US 5,857,488 AGranted

Multi-mode selector valve assembly for marine steering system

OwnerJacob Kobeltinventor

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Abstract

A hydraulic valve apparatus is for controlling pressurized fluid flow to at least a pair of coupled hydraulic actuators in response to operator signals. The valve apparatus comprises a main body having main ports communicating selectively with a fluid supply and fluid return, body ports to communicate with the actuators, and a scavenge port to communicate with the return. Each actuator communicates with two control valves and one scavenge valve on the valve body to control fluid flow relative to the actuators. Control devices cooperate with the control and scavenge valves of each actuator so as to actuate the respective valves simultaneously. The control devices maintain the two related control valves in the same phase with respect to each other, but in an opposite phase to the respective scavenge valve. In an emergency, an appropriate valve actuating device switches the appropriate control valves from a normally open to a normally closed position, while simultaneously switching the related scavenge valve from a normally closed to a normally open position. This permits an operating cylinder to passively displace an inoperative cylinder to enable operation of the apparatus with one actuator only.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A hydraulic valve apparatus for controlling pressurized fluid flow from at least a first fluid pump for distribution to left hand and right hand hydraulic actuators in response to signals from an operator, each hydraulic actuator having first and second actuator ports, the valve apparatus comprising:

(a) a main valve body having:
first and second main ports communicating selectively as required with a fluid supply or a fluid return;
a main scavenge port to return fluid to a sump;
first and second left hand body ports to communicate with the first and second actuator ports of the left hand hydraulic actuator respectively;
and first and second right hand body ports to communicate with the first and second actuator ports of the right hand actuator respectively,
(b) left hand and right hand scavenge valves communicating with the main scavenge port, the left hand scavenge valve also communicating with the first and second left hand body ports, and the right hand scavenge valve also communicating with the first and second right hand body ports,
(c) first and second left hand control valves communicating with the fluid supply and fluid return selectively as required, and also with the left hand body ports,
(d) first and second right hand control valves communicating with the fluid supply and fluid return selectively as required, and also with the right hand body ports,
(e) a left hand control device cooperating with the first and second left hand control valves and the left hand scavenge valve to actuate all said left hand valves simultaneously, and
(f) a right hand control device cooperating with the first and second right hand control valves and the right hand scavenge valve to actuate all said right hand valves simultaneously.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.