Applied Power Inc.

Dynex/rivett, Inc.

Kjp Investments LLC

Kishor J Patel

Thomas J Stobbs

Dale A Knutson

James P Janecke

Frank M Fritz

Allen J Carlson

Valve base module comprises a tank core passage extending within a plane containing a longitudinal axis, said plane oriented in non-perpendicular relation to a surface of said valve housing comprising at least a P, T, A, and B port and standard mounting holes for mounting said valve base module to at least one of a sub-plate or bar manifold. The plane is disposed at an offset angle &#x3b1; relative to a second plane to permit one or more of at least P, T, A, and B ports to connect a first surface to an opposing second surface of the valve housing to form one or more of at least P', T&#x2032;, A&#x2032;, and B&#x2032; ports that permit the following additional modules to be mounted thereto: pilot control PCM, thermal insulating TIM, power supply PSM, pressure reducing PRM, diagnostic DM, load sense LSM, position feedback sensor PFSM, and manual override MOM.

Digitally controlled modular valve system

A two-stage, proportional pressure control valve is disclosed which may be used for uni-directional fluid flow. A poppet is movably positioned within a body of the valve. Pressure forces acting on the poppet affect the position of the poppet and thus the magnitude of fluid flow through the valve. A control pressure chamber is defined by the poppet and an orifice plate. The orifice plate includes an passage which may be blocked by an armature. An electromagnetic driver produces a magnetic flux path that is substantially proportional to a variable input current. The electromagnetic driver is operable to move the armature and thereby allow fluid in the control pressure chamber to exit through the passage. The proportional pressure control valve can be incorporated into a damper of a vehicle suspension system where the input current is governed by an electronic control unit of the vehicle. The electronic control unit may be responsive, in part, to the position of the suspension system through the use of a position feedback sensor.

Proportional pressure control valve

A proportional pressure control valve is disclosed which may be used for uni-directional or bi-directional fluid flow. An electromagnetic driver mounted in a driver cavity of a housing produces a magnetic flux path in response to a variable input current. The magnitude of the flux path is substantially proportinal to the input current. The flux path passes through an armature which is movable within the driver cavity. The armature is connected to a metering spool so that the two move in unison. The metering spool is movable within a main bore between a sealing position and an infinite number of open positions. The position of the metering spool determines the magnitude of fluid communication between pressure ports. A feedback section of the housing establishes a pressure feedback force which impacts on the position of the metering spool and the armature. The valve may also include a spring for biasing the metering spool to a fail-safe position within the housing. The proportional pressure control valve can be incorporated into a damper of a vehicle suspension system where the input current is governed by an electronic control unit of the vehicle. The electronic control unit may be responsive, in part, to the position of the suspension system through the use of a position feedback sensor.

A direct-operated, two-way solenoid valve is disclosed. The valve balances the hydraulic flow forces acting on a poppet in order to achieve fast-acting, high-flow operation. The valve has a housing with the poppet mounted in a main bore. The poppet has a sealing end with a longitudinal central bore that is open at the sealing end and terminates in a pressure wall. A radial cross bore in the poppet provides fluid communication between the central bore and an outlet port formed in the housing. The sealing end of the poppet may contact a valve seat to prevent fluid communication between an inlet port formed in the housing and the central bore of the poppet. The sealing end of the poppet is biased into contact with the valve seat to prevent fluid communication between the inlet port and the central bore. An actuator generating a magnetic flux path tends to move the poppet out of contact with the valve seat.

Fluid control valve

A hydraulic pressure control valve includes a spool which has a first end having a first cross-sectional area. The opposite end of the spool has a reduced cross-sectional area. Modulated pressure is provided to a chamber at the first end of the spool and when it increases beyond the force of a biasing spring, an inlet port is connected to an outlet port. Feedback pressure acts on the differential area between a full cross-sectional area of the spool and a reduced area portion of the spool located within the outlet port. The feedback force on the spool is in proportion to the changing control force. A sleeve is provided at the end of the valve adjacent the reduced area portion of the spool, such portion and sleeve cooperating to provide a sliding seal. The outlet port will be coupled to tank whenever the modulated pressure falls below the combination of the spring force and the feedback pressure.

Hydraulic pressure reducing control valve

A servo valve having a pilot control balance network in which a variable orifice is established between the main control spool and the actuator member of a force motor wherein movement of said member causes the main spool to assume a new corresponding position that re-establishes the balance in said network.

Servo valve

Disclosed is an improved hydraulic control comprising a fail-to-neutral module. As is conventional, the hydraulic control comprises a main spool and a fluid flow path comprising a bridge circuit including a driver stage. The fail-to-neutral module comprises means defining a fail-to-neutral orifice which (a) is located in the fluid flow path upstream of the bridge circuit and (b) has a relatively large flow area but a maximum dimension smaller than the smallest orifice in the pilot stage. Preferably the means comprise a pin positioned through a hole, the pin and the hole both being circular in cross-section and coaxial, and the fail-to-neutral orifice is the clearance between the pin and the boundary of the hole.

Fail-to-neutral module

An apparatus for causing a low force input movement from a control rod to cause a corresponding movement in an output member by force amplification through hydraulic pressure. A piston is provided that has a greater pressure area on one side than on its other side. Orifice means are provided between a pressure chamber and a control chamber and between the control chamber and the reservoir such that as said second orifice means is varied, the piston will move until a null position is reached.

Proportional force amplifier

A proportional flow control valve comprises a directional control valve having a valve spool, a servo actuator or servo means for operating said directional control valve, and manual override means for operating the valve spool. The servo means comprises a movable ram or piston for moving the valve spool to thereby operate the directional control valve and the ram has a pair of equally sized piston areas connected thereto. The servo actuator also comprises a pilot valve having a null position and is selectively operable to apply fluid alternately to either of said piston areas to effect ram and valve spool movement in one direction or another from a null position. Means including a proportional electromagnetic device such as a proportional solenoid or force motor are provided for selectively operating the pilot valve. Feedback means are connected between the ram and the pilot valve to maintain the ram and the valve spool in a position wherein they are moved. Orifice means are connected between the pilot valve and the piston areas for relieving fluid pressure on one piston area when fluid pressure is being applied to the other piston area. The orifice means also serve to relieve the fluid pressure on both piston areas whenever the signal to the proportional solenoid is zero and the pilot valve is in null position to thereby prevent ram movement. Biasing means are provided on the valve spool for maintaining the ram and the valve spool in null position whenever the proportional solenoid signal is zero. The biasing means exert a force on the valve spool which is less than the force exerted by fluid being applied to a ram area whenever an electric signal is applied to the proportional solenoid. The override means are manually operable to move the valve spool by means of a mechanical linkage to effect manual operation of the directional control valve.

Growing community of inventors

Mukwonago, WI, United States of America

Kishor J Patel