Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6637462
-
Patent Number
6,637,462
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, May 2, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 28, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Buiz; Michael Powell
- Krishnamurthy; Ramesh
Agents
- Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 137 59614
- 137 59615
- 137 59616
- 137 5962
- 137 6256
- 137 62564
- 137 62566
- 137 6275
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A control valve system having a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust. A first passage extends between the inlet and the outlet and a second passage extends between the outlet and the exhaust. The control valve system includes a first valve disposed within the first passage. The first valve is movable between a closed position and an opened position. Similarly, the control valve system includes a second valve disposed within the second passage. The second valve is movable between a closed position and an opened position. Furthermore, the control valve system includes a regulator circuit operably coupled to the housing, which outputs a pilot pressure in response to an inlet pressure. An actuating member is slidably disposed within the housing and moveable in response to a pressure differential between the outlet and the pilot pressure. The actuating member independently actuates the first valve and the second valve to provide a quick pressure and exhaust feature.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to control valves, and more particularly, relates to a variable pressure fluid control valve that includes a quick exhaust control feature selectively actuated in response to the regulated output of a proportional regulator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Control valves having a pressure regulator are often used to exhaust excess fluid pressure. Traditionally, these pressure regulators act to relieve fluid pressure by exhausting the fluid through a fluid passage within the pressure regulator assembly. However, often fluid relief passages are relatively small and require an extensive amount of time to exhaust the fluid pressure. Accordingly, these known pressure regulators may not maximize the fluid exhaust rate of the control valve.
Control valves often employ pressure regulators to maintain a predetermined fluid pressure in response to a control signal. However, control valves in general are not particularly suited to operate as pressure regulators, since they are unable to rapidly adjust to a higher pressure and rapidly adjust to a lower pressure. Specifically, these control valve may be capable of rapidly increasing pressure, however they are notoriously slow at reducing pressure. Hence, they may not supply sufficient control of the fluid pressure under all operating parameters.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the relevant art to provide a control valve capable of providing variable fluid regulation while simultaneously capable of providing rapid fluid pressure exhaust. Furthermore, there exists a need in the relevant art to provide a single control valve capable of providing variable fluid regulation and rapid fluid pressure exhaust in response to a simple pilot pressure. Still further, there is a need in the relevant art to provide a control valve capable of overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A control valve system having an advantageous construction is provided. The control valve system including a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust. A first passage extends between the inlet and the outlet and a second passage extends between the outlet and the exhaust. The control valve system includes a first valve disposed within the first passage. The first valve is movable between a closed position and an opened position. Similarly, the control valve system includes a second valve disposed within the second passage. The second valve is movable between a closed position and an opened position. Furthermore, the control valve system includes a regulator circuit operably coupled to the housing, which outputs a pilot pressure in response to an input signal. An actuating member is slidably disposed within the housing and moveable in response to a pressure differential between the outlet and the pilot pressure. The actuating member independently actuates the first valve or the second valve to provide a quick pressure or exhaust feature.
The control valve system of the present invention possesses the ability to rapidly respond to a pilot pressure and, consequently, rapidly change the output fluid pressure to a higher or lower pressure in response to a pilot pressure signal while providing fluid flow to a cylinder or device. The control valve system of the present invention can start at any fluid pressure in its range, including zero pressure, and rapidly adjust to any other pressure within its range. It is unique in its ability to change its pressure higher or lower quickly while simultaneously providing fluid flow.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a circuit diagram of a variable pressure control device according to the principles of the present invention illustrated in a deactuated position;
FIG. 2
is a cross-sectional view of the variable pressure control device in an unpressurized and deactuated position,
FIG. 3
is a cross-sectional view of the variable pressure control device in a first pressurized position with a lower poppet member in an unseated position;
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view of the variable pressure control device in the pressurized position;
FIG. 5
is a cross-sectional view of the variable pressure control device in the pressurized position with an upper poppet member in an unseated position; and
FIG. 6
is a cross-sectional view of the variable pressure control device in a pressurized and deactuated position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a variable pressure control device
10
, which is designated generally by the reference numeral
10
. Variable pressure control device
10
is shown as a fluid circuit in FIG.
