Patent GB-618960-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to hydraulic control mechanism
IPC: F15B13/04
Filed: 1946-04-05
Abstract: 618,960. Hydraulic machines and presses; liquid pressure engines. DENISON ENGINEERING CO. April 5, 1946, No. 10610. Convention date, April 19, 1945. [Class 69 (ii)] In a hydraulic control mechanism including valve means for controlling flow of liquid from a source of liquid pressure to and from the opposite ends of a power cylinder containing a piston, the valve means comprises a valve element movable by pressure liquid to a predetermined position to cause movement of the piston in a certain direction, and manual means is provided for momentarily applying liquid pressure to the valve element to initiate the operation of the piston in said certain direction, and means dependent upon the movement of the piston in said direction for applying liquid pressure to the valve element to continue the operation of the piston in such direction. A pump 30 supplies liquid from a tank 31 to an annular cavity 33 in a valve housing 27 in which annular cavities 25, 26 are connected by pipes 23, 24 to the ends of the power cylinder 20 containing a piston 21 at the end of a ram 22 carrying an arm 68 engaging a collar 69 on a rod 48. Housing 27 has a compartment 36 from which the exhaust pipe 35 extends, and chambers 38, 39 for automatic' and manual valves respectively, the former comprising a sleeve valve 40 to which the rod 48 is attached, and a shuttle valve 41, the inside of which has removable plugs with restricted passages. Sleeve 40 is urged to its intermediate position by a spring 64, and shuttle 41 to its down position by a spring 82. The manual valve comprises a spool 90 reciprocated by a pin eccentrically mounted on a cylinder head 103 actuated by a handle 108. With the valves as in Fig. 1 cavity 26 is blocked off by the shuttle, cavity 25 is open to exhaust 35 through sleeve ports 51 and 50, ram 22 is in its top position, and the system is idle. For continuous operation handle 108 is moved to lower spool 90 so that incoming liquid from cavity 33 flows through ports 52, groove 71, ports 53, cavity 54, pocket 92, groove 96, cavity 93, passage 95, cavity 58, ports 57, grooves 74 and 77, to space beneath the shuttle, which it immediately raises. Liquid below piston 21 then flows through pipe 24 to ports 56, groove 72, ports 73, through the upper restricted' plug in the shuttle to central passage 84 and out to exhaust 35, whilst liquid flows from cavity 33, ports 52, groove 71, ports 51, cavity 25, and pipe 23 so that the ram moves down, pressure of arm 68 on collar 69 is relieved, spring 64 lowers sleeve 40 to block cavity 54, thereby stopping flow to space beneath the shuttle, the shuttle being held in position by back pressure from the cylinder 20 via cavity 26 and ports 73. When ram 22 engages the work, pressure builds up until liquid spills back through an adjustable relief valve 34, pressure in ports 73 is relieved and spring 82 depresses the shuttle, enabling liquid to flow through cavity 33, ports 52, groove 71, ports 55, cavity 26, and pipe 24, pipe 23 exhausting through cavity 25, ports 51, and ports 50 to exhaust 35, causing ram to rise until arm 68 engages collar 69 whereupon the cycle is repeated. Where a uniform length of stroke is required independent of working pressure, a collar 115 is fitted to rod 48 so that when the ram descends to where arm 68 engages this collar, sleeve 40 is moved down thereby exhausting liquid from cavity 26, dropping the shuttle, and directing flow to raise the ram. To stop the ram the handle 108 is moved back to position shown in Fig. 1 wherein cavity 93 is blocked by spool 90, cutting off pressure liquid to raise the shuttle and reverse flow of power liquid. To produce a single complete cycle handle 108 is moved to lower spool 90 sufficiently to unblock cavity 93 to allow liquid to flow to raise the shuttle. Handle is then released and returns to its original position. The ram is caused to lower and return as described above but stops at its top position since cavity 93 blocks flow to raise shuttle again. To hold ram 22 against the work, handle 108 is moved to position as immediately above but as soon as shuttle rises the handle is moved back and held in a position whore groove 96 of spool 90 connects cavities 91 and 93. At end of down stroke of ram liquid continues to flow from cavity 25 through cavity 91, groove 96, cavity 93, passage 95 to space beneath shuttle to hold it up. Only when handle 108 is released is pressure beneath shuttle relieved, resulting in reversal of flow to power cylinder as described above. When in an emergency it is desired to stop the downward travel of the ram, handle 108 is moved to raise the lower collar of spool 90 clear of cavity 93. Pressure beneath the shuttle is then dissipated through sleeve ports 57, cavity 58, passage 95, cavity 93, into the space below the spool, through a slot in the spool (not shown), and upwardly through centre of spool to exhaust 35. The shuttle descends under influence of spring 82 and the travel of the ram is reversed.