Fluid directional control device for solenoid valve assembly

Abstract: In a directional control device for a solenoid valve assembly, connection ports 4 and 5 of a supply/exhaust block 2 and connecting sections 19 and 20 of a manual directional control valve 3 are connected together using a fixing bracket inserting groove 17 cut to cross opposite sides of a connection port train and a generally U-shaped fixing bracket 18 inserted in the fixing bracket inserting groove 17. Locking grooves 19a and 20a are cut in peripheries of the connecting sections 19 and 20 in which the fixing bracket 18 is locked. Ports 6 and 8 of the manual directional control valve 3 are connected to pipe joints 21 inserted therein by the same connection structure as that which connects the connection ports 4 and 5 and the connecting sections 19 and 20 thereby enabling the pipe joints 21 to be mounted on the connection ports 4 and 5 of the supply/exhaust block 2 in place of the directional control valve 3

Description: The present invention relates to a directional control device for supplying and exhausting pressure fluid to/from a solenoid valve assembly in which a plurality of solenoid valves for diverting pressure fluids are interconnected side by side. It is well known to provide a solenoid valve assembly in which a plurality of solenoid valves are placed side by side and connected together, and in which pressure fluids are supplied to, or exhausted from, the solenoid valves in order to centrally control a plurality of actuators. In general, a supply/exhaust block for supplying and exhausting pressure fluid to/from the solenoid valves is mounted on the solenoid valve assembly, pipe joints are mounted on a supply port and an exhaust port of the supply/exhaust block, and a fluid supply tube or a fluid exhaust tube is connected to each of the pipe joints. In this type of solenoid valve assembly, when checking the operation of an actuator connected to the solenoid valve assembly, for maintenance or alignment, it is desirable that pressure fluid such as compressed air is manually supplied to or exhausted from the solenoid valve assembly while determining whether the operation is proper. Although a switching valve or a directional control valve is generally provided in part of a piping connected to the supply/exhaust block so as to divert the pressure fluids, it is not for use for the operation check as described above and does not have a structure appropriate for such usage. Thus, it would be desirable to have easy-to-handle means for diverting fluids, in which the control for checking the operation is easy to perform and also which can be easily mounted on or removed from a predetermined location when necessary. It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-handle fluid directional control device for a solenoid valve assembly, which meets the above requirements, that is, one which makes checking the operation easy to perform, and which can also be easily mounted on or removed from a predetermined location when necessary. US Patent 4415004 describes a pneumatic switch which provides for cutting the pressure feed for distributors placed downstream of it, and for coupling the feed of these distributors to an exhaust of the switch itself, and has faces for connection with faces of the distributors, channels for circulation of exhaust fluid, members for connection with adjacent distributors, and is adapted for mounting on a conventional profiled element. The switch is particularly advantageous for ensuring the control of the feed of one or of several jacks coupled to distributors. According to the present invention, there is provided a fluid directional control device for a solenoid valve assembly comprising a supply/exhaust block for forming part of a solenoid valve assembly in which a plurality of solenoid valves are connected together, which block supplies and exhausts pressure fluid to/from the solenoid valves, and further comprising a manual directional control valve detachably mounted on the supply/exhaust block for manually diverting the pressure fluid, wherein the supply/exhaust block has a supply-side connection port and an exhaust-side connection port, which are arranged side by side, characterised in that the supply/exhaust block further has a first fixing bracket inserting groove cut so as to cross right and left portions of the connection ports in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the connection ports, and further has a first generally U-shaped fixing bracket inserted in the first fixing bracket inserting groove; in that the manual directional control valve has a cylinder-shaped supply-side connecting section and a cylinder-shaped exhaust-side connecting section which are inserted in the connection ports, further has locking grooves formed on outer peripheries of the connecting sections in which the first fixing bracket is inserted, further has a supply port and an exhaust port communicating with the connecting sections via a valve mechanism, further has a pipe joint detachably mounted in each of the ports, further has a second fixing bracket inserting groove cut so as to cross right and left side portions of the ports in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the ports, and further has a second generally U-shaped fixing bracket inserted in the second fixing bracket inserting groove; in that the pipe joints each have in an outer periphery thereof a locking groove in which the second fixing bracket is inserted, and in that the connection structure for connecting the connecting sections of the directional control valve to the connection ports of the supply/exhaust block and the connection structure for connecting the pipe joints to the ports of the directional control valve are the same, whereby the pipe joints can be mounted in the connection ports of the supply/exhaust block instead of the directional control valve. In use, a fluid directional control device having the above construction is mounted on a solenoid valve assembly. When used normally for centrally controlling an actuator by the solenoid valve assembly, the manual directional control valve is removed from the supply-side connection port and the exhaust-side connection port of the supply/exhaust block, the pipe