Digital two, three, and four way solenoid control valves
DCFirst Claim
1. A control valve, comprising:
- a housing with a first port and a second port, said housing further having a valve chamber;
a spool that can move between a first position and a second position within said valve chamber, said spool preventing fluid communication between said first port and said second port when in said first position and allowing fluid communication between said first port and said second port when said spool is in said second position, said spool having a pair of tapered surfaces located at opposite ends of said spool; and
,solenoid means for moving said spool between said first and second positions, wherein a residual magnetism of said spool and said housing maintain the position of said spool.
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Abstract
A control valve that has a pair of solenoids which move a spool between first and second positions. The spool and housing are constructed from a magnetic steel which maintains the spool in either the first or second position. The spool is located within a valve chamber of a housing which has at least two fluid ports. The valve controls the flow of fluid between the ports in accordance with the position of the spool. The valve can be constructed to be either a two-way, three-way or a four-way valve. The spool has an inner chamber which is in fluid communication with both the valve chamber and the drain port of the valve. The inner chamber insures that the ends of the spool are balanced and that a hydraulic pressure does not build up in the valve chamber.
141 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A control valve, comprising:
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a housing with a first port and a second port, said housing further having a valve chamber; a spool that can move between a first position and a second position within said valve chamber, said spool preventing fluid communication between said first port and said second port when in said first position and allowing fluid communication between said first port and said second port when said spool is in said second position, said spool having a pair of tapered surfaces located at opposite ends of said spool; and
,solenoid means for moving said spool between said first and second positions, wherein a residual magnetism of said spool and said housing maintain the position of said spool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A control valve, comprising:
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a housing with a first port, a second port and a third port, said housing further having a valve chamber; a spool that can move between a first position and a second position within said valve chamber, wherein said third port is in fluid communication with said first port when said spool is in said first position and said third port is in fluid communication with said second port when said spool is in said second position, said spool having a pair of tapered surfaces located at opposite ends of said spool; and
,solenoid means for moving said spool between said first and second positions, wherein a residual magnetism of said spool and said housing maintain the position of said spool. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A control valve, comprising:
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a housing with a first port, a second port, a third port and a fourth port, said housing further having a valve chamber; a spool that can move between a first position and a second position within said valve chamber, wherein said first port is in fluid communication with said third port and said second port is in fluid communication with said fourth port when said spool is in said first position, and said first port is in fluid communication with said fourth port and said second port is in fluid communication with said third port when said spool is in said second position, said spool having a pair of tapered surfaces located at opposite ends of said spool; and
,solenoid means for moving said spool between said first and second positions, wherein a residual magnetism of said spool and said housing maintain the position of said spool. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for directing fluid flow, comprising the steps of:
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a) energizing a first solenoid which moves a spool to a first position wherein said spool prevents fluid communication between a first port and a second port of a housing, said spool having a pair of tapered surfaces located at opposite ends of said spool; b) de-energizing said first solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing and said spool maintain said spool in said first position; c) energizing a second solenoid which moves said spool to a second position that allows fluid communication between said first port and said second port; and
,d) de-energizing said second solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing and said spool maintain said spool in said second position.
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22. A method for directing fluid flow, comprising the steps of:
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a) energizing a first solenoid which moves a spool to a first position wherein said spool allows fluid communication between a first port and a second port of a housing, said spool having a pair of tapered surfaces located at opposite ends of said spool; b) de-energizing said first solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing and said spool maintain said spool in said first position; c) energizing a second solenoid which moves said spool to a second position that allows fluid communication between said first port and a third port; and
,d) de-energizing said second solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing and said spool maintain said spool in said second position.
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23. A method for directing fluid flow, comprising the steps of:
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a) energizing a first solenoid which moves a spool to a first position wherein said spool allows fluid communication between a first port and a third port, and between a second port and a fourth port of a housing, said spool having a pair of tapered surfaces located at opposite ends of said spool; b) de-energizing said first solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing and said spool maintain said spool in said first position; c) energizing a second solenoid which moves said spool to a second position that allows fluid communication between said first port and said fourth port, and between said second port and said third port; and
,d) de-energizing said second solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing and said spool maintain said spool in said second position.
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24. A control valve, comprising:
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a housing with a first port and a second port, said housing further having a valve chamber located between a pair of opposing housing bearing surfaces; a steel spool that can move between a first position and a second position within said valve chamber, said spool preventing fluid communication between said first port and said second port when in said first position and allowing fluid communication between said first port and said second port when said spool is in said second position, said spool having a pair of opposite ends which engage said housing bearing surfaces; and
,solenoid means for moving said spool between said first and second positions, wherein a residual magnetism of said housing bearing surfaces and said ends of said spool maintain the position of said spool. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A control valve, comprising:
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a housing with a first port, a second port and a third port, said housing further having a valve chamber located between a pair of opposing housing bearing surfaces; a steel spool that can move between a first position and a second position within said valve chamber, wherein said third port is in fluid communication with said first port when said spool is in said first position and said third port is in fluid communication with said second port when said spool is in said second position, said spool having a pair of opposite ends which engage said housing bearing surfaces; and
,solenoid means for moving said spool between said first and second positions, wherein a residual magnetism of said housing bearing surfaces and said ends of said spool maintain the position of said spool. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A control valve, comprising:
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a housing with a first port, a second port, a third port and a fourth port, said housing further having a valve chamber located between a pair of opposing housing bearing surfaces; a steel spool that can move between a first position and a second position within said valve chamber, wherein said first port is in fluid communication with said third port and said second port is in fluid communication with said fourth port when said spool is in said first position, and said first port is in fluid communication with said fourth port and said second port is in fluid communication with said third port when said spool is in said second position, said spool having a pair of opposite ends which engage said housing bearing surface; and
,solenoid means for moving said spool between said first and second positions, wherein a residual magnetism of said housing bearing surfaces and said ends of said spool maintain the position of said spool. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for directing fluid flow, comprising the steps of:
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a) energizing a first solenoid which moves a steel spool to a first position wherein said spool prevents fluid communication between a first port and a second port of a housing, said spool having a pair of opposite ends that engage a pair of opposing housing bearing surfaces; b) de-energizing said first solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing bearing surfaces and said spool ends maintain said spool in said first position; c) energizing a second solenoid which moves said spool to a second position that allows fluid communication between said first port and said second port; and
,d) de-energizing said second solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing bearing surfaces and said spool ends maintain said spool in said second position.
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45. A method for directing fluid flow, comprising the steps of:
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a) energizing a first solenoid which moves a steel spool to a first position wherein said spool allows fluid communication between a first port and a second port of a housing, said spool having a pair of opposite ends that engage a pair of opposing housing bearing surfaces; b) de-energizing said first solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing bearing surfaces and said spool ends maintain said spool in said first position; c) energizing a second solenoid which moves said spool to a second position that allows fluid communication between said first port and a third port; and
,d) de-energizing said second solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing bearing surfaces and said spool ends maintain said spool in said second position.
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46. A method for directing fluid flow, comprising the steps of:
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a) energizing a first solenoid which moves a steel spool to a first position wherein said spool allows fluid communication between a first port and a third port, and between a second port and a fourth port of a housing, said spool having a pair of opposite ends that engage a pair of opposing housing bearing surfaces; b) de-energizing said first solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing bearing surfaces and said spool ends maintain said spool in said first position; c) energizing a second solenoid which moves said spool to a second position that allows fluid communication between said first port and said fourth port, and between said second port and said third port; and
,d) de-energizing said second solenoid wherein a residual magnetism of said housing bearing surfaces and said spool ends maintain said spool in said second position.
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Specification