1
and as a fluid control valve in FIG.
2
.
Referring in particular to
FIG. 2
, variable pressure control device
10
comprises a main valve assembly
12
, a quick exhaust valve
14
, and a proportional regulator
16
. Main valve assembly
12
includes a main body portion
18
, a secondary body portion
20
, an upper end cap
22
, and a lower end cap
24
. Main body portion
18
is positioned adjacent to and in contact with secondary body portion
20
. A seal
26
is disposed between main body portion
18
and secondary body portion
20
to seal the interface therebetween. Upper end cap
22
is positioned adjacent to and in contact with secondary body portion
20
. A seal
28
is disposed between upper end cap
22
and secondary body portion
20
to seal the interface therebetween. Lower end cap
24
is positioned adjacent to and in contact with main body portion
18
. A seal
30
is disposed between lower end cap
24
and main body portion
18
. Main body portion
18
, secondary body portion
20
, upper end cap
22
, and lower end cap
24
are coupled together via conventional fasteners.
Main valve assembly
12
further includes a fluid inlet passage
32
, a fluid outlet passage
34
, fluid exhaust passage
36
, a valve bore
38
, and a piston bore
40
. Disposed within valve bore
38
and piston bore
40
is a valve member
42
. Valve member
42
comprises a lower poppet member
44
, an upper poppet member
46
, a piston
48
, and a valve stem
50
. Lower poppet member
44
includes a base portion
52
slidably disposed within a chamber
54
of valve bore
38
. A seal
56
is disposed between base portion
52
and lower end cap
24
which seals chamber
54
from fluid inlet passage
32
. Lower poppet member
44
further includes a face portion
58
that selectively engages a seat
60
formed in main body portion
18
of main valve assembly
12
.
Lower poppet member
44
is normally biased via a spring
62
into a seated position where face portion
58
of lower poppet member
44
contacts seat
60
of main valve assembly
12
to prevent fluid flow between fluid inlet passage
32
and fluid outlet passage
34
. As will be described below, lower poppet member
44
is further positionable to an unseated position where face portion
58
of lower poppet member
44
is spaced apart from seat
60
of main valve assembly
12
to enable fluid flow between fluid inlet passage
32
and fluid outlet passage
34
. Lower poppet member
44
still further includes a fluid passage
64
formed through face portion
58
to enable fluid to flow between chamber
54
and fluid outlet passage
34
. Fluid passage
64
equalizes the fluid pressure between chamber
54
and fluid outlet passage
34
.
Similarly, upper poppet member
46
includes a base portion
66
slidably disposed within a chamber
68
of valve bore
38
. A seal
70
is disposed between base portion
66
and secondary body portion
20
which seals chamber
68
from fluid exhaust passage
36
. Upper poppet member
46
further includes a face portion
72
that selectively engages a seat
74
formed in main body portion
18
of main valve assembly
12
. It should be noted that upper poppet member
46
and lower poppet member
44
are preferably of identical construction to simplify construction and assembly.
Upper poppet member
46
is normally biased via a spring
76
into a seated position where face portion
72
of upper poppet member
46
contacts seat
74
of main valve assembly
12
to prevent fluid flow between fluid outlet passage
34
and fluid exhaust passage
36
. As will be described below, upper poppet member
46
is further positionable into an unseated position where face portion
72
of upper poppet member
46
is spaced apart from seat
74
of main valve assembly
12
to enable fluid flow between fluid outlet passage
34
and fluid exhaust passage
36
.
