Flow control valve and hydraulic machine including the same
AssigneeVolvo Construction Equipment AB
InventorJinwook Kim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow control valve includes a valve body having an inner circumferential surface defining a longitudinal bore to which first and second fluid passages are connected. A spool is slidably inserted into the bore to allow a flow of fluid from the first to second fluid passage. A valve regulates a flow rate of fluid flowing through the first fluid passage. A first seat surface is defined between an area in which the first fluid passage is connected to the bore and an area in which the second fluid passage is connected to the bore. When the flow of fluid from the first to second fluid passage is initiated, an area of a gap between the first seat surface and the spool on a plane taken in a transverse direction is 5%˜50%, preferably 10%˜20% of an area of an opening defined by the first seat surface.
Claims13
A flow control valve comprising:
- a valve body comprising an inner circumferential surface defining a bore extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein at least a portion of a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage are formed in the valve body to be connected to the bore;
- a spool configured to be slidably inserted into the bore, the spool movable to a position in which the spool allows a flow of fluid from the first fluid passage to the second fluid passage;
- and;
- a flow rate control valve located on the first fluid passage to regulate a flow rate of fluid flowing through the first fluid passage as a function of a signal generated by a control interface manipulated by an operator,
- wherein the inner circumferential surface comprises a first seat surface located between an area in which the first fluid passage is connected to the bore and an area in which the second fluid passage is connected to the bore, and
- at a second point in time at which the flow of fluid from the first fluid passage to the second fluid passage is initiated, an area of a gap between the first seat surface and the spool on a plane taken in a transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, is 5%˜50% of an area of an opening defined by the first seat surface.
A hydraulic machine comprising:
- a fluid supply;
- a first flow control valve in fluid communication with the fluid supply;
- a first actuator in fluid communication with the first flow control valve;
- and
- a first control interface for generating a signal when manipulated by an operator,
- wherein the first flow control valve comprises:
- a valve body comprising an inner circumferential surface defining a bore extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein at least a portion of a first fluid passage, a second fluid passage, and a third fluid passage are formed in the valve body to be connected to the bore;
- a spool slidably inserted into the bore, the spool movable to a position in which the spool allows a flow of fluid from the first fluid passage to the second fluid passage or a position in which the spool allows a flow of fluid from the first fluid passage to the third fluid passage;
- and
- a flow rate control valve located on the first fluid passage to regulate a flow rate of fluid flowing through the first fluid passage as a function of the signal generated by the first control interface,
- wherein the inner circumferential surface comprises a first seat surface located between an area in which the first fluid passage is connected to the bore and an area in which the second fluid passage is connected to the bore and a second seat surface located between an area in which the first fluid passage is connected to the bore and an area in which the third fluid passage is connected to the bore, and
- at a second point in time at which the flow of fluid from the first fluid passage to the second fluid passage is initiated, an area of a gap between the first seat surface and the spool on a plane taken in a transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, is 5%˜50% of an area of an opening defined by the first seat surface, and
- at a third point in time at which the flow of fluid from the first fluid passage to the third fluid passage is initiated, an area of a gap between the second seat surface and the spool on a plane taken in the transverse direction is 5%˜50% of an area of an opening defined by the second seat surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.