WO1988009878A1 - Adjustment assembly for valve spool and associated centering spring - Google Patents

Adjustment assembly for valve spool and associated centering spring Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1988009878A1
WO1988009878A1 PCT/US1988/001663 US8801663W WO8809878A1 WO 1988009878 A1 WO1988009878 A1 WO 1988009878A1 US 8801663 W US8801663 W US 8801663W WO 8809878 A1 WO8809878 A1 WO 8809878A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
axial movement
spool
spring
spring seat
cylindrical sleeve
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1988/001663
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Terrel Cook Warhurst
David C. Entringer
Original Assignee
Brunswick Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Brunswick Corporation filed Critical Brunswick Corporation
Publication of WO1988009878A1 publication Critical patent/WO1988009878A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B13/00—Details of servomotor systems ; Valves for servomotor systems
    • F15B13/02—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors
    • F15B13/04—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors for use with a single servomotor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H20/00—Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels
    • B63H20/08—Means enabling movement of the position of the propulsion element, e.g. for trim, tilt or steering; Control of trim or tilt
    • B63H20/12—Means enabling steering
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H25/00—Steering; Slowing-down otherwise than by use of propulsive elements; Dynamic anchoring, i.e. positioning vessels by means of main or auxiliary propulsive elements
    • B63H25/02—Initiating means for steering, for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring
    • B63H2025/022—Steering wheels; Posts for steering wheels
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/8593—Systems
    • Y10T137/86493—Multi-way valve unit
    • Y10T137/86574—Supply and exhaust
    • Y10T137/8667—Reciprocating valve
    • Y10T137/86694—Piston valve
    • Y10T137/8671—With annular passage [e.g., spool]