Piston
48
is slidably disposed within piston bore
40
, thereby defining an upper piston chamber
78
and a lower piston chamber
80
. A seal
82
is disposed between piston
48
and piston bore
40
which seals upper piston chamber
78
from lower piston chamber
80
. Piston
48
is fixedly mounted to valve stem
50
for movement therewith via fastener
84
. More particularly, piston
48
includes an aperture
86
formed therethrough that is sized to receive an upper end
88
of valve stem
50
. Piston
48
is then captured between a first shoulder
90
on valve stem
50
adjacent upper end
88
and fastener
84
. A fluid passage
92
, surrounding valve stem
50
, extends between lower piston chamber
80
and chamber
68
.
Valve stem
50
further includes a second shoulder
94
and a third shoulder
96
. Second shoulder
94
is sized to engage face portion
72
of upper poppet member
46
in order to selectively move upper poppet member
46
upward against the biasing force of spring
76
in response to upward movement of piston
48
. Similarly, third shoulder
96
is sized to engage face portion
58
of lower poppet member
44
in order to selectively move lower poppet member
44
downward against the biasing force of spring
62
in response to downward movement of piston
48
. A lower end
98
is slidably disposed within a sleeve
100
. Sleeve
100
is positioned within a guide bore
102
.
A fluid passage
103
extends between fluid outlet passage
34
and lower piston chamber
80
. Fluid passage
103
includes a seal
104
disposed along fluid passage
103
between main body portion
18
and secondary body portion
20
to seal the interface therebetween.
Still referring to
FIG. 2
, quick exhaust valve
14
of variable pressure control device
10
includes a body
105
, a valve bore
106
, a flow-through passage
108
, an inlet pilot passage
110
, an outlet pilot passage
112
, and an exhaust passage
114
. A quick exhaust poppet member
116
is slidably disposed within valve bore
106
of quick exhaust valve
14
, thereby defining an inlet chamber
118
and an outlet chamber
120
. Inlet chamber
118
is fluidly coupled with an outlet of proportional regulator
16
. Outlet chamber
120
is fluidly coupled with upper piston chamber
78
via outlet pilot passage
112
. Quick exhaust poppet member
116
includes a face portion
122
that selectively engages a seat
124
formed on an end of exhaust passage
114
in response to a pressure differential between outlet chamber
120
and inlet chamber
118
. Quick exhaust poppet member
116
is positionable in a seated position so as to contact seat
124
of exhaust passage
114
to prevent fluid flow between upper piston chamber
78
and exhaust passage
114
. Quick exhaust poppet member
116
is further positionable in an unseated position wherein face portion
122
of quick exhaust poppet member
116
is spaced apart from seat
124
of exhaust passage
114
to enable venting of fluid within upper piston chamber
78
. Quick exhaust poppet member
116
further includes a bypass leg
126
extending around the periphery of quick exhaust poppet member
116
that is normally biased to engage the wall of valve bore
106
. Bypass leg
126
permits fluid flow thereby in response to a predetermined fluid pressure differential between inlet pilot passage
110
and outlet pilot passage
112
. Quick exhaust valve
14
is mounted to secondary body portion
20
of main valve assembly
12
.
Proportional regulator
16
is mounted to quick exhaust valve
14
in fluid communication with main valve assembly
12
for controlling the output and/or exhaust of main valve assembly
12
. Specifically, a fluid passage
128
extends between fluid inlet passage
32
of main valve assembly
12
to flow-through passage
108
of quick exhaust valve
14
. In turn, flow-through passage
108
of quick exhaust valve
14
is fluidly coupled to an inlet of proportional regulator
16
, thereby providing an input fluid source for operation of proportional regulator
16
. A seal
130
and a seal
132
are disposed between flow-through passage
108
and secondary body portion
20
of main valve assembly
12
and proportional regulator
16
, respectively, to seal the interface therebetween. Similarly, a seal
134
is disposed between inlet pilot passage
110
and an outlet of proportional regulator
16
. Likewise, a seal
136
is disposed between outlet pilot passage
112
and secondary body portion
20
of main valve assembly
12
to seal the interfaces therebetween.
As best seen in
FIG. 1
, proportional regulator
16
generally includes a variable pressure valve
138
that is adjustable by an operator to control a pilot pressure output through a proportional pilot valve
140
. A pressure transducer
142
supplies fluid pressure information to variable pressure valve
140
.
