Patent Publication Number: US-7591280-B2

Title: Manifold-type solenoid valve assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FILED 
   The present invention relates to a manifold type solenoid valve assembly in which a plurality of solenoid valves is mounted on a manifold base. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
   Various manifold type solenoid valve assemblies in which a plurality of solenoid valves is mounted on a manifold base which has common fluid flow paths for supplying and discharging have been known as discussed in patent literatures 1 and 2 shown below. The manifold type solenoid valve assembly described in the patent literature 1 uses an solenoid valve equipped with an output port and the manifold type solenoid valve assembly described in the patent literature 2 uses a solenoid valve equipped with no output port, and the output port of the solenoid valve is provided on a manifold base. 
   The above-described two solenoid valve assemblies are different each other in their structures of the solenoid valves being used. In these solenoid valves, existence of the output ports or the number of flow path holes which are opened on the bonding surface against the manifold base is different. Further, these two solenoid valve assemblies are different each other in the structures of the manifold bases. The solenoid valve assembly equipped with the solenoid valve having no output port is provided with output ports corresponding to each solenoid valve and the solenoid valve assembly equipped with the solenoid valve having the output port is not provided with an output port. Moreover, the number of flow path holes which are opened on the valve mounting surface is different each other. Accordingly, generally, these two solenoid valve assemblies are not compatible each other. 
   Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-283118 
   Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-47510 
   However, depending on the use conditions of fluid pressure equipments, it is often preferred to configure the solenoid valve assembly by mixing the solenoid valve equipped with the output port and the solenoid valve equipped with no output port. In this case, sometimes the above-described two kinds of solenoid valves have to be mounted on the manifold base in an arbitrary order depending on the fluid pressure equipments to be used. 
   However, so far, it has not been possible to directly mount these two kinds of solenoid valves on a common manifold base. Accordingly, no solenoid valve assembly which meets the above-described requirements has been proposed. 
   DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a manifold type solenoid valve assembly in which both of a solenoid valve equipped with an output port and a solenoid valve equipped with no output port exist. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a manifold type solenoid valve assembly which is configured to be able to mount the above-described two kinds of manifold type solenoid valve assemblies on a manifold base in an arbitrary order. 
   To solve the above-described problems, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a manifold type solenoid valve assembly which includes a manifold base which has a plurality of valve mounting parts for mounting an solenoid valve, a first solenoid valve which is directly equipped with an output port for external piping connection, a second solenoid valve which is not directly equipped with an output port, and an intermediate block which is indirectly equipped with the output port of the second solenoid valve, in which while the first solenoid valve is directly mounted on the valve mounting part, the second solenoid valve is indirectly mounted on the valve mounting part through the intermediate block, is provided. 
   The manifold base has common fluid flow paths for supplying and discharging which pass through the manifold base in the axis-line direction, and branched holes for supply and discharge which branch from the fluid flow paths and open on each valve mounting part, and the plurality of the valve mounting parts have the same structure each other in the arrangement of the branched holes and in the structure for mounting the first solenoid valve and the intermediate block. Further, the first solenoid valve and the intermediate block have communication holes for supply and discharge which communicate with the branched holes on each bonding surface against the valve mounting part, and by having the same arrangement of the communication holes and the same mounting structure against the valve mounting part on each bonding surface, selectively mountable on any valve mounting surface. 
   According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the first solenoid valve and the intermediate block has, on the bonding surface against the valve mounting part, a communication hole for output in addition to the communication holes for supply and discharge, and when the first solenoid valve and the intermediate block are mounted on the manifold base, the communication hole for output can be blocked by the valve mounting part. 
   Preferably, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, on the valve mounting part of the manifold base, a branched hole for supply which is centrally located and two branched holes for discharge which are located at both ends of the branched hole for supply are opened, and on each bonding surface of the first solenoid valve and the intermediate block, a communication hole for supply which is centrally located and two communication holes for discharge which are located at both ends of the communication hole for supply are opened respectively, and the first solenoid valve and the intermediate block are selectively mountable on the valve mounting parts in 180 degrees opposite directions respectively. 
