US2717492A

US2717492A - Fluid pressure actuated apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2717492A
Application number: US276927A
Authority: US
Inventors: Orion T Quinn
Original assignee: ORION T QUINN JR
Current assignee: ORION T QUINN JR
Priority date: 1952-03-17
Filing date: 1952-03-17
Publication date: 1955-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1972-09-13

Description

INVENTOR. 7': Quinn ,4 zzarn e Sept. 13, 1955 o. T. QUINN FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATED APPARATUS Filed March 17, 1952 2,717,492 Patented Sept. 13, 1955 FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATEI) APPARATUS Orion T. Quinn, Bell, Calif., assignor to Orion T. Quinn, Jr., Montebello, Calif.

Application March 17, 1952, Serial No. 276,927

7 Claims. (Cl. 60-52) This invention has to do with fluid pressure actuated apparatus, and it is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, practical improved construction and arrangement of elements employing fluid under pressure.

There are numerous situations where fluid under pressure; for example, liquid under high pressure, is employed for the application of force or pressure to work and where dependable accurate control of the action obtained is essential. For purpose of example I will refer to presses such as are employed for the baling or pressing of materials and more specifically I will refer to the head or platen of a press which element is adapted to be operated by a cylinder and piston mechanism handling liquid under pressure.

It is a general object of this invention to provide apparatus handling fluid under pressure and which is such that it can be used to advantage to actuate a press platen, or the like, and which is such as to handle liquid under high-pressure, say, for example, at a thousand pounds per square inch or more, rapidly and without hammering or other undesirable action occurring.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the general character referred to wherein the actuating liquid under high-pressure is handled by simple, practical, dependable valves coupled by a means that maintains them set or positioned oppositely and results in their being operated simultaneously and oppositely, for example, so that one opens as the other closes.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character referred to in which the high pressure operating liquid is handled by a valve means that operates so that there is no jarring or hammering in the structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the general character referred to combining a high-pressure liquid system and a low-pressure pneumatic system so that the liquid under high pressure is confined to the execution of work requiring high pres- M sure, while the low pressure pneumatic system is utilized for the actuation of the various controls incorporated in the system.

In a typical embodiment of the invention there is a main cylinder and piston mechanism provided to perform the desired work and adapted to be operated by liquid under high pressure. A liquid reservoir carries a supply of liquid handled by a pump which operates to deliver the liquid at a high pressure, and a main liquid line is supplied by the pump and has a cylinder branch extending to the cylinder of the main cylinder and piston mechanism and a reservoir branch extending to the liquid reservoir. Like rotary valves, preferably simple plug valves, are connected in the branches and control flow therethrough, and a check valve is provided in the cylinder branch between the valve located therein and the main cylinder. A liquid exhaust line extends from the cylinder branch between the check valve and the main cylinder to the reservoir, and an exhaust valve is provided in the exhaust line. A pneumatically actuated means couples the valves provided in the branches of the main liquid line, while the valves are set oppositely and operate synchronously and oppositely. Another or second pneumatically actuated means is provided to operate the exhaust valve. A return means is provided in connection with the main cylinder and piston mechanism to return the piston thereof to an unactuated position. An air reservoir is supplied with air under pressure by a suitable pump, and a main air line is supplied with air from the reservoir. An air distributing means connects the main air line and the actuating means coupling the valves in the branches of the main liquid line and includes a reversible valve for eifecting selective flow of air to and from the said actuating means to eflect operation thereof in either direction. A second air distributing means connects the main air line and the second actuating means operating the exhaust valve and includes a reversible valve by which air from the main line is utilized to effect actuation of the exhaust line as desired, and an extension of the main air line supplies air to the reversing means tending to normally return the main piston to an unactuatecl position.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the apparatus incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of the apparatus, being a view illustrating one of the rotary valves handling high pressure liquid and showing certain parts connected therewith and being a view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a bypass means by which the pressure delivered into the high pressure liquid handling parts is regulated.