Operation
FIGS. 1 and 2
illustrate variable pressure control device
10
in its deactuated or neutral position with no fluid pressure supplied to fluid inlet passage
32
. In this position, spring
62
biases lower poppet member
44
upward such that face portion
58
of lower poppet member
44
is seated against seat
60
of main body portion
18
, thereby closing communication between fluid inlet passage
32
and fluid outlet passage
34
. Similarly, spring
76
biases upper poppet member
46
downward such that face portion
72
of upper poppet member
46
is seated against seat
74
of main body portion
18
, thereby closing communication between fluid outlet passage
34
and fluid exhaust passage
36
. Piston
48
is in a neutral position as a result of the generally equal fluid pressure within upper piston chamber
78
and lower piston chamber
80
. Accordingly, valve stem
50
is positioned such that neither second shoulder
94
nor third shoulder
96
exert an unseating force against upper poppet member
46
or lower poppet member
44
, respectively. Likewise, due to the generally equal fluid pressure within output pilot passage
112
and inlet pilot passage
110
, quick exhaust poppet member
116
is in an unseated position relative to seat
124
of exhaust passage
114
. In this unseated position, fluid within upper piston chamber
78
and output pilot passage
112
is permitted to vent through exhaust passage
114
. Accordingly, upper piston chamber
78
, lower piston chamber
80
, fluid outlet passage
34
, fluid inlet passage
32
, and fluid exhaust passage are each generally at ambient pressure.
FIG. 3
illustrates the first introduction of fluid pressure within variable pressure control device
10
. Specifically, fluid pressure is introduced into fluid inlet passage
32
, fluid passage
128
, flow-through passage
108
, and into the inlet of proportional regulator
16
. Proportional regulator
16
outputs an output pilot pressure or regulator pressure in accordance with control signal applied to proportional pilot
140
. This outlet pilot pressure from proportional regulator
16
is introduced into inlet pilot passage
110
and, thus, acts upon a backside of quick exhaust poppet member
116
. This pilot pressure causes face portion
122
of quick exhaust poppet member
116
to seat against seat
124
of exhaust passage
114
, thereby closing communication between upper piston chamber
78
and exhaust passage
114
. Simultaneously, bypass leg
126
of quick exhaust poppet member
116
folds to enable fluid flow from inlet pilot passage
110
to outlet pilot passage
112
and upper piston chamber
78
. With reference to
FIG. 1
, quick exhaust valve
14
would be positioned as shown such that fluid flows through the uppermost portion of valve
14
.
Fluid pressure within upper piston chamber
78
is greater than the fluid pressure within lower piston chamber
80
, thereby exerting a downward force upon piston
48
. This downward force on piston
48
causes piston
48
and valve stem
50
to translate downward. As seen in
FIG. 3
, downward movement of valve stem
50
causes third shoulder
96
to engage face portion
58
of lower poppet member
44
, thereby unseating lower poppet member
44
from seat
60
and permitting fluid flow from fluid inlet passage
32
to fluid outlet passage
34
. This position would be the right most position of valve
12
illustrated in FIG.
1
. As seen in
FIG. 4
, fluid flow from fluid inlet passage
32
to fluid outlet passage
34
will continue until the force from the fluid pressure within fluid outlet passage
34
, fluid passage
103
, and lower piston chamber
80
and spring force of spring
62
generally equals the fluid pressure in upper piston chamber
78
, thereby causing piston
48
and valve stem
50
to return to a neutral position and lower poppet member
44
to reseat on seat
60
due to the force of spring
62
.
