US1790168A - Control valve for car doors - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l A. F. PAUL Jan. 27, 1931.

CONTROL VALVE FOR CAR DOORS Filed June 6 1925 A. F. PAUL Jan. 27, 1931;

CONTROL VALVEFOR CAR DOORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1925 owntor Q E Patented Jan. 27, '1931 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE ABRAM FRANK PAUL, F UPPER DARBY BRANCH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL PNEUMATIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA CONTROL VALVE FOR CAR DOORS Application filed June 6,

I ployed, the doors are individually controlled through'separate valves each having its own operating handle and this arrangement is duplicated for each door.

The object of the present invention is to provide a valve adapted to control in a truly selective manner the opening and closing of each of a plurality of doors individually. In other words. it is the purpose of this invention to provide for the selective operation of a plurality of doors through the utilization of a single valve having a single control handle. This, so far as I am aware, has never before been accomplished.

While the invention may partake of different practical forms, its underlying principle contemplates, generally speaking, the employment of a valve comprising a casing having a compressed air inlet duct and an exhaust duct, and also embodying a number of ports which individually communicate with the pneumatic engines of the doors to be controlled. The ports terminate in a common surface over which a cup valve is mounted for sliding movement and is adapted to be manually shifted by a single handle to partake of different positions. The ports are so disposed with reference to one another and to the exhaust duct that through movement of the sliding cup, oneor more ports may be placed in communication with the ex; haust duct, while additional ports will be in communication with the pressure duct.

\Vhile the invention is shown as applied to door motors, it is to be understood that it can be used in connection with any fluid pressure system where selective control is desired. Furthermore, while I have shown my invention as applied to a pneumatic system. it is to be understood that I do not desire to be limited or restricted thereto, as the features thereof may be equally well applied in various'other systems, tor example, in an 1925. Serial No. 35,497.

electrical control system and my claims are, therefore, to be viewed in this light.

The valve is so connected with the respective pneumatic motors that through sliding movement of the cup, the motors can be individually or collectively controlled merely through the manipulation of the unitary handle.

The construction is unusually simple and enables me to employ a single valve to accomplish in a more efficient and expeditious manner what has heretofore required the use of several valves to accomplish.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown by the accompanying drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 shows a valve casing embodying the i present invention in central section and in this view the sliding cup is also shown in central section in the interest of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a view looking from the right hand side of Fig. 1 with the end plate of the valve casing and the sliding cup and operating arm removed. In this view, moreover, I have shown diagrammatically the manner in which the pneumatic engines of four doors are operatively connected with the valve.

Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of a bottom plate of the casing.

Figure 4 is .a view similar to Figure, 2,'but showing a modified form of construction for selectively controlling two door engines.

Figure 5 is a detail showing of the connection between the operating arm and the sliding cup and Figure 6 is a section on the line 6.-6 of Figure 5.

Referring first to the construction of Figures 1, 2 and 3, the valve casing is shown as comprising the valve body 1, end plates 2 and 3, and a bottom plate 4. These plates are held in place by suitable bolts or studs, so as to firmly hold the parts in assembled relation.

One face 5 of the valve-body 1 is-machined true and over thisface is adapted to slide a sealing member 6, shown in the form of a cup. The open side of the cup is ground true to slideover the face 5 and the cup is held in engagement with said face by means of a spring 7 which acts upon a follower 8 hearing against the on A set screw or plug 9 is threaded into t e end plate 3 and bears against the end of the spring 7 to place it under the desired tension in order that it may force the follower against the cup and hold the cup against the face 5 of the valve body.

Movement is imparted to the cup 6 by an operating arm 10 which is provided intermediate its ends with a spherical portion 11, interfitted .with two semi spherical seats formed between the valve body and the end plate 2, so that these seats form with the part 11, a ball and socket joint to mount the operating arm for universal movement. From one side of the spherical part 11 the operating arm extends into a socket 12 formed in the center of a cup and said arm has a rounded end provided with radially extending lugs 13 working in slots 14 in the hub at the center of the cup, so that the cup is locked against rotation to the operating arm, but is capable of sliding movement over the entire surface 5. A handle 14 is associated with the other end of the operating arm and serves as a prime mover for actuating the cup.

Compressed air for operating the several door engines is fed to the hollow interior of the end plate 3 through a pipe 15 and a passage 16 formed in said end plate and said pressure circulates broadcast throughout the chamber 17 which is interiorly of the end plate and in which chamber the slide cup travels.

