US3605805A - Stackable rotary valves - Google Patents

Abstract

A SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A PLURALITY OF ACTUATORS OPERABLE FROM A SOURCE OF PRESSURIZED FLUID COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF ROTARY VALVES, ONE VALVE FOR EACH ACTUATOR, DESIGNED TO BE STACKED TOGETHER IN A COMPACT UNIT OR ARRANGEMENT. EACH VALVE COMPRISES A BODY HAVING A CAVITY IN WHICH A ROTARY CYLINDRICAL VALVE MEMBER IS LOCATED. THE VALVE MEMBER HAS TWO ANNULAR GROOVES THEREIN, ONE OF WHICH IS A FLUID SUPPLY CHAMBER. AND HE OTHER OF WHICH IS A FLUID RETURN CHAMBER. EACH CHAMBER IS ALTERNATIVELY CONNECTABLE THROUGH PASSAGES IN THE VALVE MEMBER TO EITHER OF TWO ACTUATOR PORTS IN THE VALVE BODY. THE ACTUATOR PORTS ARE CONNECTED TO AN ACTUATOR. THE SUPPLY

CHAMBER AND RETURN CHAMBER ARE ALSO IN COMMUNICATION WITH SUPPLY PORETS AND RETURN PORTS, RESPECTIVELY, PROVIDED IN THE VALVE BODY. WHEN A PLURALITY OF VALVES ARE STACKED AND SECURED TOGETHER, THE SUPPLY PORTS AND RETURN PORTS OF ONE VALVE BODY COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE OF ANY ADJACENT VALVE BODY. THUS, IT IS ONLY NECESSARY TO CONNECT THE SUPPLY PORT AND RETURN PORT OF ONE VALVE BODY TO THE FLUID SOURCE FLUID RESERVOIR, RESPECTIVELY, TO EFFECT FLUID SUPPLY AND RETURN FOR ALL VALVES IN THE STACK, REGARDLESS OF THEIR NUMBER.

Description

Sept. 20, 1971 M. L. WoRRlx STACKABLE ROTARY VALVES med oct. 24, 1969 United States Patent O 3,605,805 STACKABLE ROTARY VALVES Matthew L. Worrix, Sheridan, Oreg., assignor to Allis- Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Oct. 24, 1969, Ser. N0. 869,037 Int. Cl. F16k 11/10 U.S. Cl. 137-596.12 2 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A system for controlling a plurality of actuators operable from a source of pressurized tluid comprises a plurality of rotary valves, one valve for each actuator, designed to be stacked together in a compact unit or arrangement. Each valve comprises a body havinga cavity in which a rotary cylindrical valve member is located. The valve member has two annular grooves therein, one of which is a uid supply chamber and the other of which is a fluid return chamber. Each chamber is alternatively connectable through passages in the valve member to either of two actuator ports in the valve body. The actuator ports are connected to an actuator. The supply chamber and return chamber are also in communication with supply ports and return ports, respectively, provided in the valve body. When a plurality of valves are stacked and secured together, the supply ports and return ports of one valve body communicate with those of any adjacent valve body. Thus, it is only necessary to connect the supply port and return port of one valve body to the uid source and uid reservoir, respectively, to effect fluid supply and return for all valves in the stack, regardless of their number.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to rotary valves and particularly to those which can be stacked together into a compact unit.

Known types of conventional rotary valves for controlling actuators typically comprise a valve body having four separate passages therein, two for connection to a fluid supply and a return reservoir and two for connection to a fluid responsive actuator. A rotatable valve member with two passages therein determines uid ow between the body passages and thereby controls the actuator. If a plurality of such conventional valves are required to control a plurality of actuators, each yvalve must be connected to the actuator it controls and, either directly or by complicated interconnecting tubing, to the iluid supply source and fluid reservoir. This requires much space, complicated arrangements and duplication of tubing and other components.

