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US 6,644,351 B2Granted
Booster pilot valve
AssigneeASCO Controls, LP
InventorsDrew LaMarca, Gregory J. Volz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A booster pilot valve operable at ultra low power levels is provided. The booster valve includes a moveable spool capable of directing a fluid flow to at least two different paths. The booster valve may be coupled to a piezotronic three-way valve, which controls the movement of the spool by redirecting a main fluid flow along different paths to create a force on the spool. The piezotronic valve is capable of actuation at very low power levels such as might be provided by a Profibus PA or other Bus system.
Claims29
A booster pilot valve operated by a pressurized fluid, comprising:
- a body defining a fluid chamber having a main port for receiving the pressurized fluid, a cylinder port, an exhaust port, and outlet port;
- a hydraulic member movably disposed in the fluid chamber between a closed position and an opened position without a spring biasing the hydraulic member, the hydraulic member defining a fluid passageway that extends from a first hydraulic member area to a second hydraulic member area and that communicates at least a portion of the pressurized fluid from main port to the outlet port;
- a first motive force generated by the pressurized fluid from the main port reacting against first hydraulic member area;
- and
- a second motive tree generated by the portion of the pressurized fluid from the outlet port reacting against the second hydraulic member area, which area is greater than the first area,
- wherein during one operational state the second motive force moves the hydraulic member to the closed position and the hydraulic member facilitates communication between the cylinder port and the exhaust port, and
- wherein during another operational state the first motive force moves the hydraulic member to the opened position and the hydraulic member facilitates communication of at least a portion of the pressurized fluid from the main port with the cylinder port.
4 more elements
A booster pilot valve operated by a pressurized fluid, comprising:
- a body defining a fluid chamber having a main port for receiving the pressurized fluid, a cylinder port, an exhaust port, and an outlet port;
- a spool movably disposed within the fluid chamber between a closed position and an opened position without a spring biasing the spool, the spool defining a fluid passageway that extends from a first spool area to a second spool area and that communicates at least a portion of the pressurized fluid from the main port to the outlet port;
- a first motive force generated by the pressurized fluid from the main reacting against the first spool area;
- a second motive force generated by the portion of the pressurized fluid from the outlet port reacting against the second spool area, which area is greater than the first area;
- and
- a secondary valve communicating with the outlet port of the body and operable to direct the portion of the pressurized fluid from the outlet port to the second spool area or to vent the portion of the pressurized fluid from the second spool area,
- wherein during one operational state the secondary valve directs the portion of the pressurized fluid from the outlet to the second spool area, the second motive force moves the spool to the closed position, and the hydraulic member facilitates communication between the cylinder port and the exhaust port, and
- wherein during another operational state the secondary valve vents the portion of the pressurized fluid from the second area, the first motive force moves the spool to the opened position, and the hydraulic member facilitates communication of at least a portion of the pressurized fluid from the main port with the cylinder port.
5 more elements
A booster pilot valve operated by a pressurized fluid, comprising:
- a body defining a fluid chamber, comprising:
- a main port defined in a first end of the fluid chamber for receiving the pressurized fluid,
- an exhaust port defined in the fluid chamber, and
- a stem defining an outlet port and protruding into the fluid chamber from a second end of the fluid chamber;
- a hydraulic member movably disposed in the fluid chamber between an opened position and a closed position without a spring biasing the hydraulic member, comprising:
- a first area adjacent the first end of the fluid chamber;
- a second area adjacent the second end of the fluid chamber, which area being greater than the first area,
- a fluid passageway defined in the hydraulic member and extending from the first area to the second area, at least a portion of the stem disposed within the fluid passageway so that the fluid passageway communicates the main port with the outlet port;
- a first motive force generated by the pressurized fluid from the main port reacting against the first hydraulic member area;
- and
- a second motive force generated by at least a portion of the pressurized fluid from the outlet port reacting against the second hydraulic member area,
- wherein during one operational state the first motive force moves the hydraulic member to the opened position and the hydraulic member facilitates communication of at least a portion of the pressurized fluid from the main port with the cylinder port, and
- wherein during another operational state the second motive force moves the hydraulic member to the closed position and the hydraulic member facilitates communication between the cylinder port and the exhaust port.
10 more elements
A method of operating a valve element with a hydraulic device, a pressurized fluid, and a three-way valve operable to direct the pressurized fluid, the hydraulic device having a first area and having a second area greater than the first area, the hydraulic device movably disposed in a fluid chamber without a spring biasing the hydraulic member, the method comprising:
- supplying the pressurized fluid into the fluid chamber having the hydraulic device movably disposed therein;
- generating a first motive force on the hydraulic device with the pressurized fluid by reacting the pressurized fluid on the first area and by venting a portion of the pressurized fluid from the second area with the three-way valve;
- generating a second motive force on the hydraulic device by reacting the pressurized fluid on the first area and by directing a portion of the pressurized fluid with the three-way valve to react against the second area;
- directing at least a portion of the pressurized fluid to the valve element by moving the hydraulic device to an opened position with the first motive force;
- and
- exhausting a secondary fluid from the valve element by moving the hydraulic device to a closed position with the second motive force.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.