   According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the output port of the first solenoid valve can be arranged upward so that an external piping can be connected from a direction of the upper surface of the manifold base, and the output port of the intermediate block can be arranged sidewise so that an external piping can be connected from a direction of the side surface of the manifold base. 
   Further, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate block has an output port on each of the both end surfaces in the longitudinal direction, these output ports communicate with each other, and either of the output ports can be selectively used. 
   According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it can be possible to obtain a manifold type solenoid valve assembly having an reasonably designed structure in which an solenoid valve equipped with an output port and an solenoid valve equipped with no output port are mounted on a common manifold base and these solenoid valves can be mounted in an arbitrary order depending on fluid pressure equipments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a manifold type solenoid valve assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of a manifold base. 
       FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view at the position of the first solenoid valve in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-sectional view at the position of the second solenoid valve in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating an example of different structure of the first solenoid valve. 
       FIG. 6  is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating an example of different structure of the second solenoid valve. 
   

   BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a manifold type solenoid valve assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. This solenoid valve assembly has a manifold base  1 , at least one first solenoid valve  2  which is directly equipped with output ports AP 1 , BP 1  for external piping connection, at least one second solenoid valve  3  which is equipped with no output port, and an intermediate block  4  which is indirectly equipped with output ports AP 2 , BP 2  of the second solenoid valve  3 . The first solenoid valve  2  is directly mounted on the manifold base  1 , the second solenoid valve  3  is indirectly mounted on the manifold base  1  through the intermediate block  4 , and thus the solenoid valve assembly is structured. 
   The manifold base  1  is a block which is long in one direction whose cross section has a rectangular shape or a substantially rectangular shape and as shown in  FIG. 2 , on the plane upper surface, a plurality of valve mounting parts  5  for directly mounting the solenoid valves  2 ,  3  or indirectly mounting the solenoid valve through the intermediate block  4  are provided in parallel. In the manifold base  1 , common fluid flow paths for supply and discharge  6 ,  7 A,  7 B are provided passing through the manifold base  1  from one end side to the other end side in a longitudinal direction. A plurality of branched holes  6   a ,  7   a , and  7   b  which branch from the fluid flow paths  6 ,  7 A,  7 B are opened on each valve mounting part  5 . In  FIG. 2 , three fluid flow paths are provided; a first fluid flow path  6  for supply which is centrally located, a second fluid flow path  7 A and a third fluid flow path  7 B for discharge which are located at both sides of the first fluid flow path  6 . The first fluid flow path  6  extends along the central axis L through the central position in a widthwise direction (shorter direction) of the manifold base  1 . The second and third fluid flow paths  7 A and  7 B are symmetrically located at both sides of the first fluid flow path  6 , and extend in parallel with the first fluid flow path  6 . 
   Accordingly, among the plurality of branched holes  6   a ,  7   a , and  7   b  which are opened on the valve mounting part  5 , the central first branched hole for supply  6   a  communicates with the first fluid flow path  6 . The second and third branched holes for discharge  7   a  and  7   b  communicate with the second and third fluid flow path  7 A and  7 B respectively. Further, these second and third branched holes  7   a  and  7   b  are symmetrically provided at both sides of the first branched hole  6   a  keeping the same distance from the first branched hole  6   a.    
   In  FIG. 2 , a screw hole  10  is used to mount the solenoid valve  2  or the intermediate block  4  on the valve mounting part  5 , in the example shown in the drawing, two screw holes  10  are provided on each valve mounting part  5  respectively and further symmetrically provided around the first branched hole  6   a . A mounting hole  11  is used to mount the manifold  1  on fluid pressure equipment or an installation site around the fluid pressure equipment with a bolt. 