The center of the body 1 is cut away as shown at 18, so that the operating arm may extend therethrough and from the side of this cut away portion at any convenient point extends a passage 19 which leads to the lower face 20 of the valve body and constitutes the common exhaust for spent air. A number of additional passages are formed in the valve body 1 and extend from the surface 5 to the surface 20 and while the number of these passages will of course vary as the number of doors to be controlled will vary, I have shown, for the purpose of illustration, eight passages for controlling the operations of four doors. The engines by which these doors are operated are diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 2 and are designated A,

B, C, and D. Each has the usual piston and in Order to operate them pneumatically the opposite ends of each engine cylinder is provided with a pneumatic connection for the communication of pressure to the respective ends of the piston.

' gine cylinders lead to the face 5 and the engines are controlled by moving the sliding cup over said face. There are thus eight passages formed in the valve body in addition to the single, exhaust'passagelt) and these passages will now be specifically designated.

Passages 21 and 21a lead to the respective ends of the cylinder of the engine A. The passages 22 and 22a lead to the respective ends of the cylinder of the engine B. The passages 23 and 28a lead to the respective ends of the cylinder of the engine C, and the passages 24 and24a lead to the respective ends of the cylinders of the engine I).

It will be noted that the outer series of ports of the passages 21, 22, 23 and 24 are juxtaposed with the inner series of ports 24a, 23a, 22a and 21a, respectively, but are spaced apart in'a radial direction, while the two ports of each engine are on diametrically opposite sides of the center of the arrangen'ient with one port for each cylinder in the outer series and the other port of the corresponding engine in the inner series. The ports are so disposed with respect to one another, and the sliding cup 6 so proportioned, that when the cup occupies the central position shown in dot and dish lines in Figure 2, all the ports 22a, 21a, 23a and 21a will be within the hollow of the cup, while the remaining ports 21, 24 and 23 will be exterior of the cup. In other Words, the ports 22a, 24a, 23a and 21a will be placed in communication, through the interior of the cup and the cutaway portion 18 of the valve body, to the common exhaust passage 19 and at the same time the ports 21, 22, 24 and 23 will be in open communication with the pressure from the pressure passage 16. The motors are so connected that when the ports are in this relation, all of the doors will be closed. i

It will be apparent, however, that if the handle 14 is lowered to move the sliding cup 6 straight up in Figure 2 to bring both the ports 21 and 24a interiorly of the cup and both the ports 21a and 24 exteriorly of the cup, the relationship between the ports 22 and 23 and 22a and 23a will remain the same as a before, but the port 21a will have been placed in communication with the pressure chamber while the port 21 will have been placed in communication with the exhaust passage. Accordingly, pressure will act through the duct 21a to move the poston of the pneumatic motor A in a direction to effect the opening of the corresponding door. If the movement of the handle which has been described is now reversed so that the parts are brought back to initial position, the initial relationship between the sliding cup and the ports will result so that the piston of the engine A will be returned to its initial position.

I If it is desired to simultaneously open both out.

the doors associated with the engines A and B, the handle is moved to shift the cup 6 in an upward diagonal direction, so that while scribed, to effect the door opening operation of the engine A and at the same time, pressure will act through the port 22a to effect the door opening operation of the engine B, while both of said engines will be simultaneously vented through the ports and passages 21 and 22.

In like manner any one or two doors may be simultaneously opened by moving the sliding cup out of its central position. Any door may be immediately closed or all doors maybe simultaneously closed by bringing the cup to the central position. I will not attempt to describe all the different combinations which may be obtained as they will be clear to those skilled in the art. The operations which I have described in this connection, however, are illustrative of many which can be carried I find it desirable to provide a slight depression 25 at the center of the outer face of the cup 6, so that when the cup is in its central position, the follower 8 will seat in this depression, as clearly shown in Figure 5, and ho d the cup against inadvertent shifting.

' It may be here noted that the plate 4 isshown as formed separate from the valve This is for the purpose of facilitating the connection of piping from the several engines, although, in

practice, the piping may be connecteddirect- 1y to the valve body.

