Patent GB-954444-A (GB)
Title: Positioner for a movable member
IPC: F15B11/12
Filed: 1962-02-28
Abstract: 954,444. Machine tool details. MOOG SERVOCONTROLS Inc. Feb. 28, 1962 [March 6, 1961], No. 7784/62. Headings B3B and B3C. A positioner for a movable member comprises valve means including a valve body and a valve slide rotatably and slidably arranged with respect to the body, the slide having a valving land extending arcuately in the direction of rotation, with an edge varying positionally in a transverse direction, and means for producing relative movement between the body and slide in response to movements of the member. In a drilling machine 1, Fig. 1, the members to be moved are the saddle 8 slidable along axis YY on ways 7, and a work-table 10 slidable along axis XX on saddle 8, and the similar positioners are indicated at 13, 13a. Positioner 13, Figs. 1, 2, comprises a micrometer valve 14, a linear selector valve 15, a linear transducer 16, a micrometer valve rotary actuator 18, a rotary selector valve 19 and a rotary transducer 20. Valve 14 has a cylinder 21 having ports 22, Figs. 1, 3, a piston 24 rotatably connected to saddle 8 and a rod 23 axially fixed relative to cylinder 2 slidable in piston 24, rotatable with the latter and connected to rotary actuator 18. Piston 24 has a helical valving land 36<SP>1</SP>, the lead of which corresponds to the spacing of each pair of ports 22, and the width of which corresponds to the diameter of a port. Ports 22 are connected to a similar number of ports 39 in valve 15 which has a single outlet port 40 and between the ports are a series of switch plates, one of which 41, is shown in Fig. 2. Each of the plates is relatively movable by a piston 50 in one direction and a larger diameter piston 51 in the other direction so as to establish a flow path between port 40, and one of the ports 39, thus placing the desired port 22 in fluid communication with a chamber 32 in piston 24, Figs. 2, 3, via a conduit 38, port 42, conduit 43, annular chamber 35 and passages 34, 33 in rod 23. The left hand end 27 of cylinder 21, Fig. 2, is connected to a drain 46 via a conduit 45, and the right hand end 47 is connected to an hydraulic fluid pressure line 49. Linear transducer 16, Fig. 2, associated with each large piston 51 comprises a diaphragm 55 separating a pneumatic chamber 56 from an hydraulic chamber 58 and chamber 56 is connected to a pneumatic chamber 66 associated with a tape reader 112 and a punched tape 111. Hydraulic clamps 68 are provided for clamping the switch plates in valve 15. Rotary actuator 18, Fig. 2, comprises a vane 72 secured to rod 23, which divides an arcuate compartment 74 into two chambers 76, 78 to which hydraulic fluid is supplied via restricted conduits 79, 80. Compartment 74 has a series of circumferentially spaced ports 84 which are connected to a similar number of ports 86 in valve 19, which has a single outlet port 88, and between the ports are a series of rotary valve plates, one of which 90 is shown in Fig. 2. Each of the plates relatively movable by a small piston 91 in one direction, and a large piston 92 in the other direction so as to establish a flow path between port 88 and one of the ports 86, thus placing the desired port 84 in communication with drain 46. Rotary transducer 20 associated with each large piston 92 is similar to linear transducer 16. Tape reader head 112 has a number of holes 113, which communicate with tubes e.g. 66, 101, filled with air, the pressure of which is controlled by whether or not a hole in tape 111 is opposite a hole 113. Air is supplied under pressure, through a line 114, past a solenoid valve S1 a line 115 to a manifold 116 and thence to tubes 66, 101 and also similar tubes 119 for controlling machine tool operations. In operation tape 111, Fig. 2, having digital information stored in binary coded decimal form, moves past head 112 and valve S1 is energized to connect lines 114, 115 and pressurize tubes 66, 101, 119. After a short delay valve S2 is energized to connect an hydraulic constant delivery pump 130 to a line 135, and thus supply fluid to a main 53 and thence via branch lines 61, 104, into the linear and rotary transducers 16, 