JPH0418174B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION (1) Industrial Application Field This invention relates to air valve technology, and more particularly to an improved four-way air valve with a common electrical conduit and exhaust flow control device. The four-way air valve can be used stacked with other valves that have a common pressurized air inlet passage and a common exhaust outlet passage, in which case each exhaust in the main valve spool bore has a common exhaust outlet passage. Each discharge path to and from the chamber is provided with a respective flow control valve mounted on a valve body. The four-way air valve of the present invention is suitable for use in an air flow line to control the flow rate of pressurized air to both ends of an air cylinder.

(2) Prior art and its problems It is well known in the pneumatic valve technology to provide valves that can be stacked. In the past, suitable air valves have been provided with a flow control valve at the exhaust port. However, until now, a stacking body with a respective flow control valve for each exhaust passage between a common exhaust outlet passage and each exhaust chamber in the main valve spool bore, and a solenoid at each valve in the valve stack has been used. It has not been possible to provide a stacking body capable of providing stacking four-way valves with a common electrical conduit for electrical connection to the air valves. Flow control valve is US Patent No. 2912007
2993511 and has been used in front of the exhaust port.

(3) Purpose of the invention The present invention has been made in view of the above,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stacked four-way air valve that is simple in construction and has an integral flow control valve in each exhaust passage within the valve body.

[] Structure of the Invention (1) Means for Solving the Problems According to the present invention, there is provided a valve body including a pressurized air supply chamber, a pair of cylinder chambers, and a pair of exhaust chambers, and a valve body that includes a pressurized air supply chamber to the cylinder chamber. axially movable between two operating positions within the valve spool bore within the valve body to control the flow rate of pressurized air in one of the cylinder chambers and simultaneously control the exhaust of one of the exhaust chambers from another cylinder chamber. A four-way air valve comprising a main valve spool, a top cover loosely attached to the valve body, and means for moving the main valve spool between the two operating positions, comprising: (a) the pressurized air supply chamber; is centrally located along a valve spool bore, the cylinder chamber is located along the valve spool bore adjacent to each side of the air supply chamber, and the exhaust chamber is located along the valve spool bore. , one of the exhaust chambers adjoins one of the cylinder chambers on the opposite side to the side adjacent the air supply chamber; (b) the valve body is connected to the air supply chamber by passage means in the valve body; (c) said valve body comprises two cylinder ports each connected to one of said cylinder chambers by respective passage means; (d) said valve; the body comprises a single exhaust port connected to a common exhaust passage within the valve body by passage means, each of said exhaust chambers being connected to the common exhaust passage by a respective exhaust passage; e) Each of said respective exhaust passages between each exhaust chamber and the common exhaust passage opens into a common exhaust passage.
(f) an adjustable flow control valve having a valve body is operatively attached to the valve adjacent each of said respective exhaust passageway bores and includes a bore defining an end valve seat; (g) said valve body is movable into and out of each adjacent passageway bore for controlling the flow of air from the exhaust chamber into the common exhaust passageway and out of a single exhaust port; a valve body having a common wire passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; (h) said valve body having a wire tuck chamber on each side of said common wire passageway for receiving leads from said common wire passageway; and (i) each of said adjustable flow control valves being laterally disposed, said flow control valves extending inwardly from opposite sides of said valve body. Ru.

(2) Operation The valve 10 of the present invention has two outlets 62, 63 (see FIG. 2) and a pressurized air inlet 61 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
(see Figure 4). Valve 10 includes a main valve spool 41 that is shiftable between two operating positions and directs pressurized air from an inlet 61 to either a cylinder port or a work port 62, 63. One of the exhaust flow control valves 74 or 90 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is adjustable to alternately direct and control the flow rate of air exhausted from the other work ports.
Fluid can be evacuated from the other port via one of the ports. One of the applications of the four-way air valve of the present invention relates to the operation of air cylinders, with free flowing air in one direction at one end of the air cylinder and said exhaust flow from the other end of the air cylinder. The air cylinder is actuated at a desired speed by providing a controlled flow rate of air through one of the control valves, then directing free flowing air to the other end of the air cylinder and It is used where it is necessary to reverse the speed control action by controlling the air exhausted from the other end.

