US 6,474,353 B1Granted

Double solenoid control valve that has a neutral position

AssigneeSturman Industries, Inc.

InventorsOded E. Sturman, Steven Massey

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A three position digitally latched actuator actuated fluid control valve. The control valve includes a housing which has a cylinder port, a supply port and a return port. The control valve also contains an internal valve that moves between a first position, a second position and a neutral position. In the first position the internal valve provides fluid communication between the cylinder port and the supply port. In the second position the valve provides fluid communication between the cylinder port and the return port. In the neutral position the valve prevents fluid communication between the ports. The control valve has a first actuator and a second actuator that are actuated by digital pulses to move the internal valve between the first, second and neutral positions. The control valve may have a pair of springs that bias the internal valve to the neutral position, wherein the actuator can be actuated to latch the valve into the first position and the second actuator can be actuated to latch the valve into the second position.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A fluid control valve, comprising:

a housing defining a valve bore, the valve bore including a first port, a second port, a third port, and a first and a second opposing valve bore ends;
a first and a second needle, each needle adjacent one of the valve bore ends;
a first and a second spring, each spring captured by the housing and one of the needles;
a first ad a second outer sleeve, each outer sleeve coupled to one of the needles such that one of the springs urges the outer sleeve toward the opposing outer sleeve and the needle limits the motion of the outer sleeve toward the opposing outer sleeve;
and
a valve spool located within the valve bore between the first and second outer sleeves, the valve spool having a first and a second opposing spool end, the valve spool being movable between
a neutral position wherein the first spool end engages the first outer sleeve at the limit of motion of the first outer sleeve and the second spool end engages the second outer sleeve at the limit of motion of the second outer sleeve,
a first position wherein the first spool end is adjacent the first valve bore end, engages the first outer sleeve, and compresses the first spring, and
a second position wherein the second spool end is adjacent the second valve bore end, engages the second outer sleeve, and compresses the second spring.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/643,148Filed 21 Aug 2000 · division
Priority: 28 Mar 1997
Granted: 5 Nov 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F15B 13/044
For use with a single servomotor: operated by electrically-controlled means, e.g. solenoids, torque-motors
F15B 2013/0409
Valve members; Fluid interconnections therefor: position sensing or feedback of the valve member
Y10T 137/0318
Fluid handling: processes
Y10T 137/86622
Supply and exhaust: motor-operated