US3766943A

US3766943A - Integrated multiple valve unit

Info

Publication number: US3766943A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Murata
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-07-29
Filing date: 1972-07-31
Publication date: 1973-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-23
Also published as: GB1364749A

Abstract

An integrated multiple valve unit is provided as a module of hydraulic circuit components and for uniform pipe line geometry. The unit generally comprises a subplate upon the top surface of which are formed a plurality of valve assembly mounting seats in equally spaced apart relation, and a plurality of stacks each comprised of valve assemblies and a solenoid valve mounted on the subplate in the order named. Any of the valve assemblies which effect various functions may be selected and stacked, depending upon desired hydraulic circuit requirements. Each valve assembly seat is provided with a supply port, a discharge or return port and a pair of intake ports, that is the ports for connection with an actuator or the like, at the positions corresponding to the corresponding ports of the solenoid valve. At the undersurface of the subplate are formed a plurality of zigzag intake ports which are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, for example, equal to one half of the spacing between the mounting seats, and intercommunicated with the corresponding intake ports in the mounting seats. A supply port and a discharge or return port of the subplate are intercommunicated with all of the supply and discharge ports in the mounting seats through a supply passage and a discharge passage, respectively.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Murata Oct. 23, 1973 INTEGRATED MULTIPLE VALVE UNIT [76] Inventor: l-likaru Murata, Gifu, Japan [22] Filed: July 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 276,299

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 29, 1971 Japan 46/66879 Aug. 10, 1971 Japan 46/70943 [52] US. Cl. 137/608 [51] Int. Cl. Fl7d 1/00 [58] Field of Search 136/608, 270, 271

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,665,961 5/1972 Bachmann 137/608 3,680,589 8/1972 Jeans et al. 136/608 3,513,876 5/1970 Tarbox 137/608 X 3,516,436 6/1970 Klaus et al..... 137/608 X 3,556,144 1/1971 Bickers et al.. 137/608 X 3,556,147 1/1971 Sizer 137/608 3,589,387 6/1971 Raym0nd.... 137/608 X 3,654,960 4/1972 Kieman 137/608 3,658,088 4/1972 Jensen et al. 137/608 X 3,709,248 l/1973 Aurich et al 137/608 X Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Attorney-Saul Jecies [57] ABSTRACT An integrated multiple valve unit is provided as a module of hydraulic circuit components and for uniform pipe line geometry. The unit generally .comprises a subplate upon the top surface of which are formed a plurality of valve assembly mounting seats in equally spaced apart relation, and a plurality of stacks each comprised of valve assemblies and a solenoid valve mounted on the subplate in the order named. Any of the valve assemblies which effect various functions may be selected and stacked, depending upon desired hydraulic circuit requirements. Each valve assembly seat is provided with a supply port, a discharge or return port and a pair of intake ports, that is the ports for connection with an actuator or the like, at the positions corresponding to the corresponding ports of the solenoid valve. At the undersurface of the subplate are formed a plurality of zigzag intake ports which are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, for example, equal to one half of the spacing between the mounting seats, and intercommunicated with the corresponding intake ports in the mounting seats. A supply port and a discharge or return port of the subplate are intercommunicated with all of the supply and discharge ports in the mounting seats through a supply passage and a discharge passage, respectively.

5 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures PATENTEnnm 23 ms SHEET UlflF 16 FIG FIIIL miminum 23 ms SHEET 020! 16 FIG 2 PAIENIEnnmzs ma 2.766343 SHEET 030? 16 FIG3 PATENTEUUEI 23 I975 SHEEI UMJF 16 FIG 4 FIG IO PAIENIEUncI 23 mm 3. 766; 943

SHEEI 080F 16 FIG II PAIENIEnum 23 ms SHEET 110F16 FIG l4 FIG l5 PAIENIEBnmza ms 13.766343 SHEEI 130F 16 FIGIB PMENTED um 23 1915 SHEET N0? 16 FIG 2| WWI FI/l' 143% FIG 22 PAIENTEnnm 23 ms SHEET 150? 16 FIG 23 FIG 24 FIG26 FIG 25 PATENIEUHBT23 ma 3. 766; 943 sum was 16 INTEGRATED MULTIPLE VALVE UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an integrated multiple valve unit in which a plurality of stacks each comprising a plurality of valve assemblies, which effect various functions, and a solenoid valve are mounted on a common subplate. The integrated multiple valve unit in accordance with the present invention serves as a module of hydraulic circuit components, and functions also as a pump unit.

