US3319531A

US3319531A - Integrating valve

Info

Publication number: US3319531A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence M Sanders
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-08-02
Filing date: 1965-08-02
Publication date: 1967-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-16

Description

y 15, 1967 1.. M. SANDERS 3,319,531

INTEGRATING VALVE Filed Aug. 2, 1965 FIG.5

INVENTOR. Lav/eaves M Ji /vases 3 Fl 5% am 147' roe/var United States Patent Ofiice 3,319,531 Patented May 16, 19 67 3,319,531 INTEGRATING VALVE Lawrence M. Sanders, Renton, Wash. (121 E. th St, Dallas, Tex. 75203) Filed Aug. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 476,576 6 Claims. (Cl. 91413) This invention relates to systems for distributing a desired quantity of hydraulic fluid under pressure to a plurality of working members such as cylinders, and particularly to a reversible fluid transmission system which will maintain delivery pressure during transfer of exact quantities of the fluid from one cylinder to a next in sequence.

The delivery to pressure-actuated equipment of precisely measured quantities of fluid under pressure is an essential element of many types of hydraulically controlled devices.

The instant invention delivers fluid under pressure to each of a plurality of utilization means, here shown in exemplary fashion as four cylinders, in exactly defined quantities. I have termed the invention an integrating valve because the precise total of pressure-responsive displacements is obtained by the addition of a succession of small increments to obtain the final value desired. These increments are obtained by connecting the devices in which the pressure is to be built up, to the source for a succession of short delivery periods. Each additional incremental delivery period adds to the pressure in the receiving members. The greater the number of short delivery periods, the more accurately the quantity of fluid delivered to the receivers can be controlled.

The valve consists of a motor-driven rotor, having a single port, which extends therethrough, disposed in a pressure chamber closely adjacent a distribution plate in which a plurality of apertures are formed through which the hydraulic fluid is fed to the distribution lines or conduits, leading to the individual working cylinders. Each of the working cylinders has a piston adapted to operate a hydraulic jack or similar equipment, applying pressure thereto and producing a desired amount of force or displacement. While the invention has been shown as a closed system, it will be obvious that it is also applicable to systems not completely closed.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide uniform increments of pressure which are exerted on a plurality of hydraulic actuating units.

Another object of the invention is to furnish means for successively transferring the application of fluid from one to another of utilization members without loss of pressure.

Yet another object of the invention is to supply means for the useful application of fluid under pressure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means by which it is possible to apply hydraulic pressure to a plurality of utilizing members for uniform .periods of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which it is possible to transfer fluid from one utilizing member to another without loss of pressure during said transition.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide means for returning fluid under pressure directly to a pump during the transition from one destination to the next successive destination.

Yet still a further object of the invention is to provide means for by-passing fluid under high pressure back to the intake side of a pump during movement of a pressure delivery means from one output conduit to the next successive output conduit.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description thereof and by referring to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the pressure distributing chamber of the invention, with the hydraulic output lines connected thereto being shown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional view of the distributing chamber of FIGURE 1, taken as indicated by line 2-2 thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the pressure distributing portion of the invention, taken as indicated by line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view, partially in section, taken in the plane 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of the system as operated with its full pressure delivered to four cylinders; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary showing similar to that of FIGURE 5, but with the valve set to release the cylinder pressure.

With continued reference to the drawing for a more detailed explanation of the invention, a view of the distribution head 1 is shown in side elevation in FIGURE 1, with portions of the various conduits connected thereto, as partially shown in section. It will be understood that the head and all the associated chambers and conduits are filled with hydraulic fluid, a detailed showing of which is omitted for clarity. The head 1 is generally cylindrical, with three main sections rigidly fixed together, and a fourth rotating within one of them.

The base plate section 2 is provided with a plurality of

delivery pressure ports

4, 5, 6 and 7. These ports may be threaded to receive fittings and conduits 4a, 5a, 6a and 7a for transmission to the respective utilization cylinders 4b, 5b, 6b and 712, respectively. A pump 9 delivers fluid to head lthrough a pressure feed conduit 9a. Passage back of the hydraulic fluid to the pump 9 is provided through the

return conduits

4c, 50, 6c and 7c. The base plate section 2 is bored and tapped at a plurality of symmetrically spaced locations 10 to provide for the engagement of elongated threaded bolts 11, which secure the several sections of the head 1 together.

Immediately adjacent the base plate section 2 is secured the intermediate distribution pla-te section 12. Section 12 is bored to permit communication with the

several delivery ports

4, 5, 6 and 7 through the base plate 2. This communication is effected through curved slots 40!, 5d, 6d and 7d constituting arcuately extended passages through distribution plate 12. Sealing between the base. plate 2 and the periphery of the distribution plate 12 is accomplished through the use of a first annular channel 14 cut into the surface of plate 12 in which a first O-ring 15 is disposed. Similarly, sealing between the opposite side of the distribution plate 12 :and the next adjacent section of the head 1 is effected through a second annular channel 16 and a second O-ring 17.

