GB2169990A - Rotary selector valves - Google Patents

Abstract

A rotary selector valve 1 has an inlet port 5 and a plurality of outlet ports 11-15 through which separate fluid flows simultaneously can pass each to one or more respective fluid-pressure-operable means. A valve element 45 is angularly adjustable about axis 99 by means 49. A plurality of ducts 81-85 connected to said ports terminate in respective receptor ports 86-90 arranged in a group of predetermined formation co-operable with surface 79 of element 45. Element 45 has a plurality of aperture groups 92 in surface 79 capable of receiving fluid under pressure from port 5 whereby whichever one of said groups 92 is in registry with said group of predetermined formation directs said fluid under pressure into certain at least of ducts 81-85 and thus associated ports 11-15. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rotary selector valves This invention relates to rotary selector valves in which a movable valve element is displaceable from one to another of a plurality of individual positions and in certain at least of these positions is capable of so directing a fluid under pressure, conducted by a supply duct to the valve, as to effect operation of a respective fluid-pressure-operable device or devices.

Hitherto such rotary selector valves have also been used in pilot-operated valve-controlled systems and in these cases the rotary selector valves have directed fluid-pressure pilot signals to initiate the operation of main control valve elements. Where a relatively large number of fluid-pressure-operable devices have been included in the system, a plurality of flow lines have been taken from the selector valve to a pilot feed block which has been mounted upon an auxiliary shuttle valve block, which in turn has been mounted on a main valve block. In such an arrangement it has been necessary to code the passages in one or more of the three blocks to achieve particular flow routes through those blocks.

In this way when the selector valve is open to one of the plurality of flow lines, respective fluid-pressureoperable devices, for example telescopic jacks, are operated under two-stage valve control through particular flow routes defined by the coding of the passages in certain at least of the blocks, and by way of associated valve elements.

The need to provide blocks having passages so coded has arisen from the fact that in certain cases the rotary selector valve employed was capable of selecting only one flow line at a time, and appropriate branching from that one flow line, achieved by the coded passages in the blocks, was necessary to enable the fluid under pressure to reach the required multiplicity of points within the blocks for desired two-stage valve control of the plurality of associated fluid-pressure-operable devices with the rotary selector valve in each of its individual control positions.

In consequence and in some arrangements the casing construction associated with such a rotary selector valve has been somewhat bulky and this has been to the detriment of systems where available space is at a premium, for example in roof support systems for use in mines where maximum space is required for the passage of equipment and personnel through the support units of those systems adjacent the mineral faces being worked. The invention as claimed is intended to provide a remedy. It solves the problem of how to design a rotary selector valve in which so-called coding of the flow routes for effecting appropriate operation of associated fluid-pressure-operable devices is basically achieved in the valve itself.

According to this invention a rotary selector valve includes a casing having an inlet port, for the supply thereto of a fluid under pressure, and a plurality of outlet ports through which separate flows of fluid simultaneously can pass each to one or more respective fluid-pressure-operable means, a valve element of disc or like form which is angularly adjustable about a rotational axis with respect to said casing, means for adjusting said valve element about said rotational axis, and a plurality of ducts in said casing which are respectively connected to said plurality of outlet ports and which at their ends remote from said outlet ports terminate in respective receptor ports arranged in a group of predetermined formation which is co-operable with a surface of said valve element, said valve element having a plurality of aperture groups in said surface which are capable of receiving fluid under pressure derived from said inlet port whereby whichever one of said plurality of aperture groups is in registry with said group of predetermined formation directs said fluid under pressure into certain at least of said plurality of ducts and thus into those of said outlet ports associated with those ducts.

In this way for each rotational position of said valve element a different aperture group thereof is in registry with said group of predetermined formation thus to establish a respective flow route arrangement through the valve. Hence basic coding of the required flow routes is provided within the valve itself. Thus the need, for example in two-stage valve control, to provide a pilot feed block and an auxiliary shuttle valve block themselves having coded passages in association with a selector valve such as was the case hitherto is avoided.

In certain rotational positions of said valve element as little as only one flow route may be established by registration of a single aperture in said element with a desired one of said receptor ports in said group of predetermined formation, while in other rotational positions of said element any two or more flow routes may be established by registration of an appropriate number of apertures, provided in the respective said aperture group, with said receptor ports.

The said surface of said valve element may also be provided with grooving which is so co-operable with certain of said receptor ports and so communicable with a return port of said selector valve as to be capable of establishing, in at least certain rotational positions of said element, flow routes from certain of said fluid-pressure-operable means to exhaust.