When a plurality of valves are separately and randomly disposed and interconnected via each other with pipes or tubes in a hydraulic circuit, such as a pump unit which is used for example as a high hydraulic pressure source, the circuit becomes large in size because of the large space required for receiving the pipes, and the interconnections among the valves with the pipes become very complex. As a result, the working liquid tends to leak and the maintenance and repair of the hydraulic circuit components become very difficult. To overcome these defects, there has been proposed and demonstrated the so-called maniplate system in which the hydraulic circuit components such as valves are mounted on a common mounting plate in which are formed required passages for interconnecting the circuit components. There has been also proposed the socalled manifold plate system wherein the hydraulic circuit components such as valves are mounted upon mounting plates in which are formed the required passages for interconnecting the circuit components, and the circuit components with the mounting plates are stacked. Both the above described systems have succeeded in simplifying the interconnections between the circuit components, thus overcoming the above described defects to some extent. However, these systems have a common defect in that various kinds of plates and blocks must be provided for various kinds of hydraulic circuits which are required. In other words, these prior art systems do not provide modules of hydraulic circuit components which may be used in any hydraulic circuit.

In the attempt to provide standardized modules for hydraulic circuits, there has been proposed a built-up system utilizing the standard solenoid valves in which all of the ports are located at the specified positions. More particularly, a valve plate is provided with ports formed at the positions corresponding to the corresponding ports of the standard solenoid valve, and a valve or valves, which accomplish the desired functions, are disposed in some of the ports or the passage communicated therewith in the valve seat. Thus, standardized valve assemblies are provided, and are stacked on a subplate together with a solenoid valve.

.Therefore, various circuit modules may be provided.

However, the spacing between the ports of the standardized solenoid valve is extremely small so that the interconnections between the hydraulic circuit components stacked upon the subplate and the connections with the pump, reservoir, actuators and the like, hecome difficult as the pipes obstruct each other. To overcome this problem, some passages for connections are formed in each subplate. When it is desired to collect the intake ports, for example, in the pump unit in one place, the pipes extending from the intake ports of each subplate must be bent in complex forms with or without joint-fittings, so that skilled labor and much time are required. Furthermore, the nonuniform or random pipe arrangement and the exposure of the pipes to the surrounding atmosphere are not desirable.

Furthermore, in the built-up integrated valve unit, there arises in practice the problem of the distribution of the working liquid into a plurality of hydraulic circuits, except in the case where only one hydraulic cir-- cuit is formed on the subplate. That is, when it is desired to distribute the working liquid into a plurality of hydraulic circuits to actuate a plurality of actuators, and if a breakdown of one of the hydraulic circuits occurs, the check and repair of the broken circuit cannot be accomplished without stopping the other normal circuits. For example, in case of the hydraulic circuits used in the driving source in a chemical plant or the like, if a breakdown of one of the hydraulic circuits occurs, the other normal circuits must be stopped even when they are controlling the chemical reactions, thus resulting in a prodigious waste of raw materials. In some standardized solenoid valves, a pair of intake ports are formed outwardly of a supply port and a pair of discharge ports are formed further outwardly of the pair of intake ports, so that they are arranged in the form of a pyramid. As the valve spool is displaced, one of the intake ports is communicated with the center supply port whereas the other intake port is communicated with one of the discharge ports through one of the chambers on both sides of the valve spool. When both of the pair of discharge or return ports are used individually, the piping work becomes complex so that the pair of discharge ports are generally intercommunicated with each other within the solenoid body and the discharge pipe is connected only to one of the pair of discharge ports in practice. As a result, there is a difference in distance between the intake ports from the chambers on both sides of the valve spool so that the back pressures, due to the resistances of the passages from the intake ports to the ports for connection with the external pipes through the communication passages formed in the subplates and solenoid valve, cause a difference in pressures acting upon the ends of the valve spool. Therefore, the valve spool is switched, even when the solenoid of the valve is not energized, at some flow rate or the spool valve will not return to its neutral position even when the solenoid of the valve is deenergized, thus resulting in an abnormal temperature rise or burning.

- SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON The present invention was made to overcome the above and other defects encountered in the prior art integrated valve systems, and provides an integrated multiple valve unit which may be used as a module of hydraulic circuit components and may serve to provide a uniform pipe arrangement and to facilitate the assembly.