   The plurality of valve mounting parts  5  has the same structure as that of the branched holes  6   a ,  7   a ,  7   b  and the screw holes  10 , and therefore, the solenoid valve  2  and the intermediate block  4  can be selectively mounted on any valve mounting part  5 . Further, by symmetrically arranging the branched holes  6   a ,  7   a ,  7   b  in each valve mounting part  5  and the screw holes  10  around the centrally located first branched hole  6   a , it is possible to selectively mount the solenoid valve  2  and the intermediate block  4  in 180 degrees opposite directions respectively. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first solenoid valve  2  is a five-port pilot type solenoid valve, and has a main valve part  14  which houses a spool  16  for flow path switching and an electromagnetic operation type pilot valve  15  which operates the spool  16 . 
   A housing  18  of the main valve part  14  has a longitudinal substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, a valve hole  19  which extends in the axis-line direction is provided in the housing  18 . In the valve hole  19 , the spool  16  is slidably accommodated. On the valve hole  19 , a communication hole  20  for main fluid supply, two communication holes  21   a ,  21   b  for output which locate at the both sides of the communication hole  20 , and communication holes  22   a ,  22   b  for discharge which locate at the both sides of the communication hole  20  are opened. The fluid flow paths among these communication holes are switched by the spool  16 . 
   The under surface of the housing  18  is a rectangular and substantially plane bonding surface  23  for mounting the solenoid valve on one of the valve mounting parts  5  on the manifold base  1 . On the bonding surface  23 , the above-described three communication holes  20 ,  22   a , and  22   b  for supply and discharge are opened in the order that the first communication hole  20  is the center, and the communication holes  22   a ,  22   b  are substantially symmetrically arranged at both sides of the first communication hole  20 . When the first solenoid valve  2  is mounted on the valve mounting part  5 , these communication holes  20 ,  22   a , and  22   b  communicate with the branched holes  6   a ,  7   a ,  7   b  for supply and discharge respectively. 
   In  FIG. 3 , a seal member  32  exists between the manifold base  1  and the first solenoid valve  2  to seal around each of the branched holes and communication holes. 
   The upper surface of the housing  18  is a mounting surface  24  for mounting a port block  25 , and on the mounting surface  24 , these two output communication holes  21   a  and  21   b  are opened. These communication holes  21   a  and  21   b  communicate with two output ports AP 1  and BP 1  respectively. These output ports AP 1  and BP 1  open upward to be connectable with external piping from above. Simple connection pipe joints  26  are connected to these output ports AP 1  and BP 1  respectively and by simply inserting an external piping made of a synthetic resin etc., it is possible to readily connect the output ports and the pipes. Since the structure of the pipe joint  26  is a well-known structure, further description is omitted. 
   The port block  25  is detachable by a screw  27 , and it is possible to change to other port blocks which are different in sizes of output ports. 
   To both ends of the housing  18  in the axis-line direction (longitudinal direction), piston covers  28   a ,  28   b  are attached. Between these piston covers  28   a ,  28   b  and the end surfaces of the spool  16 , pistons  29   a ,  29   b  are provided respectively. The first piston  29   a  housed in the first piston cover  28   a  is larger in diameter than the second piston  29   b  housed in the second piston cover  28   b.    
   On the back surface of each of the piston  29   a  and piston  29   b , pressure chambers  30   a ,  30   b  are formed between the pistons and the piston covers  28   a ,  28   b  respectively. The first pressure chamber  30   a  on the back surface of the first piston  29   a  having a larger diameter communicates with the communication hole  20  for supply through the pilot valve  15  and a pilot supply hole  31   a . The second pressure chamber  30   b  on the back surface of the second piston  29   b  having a smaller diameter always communicates with the communication hole  20  for supply through a pilot supply hole  31   b.    
   When an electric current is supplied to the pilot valve  15  and a pilot fluid is supplied into the first pressure chamber  30   a , by a fluid pressure acting force due to a difference between the pressure receiving areas of the larger piston  29   a  and the smaller piston  29   b , the first piston  29   a  is pressed and the spool  16  moves to the side of the second piston  29   b  having smaller diameter, the supply communication hole  20  communicates with the output first communication hole  21   a , and a main fluid is output from the first output port AP 1 . When the electric current to the pilot valve  15  is disconnected, by the pilot fluid in the first pressure chamber  30   a  is being discharged, the spool  16  moves to the side of the first piston  29   a  having larger diameter by the fluid pressure acting force which acts on the second piston  29   b , the supply communication hole  20  communicates with the second communication hole  21   b , and the main fluid is output from the second output port BP 1 . 
