Hydraulic valve with a position sensor
AssigneeHydraForce, Inc.
InventorsYakov Beyrak, James C. Shader
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic valve with a position sensor is described. According to various implementations, the valve has a cage with a set of radial holes, a spool assembly slideable within the cage, and a sensor, which may be a Hall effect sensor, that reacts to the movement of the spool assembly. In other implementations, the spool comprises one or more of the following: a spool, a pin that is mechanically coupled to the spool, a dampener, which may be a spring, having a first and a second end, the first end being in contact with the pin and the second end being in contact with the spool.
Claims21
A hydraulic valve comprising:
- a cage having a set of radial holes for allowing the passage of fluid;
- a spool assembly slideable within the cage to allow or block the flow of fluid through the set of radial holes;
- and
- a sensor disposed adjacent to the spool assembly, wherein when the spool assembly moves relative to the sensor, it causes a change in a magnetic field near the sensor, wherein the sensor reacts to the change by generating an electrical signal.
A valve comprising:
- a generally cylindrical cage having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal hole extending from the first end to the second end of the cage, a first set of radial holes, and a second set of radial holes;
- a generally cylindrical adaptor having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal hole extending from the first end to the second end of the adaptor, wherein the first end of the cage is attached to the second end of the adaptor;
- a spool slideably disposed within the longitudinal hole of the cage, the spool having a first position that prevents the first and second sets of radial holes from communicating with one another, and a second position that permits the first and second sets of radial holes to communicate with one another;
- a plug disposed within the longitudinal hole at the first end of the adaptor so as to block the longitudinal hole of the adaptor, the plug having a longitudinal blind hole whose entrance faces toward the spool;
- a sensing means disposed within the plug;
- a generally cylindrical guide slideably disposed within the longitudinal hole of the adaptor near the second end of the adaptor, the guide having a first end and a second end, a longitudinal hole extending from the first end of the guide to the second end of the guide, the first end of the guide being opposite the plug, and second end of the guide abutting the spool;
- a first biasing means disposed within the longitudinal hole of the guide, the first bias means having a first end and a second end, the second end abutting the spool;
- a pin having a first end and a second end, the first end being disposed so as to move freely within the longitudinal blind hole of the plug, the second end being disposed in the longitudinal hole of the guide, the second end abutting the first biasing means;
- and
- a second biasing means disposed between the plug and the guide so as to push the guide away from the plug.
A method for determining the state of a hydraulic valve, the hydraulic valve having a spool that is disposed within the valve and movable along an axis of the valve, the method comprising:
- introducing a fluid into the valve to exert a force on the spool and thereby move the spool;
- transmitting the force from the spool to a pin, thereby causing the pin to move;
- generating an electrical signal based on a change in a magnetic field caused by the movement of the pin;
- and
- deducing, from the electrical signal, the position of the spool.
A safety system for a hydraulic device, the system comprising:
- a hydraulic valve, comprising:
- a cage having a set of radial holes for allowing the passage of fluid;
- a spool slideable within the cage to allow or block the flow of fluid through the set of radial holes, the spool having at least a first position and a second position;
- a pin coupled to the spool;
- and
- a sensor disposed adjacent to the pin, wherein when the spool moves from the first position to the second position, the pin moves relative to the sensor, thereby causing a change in a magnetic field near the sensor, wherein the sensor reacts to the change by generating an electrical signal,
- a safety circuit electrically connected to the sensor, wherein the safety circuit allows or prevents a user from activating the hydraulic device based on the electrical signal generated by the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.