VIn accordance with the present invention these and other drawbacks are overcome by providing an improved system comprising a plurality of improved rotary valves designed to be stacked together in a compact arrangement. Each valve comprises a body having a cavity in which a rotary cylindrical valve member is located. The valve member has two annular grooves therein, one of which is a iluid supply chamber and the other of which is a uid return chamber. Each chamber is alternatively connectable through passages in the valve member to either of two actuator ports in the valve body. T-hese actuator ports are connected to the actuator being controlled by the valve. The supply chamber and return chamber are also in communication with one or more supply ports and return ports, respectively. When a plurality of valves are stacked and secured together, the supply ports and return ports of one valve body communicate with those of an adjacent valve body necessary to connect the supply Patented Sept. 20, 1971 HCC port and return port of only one valve body to the iluid source and fluid reservoir, respectively, to effect uid supply and return for all valves in the stack, regardless of their number.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide improved rotary valves which can be stacked together in improved compact, uncomplicated and versatile systems or arrangements whenever a plurality of valves are required.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

DESCRIPTION OF THE `DRAWING The accompanying drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention but it is to be understood that the embodiment illustrated is susceptible of modifications with respect to details thereof without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 shows a system employing a plurality of rotary Valves in accordance with the present invention;

FlG. 2 is a top plan View with portions broken away of valves shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of one valve taken along line III-III of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the valve shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. l, the numeral 10 designates a stack comprising a plurality of rotary valves in accordance with the invention. Nine valves, individually designated 12a through 121' are arranged in a stack three valves high and three valves wide. Valve 12a is connected to an actuator `14 which it controls, as hereinafter explained, by tubes 16 and 18. It is to be understood that each valve 12b through 121' is similarly connected to an actuator such as actuator 14.

Actuator 14, for example, comprises a cylinder 28 having a piston 30 which is understood to be axially movable in opposite directions in response to the ow of fluid into the cylinder from either tube 16 or 18, as the case may be.

Valve 121' is connected to a source or supply 32 of uid under pressure and to a fiuid return reservoir 34 by tubes 36 and 38, respectively. If preferred, source 32 and reser- Voir 34 may be interconnected as by means 39.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show, among other things, the details of construction of valve 12h which, except as hereinafter explained, is identical to the other valves in stack 10. Valve 12h, for example, comprises a body 40A having a cylindrical cavity 42 therein. A pair of rst and second actuator ports 44 and `46 on the rear side of body 40 communicate with the cavity through the rear wall 48 ofthe body and are adapted for connection to the actuator controlled by valve 12h. A rotary valve member '50 in the form of a cylinder is disposed in cavity 42 of body 40 and is provided with a valve stem 52 which extends through a hole 54 in a cover plate 56 on the front side side of the body. Member 50 is provided with two annular grooves 58 and 60 in the circumference thereof which cooperate with body 40 to serve as a uid supply chamber and a uid return chamber, respectively. Member 50 is further provided with two passages 62 and 64 which extend between the chambers 58 and 60, respectively, and the end face of member 50. It is to be understood that in one position of valve member 50 the passages 62 and 64 communicate with the actuator ports 44 and 46, respectively. However, when valve member 50 is rotated 180 to its other position, the passages 62 and 64 are reversed and communcate with the actuator ports 46 and 44, respectively.

As FIG. 4 best shows, a clearance space 66 exists between the end surface 68 of -Valve member 50 and the end wall 70 of cavity 42 to accommodate fluid-tight washers or seals 72 and 74 which are provided in the enlarged openings at the end of the passages l62 and 64, respectively, of valve member 50. The washers 72 and 74 are adapted to slide on the smooth end wall 70 of cavity 42. Resilient O- rings 76 and 78 are provided behind the seals 72 and 74, respectively, to help bias the seals and provide a fluidtight arrangement. Body 40 of valve 12h is provided on its side 80 with a supply port 82 and a return port 84 which communicate with uid supply chamber '58 and fluid return chamber 60, respectively, and is also provided on its opposite side 86 with rst and second connecting ports 88 and 90 which communicate with the chambers 58 and 60, respectively.

As FIG. 2 shows, valve 12h is disposed between valves 12g and 121' which are similar in construction to valve `1211, except as hereinafter explained. The body of valve 12g is provided with supply and return ports 92 and 94, respectively, which register and communicate with the ports 88 and 90, respectively, in valve 12h when valves 12g and 12h are stacked together as shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3. Similarly, the body of valve 121 is provided with rst and second connecting parts 96 and 98 which register and communicate with ports 82 and l84, respectively, in valve 12h when val-ves 12h and tl2i are stacked together. The body of valve 121' is further provided with supply and return ports 104 and 106 which communicate with source 32 and reservoir 34, respectively, shown in FIG. l.

