Control valve with mechanical feedback and method for controlling fluid flow

A fluid flow control valve comprising:

• a cage having openings therethrough;
• a first valve member internally slidable within the cage;
• a second valve member internally slidable within the first valve member, the second valve member having a bore therein and holes therethrough in communication with the bore;
• and
• an input mechanism coupled to the first valve member for moving the second valve member;
• wherein movement of the second valve member selectively opens fluid flow pathways between pairs of the openings and movement of the first valve member selectively closes the fluid flow pathways;
• wherein the holes and the bore are part of a fluid flow pathway between nonadjacent openings;
• and
• wherein the first valve member is a cam follower and the second valve member is a main spool.

A single-stage fluid flow control valve comprising:

• a manifold having a first input passage for coupling to a high pressure line, a second input passage for coupling to a low pressure line, and a pair of output passages for coupling to respective chambers of an actuator;
• a follower and a main spool independently slidable within the manifold;
• and
• a plunger connected to the main spool, and at least partially within a solenoid, whereby the solenoid is operatively coupled to the main spool for positioning the main spool;
• wherein the follower has a contact surface protruding from the manifold. such that the follower may be positioned by positioning the contact surface;
• wherein the follower and the main spool are configured to define blockable flow passages between the first input passage and each of the output passages, and between the second input passage and each of the output passages;
• and
• wherein the contact surface is a flat contact surface.

A single-stage fluid flow control valve comprising:

• a manifold having a first input passage for coupling to a high pressure line, a second input passage for coupling to a low pressure line, and a pair of output passages for coupling to respective chambers of an actuator;
• a follower and a main spool independently slidable within the manifold, wherein the follower has a contact surface protruding from the manifold, such that the follower may be positioned by positioning the contact surface;
• a plunger connected to the main spool, and at least partially within a solenoid, whereby the solenoid is operatively coupled to the main spool for positioning the main spool;
• and
• a spring operatively coupled to an end of the follower on an opposite side of the follower from the contact surface, thereby biasing the contact surface to protrude from the manifold;
• wherein the follower and the main spool are configured to define blockable flow passages between the first input passage and each of the output passages, and between the second input passage and each of the output passages.

A single-stage fluid flow control valve comprising:

• a manifold having a first input passage for coupling to a high pressure line, a second input passage for coupling to a low pressure line, and a pair of output passages for coupling to respective chambers of an actuator;
• a follower and a main spool independently slidable within the manifold;
• a plunger connected to the main spool, and at least partially within a solenoid, whereby the solenoid is operatively coupled to the main spool for positioning the main spool, and
• a cage in the manifold, wherein the cage has openings therethrough, and wherein the follower and the main spool are independently slidable within the cage;
• wherein the follower has a contact surface protruding from the manifold, such that the follower may be positioned by positioning the contact surface;
• and
• wherein the follower and the main spool are configured to define blockable flow passages between the first input passage and each of the output passages, and between the second input passage and each of the output passages.

A single-stage fluid flow control valve comprising:

• a manifold having a first input passage for coupling to a high pressure line, a second input passage for coupling to a low pressure line. and a pair of output passages for coupling to respective chambers of an actuator,
• a cage in the manifold, wherein the cage has openings therethrough,
• a follower and a main spool independently slidable within the cage, wherein the main spool is also slidable with the follower;
• a spring operatively coupled to an end of the follower on an opposite side of the follower from a contact surface of the follower, thereby biasing the contact surface to protrude from the manifold such that the follower may be positioned by positioning the contact surface;
• and
• a plunger connected to the main spool, and at least partially within a solenoid, whereby the solenoid is operatively coupled to the main spool for positioning the main spool;
• wherein the follower and the main spool are configured to define blockable flow passages between the first input passage and each of the output passages, and between the second input passage and each of the output passages.