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an adjustment assembly for positioning a valve spool and its associated centering spring within the bore of a valve body.
  • a power steering assembly for a marine drive employs a hydraulic assist to reduce steering loads to the operator.
  • the steering arm of the marine drive is connec ⁇ ted to a piston rod clevis of a hydraulic cylinder and the housing of the cylinder in turn is anchored to the boat.
  • the steering wheel of the boat is connected through a steering cable to a movable valve that controls the di ⁇ rection and flow magnitude of the hydraulic fluid provided to the hydraulic cylinder.
  • the operator of the boat thus needs only to exert enough effort to operate the valve and not that required to actually steer the boat.
  • the hydraul ic valve utilized in such a system is comprised of a valve body having a number of ports spaced along its length and containing a spool receiving bore.
  • the spool is provided with a number of grooves and lands that cooperate with the various ports in the valve body to direct the flow of hy- draulic fluid.
  • valve spool has an associated cen ⁇ tering spring which returns the valve spool to a neutral position when no external forces are applied to the spool.
  • cen ⁇ tering spring which returns the valve spool to a neutral position when no external forces are applied to the spool.
  • a prior adjustment assembly described in ⁇ . S. Patent No. 4,595,370 utilized a snap ring to position the • centering spring on an adjustment sleeve threaded into the valve body. This arrangement was difficult to manufacture and use because of clearance in the screw threads and the snap ring grooves. Further, a seal was loaded by the cen ⁇ tering spring and could hang up in use.
  • the present invention provides an adjustment as- ⁇ sembly for axially positioning the spool .and centering spring for the spool within the bore of a valve body, said assembly comprising adjustment means operatively connected to the spool so that axial movement of said adj st entme.a.ns res.ults_inaxialmovement of the spool within the bore, a first spring seat disposed on said adjustment means for the centering spring whereby axial movement of said adjustment means results in axial movement of said first seat and the centering spring, a second spring seat disposed for axial movement within a cavity in the valve body and biasing means urging said second spring seat into contact with said ad ⁇ justment means, and positioning means operatively connected to said adjustment means and said second spring seat so that axial movement of said adjustment means results in axial movement of.said second spring seat in said cavity and axial movement of the centering spring.
  • the cylindrical sleeve includes a spring seat for one side of the centering spring so that axial movement of the cyl ⁇ indrical sleeve will result in axial movement of the spring seat.
  • the cylindrical sleeve is provided with an extension that contacts the spring seat for the other side of the spring.
  • the present invention thus provides an adjustment assembly that allows for axial positioning of the spool and simultaneously positions the centering spring associ ⁇ ated with the spool.
  • Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a valve constructed according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the axially adjustable spring seat shown in Figure 1.
  • a hydraulic valve 10 having a valve body 12 and a valve spool 14.
  • Valve spool 14 is dis ⁇ posed for axial movement within bore 16 and a coaxial steer- ing cable has its outer jacket, not illustrated, attached to the valve spool end 18 and its core 19 attached to the valve body 12 through the steering bracket, not illustrated, as shown in U. S. Patent No. 4,595,370.
  • the steering cable is thus operatively connected to spool 14 so that relative movement of the cable jacket and cable core 19 caused by a steering wheel (not shown) will result in axial movement of spool 14.
  • Valve body 12 is provided with ports or passageways 20a through 20d and spool 14 is provided with spaced periph- eral grooves 22a and 22b defined by lands 24a through 24c. Peripheral grooves 22a and 22b selectively connect the vari ⁇ ous ports and passages in valve body 12.
  • Valve spool 14 is also provided with a centering spring 24 which is held in position on valve spool 14 by spring retainers 26 and 28. Centering spring 24 will return spool 14 to its neutral position (shown in Figure 1) when the external force which has moved spool 14 to the left or right of its neutral position has been removed.
  • hydraulic valve 10 Since it is desirable to have a-minimum amount of leakage between ports and passages 20a through 20d, it is necessary to precisely position valve spool 14 within bore 16.
  • hydraulic valve 10 has been provided with adjustment means 30 which includes a cylindrical Sic_.- connected to valve spool 14 and threaded into valve body 12.
  • Cylindrical sleeve 31 is provided with a radial abut ⁇ ment surface 32 that provides a seat for the left end of spring 24.
  • the seat for the right end of spring 24 is provid ⁇ ed by one face of spacer 34.
  • the inner face of spacer 34 engages biasing means 36 which may be a Belleville spring or compressible washers. Both spacer 34 and biasing means 36 are contained within a cavity 38 in valve body 12.
  • Axial adjustment of spacer 34 is accomplished by means of leg 39 that is integral with cylindrical sleeve 31.
  • Leg 39 terminates in a radial abutment surface 40 that engages a portion of the face of spacer 34.
  • Valve body 12 is provided with a threaded hole 44 in which set screw 46 is disposed. * When tightened set screw 46 engages sleeve 31 it prevents the inadvertent movement of sleeve 31.
  • spool 14 is positioned approximately within bore 16 and then fine tuned by means of adjustment means 30.
  • cylindrical sleeve 31 would be rotated so as to cause left to right movement of spool 14.
  • This left to right movement of cyl ⁇ indrical sleeve 31 would also cause left to right movement of abutment surface 32 and leg 39 would cause left to right movement of spacer 34 within cavity 38.
  • movement of sleeve 31 causes simultaneous movement of spool 14, spring 24 and its associated spring seats 32 and 34.
  • right to le ' ft movement of sleeve 31 results in right to left movement of spool 14 and seats 32 and 34.
  • the right to left movement of seat 34 is caused by biasing means 36 acting on the right hand face of spacer 34 and radial wall 42 of cavity 38.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multiple-Way Valves (AREA)
  • Preventing Unauthorised Actuation Of Valves (AREA)

Abstract

An adjustment assembly (30) for axially positioning the spool (14) and associated centering spring (24) within the bore of a valve body (12) includes a cylindrical sleeve disposed around and connected to the cylindrical surface of the spool. The cylindrical sleeve (31) includes radial surfaces (32, 40) that act to adjust the spring seats (26, 28) for the centering spring (24) so that axial movement of the cylindrical sleeve results in axial movement of the spool and the spring seats for the centering spring.

Description

- 1 -
ADJUSTMENT ASSEMBLY FOR VALVE SPOOL AND ASSOCIATED CENTERING SPRING
The present invention relates to an adjustment assembly for positioning a valve spool and its associated centering spring within the bore of a valve body.
A power steering assembly for a marine drive employs a hydraulic assist to reduce steering loads to the operator. The steering arm of the marine drive is connec¬ ted to a piston rod clevis of a hydraulic cylinder and the housing of the cylinder in turn is anchored to the boat. The steering wheel of the boat is connected through a steering cable to a movable valve that controls the di¬ rection and flow magnitude of the hydraulic fluid provided to the hydraulic cylinder. The operator of the boat thus needs only to exert enough effort to operate the valve and not that required to actually steer the boat. The hydraul ic valve utilized in such a system is comprised of a valve body having a number of ports spaced along its length and containing a spool receiving bore. The spool is provided with a number of grooves and lands that cooperate with the various ports in the valve body to direct the flow of hy- draulic fluid.
Typically, the valve spool has an associated cen¬ tering spring which returns the valve spool to a neutral position when no external forces are applied to the spool. When assembling the valve or replacing parts within the valve- it is necessary that the valve spool be placed withi the valve body at a very precise position so that the lands and grooves are precisely aligned with their associated ports in the valve body. Without such precise alignment, undesirable leakage would occur between the various ports. - 2 -
A prior adjustment assembly described in ϋ. S. Patent No. 4,595,370 utilized a snap ring to position the • centering spring on an adjustment sleeve threaded into the valve body. This arrangement was difficult to manufacture and use because of clearance in the screw threads and the snap ring grooves. Further, a seal was loaded by the cen¬ tering spring and could hang up in use.
" Thus, it is the object of the present invention to provide an adjustment assembly that allows for the exact positioning of the valve spool within the valve body.
The present invention provides an adjustment as- ■ sembly for axially positioning the spool .and centering spring for the spool within the bore of a valve body, said assembly comprising adjustment means operatively connected to the spool so that axial movement of said adj st entme.a.ns res.ults_inaxialmovement of the spool within the bore, a first spring seat disposed on said adjustment means for the centering spring whereby axial movement of said adjustment means results in axial movement of said first seat and the centering spring, a second spring seat disposed for axial movement within a cavity in the valve body and biasing means urging said second spring seat into contact with said ad¬ justment means, and positioning means operatively connected to said adjustment means and said second spring seat so that axial movement of said adjustment means results in axial movement of.said second spring seat in said cavity and axial movement of the centering spring.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the cylindrical sleeve includes a spring seat for one side of the centering spring so that axial movement of the cyl¬ indrical sleeve will result in axial movement of the spring seat.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the inven¬ tion, the cylindrical sleeve is provided with an extension that contacts the spring seat for the other side of the spring. This second spring seat is allowed to move axially within a cavity in the valve body and axial movement of the cylindrical sleeve results in axial movement of tι_<= - spring seat.
The present invention thus provides an adjustment assembly that allows for axial positioning of the spool and simultaneously positions the centering spring associ¬ ated with the spool.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a valve constructed according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the axially adjustable spring seat shown in Figure 1.
In Figure 1 a hydraulic valve 10 is shown having a valve body 12 and a valve spool 14. Valve spool 14 is dis¬ posed for axial movement within bore 16 and a coaxial steer- ing cable has its outer jacket, not illustrated, attached to the valve spool end 18 and its core 19 attached to the valve body 12 through the steering bracket, not illustrated, as shown in U. S. Patent No. 4,595,370. The steering cable is thus operatively connected to spool 14 so that relative movement of the cable jacket and cable core 19 caused by a steering wheel (not shown) will result in axial movement of spool 14.
Valve body 12 is provided with ports or passageways 20a through 20d and spool 14 is provided with spaced periph- eral grooves 22a and 22b defined by lands 24a through 24c. Peripheral grooves 22a and 22b selectively connect the vari¬ ous ports and passages in valve body 12.
Valve spool 14 is also provided with a centering spring 24 which is held in position on valve spool 14 by spring retainers 26 and 28. Centering spring 24 will return spool 14 to its neutral position (shown in Figure 1) when the external force which has moved spool 14 to the left or right of its neutral position has been removed.
Since it is desirable to have a-minimum amount of leakage between ports and passages 20a through 20d, it is necessary to precisely position valve spool 14 within bore 16. To this end, hydraulic valve 10 has been provided with adjustment means 30 which includes a cylindrical Sic_.- connected to valve spool 14 and threaded into valve body 12. Cylindrical sleeve 31 is provided with a radial abut¬ ment surface 32 that provides a seat for the left end of spring 24.
The seat for the right end of spring 24 is provid¬ ed by one face of spacer 34. The inner face of spacer 34 engages biasing means 36 which may be a Belleville spring or compressible washers. Both spacer 34 and biasing means 36 are contained within a cavity 38 in valve body 12.
Axial adjustment of spacer 34 is accomplished by means of leg 39 that is integral with cylindrical sleeve 31. Leg 39 terminates in a radial abutment surface 40 that engages a portion of the face of spacer 34. Thus, axial movement of leg 39 will cause axial movement of spacer 34. Valve body 12 is provided with a threaded hole 44 in which set screw 46 is disposed.* When tightened set screw 46 engages sleeve 31 it prevents the inadvertent movement of sleeve 31. In operation spool 14 is positioned approximately within bore 16 and then fine tuned by means of adjustment means 30. For example, if spool 14 had to be moved slightly to the right in order to position grooves 22a and 22b and lands 24a, 24b and 24c in their final position, cylindrical sleeve 31 would be rotated so as to cause left to right movement of spool 14. This left to right movement of cyl¬ indrical sleeve 31 would also cause left to right movement of abutment surface 32 and leg 39 would cause left to right movement of spacer 34 within cavity 38. Thus, movement of sleeve 31 causes simultaneous movement of spool 14, spring 24 and its associated spring seats 32 and 34. It can also be seen that right to le'ft movement of sleeve 31 results in right to left movement of spool 14 and seats 32 and 34. The right to left movement of seat 34 is caused by biasing means 36 acting on the right hand face of spacer 34 and radial wall 42 of cavity 38.

Claims

- 5 -CLAIMS
1. An adjustment assembly for axially positioning the spool and centering spring for the spool within the bore of a valve body, said assembly being characterized by adjustment means operatively connected to the spool so that axial movement of said adjustment means results in axial movement of the spool within the bore, a first spring seat disposed on said adjustment means for the centering spring whereby axial movement of said adjustment means results in axial movement of said first seat and the centering spring, a second spring seat disposed for axial movement within a cavity in the valve body and biasing means urging said sec¬ ond; spring seat into contact with said adjustment means, and positioning means operatively connected to said adjustment means and said second spring seat so that axial movement of said adjustment means results in axial movement of said sec¬ ond spring seat in said cavity and axial movement of the centering spring.
2. The adjustment assembly of claim 1, character¬ ized in that said adjustment means comprises a cylindrical sleeve disposed around and connected to the cylindrical sur¬ face of the spool.
3. The adjustment assembly of claim 2, character¬ ized in that said first spring seat comprises a radial abut¬ ment surface on said cylindrical sleeve.
4. The adjustment assembly of claim 2 or 3, char¬ acterized in that said positioning means comprises a leg integral with and axially extending from said cylindrical sleeve, said leg terminating in a radial abutment surface that engages said second spring seat.
5. The adjustment assembly of any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said second spring seat comprises a spacer disposed within said cavity, said spacer having an outer surface engageable with the centering, .spring and in¬ ner surface engageable with said biasing means,, .said biasing means disposed within said cavity between said spacer and said radial wall of said cavity.
6. The adjustment assembly of any of claims 1 o 5, characterized by locking means operably connected to said adjustment means to prevent inadvertent movement of said adjustment means.
7. An adjustment assembly for axially positioning the spool and centering spring for the spool within the bore of a valve body, said assembly being characterized by a cylindrical sleeve disposed around and connected to the--•---• ' cylindrical surface of the spool, so that axial movement of the cylindrical sleeve results in axial movement of the spool within the bore, a radial abutment on said cylindrical sleeve defining a first spring seat for the centering spring so that axial movement of said cylindrical sleeve results in axial movement of said first spring seat and the centering spring, a second spring seat disposed for axial movement within a cavity in the valve body and biasing means urging said second spring seat into contact with said cylindrical sleeve, and a leg integral with and axially extending from said cylindrical sleeve, said leg terminating in a radial abutment surface that engages said second spring seat so that axial movement of said cylindrical sleeve results in axial movement of said second spring seat in said cavity and axial movement, of the centering spring.
PCT/US1988/001663 1987-06-01 1988-05-20 Adjustment assembly for valve spool and associated centering spring WO1988009878A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US055,797 1987-06-01
US07/055,797 US4777980A (en) 1987-06-01 1987-06-01 Adjustment assembly for valve spool and associated centering spring