It is to be understood that each valve in stack shown in FIG. 1 is provided with such ports as are necessary to connect it to one or more adjacent valves. Thus, only one rvalve in a stack needs to vbe connected directly to the source and to the reservoir. Each other valve is indirectly connected thereto through at least one of its adjacent valves. As FIGS. l and 2 show, the valves in stack 10 are secured together by suitable bolts 108 which engage flanges 110 or are disposed in notches 112 provided on or in the bodies of the valves. Preferably, resilient washers 114 are provided between the adjacent valve bodies around the communicating ports.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the sides of each valve body are flat so that the valves can be stacked compactly in a minimum amount of space. During manufacture of the valves, the supply and return ports and the connecting ports, all of which are to be located in the sides, tops or bottoms of the valve bodies, are provided simply by drilling holes after the stacking arrangement is decided upon for a particular installation.

The system shown in FIG. 1 operates as follows. Fluid from source 32 is supplied under pressure through tube 36 and port 104 to the fluid supply chamber of valve 112i and from these through port 96 and port i82 in a valve 12h to iluid supply chamber 58 in valve 12h. Fluid is supplied to the supply chamber in all valves in stack 10 through associated supply ports in a similar manner.

With all supply chambers charged with pressurized fluid, each valve can be operated independently (or in any combination) to effect operation of its associated actuator.

For example, assume that valve 12h is charged and that its valve member 50 is in a position where its passages 62 and 64 are out of registry with the ports 44 and 46. In this positon, no lluid flows to the actuator.

Now assume that valve member 450 is rotated to a rst position, such as shown in FIG. 3, wherein passages 62 and 64 register with ports 44 and 46, respectively. In this condition fluid ilows from supply chamber S8, through passage 62 and port 44 to one side of its associated actuator causing a desired operation of the latter and displacement of fluid at the other side of the actuator. The displaced fluid is returned through port 46, through passage 64 to return chamber 60 of valve 1211 and from 4 there through port 84 and the ports 98 and 106 and the return chamber of valve 121' to reservoir 34.

To elfect reverse operation of the actuator associated with valve 12h, member 50 is rotated 180 degrees to a second position wherein its passages 62 and 64 are in registry with ports 46 and 44, respectively. In this condition fluid ow to and from the actuator is reversed and reverse operation of the latter is effected.

AS FIG. 3 shows, valve 12e which is located above valve 12h is connected thereto by ports 111 and 113 in the bottom Wall of valve '12e which registers with ports 115 and 1116, respectively, in the top wall of valve 12h.

Valve 12h may be used in other arrangements than the one shown and, may, therefore, be provided with ports 118 and 120 in its botom side which can be closed or plugged `when not in use, as by plugs 122 and 124, respectively.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are dened as follows:

1. In a hydraulic system,

a fluid source,

a lluid return reservoir,

a plurality of actuators,

and a plurality of stackable valves for controlling fluid flow between said source and said actuators and between said actuators and said return reservoir, each valve comprising a valve body and a rotatable cylindrical valve member disposed therein,

said valve body and said valve member cooperating to provide a fluid supply chamber and a Huid return chamber, said valve member being provided with a supply passage therein and with a return passage therein,

said valve body being provided with a rst actuator port for communicating between said actuator and said supply chamber through said supply passage when said valve member is in a predetermined position, said valve body being further provided `with a second actuator port for communicating between said actuator and said return chamber through said return passage lwhen said valve member is in said predetermined position, and said valve body comprising a supply port for communicating with said supply chamber and a return port for communicating with said return chamber,

at least one of said plurality of valves having its supply port connected with said source and its return port connected with said reservoir,

said one valve having a valve body which is provided with rst and second connecting ports which communicate with the supply chamber and the return chamber thereof, respectively,

and said rst and second connecting ports of said one valve being in communication in all positions of said one valve with the supply port and the return port, respectively, of one other valve in the system.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said valve member is provided with two annular grooves, one of which serves as said uid supply chamber and the other of which serves as said lluid return chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,137 8/1936 Galleher 137-596.12 2,322,740 6/1943 Vanderzee et al. 137-596.122( 2,331,133 10/1943 Nardone l37-596.l2 2,924,240 2/1960 Dolan 137-596.12X 3,133,559 5/1964 Tennis 137-596 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner R. J. MILLER, Assistant Examiner

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