The third portion 19 of head 1 is coaxially recessed to define a pressure chamber 20. An end wall 21 is provided which is axially bored at 22 to receive rotatably a shaft 24. A plurality of blind holes 25 are formed in shaft 24 to provide for lubrication, and the shaft passes through a sealing member 26, which may also be of conventional O-ring type. Shaft 24 bears, opposite pressure chamber end wall 21, a circular pressure distributing plate 27 which acts to directly feed fluid under pressure from chamber 20 to the

several delivery ports

4, 5, 6 and 7 and their associated conduits 4a,'5a, 6a and 7a.

A single delivery port 30 extends through distributing plate 27 and communicates once during each revolution of shaft 24, with each of the arcuate slots 4d, 5d, 6d and 7d. Fluid from delivery port 30 will be transmitted 3 through the particular one of the arcuate slots 4d, 5d, 6d or 7d with which it is in alignment to the

corresponding delivery port

4, 5, 6 or 7 for passage to the appropriate cylinder 4b, 5b, 612 or 7b. The more rapidly the shaft 24 is driven, the greater the number of pressure pulses will be communicated to each cylinder, and the .more accurate will be the summation, or integration process, in producing the desired response in each of the cylinders 41), 5b, 6b and 7b. Shaft 24 may be driven by conventional motor means (not shown).

It will be apparent that at the end of the delivery period to each of the arcuate slots 4d, 5d, 6d or 7d there would be an abrupt interruption or cessation of fluid transmission, which would be highly undesirable, with undue stress variations occurring in the chamber 20 as a possible result, were not relief means provided. These means include a central annular pressure relief recess 31. Recess 31 communicates, through a pressure equalizer or bleeder hole 32 with the pressure chamber 20 to provide a cushion for pressure variations therein.

In addition, a pattern of blind holes 34 'is formed in the surface of the pressure distributing plate 27 presented to the intermediate distributing plate 12. These blind holes act to collect small quantities of the hydraulic fluid (not shown), and distribute them across the adjacent surfaces of these two plates to act as a lubricant.

Finally, the main pressure relief will be provided, between the end of delivery of fluid to one of the arcuate channels and the commencement of delivery to the next, by the

return ports

4c, 50, 6c and 70, which afford direct passage back, through a common return conduit 36 and the four-way valve 35, to the low pressure portion of the pressure system.

The position of the valve as shown in FIGURE 5 is that which occurs when it has been set to extend pistons in hydraulic cylinders 4b, 5b, 6b or 7b to the maximum limit of their traverse. Conventional pulse counting means (not shown) may be used to count the quantity of fluid delivered to each of the utilization cylinders, and to cut off the pressure when the desired quantity has been delivered. 'Other equivalent timing means may be used.

In the position shown in FIGURE 5, it will be understood the check valve 37 will be eflective to prevent fluid from returning to the reservoir 39. At the same time, communication from the reservoir 39 to the pump 9 through a feed conduit 40 and a pump inlet conduit 41 is blocked by the valve 35. Hence, the pump 9 continues to maintain the full hydraulic pressure in the cylinders 4b, 5b, 6b and 7b, recirculating the fluid passing back through the

return conduits

4c, 50, 6c and 7c, the common return conduit 36, the four-way valve 35, pump inlet conduit 41, and a pump pressure feed conduit 9A to the head 1.

When valve 35 is rotated to the position shown in FIGURE 6, the hydraulic fluid is free to return to the reservoir 37 through the pump feed conduit 40, and the pistons in hydraulic cylinders 4b, 5b, 6b and 7b return to their positions of minimum traverse.

It 'will thus be seen that there has been provided a simple and easily controllable system for the application of uniform hydraulic, precisely controlled pressures or displacements to a plurality of utilizing means, adding a plurality of small increments of pressure to each of the utilizing means to obtain the exact values desired.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment thereof and I do not mean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for applying pressure to a plurality of utilization means in sequence;

(a) a pressure source;

(b) a head;

(c) a pressure chamber defined within said head by an end thereof and an intermediate distribution plate;

(d) a pressure conduit leading from said pressure source to said head and communicating with said pressure chamber therewithin;

(e) a shaft rotatably journaled within said pressure chamber and arranged to be driven by motor means disposed externally thereof;

(f) a pressure distributing plate mounted on said shaft and having a delivery port formed therethrough; (g) a plurality of delivery ports formed through the end of said chamber;

(h) a plurality of arcuate slots formed through said intermediate distribution plate and communicating with said delivery ports and intermittently with said delivery port formed through said pressure distributing plate; and

(i) means for maintaining substantially uniform pressure during delivery through said arcuately slotted portion of said pressure distributing plate and during the intervals between delivery through successive ones of said arcuate slots.