joints are mounted on the connection ports, and a pressure-fluid supply tube and a pressure-fluid exhaust tube are connected to the pipe joints. On the other hand, when testing for checking the operation of the solenoid valve assembly, the pipe joints are removed from the supply-side connection port and the exhaust-side connection port of the supply/exhaust block, the manual directional control valve is mounted on the connection ports, and the pipe joints are connected to the supply port and the exhaust port of the directional control valve so that the pressure fluids are supplied to the supply/exhaust block via the directional control valve. During supply or exhaust of pressure fluid to/from each solenoid valve of the solenoid valve assembly by manually operating the directional control valve, and while checking the operation of each solenoid valve, e.g. by operation indicator lamps provided for each solenoid valve, the overall operation of a fluid pressure device controlled by the solenoid valve assembly is checked. In the event of an emergency, the pressure fluid can be exhausted to secure safe operation. Since the connection structure for connecting each connecting section of the directional control valve to each connection port of the supply/exhaust block and the connection structure for connecting the pipe joints to the ports of the directional control valve are the same, and the pipe joints can be mounted on the connection ports of the supply/exhaust block in place of the directional control valve, the directional control valve and the pipe joints can be easily and swiftly replaced when operation checking is required. In one embodiment, the directional control valve has a supply channel for connecting the supply port and the supply-side connecting section together, an exhaust channel for connecting the exhaust port and the exhaust-side connecting section, a communicating path for connecting the channels with each other at an intermediate position, a supply valve seat provided in the supply channel, a communicating valve seat provided between the supply channel and the communicating path, a valve member disposed between the supply valve seat and the communicating valve seat operable to close the communicating valve seat when opening the supply valve seat and to open the communicating valve seat when closing the supply valve seat, and a control lever for manually switching the valve member. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a fluid directional control device according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the device with the supply/exhaust block and the manual directional control valve separated from each other. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing an operational state of the device. Figs. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a fluid directional control device for a solenoid valve assembly according to the present invention. The fluid directional control device 1 has a supply/exhaust block 2 to be assembled in a solenoid valve assembly 25 in which a plurality of solenoid valves 25a are arranged in a width direction thereof and connected together and a manual directional control valve 3 detachably mounted on the supply/exhaust block 2. The supply/exhaust block 2 supplies and exhausts pressure fluids such as compressed air together to/from each solenoid valve 25a of the solenoid valve assembly 25, and has a supply passage 15 and a pair of exhaust passages 16 and 16, which are each connected to the solenoid valve assembly 25, a supply-side connection port 4 connected to the supply passage 15, and an exhaust-side connection port 5 connected to the pair of exhaust passages 16 and 16. The two connection ports 4 and 5 are vertically arranged at two close positions on an end surface in a longitudinal direction of the supply/exhaust block 2. The supply/exhaust block 2 has a fixing bracket inserting groove 17 cut in right and left portions of a train of the connection ports 4 and 5 in a manner so as to cross part of the connection ports 4 and 5 in a perpendicularly crossing direction with respect to axes of the connection ports, and has a generally U-shaped fixing bracket 18 detachably inserted in the fixing bracket inserting groove 17. On the other hand, the manual directional control valve 3 has on one end surface thereof a cylinder-shaped supply-side connecting section 19 and a cylinder-shaped exhaust-side connecting section 20 each inserted in the connection ports 4 and 5 of the supply/exhaust block 2, and has locking grooves 19a and 20a each formed on outer peripheries of the connecting sections 19 and 20. The fixing bracket 18 is fitted and locked in the locking grooves 19a and 20a so that the manual directional control valve 3 is mounted on the supply/exhaust block 2 in a manner so as not to come off therefrom. On an opposite end surface of the manual directional control valve 3, there are provided a supply port 6 and an exhaust port 8 communicating with the connecting sections 19 and 20 through a supply channel 7 and an exhaust channel 9, and pipe joints 21 are detachably mounted on each of the ports 6 and 8. The pipe joints 21 are mounted on each of the ports 6 and 8 with the same method as that for mounting the manual directional control valve 3 to the supply/exhaust block 2. That is, the manual directional control valve 3 has a fixing bracket inserting groove 22 cut in the right and left side portions of a train of the ports 6 and 8 in a manner so as to cross part of the ports 6 and 8 in a perpendicularly crossing direction with respect to axes of the ports, and has a generally U-shaped fixing bracket 23 inserted in the fixing bracket inserting groove 22. Locking grooves 24 are each provided on outer peripheries of the pipe joints 21, and the fixing bracket 23 is fitted and locked in the locking grooves 24 so that the pipe joints 21 and 21 are mounted on the ports 6 and 8 in a manner so as not to come out therefrom. Thus, after completion of testing the operation of the solenoid valve assembly, the manual directional control valve 3 is removed from the supply/exhaust block 2, and also the pipe joints 21 and 21 are removed from the manual directional control valve 3, while mounting the pipe joints 21 and 21 to the