FIG. 5
illustrates the quick exhausting of main valve assembly
12
. Specifically, in this mode the outlet pressure of proportional regulator
16
is reduced such that the fluid pressure at inlet pilot passage
110
is less than the fluid pressure in upper piston chamber
78
of main valve assembly
12
. This pressure differential causes quick exhaust poppet member
116
to slide within valve bore
106
and unseat from seat
124
of exhaust passage
114
. The unseating of quick exhaust poppet member
116
from exhaust passage
114
enables fluid pressure within upper piston chamber
78
and outlet pilot passage
112
to vent through exhaust passage
114
, thereby reducing the fluid pressure within upper piston chamber
78
and outlet pilot passage
112
to the pressure in the outlet of pilot passage
110
, which is effectively equal to atmosphere. Relative to
FIG. 1
, fluid would vent through the lowermost portion of quick exhaust valve
14
. As the fluid pressure within upper piston chamber
78
decreases, the pressure differential between lower piston chamber
80
and upper piston chamber
78
exerts an upward force upon piston
48
. This upward force on piston
48
causes piston
48
and valve stem
50
to translate upward. As seen in
FIG. 5
, upward movement of valve stem
50
causes second shoulder
94
to engage face portion
72
of upper poppet member
46
, thereby unseating upper poppet member
46
from seat
74
and permitting the quick exhaust of fluid from fluid outlet passage
34
to fluid exhaust passage
36
. That is, valve
12
would be translated to its leftmost position (FIG.
1
). As seen in
FIG. 6
, fluid flow from fluid outlet passage
34
to fluid exhaust passage
36
will continue until the force from the fluid pressure within fluid outlet passage
34
, fluid passage
103
, and lower piston chamber
80
and the spring force from spring
76
generally equal the fluid pressure in upper piston chamber
78
(which is effectively equal to ambient), thereby causing piston
48
and valve stem
50
to return to a neutral position and upper poppet member
46
to reseat on seat
74
by the force of spring
76
.
Variable pressure control device
10
of the present invention possesses the ability to rapidly respond to a pilot pressure and, consequently, rapidly change the output fluid pressure to a higher or lower pressure in response to a pilot pressure signal while providing fluid flow to a cylinder or device. Variable pressure control device
10
of the present invention can start at any fluid pressure in its range, including zero pressure, and rapidly adjust to any other pressure within its range. It is unique in its ability to change its pressure higher or lower quickly while simultaneously providing fluid flow.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A control valve system comprising:a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust; a first passage extending between said inlet and said outlet; a second passage extending between said outlet and said exhaust; a first valve disposed within said first passage, said first valve being movable between a closed position and an opened position; a second valve disposed within said second passage, said second valve being movable between a closed position and an opened position; a regulator circuit operably coupled to said housing, said regulator circuit outputting a pilot pressure in response to a control signal; and an actuating member disposed within said housing, said actuating member slidably moveable in response to a pressure differential between said outlet and said pilot pressure, said actuating member independently actuating said first valve and said second valve.
- 2. The control valve system according to claim 1 wherein said actuating member comprises:a piston member slidably disposed within said housing, said piston member moveable in response to said pressure differential between said outlet and said pilot pressure into a first position, a second position, and a third position, said piston member urging said first valve into said opened position when said piston member is in said first position, said piston member urging said second valve into said opened position when said piston member is in said second position.
- 3. The control valve system according to claim 2 wherein said regulator circuit comprises:an adjustable proportional regulator fluidly coupled to said inlet, said proportional regulator outputting said pilot pressure in response to a pressure of said inlet; and a quick exhaust valve member disposed between said adjustable proportional regulator and said piston member, said quick exhaust valve member being operable to selectively vent said pilot pressure.
- 4. The control valve system according to claim 1 wherein each of said first valve and second valve comprises a poppet member and a biasing member, said biasing member biasing said poppet member in said closed position.
- 5. The control valve system according to claim 2 wherein said piston member comprises:a piston plate slidably disposed within said housing; and a valve stem fixedly coupled to said piston plate and moveable therewith, said valve stem having a first shoulder portion engageable with said first valve for urging said first valve into said opened position, said valve stem having a second shoulder portion engageable with said second valve for urging said second valve into said opened position.
