# US 7,610,935 B2 · Fluid controller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,935 B2 - Document ID: US7610935B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/448,291 - Filed: 2006-06-07 - Published: 2007-05-24 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-06-10 - Assignees: Sauer-Danfoss ApS - Inventors: Niels Arbjerg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610935B2 ## CPC - B62D 5/097: gerotor type - Y10T 137/86662: Axial and radial flow - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention provides a fluid controller, e.g. for a hydrostatic power steering. The controller comprises a cylindrical valve member cooperating with a housing to define at least one fluid path from a pressure source to a steering cylinder. The valve member is rotatable in the housing and comprises a sleeve and a spool, wherein the spool is rotatable within the sleeve. The fluid flow is metered by a flow meter, and the valve member comprises a plurality of meter ports communicating the fluid between the valve member and the flow meter. To obtain less friction between the sleeve and the housing and between the sleeve and the spool, the meter ports are grouped in two groups in which groups the ports are in mutually fluid communication. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid controller operable to control a flow of a fluid from a source of pressurized fluid to a pressure operated device, the controller comprising: a housing defining an inlet port connected to the source, an outlet port connected to a system reservoir, a first control port connected to a first port of the pressure operated device, and a second control port connected to a second port of the pressure operated device, a fluid meter with expanding and contracting volume chambers, and a cylindrical valve member being rotatable within the housing and cooperating therewith to define at least one fluid path from the inlet port to one of the control ports, and from the other control port to the outlet port, the valve member comprising a plurality of meter ports communicating the fluid between the valve member and the expanding and contracting volume chambers, wherein every second of the meter ports are in fluid communication to form a first group of meter ports and the remaining meter ports are in fluid communication to form a second group of meter ports. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The controller according to claim 1, wherein the valve member comprises a cylindrical sleeve and a cylindrical spool which is rotatable within the sleeve between a neutral position and first and second operating positions oppositely disposed about the neutral position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The controller according to claim 2, wherein the meter ports form passages extending radially in the sleeve between an inner surface towards the spool and an outer surface towards the housing, a first group of the passages being joined by a first connecting groove and a second group of the passages being joined by a second connecting groove. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The controller according to claim 3, wherein the passages have a larger cross sectional size at the outer surface than at the inner surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The controller according to claim 3, wherein the passages have a circular cross sectional shape at the inner surface and a quadrangular cross sectional shape at the outer surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The controller according to claim 3, wherein the meter ports are arranged in an annular configuration along the outer surface of the sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The controller according to claim 6, wherein the first connecting groove is located axially on one side of the meter ports and the second connecting groove is located axially on an opposite side of the meter ports. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The controller according to claim 3, wherein the connecting grooves form depressions in the outer surface of the sleeve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The controller according to claim 1, wherein the first group in one position of the valve member relative to the housing, is communicating with a contracting chamber and the second group is communicating with an expanding chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The controller according to claim 1, adapted for load reaction steering of a vehicle. ### Claim 11 A valve member for a fluid controller, the valve member comprising an inlet opening, a tank opening, a first control opening, a second control opening, and a plurality of meter ports, the valve member being provided for a neutral configuration and for first and second operating configurations in which operating configurations the valve member defines a path between the inlet opening and a first group of meter port and from a second group of meter port to one of the control openings and from the other control opening to the tank openings, wherein the meter ports of the first group of meter ports are in fluid communication and the meter ports of the second group of meter ports are in fluid communication. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The valve member according to claim 11, comprising a sleeve and a spool which rotates in the sleeve, the openings being provided in an outer surface of the sleeve, and the communication between the meter ports of the first group and between the meter ports of the second group being provided by grooves in the outer surface.