Patent GB-885778-A (GB)
Title: Four-way fluid control valve assembly
IPC: F16K31/40
Filed: 1958-03-12
Abstract: 885,778. Valves. INTERNATIONAL BASIC ECONOMY CORPORATION. March 12, 1958 [Dec. 11, 1957], No. 7953/58. Class 135. A four-way fluid-control valve assembly comprises a three-way plunger valve controlled by a three-way solenoid-operated valve. The solenoid-operated pilot valve comprises a body 66, Fig. 1, a coil 68 and an armature 72 located in a bore 71. Plugs 78, 85 are located at the top and bottom of the bore 71 and have bores 80, 86. The armature 72 has closure members 77, 84 and vertical peripheral slots 87. The bore 80 is connected by passages 96, 65, 64 to an annular passage 32 on the face C of the body 66. A second annular groove 34 is provided in said face C and is connected to a vertical passage 97, Fig. 3. The plunger valve comprises a body 6, Fig. 1, having a bore 8 closed by end caps 14, 16 and divided into two parts 8a, 8b by a shoulder 13 defining a central interconnecting orifice 19. Bores 18, 20 in the caps 14, 16 respectively form guide extensions of the bores 8a, 8b. The body 6 has an inlet port 24, Fig. 2, an exhaust port 26 and two working ports 28, 30 controlled respectively by the plunger valve and the solenoid-operated valve. The working port 28 is connected by a passage 25 to the bore 8a and the exhaust port 26 by a passage 27 to the bore 8b. The inlet port 24 is connected by a vertical passage 29 to the outer annular passage 32 of the body 66 and the working port 30 by a vertical passage 31 to the inner annular groove 34 which is also connected by a passage 98, Fig. 1, to the bore 8b. Within the bore 8a is a plunger 22a having an annular groove 35 to allow fluid flow round it. Within the bore 8b is a piston 43, 44 of larger cross-section than the plunger 22a and having axially extending spindles 41, 41a the first of which is located in the bore 20 in the cap 16 and the second of which passes freely through the orifice 11 to abut the plunger 22a. The plunger 22a may be integral with its actuating piston 43, 44. In operation, when the solenoid 68 is deenergized the armature 72 is positioned to close the bore 86 and open the bore 80. Fluid from the inlet 24 passes via passage 29, Fig. 2, outer annular passage 32, passages 64, 65, 96, Fig. 1, to bore 80, through vertical slots 87 to passage 97, Fig. 3, into the inner annular passage 34. Fluid passes from the passage 34 via passage 31, Fig. 2, to the working port 30. The inlet fluid in both annular passages 32, 34 passes into bores 18, 8b via passages 17, 98 but as the piston 43, 44 is larger than the plunger the piston moves the plunger to the position shown opening the orifice 11. The working port 28 is connected to the exhaust port 26 via passage 25, bore 8a, orifice 11, bore 8b and passage 27. Upon energization of the solenoid 68, Fig. 1, the armature 72 is moved to close bore 80 and open bore 86. The working port 30 is connected via passage 31 to the inner annular passage 34 which is also connected via passage 98 to the right-hand side of the bore 8b. The exhaust fluid passes from annular passage 34 to the exhaust port 26 via passages 97, Fig. 3, bore 86 bore 8b and passage 27. The inlet port 24 is then connected via passage 29, Fig. 2, annular passage 32, passage 17, Fig. 1, bore 18 to bore 8a to cause the plunger 22a to move to the right and close orifice 11. The inlet fluid passing from the bore 8a to the working port 28 via passage 25.