Detailed Description
Fig. 1 and 2 show a multi-way control valve unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention; fig. 3 shows an oil pressure circuit including the multiple control valve unit 1.
As shown in fig. 3, the pump 11 supplies the working oil to a plurality of hydraulic actuators (hydraulic cylinders and/or hydraulic motors) driven in two directions (not shown) via the multi-way control valve unit 1. The hydraulic oil is discharged from the plurality of hydraulic actuators to the tank through the multi-way control valve unit 1.
In the present embodiment, the multiplex control valve unit 1 is mounted on a hydraulic excavator. The hydraulic excavator includes a hydraulic breaker 15, and working oil is also supplied from a pump 11 to the hydraulic breaker 15 through a multi-way control valve unit 1. That is, the multi-path control valve unit 1 also has a control function of the hydraulic breaker 15.
The multi-path control valve unit 1 includes a plurality of valve bodies 5 aligned in a line in a predetermined direction and parallel to each other, and a housing 2 in which a plurality of holding holes 50 for holding the valve bodies 5 are formed. The multi-path control valve unit 1 includes a cover (cover) 31 and a plurality of caps (caps) 41 arranged on both sides of the housing 2 in the axial direction of the valve body 5. However, the configuration of the multi-way control valve unit 1 is not limited to this, and may be modified as appropriate. Also, two multi-way control valve units 1 may be combined so that the valve bodies 5 are arranged in two rows.
Each spool 5 is slidably held in the corresponding holding hole 50. Each valve element 5, the peripheral portion of the valve element 5 on the housing 2, the portion of the cover 31 corresponding to the valve element 5, and the cover 41 corresponding to the valve element 5 constitute one control valve. In the present embodiment, the number of the valve elements 5 is four, but is not particularly limited as long as the number of the valve elements 5 is plural.
The housing 2 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having two end surfaces 25, 26 (upper and lower surfaces in fig. 1) facing the direction of arrangement of the valve elements 5 in the predetermined direction, two side surfaces (corresponding to a first side surface of the present invention) 21, 23 facing the axial direction of the valve elements 5, and two side surfaces (corresponding to a second side surface of the present invention) 22, 24 facing the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the valve elements 5 and the direction of arrangement of the valve elements 5. In other words, the side surfaces 22 and 24 are orthogonal to the end surfaces 25 and 26 and the side surfaces 21 and 23. For convenience of description, one of the valve elements 5 in the arrangement direction is referred to as an upper direction, and the other is referred to as a lower direction.
The cover 31 is fixed to the side surface 23 of the housing 2 so as to cover all the holding holes 50 from one side in the axial direction of the valve element 5. The cover 31 forms a plurality of first pilot chambers 32, and one end of the corresponding valve element 5 is exposed in each first pilot chamber 32.
Each cap 41 is fixed to the side surface 21 of the housing 2 so as to cover the corresponding holding hole 50 from the other side in the axial direction of the valve element 5. Each cover 41 forms a second pilot chamber 42, and the other end of the corresponding valve element 5 is exposed in each second pilot chamber 42.
In the present embodiment, a spring 43 for maintaining the corresponding spool 5 at the neutral position is disposed in each second pilot chamber 42. The spring 43 biases the valve body 5 to return to the neutral position when the valve body 5 moves in one of the axial directions or moves in the other direction. Since this structure is well known, detailed description is omitted.
However, instead of spring 43, a pair of springs that bias valve element 5 from both sides may be disposed in first pilot chamber 32 and second pilot chamber 42. In this case, instead of the plurality of covers 41, a cover that has the same structure as the cover 31 and forms the plurality of second pilot chambers 42 may be fixed to the side surface 21 of the housing 2. Alternatively, instead of cover 31, a plurality of covers each forming first pilot chamber 32, which has the same configuration as cover 41, may be fixed to side surface 23.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of first electromagnetic proportional valves 33 that output secondary pressures to the plurality of first pilot chambers 32, respectively, and a plurality of second electromagnetic proportional valves 34 that output secondary pressures to the plurality of second pilot chambers 42, respectively, are attached to the cover 31. Although not shown, the first electromagnetic proportional valve 33 and the second electromagnetic proportional valve 34 are arranged in parallel to each other so as to be aligned in a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of fig. 2. However, the present invention is also applicable to a multiple control valve unit without an electromagnetic proportional valve.
