Patent GB-897604-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to valve mechanisms for controlling the supply of hydraulic medium to several separately actuable consumers of such medium
IPC: F16K31/10
Filed: 1959-12-18
Abstract: 897,604. Valves. BOSCH G.m.b.H., ROBERT. Dec. 18, 1959 [Dec. 20, 1958], No. 43122/59. Class 135. A valve assembly comprises a plurality of valves disposed in an arc of a circle and selectively operable by a common central actuator, the non-selected valves being locked in their inoperative positions. In the first example, Figs. 1 and 2, five spool valves 70-74 are disposed in a body 1 around a rotary and vertically displaceable actuator 46. Each control valve 70-74 is disposed in a bore located between two interconnected chambers 41, 42 and has a hollow bore parts 80, 81, the bore 80 having a port 82 and the bore 81 two sets of ports 83, 84 which in the central position of the valve interconnect two outlets 34, 35. A valve closure member in the bore 80 is spring-loaded on to a shoulder 86 of the bore 81 and serves as a relief valve for the pressure in the bore 81. The actuator 46 is spring-loaded to a central position in which a land 49 is located between the ports 47, 48. The port 47 is connected by passages 11, 15 to a supply passage 14 in a bracket 97 and the port 48 is connected by five radial passages 17-21 in the body 1 to the inlet port 25 of each valve 70-74. The bracket 97 contains a return passage 99 to which the chamber 42 is connected by a passage 98. Each valve 70-74 controls two outlet ports 34, 35 leading for example to pit prop controlling means. An actuating lever 63 pivoted on a pin 64 carried by a ring 65 is forked at one end to embrace a pin 62 on the actuator 46 and at the other end passes through a slotted guide 32. A member 92 rotatable with the actuator 46 co-operates with a spring- loaded indexing detent 95 and carries a pin 91 which in accordance with the angular position of the actuator engages in a groove 75 of the selected valve 70-74. The guide-plate 32 ensures that the actuator 46 is vertically displaceable only when the pin 91 engages the selected valve. In operation, the actuator 46 is rotated to select a valve 70-74 and is then displaced upwardly or downwardly to displace the selected valve in the same direction. If the actuator 46 and the selected valve 70-74 are moved upwardly the supply line 14 is connected via ports 47, 48 and radial passage 19 to the selected valve inlet port 25 which is connected to the outlet port 34. The outlet port 35 is connected to the return line 99 via ports 84, bore 81, ports 83, chamber 42 and passage 98, the closure member 87 being raised if necessary. If the actuator 46 and the selected valve 70-74 are moved downwardly the outlet port 35 is connected to the supply line and the outlet 34 to the return line. The land 49 and the ports 47, 48 of the actuator 46 may be omitted and the supply passage 14 connected to the selected radial passage 17-21 via a spring-loaded poppet valve which is opened by cam action on vertical movement of the actuator. The chamber 41 may be enlarged to connect with the space containing the actuator loading-spring and the hub of the member 92 may extend to the top of the actuator. In another example the vertical movements of the actuator are effected by two pistons disposed at opposite ends of the actuator and selectively connected to a source of pressure. The angular movement of the actuator is effected by a double-acting piston which operates a pawl and ratchet assembly and is normally spring-loaded to a central position. In another example, Fig. 6, the actuator 266 is vertically displaced by selective energization of one of two coils 282, 283 which co-operate with a magnetizable member 280 mounted on the actuator. The rotary movement of the actuator is effected by a solenoid 292, the armature 289 of which has an extending rod 287 carrying a spring pawl which co-operates with a gear 267 on the actuator.