The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 21, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1995
Barry Howard Jacobs, Belleville, MI (US);
Roger Wayne Gettel, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
John Allen Oliver, Jr, Canton, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A flow priority valve receives input fluid flow and divides the fluid flow between a primary device and a secondary device. The valve comprises a valve body have a bore formed therein, the bore having first and second ends and first and second annular channels formed in communication with the bore. The valve body further includes an input flow channel formed in communication with the bore for receiving the input fluid flow. A spool is movable within the bore and has a first land and a second land adjacent opposing ends of the spool. A spring is positioned within the bore for biasing the spool towards the first end of the bore. An electronically variable orifice (EVO) for electronically adjusting flow includes an EVO input portion in fluid communication with both the first annular channel and the first end of the bore, and an EVO output portion in fluid communication with both the second end of the bore and the primary device. The second annular channel is in fluid communication with the secondary device. The first and second lands are movable with the spool for selectively limiting flow from the bore to the first and second annular channels, respectively. The valve may be used for remote flow control, splitting between primary and secondary devices, and two such valves may be used to provide variable control to two devices.