Valve and cylinder-actuated lock controlled thereby
First Claim
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1. A valve comprising:
- a valve body having a spool bore, an inlet passage that opens into the spool bore, first and second outlets, first and second valve chambers connected with the first and second outlets, respectively, first and second transfer passages extended from the spool bore to the first and second valve chambers, respectively, first and second return passages extended from the first and second valve chambers, respectively, to the spool bore and opening into the spool bore beyond the transfer passages;
a spool in the spool bore generally between the ends of the two return passages and being capable of shifting therein between first and second positions, the spool being configured to direct pressurized fluid from the inlet passage to the first transfer passage when in the first position and to direct pressurized fluid from the inlet passage to the second transfer passage when in the second position, the spool further being configured such that its ends are continually exposed to the ends of the return passages such that a pressurized fluid in either return passage will exert an axially directed force on the spool, with pressurized fluid supplied through the first return passage urging the spool to its second position and pressurized fluid applied through the second return passage urging the spool to its first position; and
a blocking element in each valve chamber for blocking the return passage that opens into that valve chamber when pressurized fluid flows through the transfer passage and into the valve chamber and for alternatively blocking the transfer passage that opens into the valve chamber after a back pressure develops in fluid at the outlet passage for the valve chamber and pressurized fluid is no longer supplied to the inlet passage, whereby fluid under back pressure is diverted to the return passage for the valve chamber and exerts an axial force on the spool, with the force being directed such that it causes the spool to change position, so that successive applications of pressurized fluid to the inlet passage are alternatively directed to the first and second outlet passages.
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Abstract
A lock located within a door has a bolt that is extended and retracted by a double acting air cylinder. A single air line extends from the door frame and into the door where it is connected with a valve having two discharge lines that lead to opposite ends of the cylinder. To energize the cylinder and move the lock bolt, a charge of pressurized air is directed to the valve which in turn directs it to one end of the cylinder. The charge of air further causes the valve to reset itself so that the next charge will be directed to the opposite end of the cylinder. Consequently, with successive charges of air the piston rod of the cylinder and the lock bolt move in opposite directions.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A valve comprising:
- a valve body having a spool bore, an inlet passage that opens into the spool bore, first and second outlets, first and second valve chambers connected with the first and second outlets, respectively, first and second transfer passages extended from the spool bore to the first and second valve chambers, respectively, first and second return passages extended from the first and second valve chambers, respectively, to the spool bore and opening into the spool bore beyond the transfer passages;
a spool in the spool bore generally between the ends of the two return passages and being capable of shifting therein between first and second positions, the spool being configured to direct pressurized fluid from the inlet passage to the first transfer passage when in the first position and to direct pressurized fluid from the inlet passage to the second transfer passage when in the second position, the spool further being configured such that its ends are continually exposed to the ends of the return passages such that a pressurized fluid in either return passage will exert an axially directed force on the spool, with pressurized fluid supplied through the first return passage urging the spool to its second position and pressurized fluid applied through the second return passage urging the spool to its first position; and
a blocking element in each valve chamber for blocking the return passage that opens into that valve chamber when pressurized fluid flows through the transfer passage and into the valve chamber and for alternatively blocking the transfer passage that opens into the valve chamber after a back pressure develops in fluid at the outlet passage for the valve chamber and pressurized fluid is no longer supplied to the inlet passage, whereby fluid under back pressure is diverted to the return passage for the valve chamber and exerts an axial force on the spool, with the force being directed such that it causes the spool to change position, so that successive applications of pressurized fluid to the inlet passage are alternatively directed to the first and second outlet passages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- a valve body having a spool bore, an inlet passage that opens into the spool bore, first and second outlets, first and second valve chambers connected with the first and second outlets, respectively, first and second transfer passages extended from the spool bore to the first and second valve chambers, respectively, first and second return passages extended from the first and second valve chambers, respectively, to the spool bore and opening into the spool bore beyond the transfer passages;
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5. In combination with a double acting fluid cylinder having a port communicating with each end thereof, a valve comprising:
- a single inlet port connected to a source of pressurized fluid, a valve body having a cavity into which the inlet port opens and a pair of return passages opening into the cavity at the ends thereof and a pair of transfer passages opening into the cavity intermediate the ends of the cavity so that the return and transfer passages are arranged in sets, there being one return passage and one transfer passage in each set;
a valve element shiftable in the cavity between end positions and in one end position directing pressurized fluid from the inlet port to the one transfer passage and in the other end position directing pressurized fluid from the inlet port to the other transfer passage;
a separate back pressure valve connected with the return and transfer passages of each set and with one of the ports of the cylinder, each back pressure valve including a valve chamber into which the transfer passage and return passage for that back pressure valve opens and a blocking element in the valve chamber, the blocking element being configured to block the return passage for its back pressure valve when pressurized fluid passes through the transfer passage for its back pressure valve, whereby the pressurized fluid will flow from that transfer passage to the cylinder port that is connected to the back pressure valve, the blocking element further being configured to block the transfer passage for its back pressure valve and open the return passage for its back pressure valve when the pressure in the transfer passage drops and a back pressure develops at the cylinder port that is connected to the back pressure valve, whereby the back pressure is transmitted through the return passage to the cavity wherein it causes a force to be exerted on the valve element so that the valve element will shift therein. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a single inlet port connected to a source of pressurized fluid, a valve body having a cavity into which the inlet port opens and a pair of return passages opening into the cavity at the ends thereof and a pair of transfer passages opening into the cavity intermediate the ends of the cavity so that the return and transfer passages are arranged in sets, there being one return passage and one transfer passage in each set;
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12. A control valve comprising a valve body having a chamber therein, and an inlet, first and second transfer passages, and first and second return passages, all of which communicate with the chamber;
- a valve element in the chamber and being capable of moving between first and second positions therein, the valve element when in the first position placing the inlet and first transfer passage in communication and when in the second position placing the inlet and the second transfer passage in communication so that high pressure fluid applied to the inlet will be directed to either the first or the second transfer passages, depending on the position of the valve element, the valve element further being positioned in the chamber such that pressurized fluid admitted to the chamber from the first return passages will urge the valve element to its second position and pressurized fluid admitted to the chamber from the second return passage will urge the valve element to its first position;
a first back pressure valve having a first outlet and being connected with the first transfer and return passages, the first back pressure valve including first diverting means for placing the first transfer passage in communication with the first outlet but not with the first return passage when the pressure in the first transfer passage exceeds the pressure in the first outlet and the first return passage and for alternately placing the first outlet in communication with the first return passage but not with the first transfer passage when the pressure in the first outlet exceeds the pressure in the first return and transfer passages; and
a second back pressure valve having a second outlet and being connected with the second transfer and return passages, the second back pressure valve including second diverting means for placing the second transfer passage in communication with the second outlet but not with the second return passage when the pressure in the second transfer passage exceeds the pressure in the second outlet and for alternately placing the second outlet in communication with the second return passage, but not with the second transfer passage when the pressure in the second outlet exceeds the pressure in the second transfer and return passages. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
- a valve element in the chamber and being capable of moving between first and second positions therein, the valve element when in the first position placing the inlet and first transfer passage in communication and when in the second position placing the inlet and the second transfer passage in communication so that high pressure fluid applied to the inlet will be directed to either the first or the second transfer passages, depending on the position of the valve element, the valve element further being positioned in the chamber such that pressurized fluid admitted to the chamber from the first return passages will urge the valve element to its second position and pressurized fluid admitted to the chamber from the second return passage will urge the valve element to its first position;
Specification