In Figure 4, I have shown a slightly different arrangement for the controlling of the engines of two doors. In this showing 26 is a pressure duct and 27 the exhaust passage which leads from the central cut away portion to the valve body. 6' is a sliding cup constructed as previously described. F oureating with the engine E and the ducts 28 and 30 communicating with the ends of the engine F. When the cup 6 is in the position shown in this figure, the passages 28 and 31 are in communication with the exhaust 27 through the interior of the cup, While the passages 29 and 30 are in communication exteriorly of the cup with the pressure duct 26. Accordingly, the door-engine F will be in a position to maintain the door open and the door engine E will be in a position to maintain the door E closed. Now, if it is desired to close the door F, while the door E is maintained closed, the cup is slid through movement of the handle, as before, in a downward direction to uncover the passage 28 and cover the passage 30. Pressure will thereupon be admitted through the passage 28 to actuate the engine in the opposite direction, while the other end of the engine is simultaneously vented through the passage 30, so that both doors will be closed. If it should be desired to open the door E without opening the door F, the cup is moved to simultaneously cover the passages 29 and 28 and to uncover the passages 30 and 31, whereupon the engine E will be operated to open the door.

In like manner,'the sliding cup may be operated to control the door selectively, although both doors may be opened and closed "simultaneously as will be apparent to those.

skilled in the art.

Valves embodying the present invention are of great utility for controlling car doors because of the many combinations of door operations of which they are capable. For example, in a four door car, it is possible to open and close the two front doors selectively,'or the two doors on the right hand side of the car selectively, or the two doors on the left hand side of the car selectively, or the two doors at the rear of the car selectively.

The arrangement is highly desirable on cars of the Boston type used in subways where there are island platforms and where at one station a selective control of the doors on one side of the car may be desired and at another station the selective control of the doors at the opposite side of the car should be made.

On some of the modern cars, there are as many as eight doors engines and in such a case only two of my valves would be necessary per car to control selectively the eight door en-' gines in the grouping that would be desirable for traflic conditions. For instance, the four doors onthe front platform could be selectively controlled or the four doors on the right hand side of the car could be grouped into one valve, or the four doors on the left hand side of the car grouped to the other valve,

so that a very effective control of all of thedoors might be selectively obtained through the employment of two valves, whereas heretofore as many as eight valves have been used in cars of this type.

I have referred in the foregoing detailed description to the depression 25 at the center of the sliding cup to be engaged by the follower 8 when the cup is in a central position in the construction of Figures 1 to 3. 'In' some cases, it may be desirable to have as many depressions in the outer face of the cup as there are operative positions of the Valve, so that the follower willengage with one of these depressions in any of its operative positions,'in order to hold the cup against inadvertent shifting. This and other details of construction will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is therefore not limited to the specific structures shown, but is to be considered as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Therefore, having now set forth the objects and nature of my invention, and having shown-and described an operative structure embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent .is:

1. A valve comprising a valve body provided with a smooth face from which extend a plurality of ducts, a hollow cup mounted to slide over. said face, a universally mounted handle connected to said cup to shift the cup over the surface and into different positions to effect a plurality of passages in communication with one another through the interior of the cup and to simultaneously effect a second plurality of passages in communication with one another without the cup.

2. A valve comprising a valve body having a smooth surface from which extend a plurality of passages, a hollow cup slidable over said surface, the interior of which cup is at all times in communication with an exhaust duct, a housing for enclosing the cup and the ends of all of said passages, the interior of which housing is in constant communication with a source of fluid under pressure, and 'means including a universally mounted handle for translating the cup over said surface in any direction to place one or more of the passages in communication with the exhaust duct, and to simultaneously permit fluid under pressure to pass through tit other of said passages.

A valve comprising a valve body having a smooth surface from which extend a plurality of passages, a hollow cup slidable over said surface, the interior of which cup is at all times in communication with an exhaust duct. a housing for enclosing the cup and the ends of all of said passages, the interior of which housing is in constant communication with a source of fluid under pressure, an operating member mounted for universal movement, one end of the operating member being secured to the cup and the other end of the operating member being provided with a manually operable handle, whereby the cup maybe shifted in any direction over said surface by manipulation of the handle for the purpose of placing one or more of the passages in communication with the exhaust port and for simultaneously permitting fluid under pressure to pass through other of said passages. 4. A valve comprising a valve body hav-' ing a smooth surface from which extend a plurality of passages, a hollow cup slidable over said surface, the interior of which cup is at all times in communication with an exhaust duct, a housing for enclosing the cup and the ends of all of said passages, the interior of which housing is in constant communication with a source of fluid under pressure, an operating member mounted f or universal nuwement, one end of the operating member being secured to the cup against relative rotation with respect thereto, and the other end of the operating member be ing provided with a manually operable handle, whereby the cup may be translated in any direction over said surface bymanipn: lation of the handle for the purpose of placing one or more of the passages in communication with the exhaust duct and for simultaneously permitting fluid under pressure to pass through other of said passages.

