Hydraulic motion control valve and lever

A motion control valve and lever assembly, comprising:

• a valve assembly comprising:
• a valve body having a plurality of signal ports and first, second, and third spool chambers;
• and
• a first valve spool movably mounted in said first spool chamber, a second valve spool slidably mounted in said second spool chamber, and a third valve spool slidably mounted in said third spool chamber, said first, second, and third valve spools each having a first end and a second opposing end;
• a control lever pivotally mounted to said first valve spool such that said control lever may pivot about a first axis with respect to said first valve spool;
• and
• a cam assembly rotationally coupled to said control lever such that said control lever is free to rotate axially about a first longitudinal axis of said control lever;
• wherein said cam assembly comprises:
• a cam that is positioned adjacent said first ends of said second and third valve spools, whereby said cam may operatively engage said first ends of said second and third valve spools when said control lever is selectively pivoted about said first axis,
• a cam bracket mounted to said cam, said cam bracket having an inner surface that surrounds a portion of said control lever, and
• at least one bearing engagingly disposed between said inner surface of said cam bracket and said control lever;
• and
• wherein rotation of said control lever about said first longitudinal axis causes a corresponding axial rotation of said first valve spool about a second longitudinal axis of said first valve spool.

A motion control valve and lever assembly, comprising:

• a valve assembly comprising:
• a valve body having a plurality of signal ports and first, second, and third spool chambers;
• and
• a first valve spool movably mounted in said first spool chamber, a second valve spool slidably mounted in said second spool chamber, and a third valve spool slidably mounted in said third spool chamber, said first, second, and third valve spools each having a first end and a second opposing end;
• a control lever pivotally mounted to said first valve spool such that said control lever may pivot about a first axis with respect to said first valve spool;
• and
• a cam assembly rotationally coupled to said control lever such that said control lever is free to rotate axially about a first longitudinal axis of said control lever;
• wherein said cam assembly comprises a cam that is positioned adjacent said first ends of said second and third valve spools, whereby said cam may operatively engage said first ends of said second and third valve spools when said control lever is selectively pivoted about said first axis;
• wherein rotation of said control lever about said first longitudinal axis causes a corresponding axial rotation of said first valve spool about a second longitudinal axis of said first valve spool;
• and
• wherein said first valve spool is a range selector spool that may be rotated about said second longitudinal axis into a plurality of different operative positions when said control lever is selectively rotated about said first longitudinal axis.

A motion control valve and lever assembly, comprising:

• a valve assembly comprising:
• a valve body having a plurality of signal ports and first, second, and third spool chambers;
• and
• a first valve spool movably mounted in said first spool chamber, a second valve spool slidably mounted in said second spool chamber, and a third valve spool slidably mounted in said third spool chamber, said first, second, and third valve spools each having a first end and a second opposing end;
• a control lever pivotally mounted to said first valve spool such that said control lever may pivot about a first axis with respect to said first valve spool;
• and
• a cam assembly rotationally coupled to said control lever such that said control lever is free to rotate axially about a first longitudinal axis of said control lever;
• wherein said cam assembly comprises a cam that is positioned adjacent said first ends of said second and third valve spools, whereby said cam may operatively engage said first ends of said second and third valve spools when said control lever is selectively pivoted about said first axis;
• wherein rotation of said control lever about said first longitudinal axis causes a corresponding axial rotation of said first valve spool about a second longitudinal axis of said first valve spool;
• wherein when said control lever is pivoted in a first direction about said first axis, said cam engages said first end of said second valve spool and presses said second valve spool into a first operative position and when said control lever is pivoted in a second direction about said first axis, said cam engages said first end of said third valve spool and presses said third valve spool into a first position;
• and
• wherein said valve assembly further comprises a first hydraulic detent operatively coupled to said second valve spool to hold said second valve spool in a second position when said third valve spool is pressed into its first position by said cam, and a second hydraulic detent operatively coupled to said third valve spool to hold said third valve spool in a second position when said second valve spool is pressed into its first position by said cam.

A motion control valve and lever assembly, comprising:

• a valve assembly comprising:
• a valve body having a plurality of signal ports and first, second, and third spool chambers;
• and
• a first valve spool movably mounted in said first spool chamber, a second valve spool slidably mounted in said second spool chamber, and a third valve spool slidably mounted in said third spool chamber, said first, second, and third valve spools each having a first end and a second opposing end;
• a control lever pivotally mounted to said first valve spool such that said control lever may pivot about a first axis with respect to said first valve spool;
• and
• a cam assembly rotationally coupled to said control lever such that said control lever is free to rotate axially about a first longitudinal axis of said control lever;
• wherein said cam assembly comprises a cam that is positioned adjacent said first ends of said second and third valve spools, whereby said cam may operatively engage said first ends of said second and third valve spools when said control lever is selectively pivoted about said first axis;
• wherein rotation of said control lever about said first longitudinal axis causes a corresponding axial rotation of said first valve spool about a second longitudinal axis of said first valve spool;
• wherein said valve body further has:
• a pressure feed port through which pressurized fluid may be introduced into said valve body,
• a reservoir port through which fluid may exit said valve body, and
• a plurality of passages interconnecting said second and third spool chambers with said pressure feed port, said reservoir port and a first said signal port and a second said signal port;
• wherein when said control lever is pivoted in a first direction about said first axis, said cam engages said first end of said second valve spool and presses said second valve spool into a first operative position and when said control lever is pivoted in a second direction about said first axis, said cam engages said first end of said third valve spool and presses said third valve spool into a first operative position;
• and
• wherein said valve assembly further comprises first hydraulic detent means operatively coupled to said second valve spool for producing a first hydraulic detent that presses said second valve spool towards said cam when said third valve spool is pressed into its said first operative position by said cam, and a second hydraulic detent means operatively coupled to said third valve spool for producing a second hydraulic detent that presses said third valve spool towards said cam when said second valve spool is pressed into its said first operative position by said cam.

A motion control valve and lever assembly, comprising:

• a valve assembly comprising:
• a valve body having a plurality of signal ports and first, second, and third spool chambers;
• and
• a first valve spool movably mounted in said first spool chamber, a second valve spool slidably mounted in said second spool chamber, and a third valve spool slidably mounted in said third spool chamber, said first, second, and third valve spools each having a first end and a second opposing end;
• a control lever pivotally mounted to said first valve spool such that said control lever may pivot about a first axis with respect to said first valve spool;
• and
• a cam assembly rotationally coupled to said control lever such that said control lever is free to rotate axially about a first longitudinal axis of said control lever;
• wherein said cam assembly comprises a cam that is positioned adjacent said first ends of said second and third valve spools, whereby said cam may operatively engage said first ends of said second and third valve spools when said control lever is selectively pivoted about said first axis;
• wherein rotation of said control lever about said first longitudinal axis causes a corresponding axial rotation of said first valve spool about a second longitudinal axis of said first valve spool;
• wherein said valve body further has fourth and fifth spool chambers;
• wherein said valve assembly further comprises:
• a fourth valve spool slidably mounted in said fourth spool chamber,
• a fifth valve spool slidably mounted in said fifth spool chamber, and
• a pivot interconnecting said control lever and said first valve spool such that said control lever is pivotable about said first axis and about a second axis with respect to said first valve spool;
• and
• wherein said second, third, fourth, and fifth valve spools are positioned about said first valve spool such that said second and third valve spools are on opposite sides of said first valve spool and said fourth and fifth valve spool are opposite sides of said first valve spool.