Briefly stated, in accordance with the present invention the integrated multiple valve unit generally comprises a subplate provided with a plurality of valve assembly mounting seats spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and a plurality of stacks each comprising a plurality of valve assemblies, which effect various functions depending upon the circuit requirements, and a solenoid valve mounted in the order named upon the subplate. In each of the mounting seats and in each of the valve assemblies, a supply port, a discharge port and a pair of intake ports, which are used in connection with an actuator or the like, are formed in the positions corresponding to the corresponding ports of the solenoid valve. At the undersurface of the subplate are formed a plurality of intake ports communicated with those in the mounting seats, respectively, and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, for example, equal to one half of the spacing between the adjacent mounting seats. All of the intake and discharge or return ports in the mounting seats are communicated with a common supply port and a common discharge port formed in the subplate. Therefore, when the desired valve assemblies are stacked upon the subplate together with the solenoid valves, a module including the desired hydraulic circuit components may be provided.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an integrated multiple valve unit in which a stop and nonreturn valve assembly with or without a relief valve assembly is mounted upon the subplate, and

' other valve assemblies and a solenoid valve are stacked over the stop and nonreturn valve assembly so that even when a breakdown of the associated hydraulic circuit, valve assemblies or solenoid valve occur, it may be repaired without stopping the other normal hydraulic circuits. The stop and nonreturn valve assembly comprises a stop valve which is disposed in the supply port and is operable from the exterior of the valve assembly to close the supply port in case of emergency, and a nonreturn valve disposed in the discharge or return port. In the relief valve assembly, a relief valve is interposed between the supply and discharge ports.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated multiple valve unit in which at least one valve assembly of the type in which a pair of discharge ports are intercommunicated, is inserted in each hydraulic circuit so that the problem of the difference in pressures acting on the opposite ends of the valve spool may be eliminated, thereby preventing the erratic operation or breakdown such as burning of the coils of the solenoid valves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated multiple valve unit in which adjacent to a valve assembly to be remote controlled there is disposed a valve assembly of the type in which the supply port or one of the intake ports is disconnected at the midpoint in the valve plate opposed to the other valve assemblies and is extended through the valve plate and communicated with connection ports opening on both sides of the valve plate for connection with a remote- BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of an integrated multiple valve unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a subplate thereof, fabricated by casting;

FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are respective sectional views taken along the lines 5 5, 6 6, 7 7 and 8 8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a subplate fabricated by machining;

FIGS. 10, 11., 12 and 13 are respective front views of a fourth, third, second, and first plate which constitute together the subplate shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a relief valve assembly for a supply port;

FIG. 15 is a partly broken-away side view thereof;

FIG. 16 is a front view of a control valve assembly for an intake port;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line 17 17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front view of a stop and nonreturn valve assembly;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are respective sectional views taken along the lines 19 19 and 20 20 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a longitudinal sectional view of a relief valve assembly for an intake prot having a passage;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of an intercommunication valve assembly;

FIG. 23 is a front view of a joint or connection valve assembly for connecting a supply port to an exterior pipe;

FIGS. 24, 25 and 26 are sectional views taken along the lines 24 24, 25 25 and 26 26 of FIG. 23, respectively;

FIG. 27 is a front view of a connection valve assembly for connecting an intake port to an exterior pipe; and

FIGS. 28 and 29 are sectional views taken along the lines 28 28 and 29 29 of FIG. 27, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a built-up type integrated multiple valve unit as assembled and generally indicated by 30 in accordance with the present invention. The multiple integrated valve unit 30 generally comprises a subplate 40, a plurality of variable kinds of valve assemblies a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70e, 70f, 70g, and solenoid valves 80. The valve assemblies 70 are mounted and stacked upon the subplate 40 and thereafter the solenoid valves are mounted upon the stacked valve assemblies 70, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The subplate 40 of the first embodimentis formed by casting. As best shown in FIGS. 3 8, a plurality of valve mounting seats 41 (only three seats being shown) are formed in the subplate 40 spaced apart by a distance land in each seat 41 are formed a supply port 42, a discharge port 43 and two

intake ports

44 and 45 in such a manner that they mate with those of the solenoid valve 80 of a standard type. As best shown in FIG. 4,

intake ports

50 and 51 are formed at the rear surface of the subplate 40 in zigzag position and spaced apart from each other by [/2 (which equals half the spacing 1 between the seats 41) both horizontally and vertically, and are communicated with the

intake ports

44 and 45 through

passages

48 and 49, respectively. At the lower portion of the subplate 40 are formed a supply port 52 and a discharge port 53 spaced apart by 1/2 from each other and the lowermost intake port 51. The supply and

discharge ports

52 and 53 are communicated with the supply and

discharge ports

42 and 43 in the seats 41 through a supply passage 54 and a discharge passage 55, respectively, and through branch passages 56 and 57 (see FIG. 6).

