Air hydraulic remote control device

A remote control device for providing air actuation of a hydraulic pump and having a remote control valve body with an air supply inlet at its bottom and first and second air ducts leading from the air supply inlet to respective first and second air valve chambers. First and second air outlets on opposite sides of the device communicate respectively with the first and second air valve chambers, and first and second air valves are positioned in the respective first and second air valve chambers to control air flow from a respective one of the first and second air ducts to a respective one of the air outlets. Additionally, a piston and cylinder device with an anti-vacuum vent is provided which is actuable in response to air pressure supplied through one of the air outlets to actuate a piston slideably mounted over a release button of a hydraulic pump.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The subject invention relates generally to hydraulic apparatus and more 
particularly to an improved remote control apparatus for providing air 
actuation and deactuation of a hydraulic pump. 
2. Description of Related Art 
Remote control devices providing air actuation of hydraulic apparatus are 
known in the prior art. However, the known devices are relatively 
expensive and complex. Thus, a need has arisen for an improved remote 
control device which features both simplicity and low cost. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the invention, a remote control device is provided having a 
remote control valve body with an air supply inlet and first and second 
air ducts leading from the air supply inlet to respective first and second 
air valve chambers. First and second air outlets communicate respectively 
with the first and second air valve chambers, and first and second air 
valves are positioned in the respective first and second air valve 
chambers. Each of the air valves includes a switch which is actuable to 
cause air to be communicated from a respective one of the first and second 
air ducts to a respective one of the air outlets. When actuated, one of 
the air valves is opened to cause a hydraulic pump to operate, while the 
second air valve causes hydraulic pressure supplied by the pump to be 
released. 
Additionally, a means is provided which is actuable in response to air 
pressure supplied through one of the air outlets to actuate a piston 
slideably mounted in the means therefor. The means therefor is positioned 
over a hydraulic pressure release button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the 
art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes 
contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various 
modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in 
the art. 
Remote control apparatus according to the preferred embodiment is 
illustrated in FIG. 1. The remote control apparatus operates in 
conjunction with a conventional hydraulic pump 11, which supplies 
hydraulic pressure through a conventional fitting 13 to a source such as a 
hydraulic ram. Hydraulic pumps, such as pump 11, are conventionally foot 
pedal actuated by a hydraulic pump release button 31 or an actuation pedal 
15. Conventionally, hydraulic pressure is applied by foot actuation of 
pedal 15 and is terminated by foot actuation of the release button 31. 
Actuation of the foot pedal 15 conventionally allows compressed air to 
enter at the point of fitting 26 through an "air chuck" connection. The 
compressed air is used by the hydraulic pump 11 to generate hydraulic 
pressure, e.g., on the order of 10,000 lbs. 
According to the preferred embodiment, a hand held remote control device 19 
is provided which communicates via a first air line 25 to the fitting 26 
and via a second air line 27 to a release valve 29. The remote control 19 
includes first and second actuation buttons 21, 23. The first button 23 
applies air pressure through the air line 25 to start the hydraulic pump 
11 running. The second button 21 may then be actuated to cause the release 
valve 29 to terminate or release the provision of hydraulic pressure by 
the pump 11. Air under pressure is supplied to the remote control 19 via 
an air supply line 17, which may be an air line or hose such as is 
typically available in automotive repair shops. Additionally, the 
actuation pedal 15 is clipped permanently down by a suitable clip or clamp 
to facilitate operation according to the preferred embodiment. 
The hand held remote control 19 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
As shown, the remote control 19 includes a cylindrical air supply inlet 33 
to which air supply hose 17 (FIG. 1) is attached. The supply inlet 33 
branches off via generally cylindrical ducts 34, 36 to respective 
concentrically cylindrical air valve chambers 39, 41. Respective 
cylindrical air outlets 35, 37 communicate with the respective air valve 
chambers 39, 41 so that air may pass from the supply inlet through one of 
the respective ducts 34, 36 and out respective holes 18, 20 in one of the 
corresponding outlets 35, 37, depending on which of the release buttons 
21, 23 is manually depressed. The air outlet passageways 35, 27 are 
preferably threaded to receive suitable coupling members so as to permit 
"quick-disconnect" hook-up and detachment of the air lines 25, 27. 
Both air valves 43, 45 are identical in construction, and one such valve 43 
is illustrated in further detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. The air valve 43 
includes the button 21, a stem 47 attached to the button 21, a plunger 57 
and a nose portion 59. The nose portion 59 has a flat rear surface 110. 
The plunger 57 and nose 59 may be fabricated as a single unitary metal 
piece, for example, by suitable machining, and then attached to the shaft 
47 by threading or other conventional methods. Alternatively, the elements 
21, 47, 57, etc. may comprise two or more discrete pieces attached 
together by various conventional techniques, e.g., by welding. 
The cylindrical stem 47 slideably mounts for vertical reciprocation in a 
valve body 48. A flexible seal 50 is fitted around the stem 47 and between 
the stem 47 and a flange 49 formed on the valve body 48. The seal 50 
prevents "blow back" of compressed air through the valve 43 and tends to 
bias the button 21 in the closed position. 
The valve body 48 includes the flange 49, a threaded region 51 and an air 
supply hole 53. As shown in FIG. 5, the air supply hole 53 communicates 
through a passageway 56 with a second air supply hole 54 on the opposite 
side of the body 48 such that air may pass through the body 48. The 
threads 51 permit each of the air valves 43, 45 to be threadably inserted 
into the respective air chambers 41, 39 until their respective flanges 49 
sealingly abut the top surface 50 of the remote control 19. The bottom end 
52 of the valve body is closed except for an opening which permits passage 
and reciprocation of the plunger 57. This opening is made wider in 
diameter than the plunger 57 so that air may pass around the plunger 57 
and into the passageway 56. The openings 53, 54 are preferably slightly 
smaller than the holes 18, 20 in the remote control body. For example, the 
holes 18, 20 may be 3/8 inch in diameter, while the openings 53, 54 are 
1/8 inch in diameter. 
A gasket/seal 55 is attached at one end of the plunger 57 and is retained 
by the nose portion 59. The disc-shaped gasket 55 may be constructed so 
that it can be attached by forcing it over the nose 59, such that it 
slideably rides on the plunger 57. The air valves 43, 45 are so 
dimensioned that a respective rubber seal or gasket 55 normally rests on 
shoulder 60, 62 of the remote control body and closes off the air supply 
from a duct, e.g. 34, to the air supply hole 53. The air pressure provided 
through the air supply inlet 33 tends to push the nose portion 59 upward, 
maintaining it in a normally sealed position against the gasket 55. 
The hydraulic piston and cylinder device according to the preferred 
embodiment is shown in more detail in FIGS. 7 through 11. As seen in FIGS. 
7 through 9, the device preferably comprises a block of metal with 
rectangular side faces, i.e., a rectangular parallelepiped. A cylindrical 
release valve chamber 61 is bored into the block, as well as a concentric 
release button chamber 63 of a somewhat larger diameter than the release 
valve chamber 61. The release valve chamber 61 slideably receives a 
release valve piston 65 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The release button 
chamber 63 receives the release button 31 (FIG. 1). As indicated, the 
release button 31 is depressed by the piston 65 in the direction of the 
arrow 67 upon supply of air to the release valve chamber 61 via an air 
supply inlet 69. The hydraulic release valve 29 further includes four 
counter sunk bores 77 to receive mounting screws for attaching the valve 
to the hydraulic pump 11. 
As may be seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, the release valve piston 65 includes an 
upper portion having an outer cylindrical contour 70 and an inner 
cylindrical cutout 71 formed therein. The piston 65 further includes an 
annular o-ring channel 73 and a cylindrical head portion 75, which 
contacts and depresses the release button 31. 
The side of the device 29 also includes a tiny hole 79 drilled therein, 
which communicates with the release valve chamber 61. This hole 79 serves 
as an "anti-vacuum vent," which prevents the release button 31 from being 
continuously depressed by letting air out of the chamber 61 during 
intervals when the actuation button 21 is not depressed, thereby 
permitting the hydraulic release button 31 to spring back up into its 
normal position. 
Operation of the preferred embodiment may be considered with reference to 
FIGS. 12 and 13. In operation, when one of the buttons 21, 23 is pressed 
down, the seal between the gasket 55 and the back surface 110 of the nose 
portion 59, which normally closes off the air supply, is opened thereby 
permitting air to flow through the central opening in the gasket 55 and 
then through one of the respective air supply holes 18, 20 located on the 
side of the remote control 19. Air then flows into the selected air line, 
i.e., either the release line 27 or the hydraulic actuation pressure line 
25. 
Thus, when the pressure side air button 23, is depressed, air is applied on 
the pressure side, and the hydraulic pump 11 is caused to operate and 
generate hydraulic pressure. The air button 23 is continuously depressed 
during the interval when it is desired to apply hydraulic pressure via the 
pump 11. When the release side button 21 is depressed, air pressure is 
sent into the chamber 63 of the piston and cylinder device 29. As a 
result, the piston 65 is driven down to depress the hydraulic release 
button 31 located on the top of the hydraulic pump 11. Releasing pressure 
in this fashion can be done in intervals by intermittently pressing and 
releasing the button 21 on the remote control valve 19. The small 
antivacuum vent 79 prevents the piston from staying in the "down" mode 
when releasing hydraulic pressure and thereby facilitates intermittent 
partial pressure release operation. 
Thus, the preferred embodiment provides a simple and effective remote 
control for air actuated hydraulic pumps. By provision of conventional 
"quickdisconnect" hydraulic fittings or couplings, a remote control 
according to the preferred embodiment can be readily disconnected from one 
hydraulic pump in a shop, carried to another pump in the shop, and quickly 
installed. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and 
modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments can be 
configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
Therefore, it is to be understood that within the scope of the appended 
claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically 
described herein.