Electronic valve assembly for glassware forming machinery
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorEarl L. Lowe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic valve block assembly for controlling the operation of glassware forming machinery. A selector mechanism is utilized to couple either a high pressure plenum or a low pressure plenum to the input port of a solenoid operated valve. A pressure regulator is interjected between the selector mechanism and the valve to finely control the pressure, providing ample flow of output air over a wide range of pressures. A preferred embodiment of pressure regulator is described. Also described is an adapter plate for making the valve block compatible with varying IS machine manifold configurations.
Claims11
In a valve block for an IS glassware forming machine including a plurality of output ports and means for coupling the output ports to an IS machine manifold, said manifold including inlet ports associated with respective machine elements, said ports being in predetermined relative spatial disposition, the improvement wherein:
- said means for coupling the valve block output ports to the manifold comprises:
- a plate having first and second principal surfaces, one principal surface being adapted to mate with said valve block, and the other principal surface being adapted to mate with said manifold;
- apertures formed through said plate disposed at positions corresponding to the disposition of one of said manifold inlet ports and said valve block output ports;
- and
- channels formed on and extending along said plate first principal surface, disposed for coupling said aperture to one of an associated valve block output port and an associated manifold inlet port;
- and
- the further improvement wherein said valve block comprises:
- a body;
- a first plenum, formed in said body, and adapted for cooperation with a source of fluid at a first pressure;
- a second plenum, formed in said body and adapted for cooperation with a source of fluid at a second pressure;
- an exhaust plenum, formed in said body, and adapted for providing an exhaust from said valve block;
- at least one first fluid passageway formed in said body and communicating with an associated first port in a first external surface of said body;
- at least one second fluid passageway formed in said body, communicating between an associated second port in said body first external surface and an associated valve block output port adapted for connection to a respective machine element;
- at least one third fluid passageway, formed in said body, communicating between an associated third port in said body first external surface and said exhaust plenum;
- at least one valve means removably secured to said body first external surface, for selectively effecting fluid communication between said associated first port and said associated second port and for selectively effecting fluid communication between said associated second port and said associated third port;
- at least one bore, formed in said body, extending from an external surface of said body and communicating with an associated first fluid passageway;
- at least one fourth fluid passageway communicating between said first plenum and said bore;
- at least one fifth fluid passageway communicating between said second plenum and said bore;
- and
- selector means, received in said bore, for selectively effecting a passage between said first plenum and said first passageway and selectively effecting a passage between said second plenum and said first passageway.
In a valve block for an IS glassware forming machine including a plurality of output ports and means for coupling the output ports to an IS machine manifold, said manifold including inlet ports associated with respective machine elements, said ports being in predetermined relative spatial disposition, the improvement wherein said means for coupling the valve block output ports to the manifold comprises:
- a plate having first and second principal surfaces, one principal surface being adapted to mate with said valve block, and the other principal surface being adapted to mate with said manifold;
- apertures formed through said plate disposed at positions corresponding to the disposition of one of said manifold inlet ports and said valve block output ports;
- and
- channels formed on and extending along said plate first principal surface, disposed for coupling said aperture to one of an associated valve block output port and an associated manifold inlet port;
- and
- the further improvement wherein said valve block comprises:
- a body;
- a first plenum, formed in said body, and adapted for cooperation with a source of fluid at a first pressure;
- an exhaust plenum, formed in said body, and adapted for providing an exhaust from said valve block;
- at least one first fluid passageway formed in said body and communicating with an associated first port in a first external surface of said body;
- at least one second fluid passageway formed in said body, communicating between an associated second port in said body first external surface and an associated valve block output port adapted for connection to a respective machine element;
- at least one third fluid passageway, formed in said body, communicating between an associated third port in said body first external surface and said exhaust plenum;
- at least one valve means, removably secured to said body first external surface, for selectively effecting fluid communication between said associated first port and said associated second port and for selectively effecting fluid communication between said associated second port and said associated third port;
- at least one bore, formed in said body, extending from an external surface of said body and communicating with an associated first fluid passageway;
- and
- said first passageway including first and second legs, said first and second legs being offset with respect to each other in the axial direction of said second bore;
- and
- pressure regulator means removably received in said bore, for controlling the pressure in said first passageway.
In a valve block for an IS glassware forming machine including a plurality of output ports and means for coupling the output ports to an IS machine manifold said valve block being adapted for cooperation with at least one valve means for selectively effecting fluid communication between a first port and a second port thereof, and for selectively effecting fluid communication between said second port and a third port thereof, said manifold including inlet ports associated with respective machine elements, said ports being in predetermined relative spatial disposition, the improvement wherein;
- said means for coupling the valve block output ports to the manifold comprises:
- a plate having first and second principal surfaces, one principal surface being adapted to mate with said valve block, and the other principal surface being adapted to mate with said manifold;
- apertures formed through said plate disposed at positions corresponding to the disposition of one of said manifold inlet ports and said valve block output ports;
- and
- channels formed on and extending along said plate first principal surface, disposed for coupling said aperture to one of an associated valve block ouput port and an associated manifold inlet port;
- and
- the further improvement wherein said valve block comprises:
- a body;
- first, and second plenums formed in said body, said first and second plenums being respectively coupled to fluid supplies at differing pressures;
- a first fluid passageway formed in said body, communicating with said valve means first port;
- a first fluid passageway formed in said body, communicating with said valve means second port and with one of said valve block output ports;
- an exhaust means for exhausting said fluid communicating with said valve means third port;
- and
- selector means, disposed in said valve block, for selectively coupling said first or second plenums to said first fluid passageway.
A valve block assembly adapted for cooperation with a plurality of valve means, each valve means having an inlet port and an outlet port, said valve block assembly comprising a body, first and second plenums disposed in said body and respectively coupled to different fluid supplies, a fluid passageway connected to each inlet port of said valve means, selector means connected to said valve block assembly for selectively coupling said first or said second plenum to said first passageway, an output passageway disposed in said body and communicating between the output port of said valve means and a valve block output port, a kissplate having input ports leading to respective machine elements, means for coupling the valve block output port to said input ports, said coupling means comprising a plate having first and second principal surfaces, one principal surface being adapted to mate with said valve block assembly, and the other principal surface being adapted to mate with said kissplate, said plate having apertures through said plate and disposed at positions corresponding to the disposition of the input ports, and channels disposed in and extending along one principal surface, said channels coupling said apertures to associated input ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.