5. A valve comprising a valve body having a smooth surface from which extend a plurality of passages, a-hollow cup slidable over said surface, the interior of which cup is at all times incommunication with an exhaust duct,a housing for enclosing the cup and the endsof all of said passages, the interior of which housing is in constant communication with a source of fluid under pressure, an operating member mounted for universal movement, one end of the operating member being secured to the cup and the other end of the operating member being provided with a manually operable handle, whereby the cup may be shifted in any direction over said surface by manipulation of the handle forthe purpose of placing one or more of the passages in communication with the exhaust port and for simultaneously permitting fluid under pressure to pass through other of said passages, and a spring pressed plunger carried by the housing and bearing against the cup to maintain said cup at all times in engagement with said surface under elastic pressure. p

-(S. In an assembly of the character described, the combination with a plurality of door operating engines, of a valve having a 'alve body provided with a smooth surface from whicha plurality of passages lead to the opposite ends of the respective door engines, a hollow cup mounted to slide over said surface, the interior of said cup being in constant comnumication with an exhaust port, a housing associated with the valve body and covering the free ends of the passages and the cup and having an interior chamber in constant communication with the source of fluid under pressure, and universally mounted means connected to said cup for translating the same in any direction over said surface to place one or more of the passages in connnunication with the exhaust duct and to simultaneously uncover other passages to permit the flow of compressed air through said latter passages to the uoor engine or engines.

7. In an assembly of the character described, the combination with a plurality of door operatingengines, of a valve having a valve body provided with asmooth surface from which a plurality of passages lead to the'opposite ends of the respective door engines, a hollow cup mounted to slide over said surface, the interior of said cup being in constant communication with an exhaust duet, a housing associated with the valve body and covering the free ends of the passages and the cup and having an interior chamber in constant communication with the source of fluid under pressure, and a manually operable controller member for translating the cup over said surface to place one or more of the passages in communication with the exhaust duct and to simultaneously uncover other passages to permit the flow of compressed air through said latter passages to the door engine or engines.

- 8. In an assembly of the character described, the combination with a plurality of door operating engines, of a valve having a valve body provided with a smooth surface from which a plurality of passages lead to the opposite ends of the respective door engines, a hollow cup mounted to slide and translate over said surface, the interior of said cup being in constant communication with an exhaust duct, a housing associated with the valve body and covering the free ends of the passages and the cup and having an interior chamber in constant communication with the source of fluid under pressure, means for shifting the cup in any direction over said surface to place one or more of the passages in communication with the exhaust duct and to simultaneously uncover other passages to permit the flow of compressed air through said latter passages to the door engine or engines, and a spring pressed plunger carried by the housing and bearing against the cup to maintain the latter at all times in engagement with said surface under elastic pressure.

9. The combination with a plurality of door operating engines, of a valve mechanism for controlling said engines including a valve seat and a rectangular hollow cup adapted to slidable translation over said seat, and a universally mounted operating member connected to said cup internally thereof to cause the same to slide over said surface and selectively control the engines connected to said valve.

10. The combination with a plurality of translation over said seat, an inlet port and an exhaust port connected tosaid valve and so disposed that the exhaust port is always within said cup while fluid pressure from the inlet port is always without said cup, a plurality of passages opening into the valve seat some within and some without the'cup, and means including a universally mounted handle for translating said cup to selectively make communication between desired passages.

12. The structure recited in claim 11 characterized in that the valve seat is carried in a housing which provides means for supporting the universally mounted handle.

13. A valve comprising a valve seat, a rectangular hollow cup adapted to slidable translation over said seat, an inlet port and anexhaust port connected to said valve and so disposed that the exhaust port is always within said cup while fluid pressure from the inlet port is always without said cup, a plurality of passages opening into the valve seat normally out of communication with each other, some within and some without the cup, and means including a universally mounted handle attached to said cup to selectively place in communication at least four normally non-communicating passages.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 1st day of June A. D., 1925.

A. FRANK PAUL.

door operating engines, of a valve meeha 11. Avalve comprising a valve seat, a rectangular hollow cup adapted to slidable

Images