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Coaxial bidirectional spool valve

  • US 4,439,984 A
  • Filed: 07/20/1981
  • Issued: 04/03/1984
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1981
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A coaxial bidirectional flow control spool valve comprising a valve housing;

  • a valve seat in the housing; and

    a plurality of fluid flow passages in the housing;

    the valve comprising, as valve elements, a spool valve and first and second bungee followers, each reciprocating between two limiting positions along a longitudinal axis, the spool valve moving into and away from actuating contact with a bungee follower in each of its two limiting positions, the spool valve and one of each of the bungee followers being linked in each of the limiting positions in their response to fluid flow, so that when the spool valve is in one position, it together with one bungee follower accepts flow from one direction in a fluid line and directs it through one path to a unidirectional function and through one path from the unidirectional function, receiving and returning the flow to the fluid line continuing in the same direction, and when the spool valve is in actuating contact with the other bungee follower, in the other limiting position, the valve and bungee follower accept flow through the fluid line from the opposite direction, and direct it through the same fluid path to the unidirectional function and also accept flow from the same path from the unidirectional function and direct this flow back into the fluid line continuing in the same opposite direction;

    the reciprocable spool valve having side sealing surfaces, and being reciprocable in the housing between first and second limiting positions, respectively, along the valve seat;

    a fluid pressure-receiving surface operatively connected to one side of the reciprocable spool valve; and

    a second fluid pressure-receiving surface operatively connected to the opposed side of the spool valve;

    differential fluid pressure arising from fluid flow in either direction in the fluid line applied to the first and second pressure-receiving surfaces urging the valve in opposite directions, towards or away from one of its limiting positions;

    the first and second bungee followers each being disposed in the housing to be actuated in one of the limiting positions of the reciprocating spool valve, the first bungee follower being actuated by the spool valve in its first position, and the second bungee follower being actuated by the spool valve in its second position;

    first and second bias means urging the first and second bungee followers, respectively, in one direction, and the spool valve urging the bungee followers in the opposite direction;

    first and second flow passages in the valve housing for connection in series to opposite sides of a function and in fluid flow connection with each other via the function;

    third and fourth fluid flow passages in the housing for connection in series to a fluid line, accepting fluid flow therethrough in either direction;

    fluid flow connections controlled by the spool valve and bungee followers between the first fluid flow passage and each of the third and fourth flow passages; and

    between the second flow passage and each of the third and fourth fluid flow passages;

    one of the bungee followers and the reciprocating spool valve in one limiting position of the spool valve permitting flow through one of the fluid connections only between the third fluid flow passage and the first fluid flow passage; and

    between the fourth fluid flow passage and the second fluid flow passage, and the other of the bungee followers and the reciprocating spool valve in the other of its limiting positions permitting flow through one of the fluid flow connections only between the third fluid flow passage and the second fluid flow passage, and between the first fluid flow passage and the fourth fluid flow passage, so that fluid flow in either direction through the third and fourth fluid flow passages is directed in the same direction through the first and second fluid flow passages of the housing.

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