(3) Embodiment In the drawings, particularly in FIGS. 1 to 3, 10 represents a four-way valve in a stack of valves. Figures 1 and 4
As shown, one end of the valve stack is generally 11
Sit on the end plate indicated by . and second end plate 11
(Although not shown in the drawings, the second end plate is located at the top in FIG. 1 and at the right end in FIG. 4).
0 is seated at the other end of the stack, and it can be seen that the structure is the same but the position is reversed. A plurality of valves 10 in a stack are shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
are connected by a plurality of suitable tie rods 13 passing through bores 12 in each of the valves 10. Tie rod 13 has a normal tie rod head on one end,
and a suitable screw hole 15 in the end plate 11 shown at the other end.
It has a reduced diameter threaded end 14 which is screwed into the end.
As shown in FIG. 4, a suitable seal 16 is operatively mounted between each valve 10 and end plate 11 in the stack.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, end plate 11 includes a pair of suitable mounting legs or projections on its lower outer side. Each of the mounting legs 20 has a U-shaped opening 21 between the pair of end plates 11 for receiving a suitable mounting screw or the like or for securing the stack of valves 10 to a suitable support table or the like. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the end plate 11 has a longitudinal end plate 11 that receives a conventional electrical conduit for holding electrical wires connected to a suitable power source and for energizing the solenoids that actuate each valve 10. It includes a body 23 with a threaded pipe hole 24 at its upper end. Threaded pipe hole 2
The inner end of 4 communicates with the hole 25 on the rear side of the end plate body 23 to complete the wire passage through the end plate 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the wire passage 25 is adjacent to the valve 10.
It is connected to a common wire passageway 26 that passes longitudinally through the upper end of the . Each of the other valves in the valve stack:
A similar common wire path 26 is provided, and the wire passages are all aligned with the wire passages 24, 25 in the two end plates 11 supporting the stack of valves 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the valves 10 includes a valve body that is substantially T-shaped in cross-section and has an upper portion 27 and a lower portion 44. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the wire passages 26 of each valve 10 has a T-shaped opening formed through each of its upper ends to form the uppermost part of the valve body upper part 27. a central top edge portion 31 disposed downwardly from the edge portion 31 and a pair of wall top edges disposed upwardly from the edge portion 31;
The edge portion 32 is partitioned by a pair of integral inner walls 30 which are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction and are in contact with the side surfaces. Wires entering the stack of valve 10 via end plate wire passages 24, 25 into valve wire passage 26 are routed over each of the wire passage inner walls 30 and outside each of the inner walls 30 in valve body top 27. It can be seen that it is located within the wire storage chamber 33 (FIGS. 1 and 2) that is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the uppermost end of the wire storage chamber 33 and the uppermost end of the common wire path 26 of each valve 10 are surrounded by a valve body cover 34. A suitable gasket 35 is installed between the inner surface of the cover 34 and the uppermost end of the upper valve body 27. The valve body cover 34 is removably secured to the valve body top or top 27 by a plurality of suitable machine screws 36 extending through the cover 34 and into suitable threaded holes 37 in the valve body top 27. Reference numeral 38 in FIG. 4 indicates an optional indicator light which is operatively mounted through the cover 34 and connected to the wire common path 26 for operative connection to the wire for actuating the respective valve 10. Extends inward. Therefore, when the solenoid is activated, this indicator light 38 lights up to indicate that the solenoid is activated.

Electric wires for operating the solenoids 51 for each valve 10 are connected to the valve body portion 27,
44 and is led to each solenoid 51 below.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left side of each valve 10 is provided with a wire passageway 42 that communicates with the lower end of the left wire storage chamber 33 at the lower end of the valve body upper portion 27. As shown in FIGS. The wire passage 42 connects at its lower end to the upper end of a reduced diameter wire passage 43 located at the upper end of the lower portion of the valve body. The lower end of the wire passageway 43 opens into a passageway or outlet opening 45 extending to the outer side of the lower valve body portion 44 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, if a second solenoid (not shown in the drawings but located on the right side of FIG. 2) is used, the second solenoid at the right end of the valve 10 In order to lead the wire to 51,
The wire tuck room 33 on the right side also has a suitable wire passageway 42,
43 to a wire outlet opening or passageway 45.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, each valve 10 includes a main valve spool bore 40 in which a conventional valve spool 41 is operatively mounted. The illustrated main valve spool 41 is spring actuated in one direction and pilot air actuated in the opposite direction;
controlled by As shown in FIG. 2, one end of the lower valve body 44 having the return spring 49 of the main valve spool 41 mounted therein is fitted with a suitable cover 46 and gasket 48.
surrounded by The cover 46 is attached with a suitable machine screw 47.
is fixed to the lower part 44 of the valve body.