   In  FIG. 3 , an operation piece  33  is used to reproduce the state that the electric current is supplied to the pilot valve  15  by manual operation, when the operation piece  33  is depressed, the first pressure chamber  30   a  directly communicates with the supply communication hole  20  through the pilot supply hole  31   a.    
   In order to fix the first solenoid valve  2  on the valve mounting part  5  of the manifold base  1  with a screw  34 , two screw insertion holes  35  are provided to the housing  18 . These screw insertion holes  35  correspond to the two screw holes  10  on the valve mounting part  5 , and provided to a side surface of one side in the widthwise direction at one end side in the axis-line direction of the housing  18  and a side surface of the other side in the widthwise direction at the other end side in the axis-line direction. Further, the screw insertion holes  35  are arranged so that the solenoid valve  2  can be selectively mounted on any valve mounting part  5  and in any 180 degrees opposite direction. 
   The first solenoid valve  2  is formed so that the length in the axis-line direction of the main valve  14 , that is, the length that the lengths of the housing  18  and the two piston covers  28   a  and  28   b  at both sides are added, is almost the same as the width of the manifold base  1 , that is, the length in the shorter direction. 
   On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 4 , although the second solenoid valve  3  is a five-port pilot type solenoid valve as well as the first solenoid valve  2 , differs from the first solenoid valve  2  in that the second solenoid valve  3  is not directly equipped with an output port and in that all of the supply, discharge, and output communication holes  20 ,  21   a ,  21   b ,  22   a ,  22   b  are opened on the bonding surface  23 . 
   That is, on the bonding surface  23  which is the under surface of the housing  18  in the main valve  14 , the five supply, discharge, and output communication holes  20 ,  21   a ,  21   b ,  22   a ,  22   b  are opened in line in the order that the supply communication hole  20  is the center, the two output communication holes  21   a  and  21   b  are at both sides of the supply communication hole  20 , and the two discharge communication holes  22   a  and  22   b  are at both sides of the output communication holes  21   a ,  21   b.    
   The structure of the second solenoid valve  3  other than the above-described differences is substantially the same as that of the first solenoid valve  2 . Accordingly, the same numbers as the first solenoid valve  2  are applied to essential similar constituent parts and their descriptions are omitted. Also, since working of the second solenoid valve  3  other than the above-described differences is similar to those described above, the description is omitted. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the intermediate block  4  has a longitudinal and substantially rectangular cross-section. The intermediate block  4  is manufactured by ejection, casting, or the like, the length of the intermediate block  4  is almost the same as that of the width of the manifold base  1 , and the width of the intermediate block  4  is almost the same as that of the width of the housing  18  in the second solenoid valve  3 . On the under surface of the intermediate block  4 , a first bonding surface  41  for bonding onto the valve mounting part  5  of the manifold base  1  is provided, and on the upper surface of the intermediate block  4 , a second bonding surface  42  for bonding onto the bonding surface  23  of the under surface of the second solenoid valve  3  is provided. Further, on one end surface in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate block  4 , two output ports AP 2  and BP 2  for outputting the pressure fluid from the second solenoid valve  3  are provided at above and below locations sidewise. To the output ports AP 2 , BP 2 , external piping can be connected from the side surface direction of the manifold base  1  sidewise. To the output ports AP 2 , BP 2 , simple connection pipe joints can be connected. 
   These two output ports AP 2  and BP 2 , as shown in  FIG. 4  by dotted lines, can be formed on the opposite end surface in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate block  4 , can be communicated with corresponding output ports each other, and depending on conditions such as a direction of a piping, the output ports AP 2 , BP 2  of either side can be selectively used. In this case, the unused ports are blocked by plugs or the like. 