A pump port 2a is formed in an upper end surface 25 of the housing 2, and the pump port 2a is connected to the pump 11 through the pump line 12. A tank port 2b is formed in the lower end surface 26 of the casing 2, and the tank port 2b is connected to a tank through a tank line 13.
Further, a pair of supply and discharge ports 2c are formed for each spool 5 on the side surface 24 of the housing 2. The supply/discharge port 2c is connected to a corresponding oil pressure actuator not shown through a pair of supply/discharge lines. The supply/discharge port 2c is formed in the side surface 22 opposite to the side surface 24.
The housing 2 is formed with a pump flow path 51 extending from the pump port 2a to the plurality of holding holes 50, and a tank flow path 52 extending from the plurality of holding holes 50 to the tank port 2 b. The casing 2 is provided with a pair of supply and discharge passages 54 extending from the holding hole 50 to the corresponding supply and discharge port 2c for each holding hole 50.
In the present embodiment, the housing 2 is formed with a center bypass passage 53 extending from the pump port 2a to the tank port 2b via all the holding holes 50. An upstream portion of the center bypass passage 53 and an upstream portion of the pump passage 51 are joined to form a common passage, and a downstream portion of the center bypass passage 53 and a downstream portion of the tank passage 52 are joined to form a common passage. However, the center bypass passage 53 may not be formed.
The side surface 22 of the housing 2 is formed with an external port 2 d. The casing 2 is formed with an external flow path 6 that branches from the pump flow path 51 to the external port 2 d. The external port 2d is connected to the oil crusher 15 through a crusher line 14. The hydraulic breaker 15 is connected to the oil tank via an oil tank line 17.
Further, a poppet 71 that opens and closes the external flow passage 6 is incorporated in the housing 2. In the present embodiment, the poppet 71 is disposed in a bottomed hole recessed from the side surface 22 of the housing 2 so as to be slidable in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the valve element 5 and the arrangement direction of the valve elements 5.
A switching valve 8 is mounted on the side surface 22 of the housing 2 so as to form a back pressure chamber 74 with the poppet 71. That is, the back pressure chamber 74 is an opening-side portion having the bottomed hole. The switching valve 8 operates the poppet 71 by controlling the pressure of the back pressure chamber 74.
The external flow path 6 includes, in more detail, an intermediate chamber 62, a first flow path 61 connecting the pump flow path 51 and the intermediate chamber 62, and a second flow path 63 connecting the intermediate chamber 62 and the external port 2 d. The intermediate chamber 62 is a bottom portion of the bottomed hole, and the poppet 71 partitions the intermediate chamber 62 and the back pressure chamber 74.
The first flow path 61 opens at the bottom surface of the intermediate chamber 62, and the second flow path 63 opens at the circumferential surface of the intermediate chamber 62. The bottom surface of the intermediate chamber 62 forms a valve seat for the poppet 71 around the opening of the first flow passage 61.
A spring 75 for biasing the poppet 71 toward the intermediate chamber 62 is disposed in the back pressure chamber 74. The poppet 71 is formed with a communication passage 72 that communicates the intermediate chamber 62 and the back pressure chamber 74. The communication passage 72 is provided with an orifice 73.
The switching valve 8 is connected to the tank through a tank line 16 in the present embodiment. The switching valve 8 switches between communication and blocking of the back pressure chamber 74 with and from the tank.
In the present embodiment, the switching valve 8 has a pilot port, and operates in accordance with a pilot pressure introduced into the pilot port. However, the switching valve 8 may be operated by an electric signal.
If the operator of the hydraulic excavator does not select the operation of the hydraulic breaker 15 by an input device not shown in the figure, the switching valve 8 blocks the back pressure chamber 74 from the oil tank. At this time, since the pressure of the back pressure chamber 74 is equal to the pressure of the first flow passage 61, the poppet 71 closes the external flow passage 6 (abuts against the valve seat) by the biasing force of the spring 75.
