Patent GB-580970-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to valves for the control of liquid and operating gear therefor
IPC: F41A19/55
Filed: 1943-12-14
Abstract: 580,970. Ordnance. CROUCHER, A. H. Dec. 14, 1943, No. 20950. [Class 92 (i)] [Also in Group XXIX] In a manually-operated valve mechanism controlling the supply of pressure liquid to hydraulic motors for elevating and training a gun turret in a tank, the actuating member can turn about two axes at right angles to give a rotary and an axial movement to e sleeve valve, the two move ments of the valve controlling separately the supply of th( pressure liquid to separate motors. On grasping the handle-grips 18, Fig. 3, the latter pivot about their lower points 19 and push inwards slides 25 which are connected by links 27 to a central rod carrying a piston valve 8, Fig. 1. Lowering of the latter diverts the pressure liquid which has been running previously in a closed circuit between a pump and a reservoir towards the ports of a sleeve valve 6. Ports 79 ensure that the valve 8 is balanced. Springs 32, 97 return the handlegrips and piston valve to the inoperative position when the handle-grips are released. The handle-grips are pivoted on a bar-like member 9 which can rotate about a horizontal axis on ball bearings 10 around a central member 11, the latter being rotatable on ball bearings 12 about a vertical axis. Rotation of the member 9 about a horizontal axis is opposed by spring- pressed plungers 39 which contact the sides of a rod 35 pivoted at 36 to the member 11 and having its free end slidable in a pivot 38 on the member 9. The springs on the plungers 39 are not strong enough to centralize the member 9 from the position to which it is adjusted ; and when in the central position, there is a slight play between the plungers and the rod 35 which can be ''felt " by the operator. A similar mechanism is employed to oppose the rotation of the member 11. A link 16 connects the member 9 to sleeve valve 6 so that the two rotary movements of the actuating device cause this valve to rotate or to slide in the axial direction, and the rotary movement of the valve controls the flow of the pressure liquid to and from the hydraulic motors controlling the rotation of the guns whereas the axial sliding movement controls the flow to and from the elevating motors. The valve works in between two fixed sleeves 5, 7 provided with ports and grooves to co-operate with those in the valve. The flow of liquid is controlled according. to the amount of overlap of the various ports, the ports in the valve being formed to provide a graduated flow. The valve ports controlling the horizontal motion of the turret consist of a slot 80, Fig. 25, with V-shaped notches 81 extending from the vertical sides of the slot and terminating in grooves 83, the latter ensuring a definite flow at the start of the valve movement. The ports controlling the elevating motors are modified in that the slot 80 is replaced by two circular apertures. The, base line of the grooves 81 may be curved. Ports 66 are provided in the top of the sleeve valve to allow the latter to be balanced. A bleed valve 99 allows air to be removed when the system is being filled.