Fluid handling – Systems – Supply and exhaust
Patent
1995-11-16
1997-02-18
Michalsky, Gerald A.
Fluid handling
Systems
Supply and exhaust
137884, F15B 1308
Patent
active
056033508
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
SPECIFICATION
The invention relates to a valve station for use in conjunction with the control of fluid actuable devices such as cylinders having a plate, block or bar-like fluid distribution device.
Valve stations of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4 399 836. Generally they have a panel-like fluid distribution device, which is equipped with a plurality of multi-way valves aligned in a linear row. The supply of the operating fluid is carried out through the fluid distribution device, whereby the operating fluid is compressed air. For actuation, each of the multi-way valves is provided with at lease one valve drive which customarily contains at lease one electromagnet which acts on a control member. These valve drives receive their actuating signals through a signal distribution device extending along the fluid distribution device and communicating with an electronic control device. In this manner different fluid actuable devices of a given plant or device may be controlled centrally from the valve station. As indicated in German petty patent DE-U-92 11 109, such devices have rigid or flexible fluid lines which are connected to the individual multi-way valves.
Because the multi-way valves are practically aligned in a vertical position they require principally only a very low structure width. The supply of the multi-way valves with the required operating fluid is performed through an orifice at the front face of each multi-way valve facing each equipment location, so that a direct fluid connection without any external connecting hoses is made possible, which enhances the compactness of the device.
Although, the known valve station is already built vary compactly, it has been shown to be necessary to provide an even more compact structure in many applications, for example in the printing industry. A reduction in structure would be desirable in width as well as height direction, with respect to the alignment direction of the successively mounted multi-way valves. Thereby, it should be possible to ventilate connected devices through the multi-way valves.
It is therefore an object of subject invention to provide a valve station enabling a more compact structure.
This object is solved by a ventilation conduit being formed in a fluid distribution device extending in a longitudinal direction thereof which communicates through first orifices with valve equipment locations. Each of the first orifices with a front face facing a panel of an associated multi-way valve is connected with a second orifice of a ventilating conduit opposite the associated multi-way valve. A control member of a valve drive controls a control conduit which serves to supply an obturator of the multi-way valve with the required fluid control signals for generating a linear switch movement. A signal distribution device is provided with a series of valve drive equipment locations whose alignment direction is parallel to the alignment direction of the valve equipment locations. The individual valve drives are mounted on one of the lateral housing faces of the given multi-way valve. The valve drives extend from the valve equipment location parallel in the direction of the switch movement of the obturator away from the valve equipment location. In addition, the valve drives are mounted on the valve drive equipment locations of the signal distribution device.
In comparison to the state of the art, a still more compact structure is obtained in this manner and in particular a reduction of the construction height. The ventilation conduit being integrated into the fluid distribution device enables a common ventilation of all connected multi-way valves.
A device is already known from U.S. Pat. No. 4 898 203 with valve drives being laterally mounted on the multi-way valves. However, they are not provided with equipment locations for a signal distribution device. Also a ventilation conduit integrated into the fluid distribution device is missing, because each individual multi-way valve is ventilated upwardly into the atmosphere.
Advantageous furthe
REFERENCES:
patent: 3885284 (1975-05-01), Clippard
patent: 3993091 (1976-11-01), Loveless
patent: 4399836 (1983-08-01), de Versterre et al.
patent: 4898203 (1990-02-01), Kobelt
patent: 5222524 (1993-06-01), Sekler et al.
patent: 5458048 (1995-10-01), Hohner
Rudle Manfred
Stoll Kurt
Festo KG
Michalsky Gerald A.
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