Servovalve having a trapezoidal drive

A direct drive valve comprising:

• an electric motor, wherein said motor includes a rotatable output shaft having a tip;
• a valve having a movable member and a plurality of ports, wherein movement of said member can enable pressurized fluid to travel from at least one of said ports to another of said ports, wherein said member can move in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said output shaft of said motor;
• and
• wherein said member includes a groove having first and second sidewalls, wherein at least a portion of said tip is received within said groove, wherein a cross-section of said tip, taken in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, has a substantially trapezoidal shape including first and second sides, a major base, and a minor base, wherein first and second stops limit the rotation of said tip, wherein said first stop occurs when said first side is parallel to and abuts said first sidewall, wherein said second stop occurs when said second side is parallel to and abuts said second sidewall, and whereby a partial rotation of said shaft will cause said tip to apply force to said movable member of said valve and thereby cause said member to move in a linear manner from a first position to a second position.

A direct-drive servovalve comprising:

• an electric motor, wherein said motor includes a rotatable output shaft having a tip portion;
• a spool valve having a translatable spool and a plurality of ports, wherein movement of the spool can enable pressurized fluid to travel from at least one of said ports to another of said ports, wherein said spool has a longitudinal axis that is oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said output shaft of said motor;
• and
• wherein said spool includes a receiver in the form of a shaped area having first and second sidewalls, wherein at least a portion of said tip portion is received within said receiver between said sidewalls, wherein said tip portion has first and second sides, wherein when said tip portion is in a first position, a first part of said first side will contact said first sidewall, and a first part of said second side will contact said second sidewall, wherein when said shaft rotates in a first direction, pressure will be applied to said spool by the tip portion's first side and thereby cause a linear movement of said spool, wherein rotation of said shaft in said first direction will be stopped when a second part of said second side contacts said second sidewall.

A direct-drive valve comprising:

• a motor, wherein said motor includes a rotatable output shaft having a tip portion;
• a valve having a movable member and a plurality of ports, wherein movement of said member can enable pressurized fluid to travel from at least one of said ports to another of said ports, wherein said movable member can move in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the motor's output shaft;
• and
• wherein said movable member includes a receiver in the form of a shaped area in said member and has first and second sidewalls, wherein at least a portion of said tip portion is received within said receiver, wherein said tip portion has first and second sides, wherein when said tip portion is in a first position, a first part of said first side will contact said first sidewall, and a first part of said second side will contact said second sidewall, wherein when said shaft rotates in a first direction, pressure will be applied to said movable member by said first part of the tip portion's first side and thereby cause a linear movement of said member, wherein rotation of said shaft in said first direction will be stopped when a second part of said second side contacts said second sidewall.