- 6. A circuit for operating a control valve system comprising:an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust; a first passage extending between said inlet and said outlet; a second passage extending between said outlet and said exhaust; a first valve disposed within said first passage, said first valve being movable between a closed position and an opened position; a second valve disposed within said second passage, said second valve being movable between a closed position and an opened position; a regulator circuit operably outputting a pilot pressure in response to a control signal; and an actuating member slidably moveable in response to a pressure differential between said outlet and said pilot pressure, said actuating member independently actuating said first valve and said second valve.
- 7. The circuit according to claim 6 wherein said actuating member comprises:a piston member slidably moveable in response to said pressure differential between said outlet and said pilot pressure into a first position, a second position, and a third position, said piston member urging said first valve into said opened position when said piston member is in said first position, said piston member urging said second valve into said opened position when said piston member is in said second position, said first valve and said second valve in said closed positions when said piston member is in said third position.
- 8. The circuit according to claim 6 wherein said regulator circuit comprises:an adjustable proportional regulator fluidly coupled to said inlet, said proportional regulator outputting said pilot pressure in response to a control signal; and a quick exhaust valve member disposed between said adjustable proportional regulator and said piston member, said quick exhaust valve member being operable to selectively vent said pilot pressure.
- 9. The circuit according to claim 6 wherein each of said first valve and second valve comprises a poppet member and a biasing member, said biasing member biasing said poppet member in said closed position.
- 10. The circuit according to claim 7 wherein said piston member comprises:a piston plate; and a valve stem fixedly coupled to said piston plate and moveable therewith, said valve stem having a first shoulder portion engageable with said first valve for urging said first valve into said opened position, said valve stem having a second shoulder portion engageable with said second valve for urging said second valve into said opened position.
- 11. A control valve system comprising:a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust; a first passage extending between said inlet and said outlet; a second passage extending between said outlet and said exhaust; a first valve disposed within said first passage, said first valve being movable between a closed position and an opened position; a second valve disposed within said second passage, said second valve being movable between a closed position and an opened position; an adjustable proportional regulator fluidly coupled to said inlet, said proportional regulator outputting said pilot pressure in response to a control signal; a quick exhaust valve member disposed between said adjustable proportional regulator and said piston member, said quick exhaust valve member being operable to selectively vent said pilot pressure; and a piston member slidably disposed within said housing, said piston member moveable in response to a pressure differential between said outlet and said pilot pressure into a first position and a second position, said piston member urging said first valve into said opened position when said piston member is in said first position, said piston member urging said second valve into said opened position when said piston member is in said second position.
- 12. The control valve system according to claim 11 wherein each of said first valve and second valve comprises a poppet member and a biasing member, said biasing member biasing said poppet member in said closed position.
- 13. The control valve system according to claim 11 wherein said piston member comprises:a piston plate slidably disposed within said housing; and a valve stem fixedly coupled to said piston plate and moveable therewith, said valve stem having a first shoulder portion engageable with said first valve for urging said first valve into said opened position, said valve stem having a second shoulder portion engageable with said second valve for urging said second valve into said opened position.
- 14. A circuit for operating a control valve system comprising:an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust; a pressure regulator operably outputting a regulator pressure in response to a control signal; a valve member interconnecting said inlet, said outlet, and said exhaust, said valve member being positionable in response to a pilot pressure in a first position where said inlet, said outlet, and said exhaust are each closed, a second position where said inlet is in fluid communication with said outlet, and a third position where said outlet is in fluid communication with said exhaust; and a quick exhaust valve fluidly coupled between said pressure regulator and said valve member, said quick exhaust valve positionable in a supply position to provide said pilot pressure to said valve member in response to said regulator pressure from said pressure regulator and a vent position where said pilot pressure is vented, wherein said quick exhaust valve is positioned into said vent position when said pilot pressure is generally greater than said regulator pressure.
- 15. The circuit according to claim 14, further comprising:a pair of opposing members normally biasing said valve member in said first position.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3827013 |
Feb 1990 |
DE |