The apparatus provided by this invention can be employed to advantage in numerous situations and particularly where liquid under high pressure is utilized to perform work, as for example, the actuation of a rod employed to operate a press platen, or to operate any mechanism requiring power operation. In the present disclosure I set forth a main fluid pressure actuated means, or mechanism A, in the form of a main cylinder and piston mechanism, the rod 16 of which the part or parts requiring power operation. The main mechanism A, as illustrated in the drawing, includes a main cylinder 11 and a main piston 12 in the main cylinder 11 and operating the rod it). The rod 10 extends through a head 13 of the cylinder at an end of the cylinder that is vented, and a liquid inlet port 14 is provided at the head 15 occurring at the other end of the cylinder.

There is a liquid reservoir B adapted to carry a suitable supply of liquid such as oil or water, and a high pressure power operated pump C receives liquid from reservoir B and delivers it to a main high pressure liquid line D. The main high pressure liquid line D has what may be termed a cylinder branch 18 extending to the cylinder 11 of the mechanism A and adapted to deliver liquid under pressure to the cylinder 11 through the port 14. The high pressure line D has a branch 19 extending to the reservoir B.

In practice the pressure of liquid delivered by pump C can be suitably regulated or governed so that pressure of liquid in the main line D is maintained at a suitable, or predetermined, value. In the case illustrated a by-pass connection 20 is provided from the pump C to the reservoir B and is shown equipped with a simple or typical pressure regulating mechanism 21.

In accordance with the present invention like valves E and F are provided in the branches 18 and 19, respectively, of the main liquid line E. In the preferred form of the invention the valves E and F are of like form or type, and they may be of like size or capacity. In accordance with the invention, these valves are of the rotary type it being preferred to employ ordinary or conventional plug valves. As shown in the drawings each of these valves includes a body with parts of the main fluid handling line connected into opposite sides thereof, while a plug 26 is rotatable in the body and has a central transverse port 27 adapted to be moved into and out of position where it passes flow through the body. The plug can be rotated in the body between a position where the port 27 is In a closed position and all flow through the valve is stopped and a position where the port is open for full, free flow of fluid through the structure. A stem 28 projects from the plug 26 providing an element of the structure by which the plug, or valve, can be operated.

.In accordance with the present invention, a check valve .6 is provided in the cylinder branch of the main liquid handling line D and is located between the valve E and the cylinder 11 of the main mechanism A. The check valve serves to allow flow only toward or to the cylinder 11.

A liquid exhaust line H connects with the cylinder branch 18 between the check valve G and the cylinder 11 and extends from that point to the reservoir B. An exhaust valve J is connected in the exhaust line H and in practice is preferably a rotary, or plug valve, corresponding in form or construction with the valves E and F hereinabove described.

The elements thus far described are what may be termed the main, or principal, elements of the apparatus and are adapted to handle or to be operated by liquid under high pressure. It is recognized that the pressure at which liquid operates in the apparatus thus far described may vary widely. However, in most applications of the invention and in typical situations the pressure of liquid as delivered by the pump C will be in the neighborhood of a thousand pounds per square inch, or more, and when I employ the term high pressure I refer to pressure of that general order.

In the preferred form of the invention the apparatus employs elements handling fluid at what may be termed low pressure and although the fluid thus employed may if desired be liquid, it is preferred that it be air and it will be, therefore, described as being air. In the preferred form of apparatus an air actuated operating means K is provided for the valves E and F, and this means preferably couples the valves E and F so that they are oppositely set or related and so that they operate in synchronism. When one valve is, for example, closed, the other is opened.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the means K involves an operating bar 30 coupled by means 31 to the stems 28 of the valves E and F and is adapted to be operated by suitable pressure actuated means 32. The bar 3.0 is suitably mounted to reciprocate, and the means 32 as shown in the drawings includes a cylinder 33 and a piston 34 in the cylinder 33 and connected to the bar 30. Each means .31 includes a rack 31 on the bar meshing with Pinion 31' on the stern of a valve.

An air actuated operating means L is provided for operating the exhaust valve J, and in the case illustrated it is shown as including a bar mounted to reciprocate and coupled by a means 42 to the stem 41 of valve 1. A means 43 operates the bar 40 and is preferably a cylinder and piston mechanism including a cylinder 44 and a piston 45 operating in cylinder 44 and having the bar 40 connected to it. Means 42 includes a rack 42 on bar 40 :meshing with a pinion 42* on the stem of valve J.