2. In a device for applying pressure to a plurality of utilization means in sequence;

(a) -a pressure source;

(b) a reservoir for storing hydraulic fluid;

(c) a pressure head cooperatively formed by a base plate, an intermediate distributing plate and a coaxially recessed end portion;

(d) motor means;

(e) a pressure distributing plate mounted for rotation Within said head and arranged to have a shaft axially projecting from said chamber for connection to said motor means;

(f) a single delivery port formed through said pressure distributing plate;

(g) a central recess formed in the side of said pressure distributing plate opposite said intermediate distributing plate and having an equalizer hole therethrough for restricted communication with said pressure head;

(h) a plurality of arcuate slots formed through said intermediate distributing plate and arranged to be intermittently aligned with said single delivery port during rotation of said pressure distributing plate;

(i) means for circulating and transmitting fluid from said reservoir under pressure in precisely defined amounts to said utilization means; and

(j) means for reversing the direction of fluid movement in said utilization means.

3. In a device substantially as described in claim 2, the

combination of:

(a) means for aiding lubrication between the adjacent portions of said pressure distributing plate and said intermediate distributing plate;

(b) means for pressure equalization forming a recessed portion between said pressure distributing plate and said intermediate distributing plate;

(c) sealing means disposed betweensaid intermediate distributing plate and said base plate;

((1) sealing means disposed between said intermediate distributing plate and said coaxially recessed end portion of said head;

(e) means for lubricating said motor shaft comprising a plurality of recesses formed in said shaft and sealing means disposed thereabout in said pressure chamber end wall;

(f) a plurality of arcuately extending slots formed through said circular pressure distributing plate;

(g) conduit means connecting output .ports from said base plate to corresponding ones of said utilization means;

(h) conduit means connecting said return ports intermediate said arcuate slots in said intermediate distributing plate back to the intake side of said pump; and

(i) means for reversing the direction of fluid movement in said utilization cylinders.

4. In a device substantially as described in claim 2, the

combination of:

(a) means for the sequential application of fluid under pressure to a plurality of utilization means;

(b) means for reversing the direction of application of pressure to such utilization means; and

(0) means for insuring that equal amounts of fluid under pressure will be transmitted to each of said utilization means comprising means for adding precisely controlled increments of hydraulic fluid under pressure to obtain the desired displacement in said utilization means.

5. In a device substantially as described in claim 2, the

combination with a four-way valve disposed between 20 said reservoir and said pump, and having a return conduit connected thereto from said pressure head adapted to prevent return of fluid from said utilization cylinders to said pump in a first position, and to permit return of fluid from said utilization cylinders to said reservoir in a second position.

6. In a device substantially as described in claim 2, the combination of means for delivering an equal succession of pressure increments to a plurality of utilization cylinders, means for cutting 01f delivery when such quantity has been delivered to each, and means for maintaining substantially uniform pressure during transfer of delivery of said pressure increments from one of said utilization cylinders to a next successive utilization cylinder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,538,167 5/1925 Chappell et a1 91-413 X 1,557,385 10/1925 Tastenhoye 91-413 X 2,818,881 1/1958 Bonner et al. 91413 X EDGAR W. GEOGHEGAN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A DEVICE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO A PLURALITY OF UTILIZATION MEANS IN SEQUENCE; (A) A PRESSURE SOURCE; (B) A HEAD; (C) A PRESSURE CHAMBER DEFINED WITHIN SAID HEAD BY AN END THEREOF AND AN INTERMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION PLATE; (D) A PRESSURE CONDUIT LEADING FROM SAID PRESSURE SOURCE TO SAID HEAD AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID PRESSURE CHAMBER THEREWITHIN; (E) A SHAFT ROTATABLY JOURNALED WITHIN SAID PRESSURE CHAMBER AND ARRANGED TO BE DRIVEN BY MOTOR MEANS DISPOSED EXTERNALLY THEREOF; (F) A PRESSURE DISTRIBUTING PLATE MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT AND HAVING A DELIVERY PORT FORMED THERETHROUGH; (G) A PLURALITY OF DELIVERY PORTS FORMED THROUGH THE END OF SAID CHAMBER; (H) A PLURALITY OF ARCUATE SLOTS FORMED THROUGH SAID INTERMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION PLATE AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID DELIVERY PORTS AND INTERMITTENTLY WITH SAID DELIVERY PORT FORMED THROUGH SAID PRESSURE DISTRIBUTING PLATE; AND (I) MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM PRESSURE DURING DELIVERY THROUGH SAID ARCUATELY SLOTTED PORTION OF SAID PRESSURE DISTRIBUTING PLATE AND DURING THE INTERVALS BETWEEN DELIVERY THROUGH SUCCESSIVE ONES OF SAID ARCUATE SLOTS.