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US 10,437,269 B1Granted
Electrohydraulic counterbalance and pressure relief valve
AssigneeSun Hydraulics, LLC
InventorBernd Zähe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example valve includes a main stage and a pilot stage. The pilot stage includes a pilot poppet that is axially movable, a pilot piston, and a pilot spring applying a biasing force on the pilot poppet. The valve further includes a pilot seat member disposed between the main stage and the pilot stage and configured to form a pilot seat for the pilot poppet. When a pilot pressure fluid signal is received through a pilot port, the pilot pressure fluid signal applies a pressure on the pilot piston causing the pilot piston to move axially, thereby reducing the biasing force applied by the pilot spring on the pilot poppet.
Claims18
A valve comprising:
- a housing having a pilot port on an exterior peripheral surface of the housing;
- a main stage;
- a pilot stage comprising:
- (i) a pilot poppet axially movable in the housing, (ii) a pilot piston disposed in the housing longitudinally adjacent to the pilot poppet, (iii) a pilot pin coupled to the pilot piston and disposed between the pilot piston and the pilot poppet such that the pilot pin contacts the pilot poppet, and (iv) a pilot spring disposed about an exterior peripheral surface of the pilot pin between the pilot piston and the pilot poppet, such that the pilot spring applies a biasing force on the pilot poppet in a closing direction;
- and
- a pilot seat member disposed between the main stage and the pilot stage, wherein the pilot seat member is configured to form a pilot seat for the pilot poppet, and wherein when a pilot pressure fluid signal is received through the pilot port of the housing, the pilot pressure fluid signal applies a pressure on the pilot piston causing the pilot piston to move axially in an opening direction, thereby causing the pilot pin to separate from the pilot poppet and reducing the biasing force applied by the pilot spring on the pilot poppet to facilitate unseating the pilot poppet.
3 more elements
A valve comprising:
- a main stage;
- a pilot stage comprising:
- (i) a pilot sleeve, (ii) a pilot poppet disposed within the pilot sleeve and axially movable therein, (iii) a pilot piston disposed within the pilot sleeve longitudinally adjacent to the pilot poppet, (iv) a pilot pin coupled to the pilot piston and disposed between the pilot piston and the pilot poppet such that the pilot pin contacts the pilot poppet, and (v) a pilot spring disposed about an exterior peripheral surface of the pilot pin and floating between the pilot piston and the pilot poppet such that the pilot spring applies a first biasing force on the pilot poppet in a dosing direction;
- a pilot seat member disposed between the main stage and the pilot stage, wherein the pilot seat member is configured to form a pilot seat for the pilot poppet, and wherein when a pilot pressure fluid signal is received through a pilot port on an exterior peripheral surface of a housing, the pilot pressure fluid signal applies a pressure on the pilot piston causing the pilot piston to move axially in an opening direction, thereby causing the pilot pin to separate tram the pilot poppet and reducing the first biasing force applied by the pilot spring on the pilot poppet;
- and
- a solenoid actuation mechanism comprising:
- (i) a solenoid tube, (ii) a solenoid coil disposed about the solenoid tube, (iii) an armature disposed in the solenoid tube and axially movable therein, (iv) a solenoid pin disposed in the solenoid tube and in the armature, such that the solenoid pin is axially movable within the armature, and (v) a solenoid spring interacting with the solenoid pin and configured to apply a second biasing force on the pilot poppet in the dosing direction via the pilot piston and the pilot spring.
4 more elements
A hydraulic system comprising:
- a source of pressurized fluid;
- a reservoir;
- a hydraulic actuator having a first chamber and a second chamber;
- a directional control valve configured to direct fluid flow from the source of pressurized fluid to the first chamber of the hydraulic actuator;
- and
- a valve configured to control fluid flow from the second chamber, wherein the valve comprises:
- a main stage,
- a pilot stage comprising:
- (i) a pilot sleeve, (ii) a pilot poppet disposed within the pilot sleeve and axially movable therein, (iii) a pilot piston disposed within the pilot sleeve longitudinally adjacent to the pilot poppet, (iv) a pilot pin coupled to the pilot piston and disposed between the pilot piston and the pilot poppet such that the pilot pin contacts the pilot poppet, and (v) a pilot spring disposed about an exterior peripheral surface of the pilot pin and between the pilot piston and the pilot poppet such that the pilot spring applies a biasing force on the pilot poppet in a closing direction, and
- a pilot seat member disposed between the main stage and the pilot stage, wherein the pilot seat member is configured to form a pilot seat for the pilot poppet, and wherein when a pilot pressure fluid signal is received through a pilot port on an exterior surface of a housing, which pilot port is fluidly coupled to the first chamber of the hydraulic actuator, the pilot pressure fluid signal applies a pressure on the pilot piston causing the pilot piston to move axially in an opening direction, thereby causing the pilot pin to separate from the pilot poppet and reducing the biasing force applied by the pilot spring on the pilot poppet to facilitate unseating the pilot poppet.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.