A return means .M is provided and is adapted to return the piston 12 of the main mechanism A to an unactuated position. In the case illustrated the means M is a cylinder and piston mechanism including a cylinder 50,

piston 51 operating in the cylinder, and a rod 52 attached to the piston 51 and coupled to the main rod 10 by a suitable bracket 53.

Where the low pressure fluid employed is air, the invention provides an air reservoir 55 and a pump 56 is provided supplying air at a suitable pressure to the reservoir 55. A main air line 57 is connected to and is supplied with air from the reservoir 55.

An air distributing means 60 connects the main air line 57 and the cylinder and piston means 32. The air distributing means 60 includes distributing lines 61 and 62 connected to opposite ends of cylinder 33 and a control valve 63 connecting the lines 61 and 62 with the main air line 57 and an exhaust 68, so that air under pressure from the main air line 57 can be delivered to either one of the distributing lines while it is exhausted from the other distributing line. In Fig. 1 of the drawings the control valve 63 is indicated as a simple plug type selector valve and is shown set so that air under pressure from the main air line 57 is delivered to distributing line 62 applying pressure above piston 34 while the distributing line 61, connected to the lower end of cylinder 32, is opened to the exhaust 68 so that air is free to escape from the lower end of cylinder 33. As a result of this setting, the piston 34 is operated as shown in Fig. 1 to a down position where valve E in the cylinder branch 18 of liquid line D is open while valve F in the reservoir branch 19 of line D is closed. When the position of valve 63 is reversed, flow of air to the cylinder 32 is reversed, causing piston 34 to move to the upper end of cylinder 32 with consequent reversal of the valves E and F, so valve E is closed and valve F is open.

A second air distributing means 70 is provided and connects the main air line 57 and the cylinder and piston mechanism 43 as indicated in Fig. l of the drawings. The air distributing means '70 includes distributing

lines

71 and 72 connected to opposite ends of cylinder 44 and a control valve 73 connects

lines

71 and 72 with the main air line 57 and with an exhaust 78. The control valve in practice corresponds in construction and action with the control valve 63 above-described so that air under pressure from line 57 can be admitted to either end of cyl'mder 44 while it is exhausted from the opposite end thereof. When the control valve 73 is set as illustrated in Fig. l, the piston 45 is up in cylinder 44 and the exhaust valve I is closed, whereas when the valve 73 is reversed the piston 43 is moved to a down position with consequent opening of the valve 1.

An extension of the main air line 57 connects to one end of cylinder 59 of means M, and in the case illustrated air from the main line 57 is constantly acting in cylinder 5.0 tending to urge piston 51 in cylinder 50 so that the rod 52 operates to move rod 10 and return the main piston 12 to an unactuated position, or to the left in Fig. 1.

In a typical practical installation the cylinder 11 will be of substantial size, and the liquid supplied thereto to actuate piston 12 is under a high pressure, say for example, a pressure .of about a thousand pounds per square inch, or more, whereas the cylinder 50 is much smaller than cylinder 11, and the air employed in the system and supplied by the main line 57 is under a low pressure, say .a pressure of about a hundred to one hundred twentyfive pounds per square inch. The air acting in cylinder 50 serves, however, to effectively return the piston 12 to an unactuated position when the valve E is closed and the valve J is opened. When valves E and I are both closed, as for instance, following operation of the piston 12 by pressure admitted through valve E, the air acting in cylinder 50 will not cause movement of the piston 12 in cylinder 11.

With the construction and arrangement provided by the present invention, assuming valve I can be closed, the control valve 63 can be positioned so that air from line 57 operates the means K so that valve E is open and valve F is closed. Under this condition fluid, for example, liquid under pressure from pump C, flows through valve E and past valve G and into the cylinder 11 moving the piston 12 outward therein, so that rod 10 moves in a manner to perform the desired useful work. When the desired movement or stroke of the rod 1%) has been completed, the control valve 63 can be reversed with resulting operation of means K so that valve E is closed and valve F is opened. The valves E and F, being rotary or plug type valves, can be rapidly reversed through operation of means K without resulting hammer such as occurs in apparatus of this general character when ordinary valve arrangements are employed. The plug valves when operated, simultaneously and even though op'erated, quickly result in gradual opening and closing so that the flow through the branches 18 and 19 of line D changes, that is,-is opened or stopped, not instantly but gradually.

