Patent ID: 8607823
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A valve assembly having a housing with a longitudinal bore, a supply port in fluid communication with said longitudinal bore for receiving working fluid from a working fluid source, a control port in fluid communication with said longitudinal bore for communicating working fluid to and from a working device, and a vent port in fluid communication with said longitudinal bore for returning working fluid to said working fluid source, said valve assembly comprising: a spool slideably disposed in said longitudinal bore for controlling the flow of working fluid between said supply port and said control port and between said control port and said vent port, said spool having a spool bore extending axially thereinto and in fluid communication with said control port, a high pressure passage to provide fluid communication between said supply port and said spool bore, and a metering orifice to provide fluid communication between said inlet port and said spool bore; and an actuator assembly for selectively altering the position of said spool in said longitudinal bore to achieve a valve mode selected from the group consisting of a high pressure mode, a pressure relief mode, and a pressure regulating mode; wherein said supply port is in fluid communication with said spool bore through said high pressure passage at a first pressure when said spool is positioned in said longitudinal bore to achieve said high pressure mode, thereby activating said working device; wherein said vent port is in fluid communication with said spool bore when said spool is positioned in said longitudinal bore to achieve said pressure relief mode, thereby deactivating said working device; and wherein said supply port is in fluid communication with said spool bore through said metering orifice at a second pressure which is less than said first pressure when said spool is positioned in said longitudinal bore to achieve said pressure regulating mode such that said high pressure passage is blocked and said metering orifice is aligned with said supply port, thereby lubricating said working device without activating said working device.