The selector valve may be provided with detent means for locking said valve element in each of a plurality of rotational positions in each of which positions a respective said group of apertures in said element is in registry with said receptor ports.

One way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate only one specific embodiment, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic representation of a rotary selector valve and associated valve block assembly, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the rotary selector valve diagrammatically shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-section of a rotary valve element forming part of the valve shown in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a view of the rotary valve element taken in the direction of the arrow IV on Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a view of the rotary valve element taken in the direction of the arrow V on Figure 3.

The rotary selector valve 1 and associated valve block assembly 2 shown in Figure 1 are in this embodiment intended to control the operation of a plurality of telescopic hydraulically-operable means comprising legs and jacks forming part of a respective mine roof support unit (not shown). Two such jacks are shown at 3 and 4. A plurality of such roof support units are arranged in parallel manner along the length of a face in the mine being worked.

Assembly 2 is suitably mounted upon its support unit and the associated rotary selector valve 1 shown is suitably mounted on an adjacent roof support unit so that control ofthefirst-mentioned unit can be effected from a position remote from that unit and thus without danger two personnel operating the valve.

The selector valve is capable of receiving liquid under pressure from a main pilot signal pressure line (not shown) through an inlet port 5 shown in Figure 2, and return flow from this valve is passed through a return port 6 to a main return line (also not shown).

Assembly 2 includes a coded main block 7 which carries eight pilot-operated valve units 8 bolted thereon, each of which is suitably connected to supply liquid under pressure, derived from a main system pressure line (not shown), to a respective jack, as at 3, 4, or telescopic legs. Assembly 2 also includes a pilot feed block 9 which is mounted upon block 7 with a gasket plate 10 therebetween.

Selector valve 1 is provided with five outlet ports 11 - 15 from which respective conduits 16 - 20 are taken each to one side of respective shuttle valves 21 - 25 provided in block 9. Further conduits 26 - 30 are taken each to the other side of these shuttle valves from another rotary selector valve (not shown), similar to valve 1,which is mounted on another and adjacent roof support unit (not shown) disposed on the other side of the roof support unit on which assembly 2 is mounted.

Passages 31 - 35 in block 9 are taken from the shuttle valves and register respectively with passages 36 - 40 in block 7 which in turn connect in the manner shown to valve units 8. When pilot pressure signals are directed through these passages and applied to respective fluid-pressure-operable means (not shown) in units 8, spool valve means (also not shown) of those units are caused to open. In consequence pressure liquid from the main system pressure line is admitted to one side of the jack or leg controlled by the respective valve unit, while the other side thereof is suitably placed in communication with the main return line. By such operation of any one or more of the jacks or legs of the roof support unit appropriate movements of those parts of the roof support unit to which the jacks or legs are connected take place as required by the particular selection made at the valve 1.

With particular reference now to Figures 2 to 5, the rotary selector valve 1 itself comprises a base casing 41, in which ports 5 and 6 are provided, and intermediate casing 42 mounted on casing 41 and an upper casing 43 mounted upon a spigot 44 projecting upwardly from casing 42. A valve element 45 of disc form, and which is also shown diagrammatical ly in Figure 1, is housed for rotation in a chamber 46 formed between casings 42 and 43 and has a hollow shaft 47, formed integrally therewith, which extends upwardly through an aperture 48 in casing 43. At its upper end portion shaft 47 carries a selector knob 49 which is splined thereto and provided with external flutes, as at 50, affording good manual grip. A push button assembly 51 is suitably carried by an insert 52 screw-threadedly received in a bore 53 in knob 49.A member 54 of assembly 51 engages a push rod 55 which passes downwardly through shaft 47. The lower end of rod 55 is engageable with a ball 57 itself engageable with a seating 58 at the upper end of a ported sleeve 59. A rod 60, which is slightly shorter than the sleeve 59, is housed as shown within that sleeve and is engageable with a movable member in the form of a ball 61, itself engageable with a seating 62 at the lower end of sleeve 59. Ball 61 is supported by an element 63 of triangular cross-section which is biassed upwardly by spring assembly 64. Ball 57 is maintained in line with rod 55 by member 65 and a coil spring 66 is disposed between that member and the lower face of an enlarged portion 67 of rod 55.

When the button 68 of assembly 51 is depressed, ball 61 is displaced downwardly from seating 62 thus to place port 5 in communication with chamber 46 by way of the interior of sleeve 59 and passage 69.

Two spring-loaded detent devices 70,71 are provided in upper casing 43, the balls 72,73 of those devices being engageable with any pair 74,75 of diametrically opposite detents formed in the upper surface 76 of valve element 45. The springs 77,78 of devices 70,71 urge element 45 downwardly in Figure 2, whatever its rotational position, so that the lower surface 79 of the element is in engagement with the upper face 80 of spigot 44.

The outlet ports 11 - 15 register with ducts 81 - 85 formed in casing 41, 42 and these ducts terminate at their ends remote from the outlet ports in respective receptor ports 86 - 90 which are arranged in a group 91 of predetermined formation which is co-operable with lower surface 79 of element 45. In Figure 1 the formation of this group is shown diagrammatically as a straight radial line, but in practice the ports thereof follow a path of somewhat irreguiar form to suit the particularvalving effect required in cooperation with element 45.

Valve element 45 is provided, as shown in Figure 5, with a desired number of groups 92 of apertures 93 passing therethrough and grooves 94 are formed in surface 79 of that element. The apertures are capable of receiving pilot pressure liquid when present in chamber 46 above element 45. A group 92 of such apertures 93 and grooves 94 is provided in element 45 respectively for each selection of hydraulically-powered jack and/or leg operation. Thus in each of the plurality of available selected rotational positions of element 45 a respective group 92 of apertures and grooves in surface 79 is in registry with the group 91 of receptor ports.

In certain rotational positions of element 45 only one pressure flow route may be established, that is for operation only of one jack or leg, by registration of a single aperture 93 with a desired one of the receptor ports of group 91, while in other rotational positions of the element any two or more flow routes may be established for operation of the jacks and/or legs of the associated roof support unit by registration of an appropriate number of apertures 93 and/or grooves 94, provided in the respective group 92, with the group 91 of receptor ports.Flow of liquid under pressure from the pilot signal pressure line to the fluid-pressure-operable means of units 8 occurs through appropriate apertures 93 and co-operating receptor ports in group 91,while liquid exhausting from those fluid-pressure-operable means occurs through appropriate receptor ports in group 91 and co-operating grooves 94. Service lines as at 95 - 98 are provided between respective valve units 8 and associated jacks 3,4 and/or legs, In order to effect operation of the jacks and/or legs, element 45 is turned about its axis 99 by manual adjustment of knob 49 until a required position is reached appropriate to the desired mode or modes of operation of the respective roof support unit.The button 68 is then depressed thereby to release ball 61 from engagement with seating 62, whereupon pilot pressure available at port 5 is permitted to pass through passage 69 to chamber 46 and, assisted by springs 77,78, loads element 45 against face 80.

Liquid under pilot pressure above element 45 then passes through apertures 93. That pressure liquid which passes through the or each aperture 93 in that group 92 in registry with group 91 of receptor ports 11 - 15 finds its way into certain, or all, as the case may be of the conduits 16 - 20. The movable elements of appropriate shuttle valves 21,25 thus move to the right in Figure 1 permitting pilot pressure to gain access through appropriate passages 36 - 40 to the fluid-pressure-operable means of associated units 8. In consequence the spool valve means of those units are caused to open so that the associated jacks or legs are operated to meet the demands of the setting of knob 49.

During such operation the fluid-pressure-operable means of units 8 required to be inoperative are placed in communication with return port 6 and thus the main return line by way of their respective shuttle valves in block 9 and the associated conduits, the respective receptor ports in group 91, the grooves 94 in surface 79 of element 45, radial grooving 100 in surface 79 with which the grooves 94 connect, clearance 101 formed between portion 67 and casing 42, and passage 102.

When operative jacks and/or legs reach the desired position the operator releases button 68 and the pilot pressure is removed from respective units 8 so that the respective spool valve means thereof are closed and the jacks and/or legs operate no further.

Since the button 68 is released the ball 61 moves back onto its seating 62 and ball 57 moves away from its seating 58. In consequence the fluidpressure-operable means of those units 8 are placed in communication with return port 6, and thus the main return line, by way of the appropriate receptor ports in group 91 and those apertures 93 cooperating with those receptor ports, chamber 46, passage 69, open ball valve 57/58 and passage 102.

When it is required to operate the roof support unit in a different mode or modes knob 49 is rotated to the appropriate position therefor and a different group 92 is brought into registry with the group 91 of receptor ports 11 - 15. On depressing button 68 pilot signals are then applied to those valve units 8 associated with the jacks and/or legs required now to be brought into operation.

As shown in Figure 1 the selector valve is in this embodiment provided with a further group 103 of receptor ports 104- 108. As with group 91 the formation of this group, although shown in Figure 1 diagrammatically as a straight radial line, is in practice such that the ports thereof follow a path of somewhat irregular form. These ports are respectively connected through conduits 109 - 113 with a pilot feed block (not shown), similar to block 9, which forms part of a valve block assembly, similar to assembly 2, mounted on an adjacent roof support unit beyond and to the other side of that unit upon which valve 1 is mounted. By this provision, alternatively, valve 1 can be used, when its element 45 is appropriately positioned, to control the various available modes of operation of that adjacent roof support unit, again from a remote position.

In alternative embodiments of the invention the predetermined formation of the groups 91, 103 of receptor ports may be other than as described above with reference to the drawings, for example the ports of that group may follow an arcuate path, a zigzag path or any other suitably-shaped path to achieve desired registration of those ports with the apertures and grooves of the valve element and thus desired controling effect by the rotary selector valve on the associated jacks and/or legs.

Further, in other embodiments of the invention the rotary selector valve may be arranged to control associated services directly, without the provision of pilot-operated spool valve or like means.

Although in the embodiment above described with reference to the accompanying drawings a rotary selector valve 1 for control of a first mentioned mine roof support unit is suitably mounted on an adjacent mine roof support unit, in other embodiments of the invention the respective selector valve may instead be mounted on a support unit disposed further along the mineral face and thus be positioned even more remotely from the first-mentioned unit, thereby to minimize even further danger to personnel operating the valve.

Also, although in the embodiment above described with reference to the accompanying drawings a pilot feed block 9 is provided, in alternative embodiments of the invention the system incorporating the rotary selector valve may be such that the provision of such a pilot feed block is unnecessary.

Although in the embodiment above described with reference to the accompanying drawings a push button assembly 51 is provided for operating the valve means 61, 62, in alternative embodiments of the invention any other suitable operating means may be provided, for example a trigger and associated plunger device.

By the invention a rotary selector valve is provided in which the rotary valve element can readily be removed from the valve casing and replaced by a valve element having aperture groups, the apertures of which are arranged differently from those of the first valve element to suit a different system of jacks and/or legs required then to be operated under the control of the valve.

Claims (11)

1. A rotary selector valve including a casing having an inlet port, for the supply thereto of a fluid under pressure, and a plurality of outlet ports through which separate flows of fluid simultaneously can pass each to one or more respective fluidpressure-operable means, a valve element of disc or like form which is angularly adjustable about a rotational axis with respect to said casing, means for adjusting said valve element about said rotational axis, and a plurality of ducts in said casing which are respectively connected to said plurality of outlet ports and which at their ends remote from said outlet ports terminate in respective receptor ports arranged in a group of predetermined formation which is co-operable with a surface of said valve element, said valve element having a plurality of aperture groups in said surface which are capable of receiving fluid under pressure derived from said inlet port whereby whichever one of said plurality of aperture groups is in registry with said group of predetermined formation directs said fluid under pressure into certain at least of said plurality of ducts and thus into those of said outlet ports associated with those ducts.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1,wherein said surface of said valve element is also provided with grooving which is so co-operable with certain of said receptor ports and so communicable with a return port of said selector valve as to be capable of establishing, in at least certain rotational positions of said element, flow routes from certain of said fluid-pressure-operable means to exhaust.

3. Avalve as claimed in either claim 1 orclaim 2, wherein detent means is provided for locking said valve element in each of a plurality of rotational positions, in each of which positions a respective said group of apertures in said element is in registry with said receptor ports.

4. A valve as claimed in claim 3, wherein said detent means includes springs which bias said valve element in the direction towards said receptor ports.

5. A valve as claimed in claim 4, wherein a push button assembly is provided in assocation with said means for adjusting said valve element, said assembly being capable of opening valve means whereby fluid under pressure derived from said inlet port is permitted to pass to a chamber in said casing which houses said valve element and thence into the apertures of said plurality of aperture groups, said fluid under pressure in said chamber assisting said springs in biassing said valve element in the direction towards said receptor ports.

6. A valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein said valve means comprises a seating and a movable member co-operable therewith, said movable member being displaceable away from its seating by a push rod itself operated by said push button assembly.

7. A mine roof support unit including a plurality of telescopic hydraulically-operable devices, the operation of which is controlled by a rotary selector valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

8. A plurality of telescopic hydraulically-operable devices, the operation of which is controlled by a rotary selector valve as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 6.

9. A rotary selector valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A mine roof support unit including a plurality of telescopic hydraulically-operable devices, the operation of which is controlled by a rotary selector valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A plurality of telescopic hydraulicallyoperable devices, the operation ofwhich is controlled by a rotary selector valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings,