A valve for controlling a hydropneumatic device for pressure intensifying having a working plunger and an intensifier plunger for pressure intensifying, the intensifier plunger being adapted to move the working plunger hydraulically with a high transmission ratio by pneumatic actuation, the valve comprising:
- a housing having a plunger section, the plunger section having first and second ends defining an axis therebetween;
- a slidable plunger rod coaxially mounted in the plunger section and reciprocally movable in a path of travel defined in a direction between the first and second ends of the plunger section;
- a differential plunger arrangement including a first plunger, mounted on the slidable plunger rod, having a first active plunger face and a rear surface, the first plunger face is facing a first pressure space defined at the first end of the plunger section, a second plunger, mounted on the slidable plunger rod and coaxially coupled to the first plunger, having a second active plunger face and a rear surface, the second plunger face is facing a second pressure space, the coaxially mounted first and second plungers being movable in the path of travel between a first position wherein the first plunger face facing the first pressure space is located proximate the first end, and the second plunger face facing the second pressure space is located at a first distance from the first end, and a second position wherein the first plunger face facing the first pressure space is spaced away from the first end, and the second plunger face facing the second pressure space is at a second distance from the first end, the second distance being greater than the first distance, the first pressure space being equipped with a first connector for a first pneumatic control pressure, and the second pressure space being equipped with a second connector for a second pneumatic control pressure, whereby the second pneumatic control pressure is selectively different from the first pneumatic control pressure, and a third plunger having a third active plunger face facing a third pressure space and a rear surface facing the second pressure space, the third plunger being coaxially coupled to the second plunger, the third pressure space defined at the second end of the plunger section, and adapted to be loaded, via a third connector, with a third pneumatic control pressure;
- a connecting line in the housing, which is between the third pressure space and the second pressure space, such that the third connector is connected to the second connector via the connecting line in the housing;
- and
- a screw element screwed into the connecting line prevents fluid communication between the third connector and the second connector;
- whereby when a pressure difference between the first and third pressure space occurs, the valve switches and supplies the second pneumatic control pressure;
- and
- wherein the third plunger face of the third plunger has substantially the same outer diameter as the second plunger face of the second plunger.