As shown in FIG. 2, numeral 59 designates the pilot valve adapter housing, and 51 indicates the pilot valve adapter housing 59 by means of suitable machine screws 55 (FIG. 3) installed in threaded holes 56 on the outside of said housing 59. - Shows a conventional solenoid operatively attached to housing 59. The pilot valve adapter housing 59 is attached to the lower valve body 44 (second
It is loosely secured to the left side of the lower valve body 44, as shown in FIG. 2, by a pair of suitable machine screws 57 (FIG. 3) operatively mounted in threaded holes 58 (FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 1, the solenoid wire 53 for operating the illustrated solenoid 51 is
Wire passages 52 and 54 lead to pilot valve adapter housing 59 and solenoid housing 51, respectively. Solenoid wire 53
is then led through the adjacent opening 45 (FIGS. 1 and 3) to the lower part of the valve body 44, and from there through the upper adjacent wire passages 43, 42 to the left wire tack as shown in FIG. Enter room 33.

As shown in FIG. 4, the illustrated end plate 11 includes a longitudinal threaded inlet 60 for connection to a suitable source of pressurized air. The inner end of the inlet 60 is connected to the adjacent valve 10.
It is connected to one end of a vertical inlet air passage 61 passing through the. The other valves 10 in the stack of valves are provided with similar air inlet passages 61 extending therethrough and connected to adjacent valves 10 or to another end plate 11 at the other end of the stack. The end plate 11 at the other end of the valve stack is not shown, but it can be seen that it is identical to the end plate 11 shown in FIG. 4 and includes a similar threaded air inlet 60.

As shown in FIG. 2, each valve 10 includes a pair of cylinder or work ports 62, 63 extending inwardly from the bottom end of the lower end 44 of the valve body. Cylinder ports 62 and 63 are respectively connected to cylinder chambers 64 and 65, respectively, of main valve spool bore 40. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of exhaust chambers 70 are formed in the lower valve body 44 at opposite ends of the main valve spool bore 40. As shown in FIG. Exhaust chamber 7 on the left
0 is connected by an exhaust passage 71 extending upwardly and communicating with a lateral exhaust bore passage 73 in the valve body upper part 27.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exhaust bore passage 7
The outer end of 3 opens into a transverse bore 82 of increasing diameter opening to the outside of the valve body upper part 27 . The exhaust flow control valves collectively designated by the number 74 have bores 73 and 82.
operably attached to. The flow control valve 74 is
Valve body 75 includes a valve body 75 operatively mounted in a transverse bore 76 connecting exhaust bore passage 73 with a common exhaust outlet passage 77 extending longitudinally through valve bodies 27 and 44 . Although the exhaust flow control valve body 75 is shown in the closed position, the inlet end of the bore 76, as shown in FIG.
That is, it can be seen that depending on the position of the valve body 75 with respect to the left end of the bore 76, the exhaust flow rate entering the common exhaust passage 77 through the bore 76 can be adjusted to the left to select it. As shown in FIG.
The common exhaust passage 77 of the valve 10 adjacent to the valve 10 leads to a threaded common exhaust port 78 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the exhaust flow rate control valve 74 is
Furthermore, the valve stem 8 is integrated with the flow control valve body 75.
Contains 0. The valve stem 80 is connected to the bore 76 of the valve body 75.
An integral annular stop flange 79 is provided to control movement. The valve stem 80 is mounted in a group formed around its outer periphery and has a bore 8 formed axially in the inner end of the flow control valve retainer 81.
7 is provided with an O-ring seal 88 that is slidably attached to the holder. The flow control valve retainer 81 has a bore 8
2 and a suitable retainer ring 83
It is loosely fixed by the . The retainer 81 has an outer threaded axial bore 8 communicating with the bore 87.
Equipped with 9. The externally threaded end of valve stem 80 is threaded into threaded hole 89 . The valve body 75 is adjusted to the desired position in the bore 76 by a screwdriver which is inserted into a slot 85 at the outer end of the valve stem 80 and rotates the valve stem 80 to the desired position. valve stem 80
can be fixed in the desired adjustment position by means of a suitable locking nut 86.