It is also to be observed that the means K being acmated by air and being such as to include the cylinder and piston mechanism, or means 32, necessarily causes operation of the valves E and F yieldingly as distinguished from positively and thus aids in eliminating hammer that is so undesirable in systems of this general character. It is to be observed, however, that the air under pressure from the line 57 acts through the cylinder and piston mechanism 32 to effectively and dependably operate the bar of means K so that the valves E and F are operated as desired.

When the piston 12 and consequently the rod 10 of mechanism A has been operated to the desired position, the control valve 63 can be reversed so that means K ouerates to close the valve E and open the valve F. This results in the output from the pump C being returned to the reservoir B while the liquid passed by valve E is trapped and holds the piston 12 in the position to which it has been actuated. When it is desired to release the piston E for return or operation by the means M, the control valve 73 is operated so that means L reverses or opens the exhaust valve I. When valve J is opened, the fluid from the cylinder 11 is freely returned to the reservoir B and the air acting in cylinder 50 effects return of the piston 12 to an unactuated position in cylinder 11.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a cylinder and piston mechanism, a liquid reservoir, a pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir and deliver it under pressure, a liquid carrying line adapted to receive liquid under pressure from the pump and having a cylinder branch extending to said mechanism and a reservoir branch extending to the reservoir, a rotary valve in each of said branches of the liquid carrying line, actuating means adapted to operate said valves and including a fluid pressure actuated I.

mechanical mechanism positively coupling the valves with one open and the other closed and adapted to operate the valves synchronously and oppositely, an exhaust line from the cylinder branch between the valve in the cylinder branch and the first mentioned mechanism to the reservoir, and an exhaust valve in the exhaust line adapted to operate independently of the other valves and adapted to be operated between open and closed positions.

2. In combination, a cylinder and piston mechanism, a liquid reservoir, a pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir and deliver it under pressure, a liquid carrying line adapted to receive liquid under pressure from the pump and having a cylinder branch extending to said mechanism and a reservoir branch extending to the reservoir, a rotary valve in each of said branches of the liquid carrying line, actuating means adapted to operate said valves and including a fluid pressure actuated positive mechanical means coupling the valves with one open and the other closed and adapted to operate the valves simultaneously and oppositely, a fluid pressure actuated check valve in the cylinder branch between the rotary valve in the cylinder branch and the said mechanism and adapted to pass liquid to the first mentioned mechanism, and an exhaust line from the cylinder branch between the check valve and the first mentioned mecha nism to the reservoir, and an exhaust valve in the exhaust line and adapted to be operated between open and closed positions independently of the other valves.

3. In combination, a cylinder and piston mechanism, a liquid reservoir, a pump adapted to receive liquid from said reservoir and deliver it under pressure, a liquid carrying line adapted to receive liquid under pressure from the pump and having a cylinder branch extending to said mechanism and a reservoir branch extending to 3 the reservoir, a rotary valve in each of said branches of the liquid carrying line, actuating means adapted to operate said valves and including a fluid pressure actuated mechanism coupling the valves with one open and the other closed and adapted to operate the valves synchronously and oppositely, air distributing means adapted to receive air under pressure from the last mentioned means and to supply air to and conduct it from said fluid pressure actuated mechanism and including a reversible control valve, fluid pressure actuated reversing means for the first mentioned mechanism, and means supplying air under pressure from the supplying means to the reversing means.

4. In combination, a cylinder and piston mechanism, a liquid reservoir, a pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir and deliver it under pressure, a liquid carrying line adapted to receive liquid under pressure from the pump and having a cylinder branch extending to said mechanism and a reservoir branch extending to the reservoir, a rotary valve in each of said branches of the liquid carrying line, actuating means adapted to operate said rotary valves and including a fluid pressure actuated mechanism coupling the valves with one open and the other closed and adapted to operate the valves synchronously and oppositely, an exhaust line from the cylinder branch between the valve in the cylinder branch and the first mentioned mechanism to the reservoir, an exhaust valve in the exhaust line and adapted to be operated between open and closed positions, actuating means adapted to operate the exhaust valve, air supplying means adapted to supply air under pressure, and a separate air distributing means from the air supplying means to each of said actuating means and each including a reversing valve.

