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Pilot-operated quick exhaust valve

  • US 9,222,490 B2
  • Filed: 04/26/2012
  • Issued: 12/29/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A pilot-operated quick exhaust valve for exhausting fluid from a fluid actuator and comprising:

  • a housing;

    the housing defining an inlet port for connection to an exhaust of the fluid actuator, a pilot control port for receipt of a pilot control signal and at least one exhaust port;

    a valve assembly reciprocal within the housing and comprising a piston connected to a valve member;

    the piston being disposed in the housing to define on a first side of the piston a variable volume pilot pressure chamber in fluid communication with the pilot port and, on a second side of the piston, a variable volume inlet pressure chamber in fluid communication with the inlet port, such that the piston is moveable in response to a pressure difference between the pilot port and the inlet port;

    the valve member being moveable with the piston between a first position in which it blocks fluid communication between the at least one exhaust port and the inlet port and a second position in which it opens the at least one exhaust port to allow for a maximum flow from the inlet and out through the at least one exhaust port;

    an elongate valve stem;

    wherein the piston is fixed to the valve stem and the valve member is movable relative thereto in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the stem; and

    wherein the valve member is biased to the first position by a biasing member, and movement of the piston in a direction such that the pilot pressure chamber decreases in volume moves the valve member towards the second position against the biasing force applied by the biasing member.

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