By-pass pilot operated hydraulic check valve

A valve comprising

• means defining a housing,
• means defining a main fluid flow channel in said housing,
• an electrically actuated solenoid valve comprising a valve actuating coil, a valve plug and a valve seat adapted to control the flow of fluid through said main fluid flow channel, said solenoid valve plug biased against said valve seat when said actuating coil is unenergized,
• means defining a second fluid channel in said housing,
• a piston adapted to slidably move in said second fluid channel in a direction coincident with the movement of said solenoid valve plug and in coaxial alignment with said valve plug and solenoid valve,
• means for applying hydraulic fluid pressure to said piston whereby said piston engages said valve plug and moves said plug away from said valve seat to permit the flow of fluid through said main fluid flow channel, and
• means for decelerating the motion of said piston when said piston moves away from said valve plug upon release of said hydraulic fluid pressure.

A valve comprising:

• means defining a housing,
• means defining a main bore in said housing having a first end and a second end,
• means defining an inlet port in fluid communication with said first end of said main bore,
• means defining an outlet port in fluid communication with said first end of said main bore,
• a solenoid valve having a valve plug and a valve seat disposed in said main bore between said inlet port and said outlet port, said plug of said solenoid valve biased against said seat of said solenoid valve when said solenoid valve is unenergized,
• means defining a second fluid flow channel in fluid communication with said second end of said main bore,
• a piston disposed in said main bore between said first and said second ends, said piston comprising
• a piston body,
• a piston guide depending from said piston body into said second fluid channel, and
• a fixed guide connected to said housing and having a diameter larger than the diameter of said piston guide, the spacing between said piston guide and said fixed guide adapted to control the rate of fluid flow from said fixed guide at a rate sufficient to decelerate the motion of said piston body, and
• means for applying hydraulic fluid pressure in said second channel whereby said piston moves toward and engages said solenoid valve plug and moves said plug away from said seat to permit the flow of fluid from said inlet port to said outlet port.

A valve comprising

• means defining a housing,
• means defining a main bore in said housing having a first end and a second end,
• means defining an inlet port in fluid communication with said first end of said main bore,
• means defining an outlet port in fluid communication with said first end of said main bore,
• a solenoid valve having a valve plug and a valve seat disposed in said main bore between said inlet port and said outlet port, said plug of said solenoid valve biased against said seat of said solenoid valve when said solenoid valve is unenergized,
• means defining a second fluid flow channel in fluid communication with said second end of said main bore,
• a piston disposed in said main bore between said first and said second ends, said piston comprising
• a main body portion,
• a guide member depending from said body portion into said second fluid channel, and
• a valve actuator member having a diameter less than the diameter of said main body portion and extending into said main bore proximate said first end of said main bore, and
• means for applying hydraulic fluid pressure in said second channel whereby said piston moves toward and engages said solenoid valve plug and moves said plug away from said seat to permit the flow of fluid from said inlet port to said outlet port.