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1988009878A1 true WO1988009878A1 (en) 1988-12-15

Family

ID=22000224

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1988/001663 WO1988009878A1 (en) 1987-06-01 1988-05-20 Adjustment assembly for valve spool and associated centering spring

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4777980A (en)
EP (1) EP0371030A1 (en)
JP (1) JPH02504418A (en)
WO (1) WO1988009878A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103775408A (en) * 2012-10-19 2014-05-07 罗伯特·博世有限公司 Hydraulic valve arrangement

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2577097Y2 (en) * 1992-01-10 1998-07-23 株式会社ショーワ Spool valve device
US6976506B2 (en) * 2004-03-19 2005-12-20 Ingersoll-Rand Company Annular port construction for valve applications
US8376311B2 (en) * 2008-07-23 2013-02-19 Honeywell International Inc. Valve adjustment assembly

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2531511A (en) * 1946-09-27 1950-11-28 Glenn L Martin Co Four-way, slide, selector valve
US3405735A (en) * 1965-09-10 1968-10-15 Cam Gears Luton Ltd Spool valve with adjustable spring loading

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2924239A (en) * 1954-08-13 1960-02-09 Rockford Machine Tool Co Servo valve having helically arranged metering ports
FR2302429A1 (en) * 1975-02-28 1976-09-24 Poclain Sa SLAVE CONTROL DEVICE OF A VOLUMETRIC TYPE FLUID MOTOR
US4595370A (en) * 1983-12-30 1986-06-17 Brunswick Corp. Integral valve and cylinder assembly for power steered marine drive

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2531511A (en) * 1946-09-27 1950-11-28 Glenn L Martin Co Four-way, slide, selector valve
US3405735A (en) * 1965-09-10 1968-10-15 Cam Gears Luton Ltd Spool valve with adjustable spring loading

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103775408A (en) * 2012-10-19 2014-05-07 罗伯特·博世有限公司 Hydraulic valve arrangement
CN103775408B (en) * 2012-10-19 2018-09-18 罗伯特·博世有限公司 Fluid pressure valve device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0371030A1 (en) 1990-06-06
US4777980A (en) 1988-10-18
JPH02504418A (en) 1990-12-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1485581B1 (en) Camshaft adjuster for an internal combustion engine
JPH05256361A (en) Solenoid operated transmission cartridge valve
US2867284A (en) Hydraulic power steering device with rack and pinion actuating means
KR890014949A (en) Hose Connector
GB2112677A (en) Expansion device for axial and radial clamping of annular member on a mandrel
US3855904A (en) Auxiliary power steering system
US5974948A (en) Linear actuator
US3557824A (en) Spool control valve
US5271430A (en) Flow rate control valve device and flow force reduction structure
EP0192891A1 (en) Spherical ball drive mechanism for a direct drive valve
WO1988009878A1 (en) Adjustment assembly for valve spool and associated centering spring
US5020419A (en) Three position fluid-controlled actuator
CN111852976B (en) Two-position three-way hydraulic change valve
CN111795027B (en) Hydraulic component with a component housing and a connecting piece
GB2055718A (en) Hydraulic assistance of a steering handwheel
US20010029986A1 (en) Solenoid controlled valve
WO1991017853A1 (en) Expansion chuck
US4108273A (en) Power assisted steering
DE1935019B2 (en) DEVICE FOR CLAMPING THE TOOL SPINDLE OF A MACHINE TOOL
EP0400152A1 (en) Flow rate control valve device and flow force reduction structure
KR920016299A (en) Steering Force Control Device of Power Steering System
EP0784159A1 (en) Hydraulic actuator, particularly for tipping an industrial vehicle cab
AU768770B2 (en) Cut-off valve for power steering systems, especially for automobiles
US5697400A (en) Steering valve
DE3336304C2 (en)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BR JP

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LU NL SE

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1988905124

Country of ref document: EP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1988905124

Country of ref document: EP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1988905124

Country of ref document: EP