20, respectively. Consider that a hole in tape 111 is opposite tube 66, but there is no hole opposite tube 101, pressure in line 64 is low and diaphragm 55 remains separated from nozzle 59. Hydraulic fluid entering through line 61, flows through chamber 58 and into drain line 45, pressure in line 54 does not build up and the biasing piston 50 moves switch plate 41 to the right, Fig. 2. Pneumatic pressure is built up in tube 101 and diaphragm 98 seats on nozzle 102. The hydraulic pressure in line 94 builds up and piston 92 moves plate 90. There are eight tubes 66 for eight switch plates in valve 15, and eight tubes 101 for eight rotary plates in valve 19. After the diaphragms have been selectively, seated auxiliary machine functions can be read by pressure switches 121. As the tool retracts solenoid valve S3, is energized to connect pump 130, with line 163 and line 156 to drain 162. A clamp 159 for piston 24 is released, fluid is supplied to line 70 leading to clamps 68, 108 and the plates in valves 15, 19 are clamped. Pressure builds up in line 163, and a piston 171 or valve 165 moves the latter to connect lines 175, 49 thus supplying pressure to chamber 47 of cylinder 21. If a port 22 to the left of land 36<SP>1</SP> is connected via valve 15 to chamber 32, the latter will be connected to drain 46 via lines 44, 45, 48. Fluid entering end 47 of cylinder 21 moves piston 24 to the left until land 36<SP>1</SP> closes the port 22, and if the area of end wall 30 is twice that of face 37, a pressure P1, Fig. 6, will be established in chamber 32, which is half that of supply pressure Ps, thus balancing piston 24 and bringing saddle 8 to rest. While this is occurring rotary actuator 18 rotates piston rod 23, through the desired angular increment as determined by ports 84 and the hydraulic drive on vane 72. Rotation of rod 23 causes piston 24 to rotate thus producing a vernier displacement of piston 24 and hence of saddle 8. If, however, a port 22 on the right hand end of land 36<SP>1</SP> as shown in Fig. 2, is connected to chamber 32, the hydraulic supply pressure will flow into the chamber and the flow will continue until land 36<SP>1</SP> closes the port. Valve S3 will remain energized until the last of two things occur. One thing is the pressure building up in line 49 to a predetermined level whereupon a pressure switch 184 opens. The other thing is when the pressure on clamps 68, 108 is relieved. When valve S3 is de-energized, valve 165 blocks lines 175, 181, 49 and supply line 175 is connected to line 176 and if valve S4 is de-energized line 176 is connected to drain 193 via line 192 and a radiator 194. Pump 130 has two functions. One is to maintain a constant pressure to supply the small pistons 50, 91 and through the transducers the large pistons, and also to operate rotary actuator 18, and clamps 68, 108. The other is to provide a constant flow through valve 165 to make fluid available for flow through line 49. The opening of a port 22 in cylinder 21 controls the analogue axial position corresponding to the digital information in the form of inches and tenths of inches, and ports 84 of actuator 18 control the position in the form of hundredths, and thousandths of an inch. In a modification, Fig. 22, the means for moving saddle 8 are external of valve 14a, and comprise a cylinder 384 having a piston 385 slidable therein and connected to the saddle. Face 388 of the piston has twice the area of face 389, chamber 390 is connected to port 40a, and chamber 392 is connected to an hydraulic fluid supply 393. In operation valve 15a is actuated to connect chamber 390 with the required port 22a to the left of land 36a<SP>1</SP>, thus draining the chamber. Pressure in line 393 moves piston 385, saddle 8 and piston 24a to the left until land 36a<SP>1</SP> engages the ports. On the other hand if the port 22a is to the right of land 36a<SP>1</SP>, chamber 390 is connected to fluid from 49a and saddle 8, and piston 24a moves to the right until land 36a<SP>1</SP> engages the port and the piston is balanced. In a further modification, Fig. 23, valve 14b acts as a pilot valve associated with a servo valve 438 which controls the fluid flow to a piston 466 connected to saddle 8.