On the other hand, when the operator selects the operation of the hydraulic breaker 15 by an input device not shown, a high pilot pressure is introduced into the pilot port of the switching valve 8, and the switching valve 8 connects the back pressure chamber 74 to the tank. As a result, the hydraulic oil flows into the communication passage 72 formed in the poppet 71, and the pressure of the back pressure chamber 74 is lower than the pressure of the first flow passage 61 due to the restrictor 73. By this pressure difference, the poppet 71 operates against the biasing force of the spring 75, and opens the external flow path 6 (separates from the valve seat).
As described above, in the multi-path control valve unit 1 of the present embodiment, the poppet 71 that opens and closes the external flow path 6 formed in the housing 2 is incorporated in the housing 2, and the poppet 71 is operated by the switching valve 8 attached to the housing 2, so that the opening and closing of the external hydraulic oil supply can be switched without increasing the number of the spools 5. The multi-path control valve unit 1 including the poppet 71 and the switching valve 8 is smaller than the multi-path control valve unit including one additional valve body 5. Further, the flow path structure using the poppet 71 is simpler and has a higher degree of freedom in design than the flow path structure using the valve 5.
(modification example)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, the poppet 71 may be disposed in a bottomed hole recessed from any one of the end surfaces 25 and 26 of the housing 2 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and the switching valve 8 may be attached to the end surface. However, if the switching valve 8 is attached to the side surface 22 of the housing 2 as in the above-described embodiment, the mounting space of the multi-path control valve unit 1 can be made smaller than in the case where the switching valve 8 is attached to the end surface (25 or 26) of the housing. Alternatively, the switching valve 8 may be attached to a side surface (21 or 23) facing the axial direction of the valve body 3.
As shown in fig. 4, the switching valve 8 may be connected to the second flow path 63 via an internal flow path 18 formed inside the switching valve 8 and inside the housing 2. In this case, the switching valve 8 switches between communication between the back pressure chamber 74 and the second channel 63 and blocking of the back pressure chamber from the second channel 63. In the configuration shown in fig. 4, the tank line connected to the switching valve 8 may not be required.
(conclusion)
The utility model discloses a multiple control valve unit, its characterized in that possesses: a plurality of valve elements arranged in a row in a predetermined direction and parallel to each other; a housing formed with a plurality of holding holes that hold the plurality of spools, respectively, a pump flow path from a pump port to the plurality of holding holes, and an external flow path that branches off from the pump flow path to an external port; a poppet that is assembled to the housing and opens and closes the external flow path; and a switching valve installed in the housing in such a manner as to form a back pressure chamber with the poppet, the poppet being operated by controlling a pressure of the back pressure chamber.
According to the above configuration, since the poppet that opens and closes the external flow path formed in the housing is assembled to the housing and the poppet is operated by the switching valve attached to the housing, the opening and closing of the external hydraulic oil supply can be switched without increasing the number of the poppet. Further, the multi-way control valve unit including such a poppet and a switching valve is smaller than a multi-way control valve unit including one additional poppet.
The case may include an end surface facing the predetermined direction, a first side surface facing an axial direction of the plurality of spools, and a second side surface orthogonal to the end surface and the first side surface; the switching valve is mounted on the second side surface. According to this configuration, the mounting space of the multi-path control valve unit can be made smaller than in the case where the switching valve is mounted on the end surface of the housing.
For example, the external flow path may include an intermediate chamber, a first flow path connecting the pump flow path and the intermediate chamber, and a second flow path connecting the intermediate chamber and the external port.
For example, the poppet may partition the intermediate chamber and the back pressure chamber, and a spring that urges the poppet to the intermediate chamber may be disposed in the back pressure chamber; a communication passage for communicating the intermediate chamber and the back pressure chamber is formed in the poppet.
For example, the switching valve may switch between communication and blocking of the back pressure chamber with and from a tank.
Alternatively, the switching valve may switch between communication and blocking of the back pressure chamber with and from the second flow path. According to this configuration, the tank line connected to the switching valve can be eliminated.
The multi-path control valve unit may be mounted on a hydraulic excavator; the external port is connected with the oil pressure crusher. According to this configuration, the multiplex control valve unit can have a control function of the hydraulic breaker.