connection ports 4 and 5 of the supply/exhaust block 2, thereby changing the supply/exhaust block 2 to an ordinary using state. The manual directional control valve 3 includes: a communicating path 10 for communicating the supply channel 7 and the exhaust channel 9 with each other at an intermediate position thereof; a supply valve seat 7a provided on the way of the supply channel 7; a communicating valve seat 10a provided between the supply channel 7 and the communicating path 10; a valve member 12 disposed between the supply valve seat 7a and the communicating valve seat 10a; and a control mechanism 13 for manually switching the valve member 12. The control mechanism 13 includes: a first spring 33 provided on an upper end side of the valve member 12; a spring washer 32 attached on an upper end side of the first spring 33; a pin 31 disposed on an upper end portion of the spring washer 32; a control lever 30 having a cam surface 30a gradually pressing the pin 31 by swiveling; and a second spring 34 for recovering provided on another end side of the valve member 12. When the control lever 30 is manually swiveled in one direction, the cam surface 30a gradually presses the pin 31 downward so that the spring washer 32 presses the first spring 33 and then the first spring 33 presses and moves the valve member 12 downward, as shown in the right half section of Fig. 1, with the result that the valve member 12 is seated at the communicating valve seat 10a and positioned at a first switching position for opening the supply valve seat 7a, thereby closing the communicating path 10. In this instance, the supply-side connection port 4 of the supply/exhaust block 2 and the supply port 6 of the directional control valve 3 are communicated with each other, and the exhaust side connection port 5 of the supply/exhaust block 2 and the exhaust port 8 of the directional control valve 3 are communicated with each other. When the control lever 30 is swiveled in the reverse direction, the compression of the valve member 12 by the first spring 33 is released and the valve member 12 is pressed upward by the second spring 34 so that the valve member 12 opens the communicating valve seat 10a, while switching to the second switching position at which the supply valve seat 7a is closed. In this state, the supply-side connection port 4 of the supply/exhaust block 2 and the exhaust port 8 of the directional control valve 3 are communicated with each other and the supply port 6 of the directional control valve 3 is closed. In addition, the connection port 5 of the supply/exhaust block 2 and the exhaust port 8 of the directional control valve 3 are always communicated with each other. The manual directional control valve 3 illustrated is only one example, and any construction having the first switching position and the second switching position described above can be used. The fluid directional control device 1 having the above construction is used, as shown in Fig. 3, by being mounted on the solenoid valve assembly 25, in which the control lever of the manual directional control valve 3 is manually controlled to switch the valve member 12 to the first or second switching position so as to divert the pressure fluids supplied to the solenoid valve assembly 25. In the fluid directional control device 1, the manual directional control valve 3 for manually diverting the pressure fluid 3 is mounted on the supply/exhaust block 2 for supplying or exhausting the pressure fluid 3 to/from the solenoid valve assembly 25 so that the overall operation of the fluid pressure device controlled by the solenoid valve assembly 25 can be checked, while being checked by operation indicator lamps etc. each provided for the solenoid valves 25a. In addition, when the solenoid valve assembly 25 comes in a dangerous state by an erroneous operation etc. of an actuator controlled thereby, the pressure fluids can be exhausted together so as to secure the safety during the operation. In addition, since the connection structure for connecting each of the connecting sections 19 and 20 of the directional control valve 3 to the connection ports 4 and 5 of the supply/exhaust block 2 and the connection structure for connecting the pipe joints 21 to each of the ports 6 and 8 of the directional control valve 3 are the same, when it is required to check the operations of the solenoid valve assembly 25, the actuator connected thereto, etc. for maintenance, or when the device is returned to an ordinary using state after completion of the maintenance, operations such as mounting the directional control valve 3 on each of the connection ports 4 and 5 of the supply/exhaust block 2, or removing the directional control valve 3 and alternatively mounting the pipe joints 21 and 21 can be easily and swiftly performed, and also the construction of the device is simplified with the result that manufacturing and assembling of the device can be remarkably easily performed. As mentioned above, in the fluid directional control device according to the present invention, while manually controlling the directional control valve to supply or exhaust the pressure fluids together to/from each solenoid valve of the solenoid valve assembly, and checking the operation of each solenoid valve with the operation indicator lamps etc. provided for each solenoid valve, the overall operation of the fluid pressure device controlled by the solenoid valve assembly can be checked, so that in the event of emergency etc., the pressure fluids can be exhausted together, thereby securing the safety of the operation. Moreover, since the connection structure for connecting each connecting section of the directional control valve to each connection port of the supply/exhaust block 2 and the connection structure for connecting the pipe joints to each port of the directional control valve are the same, the operation of removing the pipe joints from the connection ports of the supply/exhaust block 2 and alternatively mounting the directional control valve, or mounting the pipe joints in place of the directional control valve can be easily and swiftly conducted, and also the construction of the device is simplified with the result that manufacturing and assembling of the device can be remarkably easily performed.

Claims: A directional control device for a solenoid valve assembly, comprising a supply/exhaust block (2) for forming part of a solenoid valve assembly (25) in which a plurality of solenoid valves(25a) are connected together, which block supplies and exhausts pressure fluid to/from the solenoid valves, and further comprising a manual directional control valve (3) detachably mounted on the supply/exhaust block (2) for manually diverting the pressure fluid, wherein the supply/exhaust block has a supply-side connection port (4) and an exhaust-side connection port (5), which are arranged side by side, characterised in that the supply/exhaust block further has a first fixing bracket inserting groove (17) cut so as to cross right and left portions of the connection ports (4, 5) in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the connection ports, and further has a first generally U-shaped fixing bracket (18) inserted in the fixing bracket inserting groove (17); in that the manual directional control valve (3) has a cylinder-shaped supply-side connecting section (19) and a cylinder-shaped exhaust-side connecting sections (20) which are inserted in the connection ports (4, 5), further has locking grooves (19a, 20a) formed on outer peripheries of the connecting sections (19, 20) in which the first fixing bracket (18) is inserted, further has a supply port (6) and an exhaust port (8) communicating with the connecting sections (19, 20) via a valve mechanism, further has a pipe joint (21) detachably mounted in each of the ports, further has a second fixing bracket inserting groove (22) cut so as to cross right and left side portions of the ports (6, 8) in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the ports, and further has a second generally U-shaped fixing bracket (23) inserted in the second fixing bracket inserting groove; in that the pipe joints each have in an outer periphery thereof a locking groove in which the second fixing bracket is inserted, and in that the connection structure for connecting the connecting sections (19, 20) of the directional control valve (3) to the connection ports (4, 5) of the supply/exhaust block (2) and the connection structure for connecting the pipe joints (21) to the ports (6, 8) of the directional control valve (3) are the same, whereby the pipe joints (21) can be mounted in the connection ports (4, 5) of the supply/exhaust block (2) instead of the directional control valve (3). A directional control device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the directional control valve (3) has a supply channel (7) connecting the supply port (6) to the supply-side connecting section (19), an exhaust channel (9) connecting the exhaust port (8) to the exhaust-side connecting section (20), a communicating path (10) connecting the channels (7, 9) with each other at an intermediate position, a supply valve seat (7a) provided in the supply channel (7), a communicating valve seat (10a) provided between the supply channel (7) and the communicating path (10), a valve member (12) disposed between the supply valve seat (7a) and the communicating valve seat (10a) the valve member being operable to close the communicating valve seat (10a) when the supply valve seat (7a) is opened and to open the communicating valve seat (10a) when the supply valve seat (7a) is closed, and, a control lever (30) for manually switching the valve member (12).

Inventors: HAYASHI BUNYA, ISHIKAWA MAKOTO, NARITA MASARU, HAYASHI, BUNYA, ISHIKAWA, MAKOTO, NARITA, MASARU, Hayashi, Bunya, c/o SMC Corp Tsukuba Tech Center, Ishikawa, Makoto, c/o SMC Corp Tsukuba Tech Center, Narita, Masaru, c/o SMC Corp Tsukuba Tech Center
Applicants: SMC CORP, SMC CORPORATION
Application year: 2000
Main classification: F15B13
IPC codes: F16K27, F16K31, F16K1, F16L37, F15B13