As shown in Figure 2, the main valve spool bore 40
The right end exhaust chamber 70 is also connected to the passage 72 by the passage 71.
connected to. As shown in FIG.
1 is connected to an exhaust chamber 73 in which a second exhaust flow control valve 90 is mounted. Exhaust flow control valves 74, 90 are symmetrical and positioned opposite each of valves 10. The exhaust flow control valves 74 and 90 regulate the exhaust from one end of the air cylinder, etc., and control the operating speed of the cylinder.
Also, the advantages of stacking and valve 1 in the stack.
Thus, as shown in FIG. A pilot air passage 95 is provided. A common pilot air passage 95 is aligned with mating pilot air passages 95 in adjacent valves 10 in the valve stack. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the common pilot air passages 95 in valve 10 adjacent end plate 11 communicates with a mating longitudinal passage 91 in end plate 11. As shown in FIG. Each of the passageways 91 is connected to the pressurized air inlet 6 of the end plate 11 by a transversely threaded bore 92.
Concatenated to 0. Common pilot air passage 95
It can be seen that the is internally supplied with pilot air from the air inlet 60. If an internal supply of pressurized pilot air is required, each of the passageways 92 can be closed by a plug 93 threaded onto the outer end of each of the threaded bores 92. Accordingly, each of the passageways 91 in the endplate 11 is supplied with pressurized pilot air from a suitable external source via the passageway 94 in the endplate 11. A plug 93 screwed onto the outer end of each passageway 94
is removed for connection to said source of external pilot air. It will be seen that both end plates 11 are provided with the aforementioned internal and external connection and passage means for supplying pilot air to a common pilot air passageway 95.

As shown in FIG. 2, the left pilot air passage 95 communicates through a bore 96 with a longitudinal passage 97 in the adapter housing 59 of the pilot valve 50. As shown in FIG. The vertical passage 97 has an outer end with a threaded attachment plug 10.
It opens into a lateral pilot air passage 98 surrounded by 6. If internal pilot air is not supplied from common pilot air passage 95, pressurized air can be supplied to pilot valve 50 by removing plug 106 and connecting passage 98 to an external source of pressurized pilot air. I understand.

The pilot air valve 50 is the pilot air valve body 9.
9, the pilot air valve body 99 includes a passageway 9.
8 to the piston cylinder 101.
2 to the right and the main valve spool 41 to the right against the pressure of the valve return spring 49. As shown in FIG. has been done. Details of the construction and operation of pilot valve 50 will not be described herein as they do not form part of the present invention. Pilot valve 5
Details of the structure and operation of 0 are disclosed in the inventor's US Pat. No. 4,485,846, which is incorporated herein by reference.

When the solenoid 51 is charged, the solenoid plunger 103 moves the pilot valve body 99 to the right as shown in FIG. 2, causing pilot air to flow into the piston cylinder 101 and causing the pilot piston 102 to move to the right. The main valve spool 41 is moved to the right against the pressure of the return valve spring 49. When the solenoid 51 is de-energized, the pilot air valve body 99 is returned by the return spring 100 to the position shown in FIG. A vertical common pilot air exhaust passage 100 exits the forward end of the piston cylinder 101 through the structure.
It is passed through a lateral exhaust passage 108 connected to. Main valve spool 41 is then returned by return spring 49 to the position shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows the pilot air passage 107 used when a second solenoid actuated pilot air valve is used at the right end of the main valve spool 41 in place of the return spring 49. The exhaust passage 108 for the pilot air valve 50 can be seen in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the pilot air exhaust passages 110 in the stack of valves 10 are aligned with each other;
Valve 10 adjacent end plate 11 has a pilot air passage 110 connected to longitudinal passage 109 in end plate 11. The pilot air passage 109 in the end plate is connected to a transverse passage 111 extending outwardly of the end plate 11 and discharging pilot air to the atmosphere. Also, a muffler can be connected to the pilot air exhaust line 111, or a suitable conduit can be connected thereto to direct the exhausted pilot air to a point where it is removed from the valve stack.

The main valve spool 41 is thereby connected to the inlet passage 6
1. Cylinder ports 62, 63 and exhaust port 9
5 is schematically shown with a return spring 49 to illustrate controlling the flow rate of pressurized air between 5 and 5.

In use, adjustable flow control valves 74 and 9
0 is the bore 76 and each valve body 75 of the flow control valve in order to make the operating speed of the air cylinder a desired speed.
is adjusted to provide the desired opening between the two.

When main valve spool 41 is in the position shown in FIG.
connected to port 63, while cylinder port 6
2 is connected to the left exhaust passage 70 by a passage 64. When the solenoid is charged, the main valve spool 41 is connected to the air inlet passage 6 as shown in FIG.
1 supplies pressurized air to the cylinder port 62;
Move to the right to reverse the flow conditions described above so as to vent the other cylinder port 63 into the exhaust passage 70 at the left end of the valve.

