Patent ID: 6425416
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: F15B,F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
A directional control apparatus for a solenoid valve assembly, comprising:a supply/exhaust device assembled in a solenoid valve assembly in which a plurality of solenoid valves are connected together, which supplies and exhausts pressure fluids together to/from the solenoid valves; and a manual directional control valve detachably mounted on the supply/exhaust device to manually divert the pressure fluids; wherein said supply/exhaust device has: a supply-side connection port and an exhaust-side connection port, which are placed side by side in the vicinity; a fixing bracket inserting groove cut in right and left portions of the supply-side and exhaust-side connection ports in a manner so as to cross part of the supply-side and exhaust-side connection ports in a perpendicularly crossing direction with respect to axes of the supply-side and exhaust-side connection ports; and a generally U-shaped fixing bracket inserted in the fixing bracket inserting groove; wherein said manual directional control valve has: a cylinder-shaped supply-side connecting section and a cylinder-shaped exhaust-side connecting section, which are each inserted in said supply-side and exhaust-side connection ports; locking grooves each formed on outer peripheries of the cylinder-shaped supply-side and exhaust-side connecting sections, in which said generally U-shaped fixing bracket is locked; a supply port and an exhaust port communicating with each of said cylinder-shaped supply-side and exhaust-side connecting sections via a valve mechanism; two pipe joints detachably mounted on each of the supply and exhaust ports by being inserted thereto; a fixing bracket inserting groove cut in right and left side portions of said supply and exhaust ports in a manner so as to cross part of the supply and exhaust ports in a perpendicularly crossing direction with respect to axes of the supply and exhaust ports, and a generally U-shaped fixing bracket inserted in the fixing bracket inserting groove; wherein said pipe joints each have in an outer periphery thereof a locking groove in which the generally U-shaped fixing bracket mounted on said directional control valve is locked; and wherein a connection structure for connecting said directional control valve to said supply/exhaust device and a connection structure for connecting said pipe joints to said directional control valve are the same, and said pipe joints is capable of being mounted on said supply/exhaust device in place of said directional control valve.