GB761690A - Improvements in valve apparatus for distributing at least one fluid, and in particular air, to a plurality of fluid-operated devices - Google Patents

Abstract

761,690. Valves. FONDERIES DEBARD. May 4, 1954 [May 7, 1953], No. 12965/54. Class 135. Valve apparatus for controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid, e.g. compressed air, to and from a number of fluid-operated jacks &c. in, e.g., a moulding machine, comprises a corresponding number of superposed units each comprising a fixed disc 2, Figs. 1, 6, having a passage 6 extending therethrough, passages 7, 8 connected to the opposite end of a double-acting jack, and an exhaust passage 9 to the atmosphere, and a disc 3 mounted upon, and rotatable with, a spindle 4 and pressed by a spring 14 against the fixed disc and spaced from the fixed disc of the unit immediately beneath it. The disc 3 is formed with grooves 11, 12, Figs. 3, 4, in its upper surface, the groove 11 being in permanent communication with the spaces 18 above and below the disc through the passages 6, 19 respectively, while the groove 12 is in permanent communication with the exhaust passage 9. The units are assembled in fluidtight manner between a lower element 13, Fig. 2, having an inlet 17 for compressed air and an upper element 15 having a groove 5 the ends of which form abutments for limiting the angular rotation of the spindle 4 to 90 degrees. Fig. 9 shows diagrammatically three units a, c, e of a five-unit valve, the rotatable disc of each successive unit being displaced through 15 degrees relatively to that beneath it. In this case, the spacers 18 are connected in series with the lower element 13 by the passages 19a, 6a ... 19e, 6e and the compressed air passes from the grooves 11a ... 11e through the passages 7a ... 7e to the corresponding ends of the jacks, the air expelled from the opposite ends of the jacks passing through the passages 8a ... 8e into the grooves 12a ... 12e and thence through the passages 9a ... 9e to exhaust. Thus, in this position the jacks all move in the same direction. By turning the rotatable discs through 15 degrees in a clockwise direction, the jack of unit a ceases to function while the remainder operate as before. Fig. 10 shows the rotatable discs turned through a further 15 degrees in a clockwise direction in which position the air entering the groove 11a of the unit a passes through the passage 8a to the opposite end of the corresponding jack from the Fig. 9 position, and air expelled from the other end of the jack passes through the passage 7a and the groove 12a to the exhaust passage 9a. Thus, in this position the jack of the unit a moves in the opposite direction to the Fig. 9 position, while the jacks of the other units operate as before. A third rotation of 15 degrees will result in the reversal of the direction of operation of the jack controlled by the unit b. A fourth rotation of 15 degrees will result in the reversal of the jack controlled by the unit c and so on. The speed of operation of the jacks may be controlled by bored plugs disposed in the ducts between the jacks and the passages 7, 8. Fig. 13 shows diagrammatically an arrangement in which the fixed disc of a unit has two exhaust passages 91, 9<SP>2</SP>, while the rotatable disc has a passage 11, therethrough, narrow grooves 11<SP>2</SP>, 11<SP>3</SP> and wide grooves 121, 122, 12<SP>3</SP>. In the position shown, compressed air flows through the passage 19<SP>3</SP> into the groove 11<SP>3</SP> and thence through the passage 7 to the bottom of the jack 20, while the air expelled from the top of the jack flows through passage 8 and groove 12<SP>3</SP> to the exhaust passage 9<SP>2</SP>. By turning the rotatable disc through an angle A, the valve assumes the position shown in Fig. 14 in which compressed air is supplied to the top end of the jack, while air expelled from the lower end flows to the exhaust passage 9. Rotation of the disc through a further angle A results in reversal of the jack. The speed of the jack is regulated by bored plugs 211, 21<SP>2</SP> in the exhaust passages. Figs. 21, 22 show a single-unit valve controlling the flow of air to and from jacks V<SP>1</SP>, V<SP>2</SP> and comprising a fixed disc 2, having passages 7, 8 connected to the jacks and exhaust passages 9, and a disc 3 mounted on a rotatable shaft 4 and having a narrow groove 11 and a wide groove 12. As shown in Fig. 22, the jacks are in their retracted positions. By turning the disc 3 clock. wise through 90 degrees, the jack V<SP>1</SP> is moved to its extended position, the jack V<SP>2</SP> remaining retracted. A further rotation of 90 degrees results in the extension of the jack V<SP>2</SP>, and a reverse rotation of 90 degrees from the latter position effects retraction of the jack V<SP>2</SP>, the jack V<SP>1</SP> remaining extended. Thus, by this valve the jacks can be operated in succession in one direction and then in the reverse order back to their initial positions. In another form of single-unit valve it is possible to operate one jack first in one direction and then in reverse before the second jack is operated. Further forms of single-unit valve permit the control of five and six jacks respectively.