The operation of the four-way air valve 10 of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings and FIG. 5 in which the flow passages are symbolically displayed.

Main valve spool 41 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 2 by the action of return spring 49 and the deenergization of solenoid 51 which actuates pilot valve 50. When main valve spool 41 is in the position shown in FIG. 63 to provide a free flow of pressurized air to one end of the device to be controlled, such as an air cylinder. At the same time, pressurized air exhausted from the other end of the device, such as an air cylinder, enters another cylinder or work port 62 and is routed through passage 64 to valve bore 40 and from there through passages 70-73 and flow It is sent through a control valve 74 and through a controlled bore 76 to an exhaust passage 77 .

The main valve spool 41 is moved to a second operating position to the left of the position shown in FIG. 2 in order to reverse the air flow through the valve 10. Solenoid 51
is a conventional solenoid which, when energized, operates pilot valve 50. The pilot valve includes a pilot piston 102 that is moved to the right in FIG. 2 by pilot air pressure and engages the main valve spool 41 to reverse the direction of flow through the valve 10. to move it to the right.

When the main valve spool 41 is moved from the position shown in FIG. It is connected to passageway 64 and thus directly to cylinder or work port 62 to provide free flow of pressurized air from the cylinder or work port to the equipment to be controlled. At the same time, another cylinder or work port 63 is connected to the device to be controlled with respect to the other end of the air cylinder, and the work port 63
The pressurized air entering the is passed through passage 65, through exhaust passages 70-73, through flow control valve 90, and through bore 76, which is controlled by the exhaust flow rate controlled by flow control valve 90. from there to the exhaust passage 77.

When the solenoid 51 is deenergized, the return spring 4
9 returns the main valve spool 41 to the first operating position shown in FIG. 2, resulting in flow through the first described valve 10.