   On the first bonding surface  41  of the under surface of the intermediate block  4 , a supply communication hole  43  which communicates with each of the branched hole  6   a ,  7   a ,  7   b  on the valve mounting part  5  and two discharge communication holes  45   a  and  45   b  are opened. These communication holes  43 ,  45   a ,  45   b  extend upwards in the intermediate block  4  and opened on the second bonding surface  42 . Further, these communication holes  43 ,  45   a ,  45   b  communicate with the supply and discharge communication holes  20 ,  22   a ,  22   b  of the second solenoid valve  3  respectively. On the second bonding surface  42 , in addition to the supply and discharge communication holes  43 ,  45   a ,  45   b , two output communication holes  44   a  and  44   b  which communicate with the output ports AP 2 , BP 2  are opened. These output communication holes  44   a ,  44   b  communicate with the output communication holes  21   a ,  21   b  of the second solenoid valve  3  respectively. 
   These output communication holes  44   a ,  44   b  are located between the supply communication hole  43  and the discharge communication holes  45   a ,  45   b  and further opened on the first bonding surface  41  of the under surface of the intermediate block  4 . However, when the intermediate block  4  is mounted on the manifold base  1 , the output communication holes  44   a ,  44   b  which are opened on the first bonding surface  41  are blocked by the valve mounting part  5 . Accordingly, these output communication holes  44   a ,  44   b  are not necessary to be opened on the first bonding surface  41 . 
   In the drawing, a seal member  49  exists between the manifold base  1  and the intermediate block  4  to seal around each of the branched holes and communication holes. 
   In order to fix the second solenoid valve  3  and the intermediate block  4  on the valve mounting part  5  of the manifold base  1  with a screw  46 , to the housing  18  of the second solenoid valve  3  and the intermediate block  4 , screw insertion holes  47 ,  48  which communicate with each other are provided at two locations respectively. These screw insertion holes  47 ,  48  correspond to the two screw holes  10  on the valve mounting part  5 , and provided to a side surface of one side in the widthwise direction at one end side in the axis-line direction of the housing  18  and the intermediate block  4  and a side surface of the other side in the widthwise direction at the other end side in the axis-line direction. By using a long screw  46  which passes through both screw holes  47  and  48 , it is possible to joint fasten to the manifold base  1  and fixed. Further, as well as the first solenoid valve  2 , the second solenoid valve  3  and the intermediate block  4  can be selectively mounted on any valve mounting part  5  and in any 180 degrees opposite direction. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a different structure of the first solenoid valve which is equipped with the output ports AP 1 , BP 1 . The differences between a first solenoid valve  2 A in  FIG. 5  and the first solenoid valve  2  in  FIG. 3 . are that the two output communication holes  21   a  and  21   b  are opened on the mounting surface  24  on the upper surface of the housing  18  and on the bonding surface  23  on the under surface of the housing  18 , and the communication holes  21   a ,  21   b  which are opened on the bonding surface  23  on the under surface are blocked by the valve mounting part  5  of the manifold base  1 . On the bonding surface  23 , the output communication holes  21   a ,  21   b  are arranged between the supply communication hole  20  and the discharge communication holes  22   a ,  22   b.    
   In  FIG. 5 , a seal member  50  exists between the housing  18  and the manifold base  1  to seal around each of the branched holes and communication holes. 
   The structure of the first solenoid valve  2 A other than the above-described differences is substantially the same as that of the first solenoid valve  2 . Accordingly, the same numbers as the first solenoid valve  2  are applied to essential similar constituent parts and their descriptions are omitted. Also, since working of the first solenoid valve  2 A other than the above-described differences is similar to those described above, the description is omitted. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates an example of different structure of the second solenoid valve which is equipped with no output port. The differences between a second solenoid valve  3 A in  FIG. 6  and the second solenoid valve  3  in  FIG. 4  are that the two output communication holes  21   a  and  21   b  are opened on both of the bonding surface  23  on the under surface of the housing  18  and upper surface  18   a  of the housing  18 , and the communication holes  21   a ,  21   b  which are opened on the upper surface  18   a  are blocked by a cover plate  51  which is mounted on the upper surface  18   a . In  FIG. 6 , a seal member  52  exists between the cover plate  51  and the housing  18  and a screw  53  fixes the cover plate  51 . 
