Patent GB-1220178-A (GB)
Title: Pilot controllable valve mechanism
IPC: F15B13/02
Filed: 1968-03-22
Abstract: 1,220,178. Hydraulic systems. KOEHRING CO. March 22, 1968 [Oct. 19, 1967], No.14007/68. Heading F1P. [Also in Division F2] A double-acting ram 37 controlling a load such as the boom structure of a front end loader is supplied by pump 28 via a split spool valve 11 having two ports 18, 19 respectively controlling ports M1, M2 of the ram. The valve is in parallel with a second valve 12 controlling a further ram (not shown), the valves being mounted in a bank between manifolds. Each part 18, 19 is hollow and defines an end chamber 32 which connects with work chamber 23 or 24 via ports 35 and with an opposed end chamber 31 having a pilot port C1 or C2. A pilot spool Fig.4, (not shown) for valve 11 controls ports C1, C2 and has five positions, viz. float, lower, neutral, raise and fast raise. With the pilot in neutral, ports C1, C2 are closed and the pressures in chambers 31, 32 are equalized at work chamber pressure so that the parts 18, 19 are spring biased to a neutral position disconnecting the work chambers from supply 25 and exhaust 26. To raise the ram the pilot supplies pump pressure to port C1 and vents port C2. Part 18 shifts to the right to supply port M1 and the fluid exhausting from port M2 passes via ports 35 to chamber 32 of part 19 to shift the latter to the right to connect chamber 24 to exhaust 26. The pilot reverses the connections of ports C1, C2 in the 'lower' position. In either case, if the pressure at the supplied port M1 or M2 exceeds pump pressure in chamber 31 then the supply part 18 or 19 will automatically return to neutral. For fast raise, the pilot valve supplies pump pressure to both ports C1, C2 so that the fluid exhausting from port M2 can augment the flow to port M1 by passage through right-hand branch 25. Check value 42<SP>1</SP> allows the leftward movement of part 19. In the 'float' (or fast gravity lower) position, the pilot vents both ports C1, C2 so that load pressure in chamber 32 of part 18 shifts the latter leftwards to vent port M1 to line 26. The escaping fluid is returned to the top of the ram via check valve 40 and chamber 24 to prevent cavitation. If the rod end of the ram extends under load, a further valve 40 for part 18 prevents cavitation. Speed regulating valve 49 unloads the pump when the pilot valve and parts 18, 19 are in neutral. In a modification Fig. 7 (not shown) valve 40 is replaced by a check valve (63) which, during fast lower, admits the expelled fluid to port 31 of part 19 to shift the latter to the left to allow fluid to return to port M2 via valve 58 and chamber 24. A check valve (67), Fig. 8, (not shown) supplies load pressurized exhaust fluid from the rod end of the ram to chamber 54 of unloader valve 49 to hold the latter closed to ensure an adequate supply to the port M1. The valves 11, 12 may alternatively be arranged for series or series-parallel operation Figs.9, 13 and 14, (not shown). In Fig. 10, the two parts 72, 73 of a modified divided spool have the work chambers 23<SP>1</SP>, 24<SP>1</SP> at the extreme ends outwardly of chambers 32, 32 and ports 35<SP>1</SP> serve to connect the work chambers to inlet 25 or exhaust 26. Check valve 77 responds to any load pressurized exhaust fluid in line 26 to direct such fluid to chamber 24<SP>1</SP> to prevent cavitation. Each part of a divided spool can control a respective single ram. In Fig. 12, (not shown), such is the case and the parts (18, 19) also allow flow of fluid between the rams. Chambers 32, 32 contain a piston 86 responsive to load pressurized fluid in exhaust 26 or, alternatively, a check valve 88 connects exhaust 26 to the chamber. In Fig. 15, two divided spools 11, 12 are connected through a diverter valve 108 comprising parts 111, 112 controlled by the pressures in end chamber 31<SP>1</SP>, 32<SP>1</SP> connected to the corresponding chambers 31, 32 of parts 19 of valves 11, 12. The arrangement provides a series circuit. A similar arrangement in Fig. 16, (not shown), has a pair of diverters (135, 136) between valves (11, 12). In Fig. 17, each divided spool has the parts 164, 165 thereof back-to-back and defining a common chamber 32 containing a spring-centred, grooved, shuttle valve 168. The end faces of the parts are exposed to work chamber pressures via passages 177. The operating mode is similar to that of Fig.5. In Fig. 19, (not shown), movable damping restrictors are filled in each part of the spool between the work chamber and chambers 31, 32.