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US 9,927,037 B2Granted
Rotary valve with brake mode
AssigneeBoston Dynamics, Inc.
InventorsJohn Aaron Saunders, Steven D. Potter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example valve includes a sleeve having a plurality of openings configured along a length of the sleeve. A spool is rotatable within the sleeve and includes a respective plurality of openings along a length of the spool corresponding to the plurality of openings of the sleeve. A rotary actuator coupled to the spool is configured for rotating the spool within the sleeve. The rotary actuator can rotate the spool to a given rotary position in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction to cause at least a partial alignment between a subset of the respective plurality of openings of the spool and a subset of the plurality of openings of the sleeve.
Claims18
A valve comprising:
- a sleeve having a plurality of ports configured along a length of the sleeve, wherein the plurality of ports includes at least (i) a first workport configured to communicate fluid to and from a first chamber of a hydraulic actuator, (ii) a second workport configured to communicate fluid to and from a second chamber of the hydraulic actuator, (iii) a supply port configured to be in communication with a source of pressurized fluid, wherein the supply port is disposed longitudinally between the first workport and the second workport, and (iv) a return port configured to communicate fluid to and from a reservoir, wherein the return port is disposed at a first end of the sleeve;
- and
- a spool rotatable within the sleeve, wherein the spool includes a plurality of openings along a length of the spool corresponding to the plurality of ports of the sleeve, wherein the spool is hollow such that the spool includes an internal chamber, wherein the internal chamber is in communication with a return opening at a first end of the spool, and wherein the return opening is in communication with the return port at the first end of the sleeve,
- wherein the plurality of openings of the spool include at least (i) a first window disposed longitudinally adjacent to the supply port on a first side thereof and configured to reach inward to the inner chamber of the spool and configured to receive fluid from the first workport and communicate the fluid to the reservoir through the inner chamber and the return opening of the spool when the spool is at a first rotary position, and (ii) a second window disposed longitudinally adjacent to the supply port on a second side thereof longitudinally opposite to the first side of the supply port, and configured to reach inward to the inner chamber of the spool and configured to receive fluid from the second workport and communicate the fluid to the reservoir through the inner chamber and the return opening of the spool when the spool is at a second rotary position different from the first rotary position.
1 more element
A hydraulic circuit comprising:
- a supply line for supplying pressurized fluid;
- a return line for communicating fluid having pressure lower than that of the pressurized fluid;
- a hydraulic actuator including a first chamber and a second chamber;
- and
- a valve comprising:
- a sleeve having a plurality of ports configured along a length of the sleeve, wherein the plurality of ports includes at least:
- (i) a first workport configured to communicate fluid to and from the first chamber of the hydraulic actuator, (ii) a second workport configured to communicate fluid to and from the second chamber of the hydraulic actuator, (iii) a supply port configured to be in communication with the supply line, wherein the supply port is disposed longitudinally between the first workport and the second workport, and (iv) a return port configured to communicate fluid to and from a reservoir, wherein the return port is disposed at a first end of the sleeve;
- and
- a spool rotatable within the sleeve, wherein the spool includes a plurality of openings along a length of the spool corresponding to the plurality of ports of the sleeve, wherein the spool is hollow such that the spool includes an internal chamber, wherein the internal chamber is in communication with a return opening at a first end of the spool, and wherein the return opening is in communication with the return port at the first end of the sleeve,
- wherein the plurality of openings of the spool include at least (i) a first window disposed longitudinally adjacent to the supply port on a first side thereof and configured to reach inward to the inner chamber of the spool and configured to receive fluid from the first workport and communicate the fluid to the reservoir through the inner chamber and the return opening of the spool when the spool is at a first rotary position, and (ii) a second window disposed longitudinally adjacent to the supply port on a second side thereof longitudinally opposite to the first side of the supply port, and configured to reach inward to the inner chamber of the spool and configured to receive fluid from the second workport and communicate the fluid to the reservoir through the inner chamber and the return opening of the spool when the spool is at a second rotary position different from the first rotary position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.