In summary, the supply and discharge ports in the valve mounting seats 41 are communicated through the

passages

54 and 55 and the

branch passages

56 and 57 with the supply and

discharge ports

52 and 53 which open at the two surfaces of the subplate 40, and the

intake ports

44 and 45 are communicated through the

passages

48 and 49 with the

intake ports

50 and 51 which open at the rear surface of the subplate 40. Therefore, in casting the cores may be placedin the positions of the supply and

discharge ports

42 and 43, the

intake ports

44 and 45, and 50 and 51 and the supply and

discharge ports

52 and 53. Since the

passages

54 and 55 have a considerable length, the subplate 40 will be broken when more than three stacks of valve assemblies are mounted on the subplate unless the undersurface of the subplate is supported. Therefore according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4,

openings

58 and 59 are formed in the undersurface of the subplate 40 so that suitable core supports may be inserted into these

openings

58 and 59. After the subplate 40 is removed out of the die, the valve mounting seats 41,

the

ports

50 and 51, the

openings

58 and 59, and flanges 60 are machined so as to provide the desired smooth finished surfaces. Thereafter, the supply and

discharge ports

42 and 43 and' the

intake ports

44 and 45 are finished with a drill, and the

intake ports

50 and 51, the supply and

discharge ports

52 and 53, and the

openings

58 and 59 are internally threaded for connection with pipes and blind plugs. Holes 61 are drilled in the flanges 60 for inserting the bolts or like for mounting the subplate 40. Four tapped holes 46 are formed in the valve mounting seats 41 for mounting the standard type solenoid valves 80, and two tapped holes 47 are also formed for mounting other valves 70. The positions of these tapped holes must be so selected that they will not communicate with the

passages

48 and 49 and the supply and discharge

passages

54 and 55.

The supply and

discharge ports

52 and 53 open both at the top surface and undersurface of the subplate 40 so that one of the openings at the top surface or at the undersurface may be closed with blind plugs, depending upon the connection with the supply and discharge pipe lines. This means that the supply and discharge pipe lines may be connected either at the top or under sides of the subplate 40. The

openings

58 and 59 may be closed with blind plugs or may be used for connection with a pressure gage or the like.

Next referring to FIGS. 13, the method of fabricating the subplate by machining will be described. As shown in FIG. 10,

zigzag intake ports

150 and 151 are drilled in a fourth plate 104 spaced apart by l/2 in both vertical and horizontal directions. Supply and

discharge ports

152 and 153 are also drilled at the lower portion spaced apart by l/2 with respect to each other and to the lowermost intake port 151. As shown in FIG. 11, two

grooves

154a and 155a are formed in a third plate 103 to define the supply and discharge passages, and

passages

148a and 149a are also formed at the positions corresponding to the

intake ports

150 and 151 of the fourth plate 104. As shown in FIG. 12, two

elongated grooves

154b and 155b, which mate with the

grooves

154a and 155b of the third plate 103 to define the supply and discharge passages, are formed in a second plate 102. I-

Ioles

148b and 149b are drilled at the positions corresponding to the

grooves

148a and 149a of the third plate 103. As shown in FIG. 13, a first plate 101 is provided with supply and

discharge ports

142 and 143 at the positions corresponding to the grooves l54b and 155b of the second plate 102 and the

grooves

154a and 155a of the second plate 102. These supply and

discharge ports

142 and 143 are so positioned as to mate with those of the standard type solenoid valves.

Intake ports

144 and 145 are drilled slantingly, and tapped

holes

146 and 147 are formed for mounting the solenoid valves. The supply and

discharge ports

152a and 153a are drilled at the positions corresponding to the lower ends of the

grooves

154a and 155a of the second plate 102. Flanges 160 with holes 161 for mounting are formed at both sides of the first plate 101. These first, second, third, and

fourth plates

101, 102, 103 and 104 are stacked in the order named and firmly joined together by any suitable welding method to provide the subplate 140 as shown inFIG. 9. Thus, the subplate may be fabricated by resorting only to machining such as automatic gas cutting, drilling and the like.