5. In combination, a cylinder and piston mechanism, a liquid reservoir, a pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir and deliver it under pressure, a liquid carrying line adapted to receive liquid under pressure from the pump and having a cylinder branch extending to said mechanism and a reservoir branch extending to the reservoir, a rotary valve in each of said branches of the liquid carrying line, actuating means adapted to operate said rotary valves and including a fluid pressure actuated mechanism coupling the valves with one open and the other closed and adapted to operate the valves synchronously and oppositely, an exhaust line from the cylinder branch between the valve in the cylinder branch and the first mentioned mechanism to the reservoir, an exhaust valve in the exhaust line and adapted to be operated between open and closed positions, actuating means adapted to operate the exhaust valve, air supplying means adapted to supply air under pressure, a separate air distributing means from the air supplying means to each of said actuating means and each including a reversing valve, fluid pressure actuated reversing means for the first mentioned mechanism, and means supplying air under pressure trom the air supplying means to the reversing means.

6.. In combination, a work unit including a main cylinder, a main piston in said cylinder and a main rod attached to said piston and projecting from one end of said cylinder, a reservoir adapted to carry liquid, a liquid pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir, a main liquid line adapted to be supplied with liquid by said pump and having a cylinder branch extending to the other end of said cylinder and reservoir branch extending to said reservoir, like rotary plug valves in said branches ofthe main liquid line, a check valve in the cylinder branch between the valve in the cylinder branch and said cylinder, 2 liquid exhaust line from the cylinder branch between the check valve and said cylinder to the reservoir, an exhaust valve in the exhaust line, an air actuated operating means coupling the valves in the branches of the main liquid line whereby they are oppositely set and operate synchronously and oppositely, a second air actuated operating means adapted to operate the exhaust valve, return means adapted to return said piston to the said other end of said cylinder and including a return cylinder and a return piston in the return cylinder and coupled with said rod, an air reservoir, an air pump adapted to maintain air under pressure in the air reservoir, a main air line adapted to be supplied with air from the air reservoir, an air distributing means from the main air line to the first mentioned air actuated operating means and including a control valve adapted to effect selective flow of air to and from said first mentioned air actuated means to eifect operation thereof in either direction, and a second air distributing means from the main air line to the second air actuated operating means and including a reversible valve adapted to eltect selective fiow of air to and from said second air actuated operating means to effect opening and closing of the exhaust valve, the main air line having an extension adapted to supply operating air to the return cylinder.

7, In combination, a work unit including a main piston in said cylinder and a main rod attached to said piston and projecting from one end of said cylinder, a reservoir adapted to carry liquid, a liquid pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir, a main liquid line adapted to be supplied with liquid by said pump and having a cylinder branch extending to the other end of said cylinder and a reservoir branch extending to said reservoir, like rotary plug valves in said branches of the main liquid line, a check valve in the cylinder branch between the valve in the cylinder branch and said cylinder, a liquid exhaust line from the cylinder branch between the check valve and said cylinder to the reservoir, an exhaust valve in the exhaust line, an air actuated operating means coupling the valves in the branches of the main liquid line whereby they are oppositely set and operate synchro nously and oppositely, a second air actuated operating means adapted to operate the exhaust valve, return means adapted to return said piston to the said other end of said cylinder and including a return cylinder and a return piston in the return cylinder and coupled with said rod, an air reservoir, an air pump adapted to maintain air under pressure in the air reservoir, a main air line adapted to be supplied with air from the air reservoir, an air distributing means from the main air line to the first mentioned air actuated operating means and including a control valve adapted to eitect selective flow of air to and from said first mentioned air actuated means to efiect operation thereof in either direction, and a second air distributing means from the main air line to the second air actuated operating means and including a reversible valve adapted to effect selective flow of air to and from said second air actuated operating means to effect opening and closing of the exhaust valve, the main air line having an extension adapted to supply operating air to the return cylinder, the first mentioned air actuated operating means including, a bar adapted to reciprocate, a drive between the bar and each of the valves in the branches of the main line and a cylinder and piston mechanism adapted to operate the bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS