GB843774A - Improvements in and relating to fluid control equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

843,774. Valves. LODGE & SHIPLEY CO. June 29, 1956 [July 1, 1955], No. 20280/56. Class 135. Fluid control apparatus including a plurality of valves each of which controls a separate fluid-operated device and wherein it is desired to cause certain combinations of the devices to function at different intervals, e.g. in a preselect system for a lathe where it is desired to work different portions of an article at different rotational speeds and at different tool feeds comprises a casing 1, Fig. 1, having parallel bores 21 in each of which slides a valve member 6, Fig. 4, controlling flow between an inlet port 22 connected to a common manifold 2 supplied with pressure fluid from a pipe 4 and an outlet port 24 connected by a pipe 5 with the device being operated. The ends of the bores are connected to a manifold chamber 26 which in turn is connected to an exhaust line 17. Each valve member 6 is pivoted at 30 to an arm 31 formed at its free end with a guide member 32 enclosing a shaft 12 supported at its ends on levers 10, 11 which are pivotally mounted on a further shaft 9 carried on posts 7, 8 fixed to the casing. The lever 10 is extended upwardly and its upper end engages a piston 14 slidable in a cylinder 15 to which pressure fluid may be supplied to or exhausted from by means of a valve (not shown). Each arm 31 is associated with a fulcrum plate 34 pivotally mounted on the casing and formed with projections 35, 36, Fig. 9, which may be moved into and out of alignment with the arm 31. Each fulcrum plate 34 is individually operable by its own solenoid coil 37 and armature 38. On energization of the coil the armature moves upwardly to engage a face 43 on the plate 34 causing the plate to rotate clockwise to bring the projection 36 into alignment with the arm 31. A spring 40 on de-energization of the coil moves the armature into engagement with a pin 41 carried by the plate 34 so that the plate rotates and the projection 35 is urged against a stop 42 into alignment with the arm 31 and the projection 36 out of alignment. In operation, the coils of those valves which are selected to supply the associated devices with pressure fluid are energized. Pressure fluid is then supplied to the cylinder 15 to move the piston 14 outwardly whence the levers 10, 11 are rotated clockwise about the shaft 9 and the tarms 31 clockwise abou the pivots 30. Those arms 31 associated with the coils that have been energized then engage the projections 36 and the arms react against these projections to rotate the arms 31 anticlockwise to move the associated valve members 6 inwardly to interconnect the ports 22, 24 to supply the associated devices with pressure fluid. Those arms associated with the coils that have not been energized engage the projections 35 and the rotation of these arms is limited by the simultaneous engagement of these arms with a bracket member 1a and the projections 35 so that the valves remain in the position in which their ports 24 are connected to exhaust through the manifold chamber 26 and line 17. On the cylinder 15 being exhausted of pressure fluid, a spring 14a rotates the lever 10 anticlockwise to push the piston 14 into the cylinder, the arms 31 rotating clockwise moving away from the projections 35, 36, as the case may be, with the valve members 6 being unmoved. To return a valve that has been operated to its initial position, the coil associated therewith is de-energized after the cylinder 15 has been exhausted. On again supplying the cylinder with pressure fluid, the outward movement of the piston 14 rotates the lever 10 so that the arm 31 first rotates clockwise about its pivot 30 and then anticlockwise about the projection 35 which is now in alignment with the arm.