Patent GB-824115-A (GB)
Title: Combined hydraulic control valve and unloading valve therefor
IPC: F16K11/22
Filed: 1956-05-15
Abstract: 824,115. Fluid-pressure servomotor-control systems; valves. NEW YORK AIR BRAKE CO. May 15, 1956 [Oct. 13, 1955], No. 15068/56. Class 135. Construction. A block for valves in parallel comprises sections 11-15, Fig. 1, in each of which is a valve bore 16 incorporating a pair of annular grooves 20 and single grooves 17, 18, 19, 34, 35, each pair of grooves 20 being connected to the opposite working chamber of a separate doubleacting motor, not shown, whilst the grooves 18 are joined by passages 21 which extend through the block to form an inlet manifold; grooves 17, 19 are connected, respectively, to passages 23, 24 to form exhaust manifolds which open into a sump port 27 via a passage 26. Section 11 includes exhaust inlet and motor chambers 43, 28 and 37, respectively, from which chamber 28 fluid flows in to passage 21 through a check valve 30. A passage 33 in section 12 extends from passage 21 to groove 34 whilst each groove 35 is connected to groove 34 in the adjacent section by a passage 36. The passages through each section are sealed by rings 22. The walls between inlet, exhaust and motor chambers are bored 42, 41 and fitted with a sealed bush 44 embodying ports 46, the bush housing an unloader valve assembly 47 consisting of a spring- loaded lift valve 48 co operating with a seat 49 formed by one end of the bush 44 and having a stem 51 with a piston part 52 and an outer extremity fitted with a sleeve 54 to limit the valve opening: a bore 58 extends through the valve and stem and incorporates a metering orifice 59. In the wall between the chambers 28, 37 is also disposed a relief valve 62, Fig. 2, with an adjustable loading-spring 63. The valve closure 67, Fig. 1, used in section 11, is threaded at its left-hand end to accommodate a valve-centring spring assembly 68, the other valve extremity having a fitting 71 for connection to the actuating means, not shown. The closure is provided with two wide grooves 72, Fig. 6, having notches 74 of varying depth and length at the edges thereof to provide a gradual closure of the section grooves controlled thereby. The closure 67 also incorporates shallow axial slots 75 of varying lengths which coact with grooves 34, 35, Fig. 1, to produce a gradual cessation of flow between these grooves when the closure 67 is moved from the neutral position shown. The closure 77, Fig. 7, used in section 15 is similar to closure 67 but the left-hand end has a stepped bore 79, 81 formed with sets of radial ports 82, 83, the ports of each being axially offset to provide a gradual opening thereof. The step in the bore acts as a seat for a check valve 85, Fig. 1. Other closures may be used where the porting is reversed compared to that in Fig. 7 and where a stepped bore is provided in the right-hand end of the closure to house another check valve. The apparatus may control single-acting motors. In a modification, the inlet passage branches into two passages where it enters each valve bore. In another modification, the flow paths are in a series-parallel arrangement wherein liquid is supplied to each motor from a path connected in series through the valves whilst the motors are exhausted via a manifold so that each motor must be separately operated. Operation. Pressure liquid is supplied by a pump to chamber 28, Fig. 1, and flows past check-valve 30 and serially through passages 21, 33, grooves 34, 35, slots 75 and passages 36 into chamber 37 from where it passes to exhaust chamber 43 through orifice 59, which throttled flow path produces a pressure in chamber 37 which acts upon piston part 52 to unseat valve 48 thereby causing a major portion of the pump output to pass directly from chamber 28 to chamber 43. Upon moving closure 67 from its neutral position the land 76 between grooves 34, 35 diminishes the flow to the chamber 37 ; further movement of this closure cuts-off flow to the latter in a gradual manner due to the arrangement of slots 75, the pressure in chamber 37 being dissipated through orifice 59. Such an arrangement minimizes the generation of shock pressures as the pump is loaded when the valve 48 closes. Shifting of closure 67 also brings one groove 20 into register with the inlet groove 18 and the other groove 20 into alignment with either exhaust groove 17 or 19 so causing actuation of the motor controlled thereby. Movement of closure 77 produces a similar train of events except that the supply or exhaust passes check valve 85 depending upon the direction of closure movement. Should the pressure in chamber 28 exceed a given value the relief valve 62, Fig. 2, is opened to put chambers 28 and 37 in communication whereupon valve 48 is unseated.