(3) Effects of the Invention The stacked four-way air valve of the present invention has a very simple structure. It has the advantage that only one common electrical conduit is sufficient for the electrical wiring required for the stack of valves, and that each valve in the stack can be connected individually as required. Additionally, the valve 10 of the present invention can selectively provide flow control functionality to the exhaust system of each valve and direct exhaust air to one or both of the end plates 11, from where it is routed to a muffler. It has the advantage of being able to be directed to a remote location or discharged into the atmosphere. A further advantage of the valve 10 of the present invention is that the valve 10 can selectively provide internal or external supply of pressurized pilot air.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partially in section, of a four-way stacked valve made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 2 is the first
FIG. 2 is a partially sectional front view of the valve structure about straight line 2-2 shown in the figure. Figure 3 shows straight line 3- shown in Figure 2.
FIG. 3 is a left side front view of the valve structure for FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view of the valve structure taken along line 4--4 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a symbolic representation of the flow path of a four-way air valve according to the invention. Explanation of symbols, 10...Four-way air valve, 11...End plate, 13...Tie rod, 20...Mounting leg, 23...End plate main body, 26...Common wire passage,
27... Upper part of the valve body, 33... Wire tuck room, 3
4...Valve body cover, 40...Main valve spool/bore, 41...Main valve spool, 42, 43...Wire passage, 44...Lower part of the valve body, 49...Main valve spool return spring, 50... Pilot valve, 51... Solenoid, 53... Solenoid line, 59... Pilot valve adapter housing, 60... Pressurized air inlet, 61... Pressurized air inlet passage, 62, 63
...Cylinder or work port, 64, 65...
...Cylinder chamber, 70...Exhaust chamber, 74...First exhaust flow rate control valve, 75...Exhaust flow rate control valve body, 7
7...Common exhaust passage, 90...Second exhaust flow rate control valve, 95...Common pilot air passage, 99...
...Pilot air valve body, 100...Return spring, 1
01... Piston cylinder, 102... Pilot piston, 110... Common pilot air exhaust passage.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A valve body comprising a pressurized air supply chamber, a pair of cylinder chambers, and a pair of exhaust chambers, which controls the flow rate of pressurized air from the pressurized air supply chamber to one of the cylinder chambers and simultaneously separates the pressurized air from the pressurized air supply chamber to the cylinder chamber. a main valve spool axially movable between two operating positions within a valve spool bore within the valve body for controlling exhaust of one of the exhaust chambers from the cylinder chamber of the valve; a main valve spool loosely mounted on the valve body; a four-way air valve including a top cover and means for moving the main valve spool between said two operating positions, wherein: (a) said pressurized air supply chamber is centrally located along a valve spool bore; the cylinder chambers are disposed along a valve spool bore adjacent to both sides of the air supply chamber, and the exhaust chambers are disposed along the valve spool bore, one of the exhaust chambers being adjacent to the air supply chamber. (b) the valve body comprises a pressurized air inlet connected to the air supply chamber by passage means in the valve body; (c) (d) the valve body comprises two cylinder ports each connected to one of the cylinder chambers by respective passage means; (d) the valve body comprises two cylinder ports each connected to one of the cylinder chambers by a respective passage means; a single exhaust port connected to a common exhaust passage, each of said exhaust chambers being connected to the common exhaust passage by a respective exhaust passage; (e) each of said exhaust chambers between each exhaust chamber and the common exhaust passage; each of the exhaust passages of 1 leading to a common exhaust passage.
(f) an adjustable flow control valve with a valve body is operatively attached to the valve adjacent each of said respective exhaust passageway bores and includes a bore defining a valve seat at an end thereof; (g) said valve body is movable into and out of each adjacent passageway bore for controlling the flow of air from the exhaust chamber into the common exhaust passageway and out of a single exhaust port; a valve body having a common wire passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; (h) said valve body having a wire tuck chamber on each side of said common wire passageway for receiving leads from said common wire passageway; and (i) each of said adjustable flow control valves being laterally disposed, said flow control valves extending inwardly from opposite sides of said valve body. 2. The four-way air valve of claim 1, wherein each of the adjustable flow control valves is operatively attached to a valve body. 3. The four-way air valve of claim 1, wherein the adjustable flow control valves are coplanar and their longitudinal axes are laterally offset from each other. 4. Each of the adjustable flow control valves supports a valve stem in a respective exhaust passageway bore and extends outside the valve body to adjust the valve stem and valve body to control exhaust flow into the common exhaust passageway. Claim 1 comprising a valve stem having an outer end.
Four-way air valve as described in Section. 5. The four-way air valve of claim 2, wherein said means for moving said main valve spool to at least one operative position comprises a solenoid operated pilot air valve. 6. The four-way air valve of claim 5, wherein the valve body includes a wire passageway leading the wire to a solenoid-operated pilot air valve and thus to a solenoid that operates the pilot air valve. 7. The valve body is T-shaped in end front view and has an upper end wider than a lower end, and a common wire passageway, a wire tuck chamber and an adjustable flow control valve are disposed in the wide upper end, and the solenoid actuation 7. The four-way air valve according to claim 6, wherein the pilot air valve is fixed to the lower end of the valve body. 8 (a) a plurality of stacked valves are adjacent and aligned between a pair of end plates; and (b) each valve body has pressurized air communicating with the air supply chamber and the pressurized air inlet passage of an adjacent valve in the valve stack. (c) a pressurized air inlet passage in each valve body adjacent to said end plate communicates with a pressurized air inlet passage and a port in an adjacent end plate; and (d) a common exhaust passage in each valve body. each communicates with a common exhaust passage in adjacent valves in the valve stack; (e) each of the common exhaust passages of each valve body adjacent to said end plate communicates with an exhaust passage and port in an adjacent end plate; A plurality of stacked four-way air valves as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that f) releasable coupling means secure the stacked valve bodies together to said end plate. 9. The multiple stacked four-way air valve of claim 8, wherein the adjustable flow control valve is operatively mounted to a valve body. 10. A plurality of stacked four-way air valves according to claim 7, wherein said means for moving the main valve spool to at least one operative position comprises a solenoid operated pilot air valve. 11 (a) each of said valve bodies includes a pair of common pilot air passages respectively extending therethrough, at least one of said common pilot air passages communicating with a solenoid operated pilot air valve via a passage within said valve body; ) each of a pair of common pilot air passages in each valve adjacent to an end plate communicates with a pair of pilot air passages in an adjacent end plate, and (c) each of said end plates communicates with a pair of common pilot air passages in an adjacent end plate; 11. A four-way air valve as claimed in claim 10, including means for selectively connecting to respective sources of pressurized air or pressurized air inlet passages in the end plate. 12 (a) each of said valve bodies includes a common pilot exhaust passage; (b) each of the common pilot exhaust passages in each valve body communicates with the common pilot exhaust passage of adjacent valves in the valve stack; c) each of the common pilot exhaust passages in each valve body is connected by an exhaust passage to at least one solenoid-operated pilot air valve; and (d) each of the common pilot exhaust passages in each valve body adjacent to the end plate is 12. The four-way air valve of claim 11, wherein the four-way air valve communicates with a pilot exhaust passage and port in an adjacent end plate.