Next the valve assembly mounted on the

subplate

40 or 140 will be described hereinafter. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a supply port 72a, a discharge port 73a, intake ports 74a and 75a and mounting holes 76a are drilled in a valve plate 710. The positions of these ports and holes are so selected as to mate with the corresponding ports and holes of the standard type solenoid valve 80. A relief valve 78a may be disposed between the supply and

discharge ports

72a and 73a to provide a relief valve assembly 70a for the supply port. A control valve assembly 70b is illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17. The supply and discharge ports 72b and 73b, the

intake ports

74b and 75b and the mounting holes 76b are drilled in a manner described above, and between the

intake ports

74b and 75b are interposed

flow control valves

78b and 79b. In like manner, various valve assemblies which afford various different functions may be provided.

These assemblies 70 are stacked upon the

subplate

40 or 140, and the solenoid valves 80 are mounted on the stacks of the valve assemblies 70, and thereafter they are securely mounted upon the subplate 40 or with screws and bolts and nuts, the bolts being inserted through the mounting holes 76 and screws through tapped

holes

46 and 146. Thus, the supply and

discharge ports

52 and 152 and 53 and 153, the

intake ports

50 and 51 or 150 and 151, the

supply ports

42 and 142, the

discharge port

43 or 143, and the

intake ports

44 and 45 or 144 or 145 are respectively communicated with the corresponding ports of the solenoid valves through the corresponding ports 72, 73, 74, and 75 of the valve assemblies 70. With the desired valve assemblies 70 interposed between the solenoid valves 80 and the subplate 40 and 140, a desired hydraulic circuit module may be provided. Since the

intake ports

50 and 51 or and 151 and the supply and

discharge ports

52 and 152 and 53 and 153 are opened in the undersurface of the

subplate

40 or 140 in equally spaced apart relation, the pipes may be connected to them also in equally spaced apart relation in a simple manner.

If the breakdown of one circuit occurs in the integrated multiple valve unit, it cannot be repaired without stopping other normal circuits. Therefore, accord ing to the present invention, a stop valve and nonreturn valve assembly 70c as shown in FIGS. 18 20 may be interposed between the subplate 40 or 140 and the in-

Claims

1. An integrated multiple valve unit, comprising a subplate having one side provided with a plurality of mounting seats spaced by a predetermined distance from one another and each formed with an individual supply port, an individual discharge port and individual intake ports, an other side provided with a plurality of zigzag intake ports spaced by a distance equal to one half of said predetermined distance in longitudinal and transverse direction of said subplate and communicating with said individual intake ports, a joint supply port communicating with all of said individual supply ports, and a joint discharge port communicating with all of said individual discharge ports; and a plurality of valve stacks each comprising a valve plate mounted on one of said valve seats and having a valve plate supply port, a valve plate discharge port and valve plate intake ports communicating with respective ports of said subplate at said one side thereof, a hydraulic valve assembly on said valve plate and communicating with respective ones of said valve plate ports, and a solenoid valve mounted on said valve assembly and communicating via the same with respective ones of said valve plate ports, said valve unit having said ports arranged in a configuration permitting the interposition of a device between said subplate and said valve assembly which includes a stop valve and a nonreturn valve assembly, whereby selected members of said valve assemblies can be isolated without the necessity to cut off the entire integrated multiple valve unit.

2. An integrated valve unit as defined in claim 1, wherein each mounting seat is further provided with additional tapped holes; and wherein said stop valve assembly has cooperating tapped holes corresponding to said additional tapped holes of said valve assembly mounting seat, and a stop valve disposed in said supply port, said nonreturn valve assembly being disposed in said discharge port.

3. An integrated valve assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each mounting seat is further provided with additional tapped holes; and said valve assemblies include a joint valve assembly which has cooperating tapped holes corresponding to said additional tapped holes, and a joint port intercommunicated with one of said supply, discharge and intake ports.

4. An integrated valve unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve assemblies include a valve assembly having a pair of valve assembly discharge ports and a passage intercommunicating the same.

5. An integrated valve unit as defined in claim 1; and further comprising mounting means in form of registering tapped holes provided in said subplate at the respective valve seats thereof, in said valve plate, and in said solenoid valve.