Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For many control applications, a high speed -
high flow valve is essential. Several attempts have
been made to increase valve response time by utilizing
smaller and lighter valve actuators. The majority of
these attempts have resulted in restricted flow in the
full open position and erratic and unreliable valve
operation in other instances. It is desirable to have
a valve with as fast a response time as possible for
commercial applications such as fastener torque or
tension control. It is also desirable to have a valve
which, in addition to having fast response time, has
high flow capabilities in its open position and a
short throw to a closed position.
SUGARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide a fast-
acting, high flow valve having extremely fast response
time. Another object of the invention is to provide a
valve with high flow capabilities and an extremely
short throw from its open to closed position. The
valve of this invention is suitable for use as a torque
control device or similar services requiring a rapid
response. The principal features of the invention
include minimum internal components which are easily
1 and economically manufactured and which are readily
replaced.
The object of the invention is to provide a fast-
acting, high flow valve having a slotted spool member
in registry with a slotted sleeve member wherein control
is effected by registry of the slots in the spool and
sleeve members. It is a further object of the invention
to provide slots in both the spool and sleeve members
which have a substantial length to width ratio wherein
a small amount of movement is required to effect full
registry and full interference of the slots. It is a
further object of this invention to effect registry by
linear axial displacement of the spool in one embodiment
and by rotary displacement of the spool in a second em-
bodiment.
It is yet a further object of the invention toprovic.~ a construction alternative which readily
changes the valve from a normally open to a normally
closed configuration. It is yet a further object to
provide a fast-acting, high flow valve which is open-
axed by a linear or rotary actuator such as an electric
solenoid.
These and other objects are obtained in a valve
which interrupts the flow of pressure fluid comprising:
a valve body having a central bore, a pressure fluid
inlet entering the bore a pressure fluid outlet from
the bore, a first valve means disposed in the bore and
having multiple slots disposed between the pressure
fluid inlet and the pressure fluid outlet. A second
valve means is provided and has similarly oriented
multiple slots disposed intermediate the pressure fluid
inlet and the pressure fluid outlet The second valve
means is in contact with, and movable relative to, the
first valve means to effect alternately registry and
interference of the similarly oriented slots in each
means to effect opening and closing of the valve. The
central bore is a circular bore having an axis perpendi-
cuter to the flow of pressure fluid. The first valve
means is a cylindrical sleeve inserted with close fit
in the central bore. The second valve means is a
hollow cylindrical plug inserted in the first valve
means and having its outside diameter in close-sliding
fit with the inside diameter of the second valve means.
The first valve means and the second valve means each
have a passage means from the pressure fluid inlet.
The passage means in the first valve means and the
passage means in the second valve means cocci to allow
essentially full flow of pressure fluid into the
interior of the second valve means. The first valve
means and the second valve means are each provided
with a multiple narrow slot exit passage. The multiple
narrow slot exit passage has a combined area to permit
essentially full flow of the pressure fluid from the
interior of the second valve means to the outlet when
the multiple narrow slot exit passages in the first
valve means and the multiple narrow slot exit passages
in the second valve means are in register, and to
pressure seal and prevent flow of pressure fluid from
the interior of the first valve means to the outlet
when the slot means are out of register, and where
-3-
so
full registry is accomplished by movement of the width
of one narrow slot. Displacement means is provided to
effect registry of the slot means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a sectioned side elevation view of
a valve according to this invention. Figure 2 is a
partial section and elevation view of a valve according
to this invention Figure 3 is a section of the valve
taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing a plan view
of the control slots. Figure 4 shows a partial side
elevation of an alternative embodiment of the present
invention for use with a rotary actuator.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The operation description of the invention in
lo the form of the preferred embodiment shown in the
drawings
-pa-
. .,
1 may best be understood by referring to Figure 1 for
general assembly and for operation of the related parts.
The valve generally shown by reference numeral 1
in Figure 1, has a valve body 2 which is provided with
a central bore 5 into which is inserted a cylindrical
sleeve 3 and which in turn receives a cylindrical valve
spool 4 in concentric close-fitting internal registry.
