US 12,669,188 B2Granted

Hydraulic valves

AssigneeDanfoss A/S

InventorsNilesh Anant Sutar, Shital Sunil Jain

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Abstract

A hydraulic valve includes a cage defining a first port, a second port, and a third port that is disposed between the first port and the second port along a longitudinal axis. A first biased poppet is movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the first port. A second biased poppet is movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the second port. The hydraulic valve also includes an actuator and a connecting rod. The connecting rod coupled to the actuator and both of the poppets. The actuator is configured to move the connecting rod along the longitudinal axis such that in a first position, the first poppet opens the first port so the first port is in fluid communication with the third port, and in a second position, the second poppet opens the second port so the second port is in fluid communication with the third port.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A hydraulic valve comprising:

a cage having a first end and an opposite second end defining a longitudinal axis, the cage defining a first port configured to be coupled in fluid communication with a pump, a second port configured to be coupled to a tank, and a third port configured to be coupled to a hydraulic actuator, wherein the third port is disposed between the first port and the second port along the longitudinal axis;
a first poppet biased relative to the first end of the cage, the first poppet movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the first port;
a second poppet biased relative to the second end of the cage, the second poppet movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the second port;
an actuator;
and
a connecting rod extending along the longitudinal axis, the connecting rod coupled to the actuator and both of the first poppet and the second poppet, wherein the actuator is configured to move the connecting rod along the longitudinal axis such that in a first position, the first poppet at least partially opens the first port so the first port is in fluid communication with the third port, and in a second position, the second poppet at least partially opens the second port so the second port is in fluid communication with the third port,
wherein one or more of the first and second poppets include a poppet body having a central opening configured to at least partially receive the connecting rod, the poppet body also having a notch defined in a valve face and coaxially aligned with the central opening, wherein the connecting rod includes a collar configured to engage with the valve face and selectively move the poppet body, the collar aligned along the longitudinal axis with the notch and the central opening, and wherein the collar, the notch, and the central opening are configured to allow fluid flow between fluid volumes defined on either axial side of the poppet body.

4 more elements

A hydraulic valve comprising:

a cage extending along a longitudinal axis and defining an inlet port configured to be connected to a pump, a working port configured to be connected to a hydraulic actuator, and a tank port configured to be connected to a tank;
an inlet poppet movable along the longitudinal axis and configured to selectively seal the inlet port;
a tank poppet movable along the longitudinal axis and configured to selectively seal the tank port;
a linear actuator;
a connecting rod coupled to the linear actuator and extending between the inlet poppet and the tank poppet, wherein the linear actuator is configured to drive the connecting rod along the longitudinal axis between at least an inlet configuration whereby the inlet poppet is engaged and a first flow path is defined between the inlet port and the working port, a closed configuration whereby both of the inlet poppet and the tank poppet are disengaged and the inlet port and the tank port are closed, and a tank configuration whereby the tank poppet is engaged and a second flow path is defined between the tank port and the working port;
a pilot valve disposed proximate the tank port, the pilot valve including:
a pilot poppet coupled to the connecting rod, wherein the pilot poppet is biased relative to the connecting rod;
and
a valve seat formed at a distal end of the cage, wherein when the connecting rod is in the tank configuration, the pilot valve is closed and seated with the valve seat.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.