# US 7,607,452 B2 · Valve construction kit for the production of valve clusters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,452 B2 - Document ID: US7607452B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/605,075 - Filed: 2006-11-28 - Published: 2007-06-21 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-21 - Assignees: Festo AG & Co. - Inventors: Heiko Kühbauch; Michael Berner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607452B2 ## CPC - F15B 13/0839: {Stacked plate type valves} - F15B 13/0821: {Attachment or sealing of modular units to each other} - F15B 13/0828: {characterised by sealing means of the modular units} - F15B 13/0857: {Electrical connecting means, e.g. plugs, sockets} - F15B 13/0867: {Data bus systems} - F15B 13/0875: {Channels for electrical components, e.g. for cables or sensors} - Y10T 137/5109: Convertible - Y10T 137/5283: Units interchangeable between alternate locations - Y10T 137/87885: Sectional block structure - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A valve construction kit is provided for the production of valve clusters respectively having several juxtaposed plate-like valve units. Each valve unit comprises a core module having a valve spool and a frame-like encasing element surrounding the core module. The construction kit furthermore comprises several encasing elements differing at least as regards the consistency of the their material and of different types so that it is possible to produce valve units for different applications owing to the selected combination with core modules. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve construction kit for the production of valve clusters, said valve clusters comprising plate-like valve units arranged in a row in a direction at right angle to a principal plate plane of each valve unit said valve units each possessing a core module having a core housing through which a plurality of valve ducts extend at right angle to the respective principal plate plane and which contains at least one movable valve spool, said valve units also possessing a frame-like encasing element, separate from the core module, said encasing element surrounding the core module in the principal plate plane and defining an outline of the respective valve unit, said encasing element and the core module being fixed together by mutually matching interface means, the construction kit containing a plurality of said core modules and a plurality of frame-like encasing elements of different types, said frame-like encasing elements of different types differing from each other at least in their material properties, wherein the mutual interface means permit assembly of valve units for different purposes of use. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least two different types of encasing elements are present, which include different plastic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said at least two different types of encasing elements are made of plastic material of different strength. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least two different types of encasing elements are present, which are made of different metals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 4, wherein said at least two different types of encasing elements are made on the one hand of aluminum material and on the other hand of stainless steel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least two different types of encasing elements are present, which are made of plastic material in one case and of metal in another case. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of core modules are identical and are able to be combined with said encasing elements of different types. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of different types of encasing elements possess an at least substantially identical outline. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least two encasing elements of different types are differing from each other as regards the presence and absence of electrical input and/or output terminals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the core modules at least in part are fitted with a an electrically actuatable pilot control valve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 10, wherein the at least one electrically actuatable pilot control valve is mounted externally on the core housing, it being surrounded by the encasing element respectively secured to the core housing as well. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein each encasing element delimits a receiving space having a larger cross sectional area in the principal plate plane than the core module so that a utility space is defined in-between which is able to be utilized for any purpose if necessary. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 12, wherein the utility space is able to be used to receive components of an electrical concatenation means serving for the electrical concatenation of juxtaposed valve units. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interface means present for mutual attachment together of the encasing element and the core module comprise detent connection means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 14, wherein the detent connection means are so designed that the encasing element is able to be secured with a detent action by movement onto the associated core module from the side in the direction of the row of the valve units. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interface means for mutually securing the encasing element and the core module are at least partly in the form of a screw connection means. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 1, comprising sealing means for providing a seal between juxtaposed valve units in a joint area of the encasing elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The valve construction kit as set forth in claim 17, wherein the sealing means are directly borne by the encasing elements themselves and constitute an assembly unit therewith.