   The cover plate  51  is flat-plate shape and has recessed portions  54  at each position corresponding to the communication holes  21   a ,  21   b  on the under surface. 
   In  FIG. 6 , a relay hole  55  is opened so that the pilot supply holes  31   a ,  31   b  communicate with the communication hole  20 . The relay hole  55  is opened from the upper surface  18   a  side of the housing  18 , however, the relay hole  55  is blocked by the cover plate  51 . 
   Such a relay hole  55  is similarly formed on the first solenoid valve  2  in  FIG. 3  and the first solenoid valve  2 A in  FIG. 5  and these openings are blocked by the port block  25 . On the other hand, in the second solenoid valve  3  in  FIG. 4 , the relay hole  55  is formed in a position from the bonding surface  23  side of the under surface of the housing  18  through the supply communication hole  20  to the pilot supply holes  31   a ,  31   b  and the relay hole  55  is not opened on the upper surface of the housing  18 . 
   The structure of the second solenoid valve  3 A other than the above-described differences is substantially the same as that of the second solenoid valve  3 . Accordingly, the same numbers as the second solenoid valve  3  are applied to essential similar constituent parts and their descriptions are omitted. 
   Also, since working of the second solenoid valve  3 A other than the above-described differences is similar to those described above, the description is omitted. 
   The first solenoid valve  2 A shown in  FIG. 5  and the second solenoid valve  3 A shown in  FIG. 6  have the same structure in the housing  18  of the main valve  14  each other. Accordingly, the structure of the first solenoid valve  2 A in  FIG. 5  from which the port block  25  is detached and the structure of the second solenoid valve  3 A in  FIG. 6  from which the cover plate  51  is detached have the same structure and therefore, have compatibility each other. 
   The manifold type solenoid valve assembly can be structured by using the first solenoid valve  2  in  FIG. 3  and the second solenoid valve  3 A in  FIG. 6 . Further, the manifold type solenoid valve assembly can be structured by using the first solenoid valve  2 A in  FIG. 5  and the second solenoid valve  3  in  FIG. 4 . 
   As described above, while the solenoid valves  2 ,  2 A which are directly equipped with the output ports AP 1 , BP 1  and the solenoid valves  3 ,  3 A which are equipped with no output port can be mixed and mounted on the common manifold base  1 , and these solenoid valves  2 ,  2 A,  3 ,  3 A can be mounted in an arbitrary order depending on a fluid pressure equipment. Accordingly, it can be possible to obtain the manifold type solenoid valve assembly which has the reasonably designed structure. 
   In this case, since the intermediate block  4  which has the output ports AP 2 , BP 2  exists between the solenoid valves  3 ,  3 A which are equipped with no output port and the manifold base  1 , it is not necessary to specially modify the manifold base  1 , the solenoid valves  2 ,  2 A,  3 ,  3 A. Accordingly, by simply providing the intermediate block  4 , it can be possible to readily and economically obtain the manifold type solenoid valve assembly using the general-purpose manifold base  1 , the solenoid valves  2 ,  2 A,  3 ,  3 A. 
   In the above embodiment, the first and second solenoid valves are the single-pilot type solenoid valves which have one pilot valve  15 . However, at least one of the solenoid valves can be a double-pilot type solenoid valve which has two pilot valves  15 . Further, if using the double-pilot type solenoid valve, the diameters of the two pistons  29   a  and  29   b  may be the same. 
   Further, instead of the five-port type solenoid valve, a three-port type solenoid valve or a solenoid valve which has ports other than the above number of ports can be used. In such case, it is necessary to change the arrangement of the fluid flow paths and the branched holes in the manifold base, the number and arrangement of the communication holes formed on the bonding surface of each solenoid valve or intermediate block etc. depending on the number of the ports.