Electrically controlled valve apparatus

• US 4,757,879 A
• Filed: 12/19/1986
• Issued: 07/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentti Rita
• Original Assignee: Pentti Rita
• Inventors: Rita, Pentti
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOLAND, KENNETH W
• Application Number:
  US07/010,131
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 187/17, 187/38, 187/32, 187/34, 187/35, 91/448, 91/450, 91/431, 91/458, 91/459, 91/38, 137/503, 137/596.12
• US Class Current: 187/275
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/24 Control systems with regulation, i.e. with retroactive action, for influencing travelling speed, acceleration, or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/405 for hydraulically actuated elevators

Abstract

An electrically controlled valve apparatus includes an inlet conduit (2) for pressurized fluid, an outlet conduit (12) connected to a tank (T) and an outlet conduit (19) connected to an actuator, or cylinder (5). The valve apparatus comprises a chamber (5) connected to the inlet conduit (2) and provided with two openings (10, 11) each having operating spindles (6, 7). Pressurized fluid flows from the chamber (5) through the two openings via the outlet conduits (12, 19) onto the cylinder and into the tank, or from the cylinder into the tank according to the position of the operating spindles. The valve apparatus also comprises two throttle valves (42) for constricting conduits (52, 53; 40, 45) located between the back chambers (31, 24) of the operating spindles (6, 7) and the fluid tank (T). The operation of the throttle valves is adjusted by means of one or several electric actuators (55). The valve apparatus also comprises at least one sensor (58) for measuring the motional velocity of a lift cage, and a control unit (57), which is employed for adjusting the throttle valves, through the actuators, based on information received from the sensors so that the position of the operating spindles and the fluid flow is regulated such that the lift cage (HS) is moved in a predetermined way.

Claims

1. An electrically controlled valve apparatus, comprising:

a housing defining a fluid chamber, said housing including an inlet pressurized fluid conduit and an outlet pressurized fluid conduit;

a tank connected to the outlet conduit for receiving fluid discharged from the outlet conduit;

first and second openings in said fluid chamber, each of said openings being fitted with respective first and second operating spindles;

an actuator such as a cylinder;

second outlet conduit providing fluid connection between said actuator and said chamber, said first and second openings allowing pressurized fluid to flow from said chamber through the first and second outlet conduits to said actuator and to said tank and from said actuator to said tank in accordance with the position of said first and second operating spindles with respect to the first and second openings, said first and second openings and respective first and second operating spindles cooperating to form first and second back chambers;

first back chamber conduit providing fluid connection between said second outlet conduit and said second back chamber;

second back chamber conduit in fluid connection with said second back chamber and also in fluid connection with said first back chamber and said first outlet conduit;

a first throttle valve for constricting fluid flow from said second back chamber to said second back chamber conduit;

a second throttle valve for constricting fluid flow from said second back chamber conduit to said first back chamber; and

throttle controlling actuator for controlling the operation of said first and second throttle valves;

a lift cage drivingly connected to said actuator for movement in an upward and downward direction;

at least one sensor for measuring a motional aspect of said lift cage;

control means connected to said sensor for receiving sensed information and connected to said throttle valve actuators, for adjusting said throttle valves on the basis of information received from said sensors, so as to position the operating spindles for hydraulic flow through said openings such that the lift cage is moved in a predetermined manner.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a back pressure valve positioned in said second back pressure conduit, cooperating with said first throttle valve.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first and second throttle valves are formed integral as a combined multifunction valve.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one sensor includes a first spindle sensor connected with said first spindle for providing position information of said first spindle to said control means, a second spindle sensor connected to said second spindle for providing position information of said second spindle to said control means.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

each of said first and second spindles include respective first and second shafts, said first spindle sensor and said second spindle sensor being positioned to sense the movement of the respective first and second spindle shafts.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one sensor includes a sensor for measuring the velocity and position of said lift cage.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said throttle valve actuators comprise stepping motors having a guide such as a wobbler connected to said throttle valve.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

one of said first and second spindles is formed of a first spindle member nested in a second spindle member.