Stewart, Weldon R.
• Application Number:
  US04/673,459
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• US Class Current: 137/883
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/00 Details of servomotor systems F15B1/04, F15B1/26, F15B3/00, F15B7/08, F15B11/02, F15B11/10, F15B15/00 take precedence; Valves for servomotor systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/22 with an actuating member for each valve, e.g. interconnected to form multiple-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87837 Spring bias
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87877 Single inlet with multiple distinctly valved outlets

Abstract

A fluid programmer utilizing a plurality of manually actuated valves for programming fluid-controlled machines to enable the function, sequence or timing thereof to be accurately and rapidly varied, by altering or adjusting the fluid circuits thereto emanating from a plurality of fluid supply sources which feed into the programmer, and which are selectively directed from the programmer through desired outlet circuits for the fluid to the machine being controlled.

Claims

1. A fluid programmer comprising a housing having a plurality of passageways, means sealing off said passageways from one another, a fluid pressure supply means for each passageway, a plurality of passages contained in said housing having inlet endS communicating with each of said passageways and constituting the only outlets thereof, outlet conduits leading from the housing and communicating with said passages, and manually actuated valves mounted in the housing and movable to selectively open and close the inlet ends of said passages.

2. A fluid programmer as in claim 1, each of said passages including an enlarged portion containing a normally closed check valve which is opened by the pressure in the inlet end of said passage when the manually actuated valve thereof is in an open position and which closes to prevent a back feed through said passage.

3. A fluid programmer as in claim 1, said housing having a plurality of channels disposed crosswise of said passageways each of which communicates with and forms a part of a plurality of said passages and to each of which one of said outlet conduits is connected.

4. A fluid programmer as in claim 3, said housing being of laminated construction including a top member provided with said passageways and in which said valves are slidably mounted, a bottom member provided with said channels, and at least one intermediate member provided with said passages connecting the passageways and channels.

5. A fluid programmer as in claim 1, each of said passages having a separate outlet conduit leading from an outlet end thereof.

6. A fluid programmer as in claim 1, said housing being elongated, said passageways being disposed longitudinally of the housing, and a longitudinal row of said valves extending into each passageway for controlling the passages leading therefrom.

7. A fluid programmer as in claim 6, said housing including a plurality of transverse channels each communicating with the passages of a transverse row of said passages and each controlled by one of said valves of each of the passageways, and one of said outlet conduits communicating with and leading from each of said transverse channels whereby fluid may be selectively supplied through the programmer to each of said outlet conduits from each of said passageways.

8. A fluid programmer as in claim 7, said fluid supply means discharging into corresponding ends of the passageways and said outlet conduits leading from the bottom of the housing.

9. A fluid programmer as in claim 1, said housing having bores opening outwardly of its upper surface and downwardly into said passageways, each of said valves having a stem extending through one of said bores and provided, adjacent its lower end, with a sealing ring for sealing the inlet end of one of said passages in a closed position of the valve said valve stem having a second annular sealing ring engaging said bore in either the lowered, closed position, or the raised, open position of the valve for sealing said bore in both said positions.

10. A fluid programmer as in claim 9, and a stop member carried by said valve stem between said seals for engaging portions of the housing to limit movement of the valve toward either an open of closed position.