A solenoid operator 7 is connected to the valve
body 2 and sleeve 3 by means of a threaded concentric
adaptor 9. The threaded concentric adaptor 9 is at-
lacked to the sleeve 3 by means of thread 11 and is
centralized in the central bore 5 of the valve body 2
by means of flange 8. Spacing washers 12 control the
clearance between the solenoid 7 and the sleeve 3. The
operating core 13 of the solenoid 7 pushes against an
end plug 14 of the valve spool 4. A return spring 23
rushes against the valve Spool 4 in the opus
direction. A guide pin 25 inserted through the valve
spool 4 and its end plug 14 retains the end plug 14 in
I the valve spool 4 and further projects beyond the valve
spool 4 into a slot in the sleeve 3 to provide a linear
guide for the valve spool 4.
The solenoid 7 is provided with a top protective
cap 6 and is operated by the electrical connectors lo
I which enter the valve body 2 and pus into its central
--4--
or
1 bore 5 and when to the solenoid 7.
An inlet I is provided to the valve body 2. The
valve Cody 2 is also provided with an outlet 30 on the
opposite side of the valve body 2. Intermediate to
inlet 20 and outlet 30 are the sleeve 3 and the valve
spool 4. A large wide slot 15 is provided in the
valve spool 4 towards the inlet 20. A corresponding
wide slot 15' is provided in the sleeve 3 towards the
inlet 20. As can be seen in Figure 1, this will allow
pressure fluid entering the inlet to pass into the
center of the valve spool 4. The inlet slot I is
of such width that the normal throw of the valve wit
not close the inlet slot.
The valve spool 4 is provided with corresponding
multiple horizontal slots 16 on the outlet side of the
valve which form a grill-like structure. On the outlet
side of the valve, the sleeve 3 is also provided with
multiple horizontal slots 16' which form a mating grill-
like structure. The slots in both the sleeve 3 and the
I valve spool 4 are shown in registry for full flow
through these slots in the valve open position. As
shown in Figure 1, the solid part of the grid on the
sleeve 3 may be slightly wider than the slot portion of
the grid on the valve spool 4 to eliminate line-to-line
contact of the grid as it is displaced.
I
1 It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art
that displacement of the valve spool 4 by the width of
the horizontal slot 16 in the valve spool 4 in the Yen-
tidal direction will cause the valve to go from full open
to full close. The amount of throw required to operate
the valve, therefore, is controlled primarily by the
physical limitations of slot width and structural n-
gidity of the slot. The throw, therefore, can be made
very small. It should also be noted that there is sub-
staunchly flow area in the open position.
In the construction of the valve, numerous con-
struction details are shown such as the bottom vent 28
and top cap vent 29 which are required to dissipate
leakage of the valve but do not form an essential part
of the invention. Likewise, a face seal 31 and an
O-ring seal 32 are provided to minimize bypass leakage
from the inlet 20 to the atmosphere. A screw 26 is shown
as a means for adjusting tolerance makeup between the
valve spool and the solenoid core 13. Other suitable
means may be employed to perform this function.
One important feature of the invention is the pro-
vision of spacer 21 which, upon removal, converts the
valve from a normally open valve when energized to a
normally closed valve when energized. This is a useful
and simple say of converting the valve to various uses.
By
1 A split ring 22 is shown as the bottom land for limiting
downward travel of the valve spool 4. A retaining pin 33
retains the sleeve 3 in the valve body 2.
Figure 2 shows the placement of the valve spool in
the de-energized or closed position of the valve and
provides an end view of the valve for further under-
standing of its construction.
Figure 3 shows the orientation of the valve inlet
and outlet in relation to the sleeve and spool slots in
a plan view.
Having described the invention, numerous mod-
fixations of the details of construction will occur to
one skilled in the art. For example, in Figure 4 the
slot orientation for a rotary actuated version of the
valve is indicated. In this case the valve spool would
be rotated about its axis by a rotary actuator approx-
isle the width of the slot to effect opening or
closing of the valve.
Applicants do not wish to be limited in the scope
ox the invention except as claimed.
